asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies whether he is able to inform the House of the result of the friendly intervention of His Majesty's High Commissioner in Cyprus respecting the differences which have arisen in that island in connecton with the rival candidates for the vacant Archbishopric of Cyprus; and what steps have been taken by the island Government to protect the revenues derived from diocesan trust funds and other sources for ecclesiastical and educational purposes which have accrued since the death of Archbishop Sophronius?

The Bishop of Kitium has been unanimously elected Archbishop of Cyprus, and his election has been approved by the High Commissioner. The Secretary of State is not aware whether it has been thought necessary to take any steps for the protection of the revenues to which my hon. Friend alludes, but inquiry will be made on the subject.

asked when the House may expect to have an opportunity of receiving the amended Draft Act of South African Union; and whether it can be circulated in such a form as to show the amendments made since the earlier draft was published?

The draft Act, as finally agreed by the National Convention at Bloemfontein, will be laid before Parliament in a few days and will be accompanied by a second report of the delegates to the South African Parliaments which shows the alterations made in the text published in Cd. 4525.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has power to order a public inquiry in regard to such accidents as that which occurred recently at Killarney; and, if so, whether ho proposes to hold an inquiry in this case?

There is no power to order a public investigation into this case under the Merchant Shipping Acts, but I am considering whether some further inquiry cannot be made into the circumstances of this accident, and I will communicate the result to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the full effect of the difference between the definition of agricultural land as defined in the Agricultural Rating Act and the definition of agricultural land given in Clause 27 of the Finance Bill; and what is the reason for this differentiation and its intention for the purposes of taxation?

Every definition must be considered with reference to the subject-matter of the measure in which it is contained, and it does not follow that the definition of a term in one Act of Parliament must necessarily suit the subject-matter of another Act of Parliament. In point of fact, however, the differences, which I will proceed to enumerate, between the two definitions mentioned by my hon. Friend are very small. (1) Owing to the definition in the Agricultural Rating Act being exhaustive while that in the Finance Bill is inclusive, arable land, which was necessarily specified in the Rating Act, is not referred to in Clause 27 of the Finance 'Bill. Similarly, orchards are not specifically mentioned in Clause 27. (2) Woodland is included in the definition in the Bill, but not in the definition of the Act. (3) Cottage gardens exceeding a quarter of an acre were specifically included in the Agricultural Rates Act, whereas other gardens were specifically excluded. Under the Bill, gardens are treated separately, and any garden not exceeding an acre occupied with a dwelling-house is exempt from Undeveloped Land Duty, even where it has a building value. (4) The exclusive part of the definition in the Agricultural Rates Act would not be appropriate to the Bill, as the matters excluded—parks, gardens, recreation grounds, etc.—are dealt with in the Bill by special provisions. I may perhaps point out that the differences between the two definitions are all in the favour of the taxpayer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the annual value on which charges are levied is the rateable value at which wine and spirit merchants are at present assessed for poor and local rates?

I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the proposed charges of Licence Duty under the Finance Bill. Where the Licence Duty is charged according to a scale based upon annual value the amount of duty payable is determined, under the Excise Acts, by reference to the full annual value of the licensed premises.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total quantity of spirits, beer, and porter consumed in Ireland during the year ended March 1908, and the gross duty paid for these commodities during the same period; what was the total duty paid for all alcoholic drink consumed in Ireland during the same period; and what was the total amount paid into the Irish Local Taxation Account in respect of these taxes in this period?

The total quantities of spirits and beer (home-made and imported) retained for consumption in Ireland, and the duty paid thereon, in the year ended 31st March, 1908, were as follows:—

		Duty Paid.
Spirits	4,237,000 proof gallons	£2,336,000
Beer	2,606,000 barrels	1,010,000

The total duty paid on all alcoholic drink retained for consumption in Ireland during the same period was £3,433,000. The net proceeds in the year 1907–8 of the additional Customs and Excise Beer and Spirit Duties payable to the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account amounted to £127,504 17s. 1d. The amount actually paid in the year 1907–8 to the Local Taxation Account "on account" of the above proceeds—including the unpaid balance of the previous year—was £134,142 14s. 10d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that advantages accrue to the public service in Ireland by the use of privately-owned motor-cars by Civil servants in connection with their official duties; that a saving of official time and economy are effected, with a consequent increase of efficiency; and, in view of these facts, will he consider whether any exemption can be made in favour of Irish Civil servants using their own motor-cars for official purposes?

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on this subject on 14th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been directed to the case of hotels in Scotland where the bar-drawings exceed a third of the whole drawings, and that the proposed licences, calculated on half the annual value, is prohibitive, and means that such hotels must be closed; and if he will consider the possibility of putting such hotels, which exist mainly for the benefit of the travelling public and are practically only open for a few months, on a footing other than that of public-houses which exist solely to sell drink?

My attention has been directed to the case of hotels in Scotland of the character referred to in this question. The incidence of the rates of duty as proposed to be charged under the Finance Bill upon licences for hotels where the real business for which the main buildings of the hotel exist, is practically confined to a short season, has been brought to my notice, and is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the yield from Scotland in the last financial year of the duty paid by on-licence holders, the duty paid by off-licence holders, and the proportion of the £2,600,000 expected from Scotland apportioned between the off and on-licences, respectively?

The amounts of Licence Duty paid in Scotland in the year ended 31st March, 1909, by on-licence holders and by off-licence holders were £135,000 and £56,000 respectively. As I informed the hon. Member for Rutland on 21st May, I am not in a position to give an exact estimate of the yield of the new Licence Ducies under each head.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the gross income derived from land taxed under Schedule B (Profits derived from occupation) in each of the three countries, England, Scotland, and Ireland, in the years 1900, 1905, and 1908 respectively, as well as the actual amount of tax received from each of the three countries?

The following statement contains the information asked for by the hon. Member:—

Gross Income.*
Year.		England.	Scotland.	Ireland.
		£	£	£
1900–1901	…	12,380,000	1,980,000	3,249,000
1905–1906	…	12,279,000	1,942,000	3,239,000
†l907–1908	…	12,200,000	1,939,000	3,241,000

Actual Produce of Income Tax.
Year		England.	Scotland.	Ireland.
		£	£	£
1900–1901	…	171,000	33 000	31,000
1905–1906	…	146,000	31,000	28,000
†1907–1908	…	135,000	27,000	23,000
* The gross income derived from land taxed under Schedule B is assumed by law to be one-third of the annual value. The figures include the profits of nurseries and market gardens, which, though assessable under Schedule B, are estimated according to the rules of Schedule D.
†The figures for 1907–8 are given, as those for 1908–9 are not yet available.

further asked what is the gross assessment of the capital value of land as well as the gross annual income taxed in England, Scotland, and Ireland under Schedule A, for the purposes of Income Tax in the years 1900, 1905, and 1908, respectively, also the deductions made in the three countries, respectively, on account of repairs, agricultural depression, etc., for income derived from land taxed under this schedule?

The capital vaelue of land is not assessed, and its amount is not known.The gross annual income, for Income Tax (Schedule A) purposes of property classified as "lands" (including rent charges under the Tithes Commutation Act, farm houses, farm buildings, etc.) was as under:—

Year.		England.	Scotland.	Ireland.
		£	£	£
1900–1901	…	36,942,000	5,944,000	9,751,000
1905–1906	…	36,610,000	5,821,000	9,721,000
1907–1908	…	36,335,000	5,801,000	9,722,000

The deductions (from the foregoing amounts) made in respect of repairs and agricultural depression were as under:—

Year.				England.	Scotland.	Ireland.
				£	£	£
1900–1901	…	Repairs	…	4,505,000	740,000	1,175,000
		Agricultural depression	…	131,000	7,000	446,000
1905–1906	…	Repairs	…	4,481,000	724,000	1,179,000
		Agricultural depression	…	115,000	4,000	457,000
1907–1908	…	Repairs	…	4,448,000	721,000	1,182,000
		Agricultural depression	…	76,000	4,000	342,000

Other deductions cannot be given, as they are not distinguished from those made in respect of houses and other buildings. The figures for 1907–8 are given as those for 1908–9 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would instruct the Inland Revenue officers in Belfast to see that the persons licensed to sell intoxicating drinks in that city conform to section 11 of the 35th and 36th Vic, c. 94, by having the name of the licensee, and the character of the licence, placed over the entrance to all licensed premises?

I have no reason to suppose that licensed persons in Belfast do not conform to the requirements of the Licensing Act, 1872, to which the hon. Member refers; but if he can refer me to any particular case which he has in mind I will have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the average cost of poor law relief granted by

The average daily cost of the maintenance of a pauper in the workhouse and in the infirmary of the Brentford Guardians during the year 1908–9, is calculated to have been, approximately, 1s. ll½d. and 3s. 3¼d. respectively. These amounts include, in respect of salaries of officers, loan charges, cost of buildings and repairs, and other expenses, 1s. 5d and 2s. 3d. respectively. In the case of each of these items, slightly more than 9d. is attributable to loan charges. The average daily cost of relief to an outdoorpauper in 1908–9 may be taken at 5¼d., of which 1¼d. represents the cost of administration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the number and name of parishes in the non-autonomous areas of county councils where the rate for elementary education exceeds 1s. 6d. in the pound?

The returns furnished to me do not give separate particulars of the kind desired for each parish.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the petition which has been presented to him to make the two Boarding-out of Children Orders identical, whether he will, before issuing a new Boarding-out Order, give the council of the Association of Poor Law Unions an opportunity of personally submitting their views on the subject for his consideration?

I have to-day received a deputation on this subject from the council of the association, who have represented to me their views with regard to it.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that on 22nd June the chairman at the County of London Sessions expressed the opinion that John Burrell, aged 17, William Chown, 18, and Joseph Pritchard, 17, were prisoners who would greatly benefit by being detained under the Borstal system, but that, owing to the Prison Commissoners having declined to certify them for the same, the chairman, with regret, sentenced each to nine months' imprisonment, although in his opinion it was useless, and the worst thing that could happen; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I find on inquiry that Burrell was certified to be medically unfit for the hard manual training which is necessary at Borstal. In the other cases there appears to have been some misunderstanding with regard to the recommendations made by the prison authorities, but I may say that both prisoners will be treated under the modified Borstal system, which supplies, as far as circumstances permit, a training similar to that given at Borstal. Under the Prevention of Crime Act, which makes statutory provision for Borstal sentences, and which comes into force on 1st August next, there will, I hope, be no risk of a similar misunderstanding.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it was first decided to construct the new lock at Portsmouth; when the first Vote was taken for its construction; what was the amount voted; what is the estimated total cost of the work; and what is the anticipated date of completion?

Various schemes were prepared, and after consideration it was decided, on 16th July, 1907, to adopt the scheme which is now being carried out. The first Vote for its construction was taken in 1906–7. The sum of £10,000 was provided on account in that year. The estimated total cost of the lock and connected works is £940,000, exclusive of £65,000 for machinery. The main contract is due for completion in the autumn of 1912.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners can hold out any expectation of the reinstatement of James Binchy, evicted tenant on the Coote estate, near Free-mount, county Cork, in his former holding; and, if not, what steps, if any, the Commissioners are taking to procure for this man an equivalent holding on the lands of Ballinoran, Cowley estate, or on other available lands?

The application of James Binchy, whose former holding on the Coote estate is in the occupation of another tenant, will be considered by the Estates Commissioners in the allotment of untenanted land.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Douglas, clerk of the petty sessions, Dungiven, county Derry, lives over three miles distant from the court in which he discharges his duties, in violation of the rule made by the Lord Lieutenant under 21 and 22 Vic, c. 100, s. 29, and published on 3rd December, 1903; and whether he will take steps to compel the clerk to live and be accessible within the limit specified in the rule?

Permission to live three miles from Dungiven was granted to this clerk on special conditions, one of which was that he should attend at Dungiven Courthouse on three days in each week for the transaction of petty sessions business. The question of this clerk's residence will be reconsidered at the end of six months.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the widow of ex-Sergeant Cluff, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, who died last March, paid into the Constabulary Force Fund for 59 years, and that all his widow has received from this fund is £63 13s. 6d.; and whether, in view of the fact that this fund is for the widows and orphans of deceased officers, and the fact that the late Sergeant Cluff was a subscriber for 59 years, he will recommend a further grant to the family of the deceased officer?

I am informed by the Constabulary authorities that there is no power under the rules of the Fund to increase the grant to this pensioner's widow, which was calculated as follows: 5 per cent. on £l,105 15s. 2d., being the total amount of pay received by him when in the force, together with one-half per cent. on the total amount of pension (£l,677 7s. 1d.) drawn by him since his retirement. The total amount which he subscribed to the fund during his lifetime was £27 14s. 6d.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have made application for?and for the purposes of the restoration of evicted tenants both on the O'Donel estate, at Newport, county Mayo, and on the estate of Mr. Fitzgerald, of Turlough, Castlebar, county Mayo, and that in both cases the landlords lodged an objection; and could he say what are the grounds of objection in each case?

The Estates Commissioners gazetted certain lands on the estates referred to with a view to their acquisition under the Evicted Tenants Act. In the first case the owner has objected to the price offered by the Commissioners, and has filed a petition which is pending for hearing. In the second case the owner has objected on the grounds that the lands are tenanted, and have not been selected with due regard to the other property of the owner.

asked the Postmaster-General, with reference to his recently issued regulation permitting future candidates for Post Office employment to be exempt from revaccination on making a statutory declaration that they conscientiously believe that revaccination would be prejudicial to their health, if he is aware that evidence was given before the Royal Commission on Vaccination that many Post Office employés become subject to the risk of infection from small-pox in a degree exceeding that of the general population, and that the Commission's Report emphasised the fact that amongst Post Office employés there had not been a single death from small-pox between 1870 and 1880, which period included the smallpox epidemic in London of 1870–72, and only ten slight cases of the disease; had he before taking this step availed himself of the opinions of his medical officers throughout the country, who are responsible to him for the maintenance of the health of his staff; if so, does the new regulation accord with the opinion of his medical officers throughout the country; is he aware that in other branches of the Government service, such as the Army and Navy, revaccination is rigorously insisted upon; what is his reason for permitting Post Office servants to be exempt from similar regulations, seeing their acknowledged greater risk of infection; and does he intend to continue to insist upon primary vaccination in all candidates for employment in the Post Office in the future?

I am acquainted with the evidence given before the Royal Commission on Vaccination and with the references to the Post Office in their Report. This House has laid down that a conscientious objection to vaccination is to be recognised as absolving the objector from penalties because of non-vaccination; and I have, therefore, in common with the Local Government Board and the Board of Education, felt it incumbent on me to relax the rules in regard to re-vaccination in accordance with the spirit of the general law on the subject. Primary vaccination is insisted upon by the Civil Service Commissioners in respect of all candidates for established appointments throughout the Civil Service. There would be considerable practical inconvenience in applying a different rule in the case of unestablished appointments.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the index number of the unit of work at Harrow?

122.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any large extension of the salaried sub-office system to London is contemplated; and whether this system will have the effect of setting up two standards of wages for officers directly employed by his Department and engaged on similar duties?

The Parliamentary Committee on Post Office Servants recommended that, when certain conditions were fulfilled, the salaried sub-office system should be introduced in London, and that recommendation will be carried out as circumstances permit. The effect will be to increase the number of officers in the direct employ of the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether public stores were found missing from the Army Ordnance Department, Curragh Camp; if so, what was the value of the stores; on whom was the responsibility for the safe custody of the stores fixed; if any soldiers were censured in connection with the transaction; whether the chief ordnance officer is supposed to be responsible; and, if not, whether he will have an inquiry instituted into the working of this Department generally?

A full inquiry was held into certain deficiencies of stores in the Army Ordnance Department at the Curragh and the necessary disciplinary action has been taken. It is not proposed to publish any further details in connection with this case.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any inquiry is made at Island Bridge when tenders are being issued for repairs regarding the condition of labour under which it is intended the repairs should be carried out; and if he will consider whether the work would be better carried out in the interests of the public service by direct labour at Island Bridge, where accommodation exists for the employment of additional mechanics?

It is a condition of the contract under which these local repairs are executed that the wages paid in the execution of the contract shall be those generally accepted as current in each trade for competent workers in the district where the work is carried out. As regards the latter question whether it would be better to employ additional skilled labour for the repair work there, it is considered that as repair by contract is only resorted to at time of pressure, and is not continuous, there is no adequate reason for disturbing the present arrangements.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is now in a position to state when the half-yearly Report of the Small Holdings Commissioners for the half-year ending 3lst January, 1908, will be published?

The Report is in the printers' hands. It will be issued at an early date.