asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if he can ascertain from the Commissioners of National Education the number of teachers who, according to Rule 104 (a), (c), (d), were entitled to promotion to grades 12 and 11 on 31st March, 1909, and whose promotion has been deferred owing to the action of the Treasury?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that promotion has not been deferred in the case of any woman teacher. In the case of men teachers promotion to the first and second sections of the first grade have been held in abeyance until all the recommendations have been received from the inspectors, as the number of vacancies in these grades is limited, but the Commissioners cannot at present say in how many cases promotion must ultimately be deferred owing to the absence of vacancies in the first grade.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners whether any proceedings have as yet been instituted by the owner of the Hyde estate, Ballin-dangan, county Cork, for sale to them of the holding formerly occupied by William Bulman; and, if not, whether the Commissioners can see their way to communicate directly, or through their solicitor, with Mr. William Rochfort, agent to the estate, with the view of expediting the reinstatement of the evicted tenant?

The Estates Commissioners are in communication with the agent in this matter, but formal proceedings for sale have not yet been instituted.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board for Ireland will make inquiries as to whether the motor omnibus plying between Warrenpoint and Rostrevor, country Down, is licensed by the Warrenpoint Urban Council; and, if not, whether any steps can be taken to that end with a view to securing that not more passengers will be carried than the omnibus is constructed to accommodate and to safeguard in other respects the interests of the public?

The Local Government Board are informed by the town clerk of Warrenpoint that the motor omnibus is not licensed by the Urban District Council as a hackney carriage under section 76 of the Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1844, but that the council are obtaining legal advice regarding their authority to license motor cars for carrying passengers in the district, and also regarding the extent of their authority in restricting the use of such cars.

asked the Chief Secretary if he could state under what conditions and terms did Maurice Kissane, of Ardfert, North Kerry, buy from the benefice of Ardfert minor canonry, under the Church Temporalities Act, the lands at present in the possession of his son, James Kissane; what was the date of the purchase; at what rate per cent. has the principal and interest been repaid; and how much of the purchase money is now paid off by the tenant?

I am informed by the Land Commision that Maurice Kissane purchased his holding from the Church Temporalities Commissioners in the year 1872 for £1,046 5s., of which £346 5s. was paid to those Commissioners, and a mortgage was given to them for the balance of the purchase money £700 at four per cent. interest. In 1896, under the provisions of the Land Act of that year, Kissane was offered to convert his mortgage into a wasting mortgage at four per cent., leaving the original rate for interest alone, but he declined, as apparently he preferred to pay only 3½ per cent. interest, to which rate his interest had been reduced under the Purchase Act of 1885. Consequently, the £700 is still outstanding, and the interest payable is £21 17s. 6d. to the Church Fund.

asked the Chief Secretary, in respect to the estate of Robert G. E. Twiss, county Cork, whether the Estates Commissioners can say upon what grounds Daniel Barry, evicted tenant, was excluded from the purchase operation on this estate; what was to have been the amount of the proposed purchase annuity on his holding as compared with the old rent; if the Commissioners are aware that this man complained of being deprived of certain amenities of the holding, viz., proper access to adequate water supply and right of way through his farm to a neighbouring tenant; and on what conditions are the Commissioners prepared to reinstate this man in his former holding?

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that the annuity on the price put by them on Barry's former holding would have been £21 9s. as compared with the old rent of £34 17s. As regards the remainder of the question, I have nothing to add to my reply to the question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member on 23rd July, 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired any land in county Leitrim for the reinstatement of evicted tenants or for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings; and, if so, how much has been bought, the purchase money paid, and in what localities; and whether any evicted tenants have been reinstated on those lands?

The Estates Commissioners have purchased, or agreed to purchase, 1,494 acres of untenanted land, including mountain and bog, in county Leitrim, for the sum of £2,207, and proceedings are pending for the sale to them of 3,870 acres. On portion of the untenanted land acquired new holdings have been provided for three evicted tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Crown Solicitor in Cork is continually meeting the employers of that city who have been in dispute with their workpeople for the past two weeks, and that the Crown Solicitor is prosecuting men on behalf of the employers; and if he intends taking action in the matter?

The Crown Solicitor for Cork is entitled to take private practice. He informs me that he acts in business matters for several merchants in Cork, but that he has not since his appointment been interested in or conducted any criminal prosecutions for any of them. He has, as Crown Solicitor, taken charge of several police prosecutions for breaches of the peace arising out of the labour disputes in Cork.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any, and, if so, what, steps to deal with the claims to the two evicted farms of Upper and Lower Droumnicolman, which belonged to the late Mrs. Johanna Daly, near Kilgarvan, county Kerry?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the farms formerly held by Mrs. Daly are now in the occupation of other tenants. The application of her representative for reinstatement will be considered in connection with the allotment of untenanted land.

asked the Chief Secretary what was the estimated cost of the Cushendall water and sewerage scheme; what has been the total cost of carrying it out; and will he state the expenditure on the actual contract for extras, surveyors' fees, law costs, and clerical assistance?

So far as the information at the disposal of the Local Government Board goes, the following are the figures, at the present date, which are required by the hon. Member in connection with the scheme:—

• Estimated cost, £2,915 5s. 11d. (including £500 for engineering and law expenses).
• Total cost of executing scheme, £2,693 19s. 9d. (including cost of land).
• Expenditure on actual contract, £2,506 0s. 6d. (including cost of land).
• Extras, £53 6s. 2d.
• Surveyor's fees, £183 4s. 7d.
• Law costs, £134 8s. 6d. (final bill not yet furnished).
• Clerical assistance, £15.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the cases, within the ten years ending at the present date, in which decisions of Irish local government auditors have been reversed or modified on appeal, with, in each case, the name of the accounting body, the amount involved in the disputed decision, the aggregate legal and other expenses, so far as known, of all the parties resulting from the decision and appeal, and by whom paid, and the name of the auditor, the name of the person on whose nomination or recommendation he was appointed, his salary, and any effect on his position in the service in consequence of his error?

The records of the Local Government Board do not enable them to supply this information.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Commissioners of National Education can see their way to alter the rule under which they refuse to supply candidates with the marks obtained by them at King's Scholarships Examinations, as in many cases it is essential that candidates who may have to present themselves a second time should know the subjects in which they failed to secure sufficient marks?

The Commissioners of National Education do not consider it would be in the interest of education to supply candidates with the marks obtained by them at the King's Scholarship Examinations, but the Commissioners have no objection to informing candidates of the subjects in which they failed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have investigated the claim of Patrick McGrath, Tullyorior, county Down, who was evicted on the property of James Brown in 1885; if so, with what result; and, if the decision is adverse to the claimant, whether he can stats the grounds?

The Estates Commissioners have decided, after inquiry, to take no action in reference to the application of Patrick McGrath for reinstatement in his former holding of 2½, acres, which is now in the occupation of another tenant. It would be contrary to the established practice to state the reasons which actuate the Commissioners in the exercise of their discretion.

asked the Chief Secretary if he has received a resolution from the Swanlinbar branch of the United Irish League, proposed by James Cassidy, county councillor, and seconded by Councillor Patrick M'Govern, demanding that their district of county Cavan should be scheduled as a congested district; and will he give the matter his consideration?

I have received the resolution referred to. As I have already informed the hon. Member, it is not proposed to add to the area to be placed under the administration of the Congested Districts Board by the Land Bill, which follows the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Congestion.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Mr. X. G. Wilson, of Ballykilmurray, Kiltegan, West Wicklow, applied on the 7th inst. to the Inland Revenue Office, at Athy, for the purpose of taking out probate of his father's will; that he was informed the office had been transferred from Athy to Tullow, county Carlow; that he was directed by the Inland Revenue officer at Athy to communicate with the officer at Tullow; that Wilson applied to the officer at Tullow,and was informed by him that the officer had no books, forms, or stamps necessary for the work; and that he could undertake no probate work until the month of August; and whether he will make inquiries into this case, with a view to facilitating the administration of Wilson's affars?

I have inquired into this case, and find that a new Excise station was recently established at Tullow to which the official business of the district of Kiltegan was transferred from the Excise officer stationed at Athy. This change has, I regret to say, caused some temporary dislocation of business. The officer has now been supplied with all the necessary books, forms, etc., to enable him to deal at once with any pending application of the kind referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the income received by the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland in respect of the River Shannon for the last completed financial year, under the heads of fisheries, tolls, rents, water power, and any further source; and what for the same period was the expenditure under the above heads?

The figures of income for the financial year 1908–9 are:—

Fisheries rents	£1,800
Tolls	2,839
Bents other than from fisheries, but including water power not separately charged for in lettings	667
Hire of plant, dredger, sales, etc.	56
Total	£5,362

The expenditure cannot be given separately under the preceding heads, but it amounted in all to a sum of £5,756, expended on maintenance works, wages to lock-keepers and superintendence of the navigation, exclusive of an expenditure of £568 on drainage works connected with the River Shannon, which was met out of Voted Moneys.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whethe the is aware that the following named persons, residents of the Aclare (county Sligo) sub-committee, old age pensions, district, namely, Michael Cafferty, Martin O'Grady, Bridget Gilli gan, Winnie Grady, John Casey and Thomas Haran have been refused pensions, although their claims were on investigation by the pension officer, approved of by him, and sanctioned by the local sub-committee; whether it was elicited by local investigation that these claimants are over 75 years of age; and, if so, whether, under the circumstances, he will order that the pension officer in conjunction with the subcommittee be empowered to inspect all such people individually in future, their joint report to be accepted by all in the absence of documentary evidence to the contrary?

I cannot adopt the suggestion made in the last paragraph of the question, but my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary is causing inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the special cases mentioned.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether any Report has been received at the India Office of the result of the last year's working of compulsory education in the Baroda State; and whether this Report, if any, can be laid upon the Table of the House?

No separate Report on Education is furnished by the Baroda Durbar, but there is a chapter on the subject in the Durbar's Annual Administration Report. The last received Administration Report is for the year 1906–7. That for 1907–8 has not yet been received.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that the Government of India recently sanctioned, as a reward for famine work performed last year, two months' extra privilege leave or, as an alternative, four months' furlough on full pay for those who did ten months' work, and half the above leave for those who did six months'; whether he is aware that the Government of India, contrary to the recommendation of the local Governments, have decided that furlough on full pay cannot be combined with privilege leave; whether the Secretary of State's attention has been drawn to the fact that their ruling practically nullifies the advantage of the concession granted; and, if so, what steps does he proposed to take?

To officers employed on famine relief operations in the United Provinces in 1907–8 the Government of India have sanctioned the grant of the leave concessions referred to by the hon. Member. The condition to which the hon. Member refers, which prohibits the combination of furlough on full pay with ordinary privilege leave, is identical with the condition which accompanied the grant of similar concessions in 1900. The Secretary of State does not consider that this condition practically nullifies the advantage of the concessions. The Government of India have not considered it necessary to make the concessions which have been granted on this occasion more liberal than those of 1901, and the Secretary of State sees no sufficient cause for interference.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. Kershasp, of the Madras Civil Service, who has been reduced from his appointment of sub-collector of Guntur; whether he is aware that Mr. Kershasp was refused copies of the charges against him and of the deposition of the witnesses examined, and of the reports made by the collector and by the Hon. Mr. Horne, who was appointed by the Madras Government to investigate the case; and whether he will direct that copies of these documents shall be supplied to him?

The Secretary of State has received a Report on the case. He has no information as to whether the documents referred to were refused to Mr. Kershasp, but he will inquire.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that on page 49, line 15, and page 52, lines 10 to 15 of the Finance Bill, wholesale dealers are precluded from selling any quantity of spirits unless it is over two gallons, whereas at present these traders can sell two gallons and upwards; and, if so, will he say whether that is the intention of the Government?

It is not intended to interfere with the existing powers of a wholesale dealer, and this will be made clear by the insertion of some additional words in the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the, Exchequer what sum was received for Spirit Duty in June, 1908, and June, 1909, and Beer Duty for the same months; and what sum was received for duty on wines in May and June, 1908, and May and June, 1909?

The receipts of duty on spirits, beer and wine during the months mentioned were, approximately:—

		1908.		1909.
		May.	June.	May.	June.
		£	£	£	£
Spirits	…	—	1,409,000	—	716.000
Beer	…	—	1,084,000	—	1,088,000
Wine	…	94,000	82,000	68,000	81,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state if the differences between the two definitions of agricultural land as given in the Agricultural Rating Act and in Clause 27 of the Finance Bill are all in favour of taxpayers being small holders as well as large holders of agricultural land; and, if not, will he state where and how the difference in the Finance Bill is detrimental to holders of agricultural land?

As I explained to my hon. Friend on the 1st instant, the differences between the two definitions are all in favour of the taxpayer. This applies alike to small and large holders of agricultural land.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a claimant under the Old Age Pensions Act, residing in the sub-committee district of Aclare, county Sligo, was refused a pension on the ground that he was eight years old in 1851, whilst a previous search in the Census Office revealed the fact that he was 19 years old in that year; can he say how the discrepancy arises; and will he say what steps, if any, will be taken to protect the rights of legitimate claimants in the future?

I have been making inquiries, but cannot identify the case. If the hon. Member will give the name of the claimant further inquiry will be made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an expert adviser was appointed by the Treasury to assist in drafting the land clauses of the Finance Bill; and, if so, what was the name of the person in question and what were his qualifications for the office?

The Bill was drafted by the Parliamentary draftsman, and my right hon. Friend took such advice in regard to Part I as seemed to him to be necessary.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Joint Board, set up to grant certificates under the Public Health (London) Act for sanitary inspectors and inspectors of nuisances, is about to institute examinations for meat inspectors; and whether the institution of such examinations falls within the powers conferred by Memorandum on the Joint Board?

I am informed that the Joint Board are about to institute examinations for sanitary inspectors specially to qualify them to discharge the duties of meat inspectors. I understand that these examinations are of the nature of examinations for honours, and that the Joint Board consider that the institution of them falls within the powers conferred by the Memorandum of Association under which they are constituted.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received communications from the Settle Rural District Council, the West Riding County Council, and his own auditor, with regard to the tar-spraying of the highway in the townships of Settle and Clapham; and whether, under section 3 of the Highways and Bridges Act, 1891, he will give his consent to the agreement between the county council and the rural district council as to two-thirds of the cost of this tar-spraying being defrayed out of the county rate and the remaining one-third being specially rated upon the townships specially benefited by the experiment?

I have received the communications referred to. I am advised that the work of tar-spraying is not an improvement of a highway within the meaning of section 3 of the Highways and Bridges Act, 1891, and that, consequently, the agreement in question is not within the section.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say when the General Lighthouse Fund accounts for the year which ended 31st March, 1909, will be presented to Parliament; and whether, pending such presentation, he can give the total receipts and expenditure in respect of lighthouses in the United Kingdom for the said year?

The accounts will be presented to Parliament at the earliest opportunity after they have been examined and certified by the Comptroller and Auditor - General, but some time must necessarily elapse before this will be possible. Approximately, the total receipts and expenditure of the General Lighthouse Fund for the year amount to £532,827 and £501,715, respectively.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade if there has been a single instance where three competing railway companies have received Parliamentary powers to combine or amalgamate in the railway legislation of this country?

Yes, Sir. Such an amalgamation was sanctioned in 1900, when the Great Southern and Western Railway Company took over the Water-ford, and Central Ireland, and the Water-ford, Limerick, and Western Railways. I have no doubt that a number of instances could be found in earlier years, especially if my hon. Friend's question is not limited to amalgamations sanctioned in the course of a single Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say how much petrol is stored in this country, and what is the weekly consumption?

I have no information on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total value of the motor cars and parts and accessories of cars imported into this country during the 10 years ending 31st December, 1908?

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member so far as the particulars are available:—

Year.			Motor Cars.	Motor Cycles.	Parts of Motor Cars (including Chassis).	Parts of Motor Cycles.	Total.
			£	£	£	£	£
1902	…	…	992,229		110,836		1,103,065
1903	…	…	1,714,166		274,387		1,988,553
1904.	…	…	2,080,871	30,855	343,569	16,872	2,471,667
1905	…	…	2,438,002	55,788	929,121	24,055	3,446,966
1906	…	…	2,486,337	50,433	1,885,323	30,371	4,452,464
1907	…	…	2,080,266	50,650	2,472,620	28,096	4,631,532
1908	…	…	1,389,552	36,258	2,722,909	29,182	4,177,901
NOTE.—Prior to 1902, the imports of motor cars and parts thereof were included under the heading of "Carriages, Wagonettes, Carts, etc., including those with Motors."

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in connection with the Trade Boards Bill, it is proposed to set up Labour Exchanges in London, Dublin, and Edinburgh; and if so, whether he will consider the advisability of establishing one at Cardiff?

There is no doubt that Labour Exchanges will be established at all the towns mentioned by my hon. Friend if the Labour Exchanges Bill passes through Parliament.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can say what is the total number of ownership electors in the United Kingdom?

I beg to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. The total number found by adding the figures for the several constituencies is, approximately, 637,300. Particulars will be found in the Return of Parliamentary Constituencies, etc., House of Commons Paper No. 64 of the present Session.

asked the Home Secretary whether particulars of the various experiments referred to as irregularities in the Report of the inspector of experiments on living animals in the Return for 1908 appear in Table IV. or in any other table in such Return; and whether an inspector was present at any, and, if so, which, of such experiments, or whether the answers given by him with regard to such experiments are based solely upon the reports furnished by the licencees themselves?

The experiments in question are entered in the table under the heading that would have covered them if the proper certificates had been obtained by the licensee. The inspector was not present when the irregularities occurred, but he subsequently saw some of the animals. The irregularities were discovered from examination of the reports made by the licensees.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the long hours worked by the employés of the Imperial International Exhibition (White City); and whether he will take steps to introduce some measure to deal with the hours of labour in such institutions?

I beg to refer my hon. Friend to the answer on this subject which I gave on May 26th in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Sunderland (Mr. Summerbell).

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the proportion of officials to workmen in one of the Royal dockyards?

There is no fixed proportion between the numbers of officials and workmen, the numbers in each case being dependent upon the needs of the service. The number now borne in each class is as follows:—

Principal officers	…	…	11
Superior officers	…	…	41
Subordinate officers	…	…	40
Inspectors	…	…	67
Workmen	…	…	10,441

(These figures are exclusive of Works Department.)Regarding as officials those above the rank of subordinate officers, the proportion now stands at about I to 200.

asked the First Commissionar of Works whether Members of this House have the privilege of using the promenade to the south of the Houses of Parliament adjacent to the gardens; and, if so, can he make the access thereto more easy by an entrance from the terrace or from that level?

Yes, Sir; there are structural difficulties in the way of provid- ing direct access to the promenade from the Terrace.

asked the President of the Board of Education what were his reasons for proposing, in March, 1906, to the governors of the Girls' Grammar School, Skipton, that their tuition fees should be increased; whether the governors did increase their fees accordingly, and by what amount; and whether he can state in what respect this advancement of fees is calculated to further the educational efficiency of the district ostensibly served by this school, in view of the fact that the governors do not provide the 25 per cent. of free places required by the Board's regulations?

The school in question has never applied for grants from the Board, and the requirements of the Board as to provision of free places in State-aided Secondary Schools do not, therefore, apply to it. Before those requirements came into force, namely, in November, 1905, the Board, in view of its financial position, advised the governors that the tuition fees must be raised if the school was to be efficiently maintained and adequate salaries paid to the staff. In March, 1906, the governors decided to raise the scale of fees per term as follows:—

• For pupils in the Kindergarten Department from £1 3s. 4d. to £1 10s.
• For pupils in the Main School under 12 from £1 13s. 4d. to £2.
• For pupils in the Main School over 14 from £3 to £3 10s.

The fees for pupils between 12 and 14 remain as before, viz., £2 10s. per term. The revised scale came into operation at once in the case of new pupils, and at the commencement of the autumn term of 1907 in the case of pupils already in the school.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will issue a statement showing in detail the changes made in the code of regulations for public elementary schools, similar to Appendix No. 1 of the Code for Scotland?

I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion in connection with next year's Code, but I do not think the issue of a leaflet separate from and subsequent to the Code itself would be of any value. Attention is called to the more important changes by means of the Prefatory Memorandum.