asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how much was the cost of carrying out the intermediate examinations in Ireland; how much was the value of the exhibitions and other prizes awarded to students examined in each of the years 1888, 1898, and 1908, respectively; when do the Commissioners of Intermediate Education propose to give effect to their view that examinations on the plan hitherto adopted should only take place in the case of students of exceptional knowledge, and that the exhibitions should be of such an amount as to enable such students to obtain a university training; whether it is proposed to apply the entire saving which may be effected in the cost of examination, estimated by the Commissioners at two-thirds or three-fourths of the present cost, towards increasing the number and amount of the exhibitions and prizes awarded to students; and whether he is aware that the junior grade exhibitions hitherto awarded have been generally ineffective in inducing students to enter upon university courses?

The Commissioners of Intermediate Education inform me that the expenditure for the years 1888, 1898, and 1908 in respect of examinations and the amounts awarded in exhibitions and prizes in those years was as follows:—

Year.		Examinations.				Exhibitions and Prizes.
		£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.
1888	…	8,642	14	11	…	14,172	16	8
1898	…	13,636	7	5	…	7,661	17	10
1908	…	16,438	10	4	…	9,074	0	0

The Board have not yet had under consideration a scheme for restricting their examinations to those students only who propose to compete for honours, prizes, or exhibitions, and therefore it is not possible to make any statement as to the expenditure of the saving thereby effected. In view of the increased numbers of candidates for entrance to the universities in recent years it does not appear that the junior grade exhibitions awarded by the Board have in any way deterred students from seeking university education.

asked the Chief Secretary what are the names of the inspectors appointed by the Board of Intermediate Education in Ireland, and what are their respective qualifications or degrees; whether it is proposed that they should, when making inspection of schools, test the knowledge of students in the same way as is done by inspectors of the Commissioners of National Education, or in what manner; whether, in the case of the establishment of written examinations confined to students who enter for honours exhibitions or prizes, the inspectors will have before them a list of the students so entering from each school so as to enable them to confine themselves when making an inspection to testing the knowledge of the general body of students only, exclusive of those who have entered for the honours examination; whether any rules have yet been drafted by or on behalf of the Commissioners of Intermediate Education for the guidance of their inspectors; and, if so, whether a copy of the draft rules will be laid upon the Table?

The Commissioners of Intermediate Education inform me that the names and degrees of the inspectors of the Board are as follows:—

• Richard Charles Bolger Kerin, B.A., London.
• Charles Edmund Wright, M.A., T.C.D.
• Ernest Ensor, M.A., T.C.D.
• Joseph J. O'Neill, M.A., R.U.I.
• John Edward Maguire, B.A., T.C.D. and M.A., R.U.I.
• Thomas Rea, M.A., R.U.I.

No special instructions or rules for the guidance of inspectors have yet been drafted by the Board. It is not therefore possible to make any statement as to the method of inspection. All rules made by the Board are laid before both Houses of Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary why the Local Government Board disallowed the pension of Mr. Maurice Downey, of Brosna, Castleisland, county Kerry, whose name could not be traced in the Census Returns; and if the Board will state what further proof of age they require to satisfy them in this case?

The pension officer appealed against the allowance of a pension in this case on the ground that no evidence of age had been produced, and the only evidence furnished to the Local Government Board by the claimant consisted of statements by three old persons to the effect that they considered him to be over VO years of age. As no trace of him could be found in the Census Returns the Board were unable to accept these opinions as conclusive evidence that he had attained the statutory age, and they accordingly allowed the appeal. The onus of proving that the age of 70 years has been attained rests upon a claimant. The Board would be satisfied with a certificate of baptism, an extract from the Census Returns, or any information which the claimant could produce to warrant them in coming to the conclusion that he fulfilled the statutory condition.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can ascertain the number of teachers who completed their course of training in July, 1900; the, number of principal teachers in the National Board's service before the 1st April, 1900, who were promoted to larger schools since that date; the number of principal teachers in the service before the 1st April, 1900, who were trained since that date: the number of assistants who were promoted to principals since 1st April, 1900; and if the Commissioners of National Education propose to take any steps to remove the financial grievances these classes of teachers suffer since the change in the system in 1900?

The Return asked for would take a long time to prepare, and, in the opinion of the Commissioners of National Education, the result would not be commensurate with the time, labour and cost involved in its preparation. The Commissioners are not aware that the classes of teachers referred to have any justifiable cause of complaint on financial grounds, the new system of payments introduced in 1900 having been generally beneficial to all classes of teachers.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the £620 collected by the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary from his subordinates to commemorate the memory of Constable Goldrick has yet been allocated; what was the date of the unofficial circular asking for subscriptions; what is the cause of the delay; and in whose custody the capital remains?

A vote has been taken to ascertain the wishes of the subscribers of all ranks to the Goldrick Memorial Fund of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which is purely unofficial, and the money will be allocated in accordance with the desire of the majority of the subscribers. This voting was the cause of the delay in allocating the money, which is in the custody of the hon. secretary to the committee and is lodged in the Bank of Ireland. The date of the unofficial circular referred to in the question was 11th February, 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary whether District-Inspector Rogers, of Enniscorthy, has yet returned to duty; whether he has yet made a statement as to his turns of horseback duty, and, if so, of what they consisted; whether this officer, on the occasion of his transfer to Enniscorthy, claimed a sum of about £20 for expenses, and whether the authorities reduced this amount to £3; what claims made by Mr. Rogers were allowed and what disallowed; whether, in making his claim, vouchers were submitted or declarations made as to expenses incurred; and what action was taken by the Inspector-General in the matter?

District-Inspector Rogers has returned to duty. He was unable to make a statement as to his turns of horseback duty, as his diary had not been regularly kept, but the county inspector, at the instance of the inspector-general has made personal inquiries, and, as a result of these inquiries, the inspector-general has reprimanded the district-inspector for his conduct in the matter. When transferred to Enniscorthy the district-inspector did not bring his family to live with him, but moved them and his furniture to Dublin. He claimed the expenses to which he would have been entitled had he transferred his family and effects to Enniscorthy, but the claim was disallowed as not coming within the regulations.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to acquire the Langley. Lickfinn estate, Gortnahoe, and Slievardagh, county Tipperary; and, if not, will they do so within a reasonable time, as the distribution of the 700 acres comprised in this estate is very much needed in this congested district?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that no proceedings have been instituted by the owner for the sale of these lands under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether 200 acres of the Goring estate, Ballynonty, county Tipperary, is at present held on the eleven months' system by a man named Hughes, who has other large farms; whether it is intended to create a tenancy for him so as to make him eligible to purchase this farm; and, seeing that there are a number of uneconomic holdings around this land and some evicted tenants in the locality, will the Commissioners refuse to entertain any proposal from Hughes?

The Estates Commissioners have not yet dealt with this estate under the Irish Land Act, 1903, as its turn has not come, but, from an examination of the papers lodged, there would not seem to be any untenanted land on the estate available for distribution. A man named Denis Hughes appears to hold 79 acres of Loughbrack at a judicial rent of £18 1s. 6d. fixed in January, 1898, but no purchase agreement has yet been lodged in respect of his holding.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say whether the present holder of the evicted farm on the Carmichael estate, Aughterera, Mount-nugent, county Cavan, on 9th May, 1907, signed a surrender of this farm to the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of having the evicted tenant, Miss Anne Beglan, reinstated; have the Estates Commissioners since taken any action in the matter; are they aware that this woman has lived in a ditch for over 22 years; and will steps be taken to expeditiously deal with this case?

I have nothing to add to my reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member on 24th March last.

asked the Chief Secretary if he has seen in the last annual report of the inspectors of asylums in Ireland that the increase of lunacy in that country since 1880 is 10,949; has the increase for the last few years been continuous; will he say what the population of Ireland was in 1880 and the then number of lunatics, and also the population of Ireland for 1908 with the number of lunatics; can he say whether there is a similar increase per head of the population of this disease in any portion of the British Dominions; and have the present Government considered whether anything can be done to cope with the increase of this almost national calamity?

I have seen the statement referred to. I am informed by the inspectors of lunatics that in 1880, when the population was estimated at 5,202,648, the number of lunatics under care in Ireland was 12,982, and that in 1908, when the estimated population was 4,371,436, the number of lunatics under care was 23,931, an increase of 10,949. The increase has been continuous, but has tended somewhat to fall off in recent years. In England the increase in the registered insane between 1880 and 1907 was 52,971. In Scotland the increase between 1880 and 1908 was 8,185. The Government; have had before them a Report dealing at length with the causes which, in the opinion of the inspectors, have contributed to swell the numbers of insane in institutions in Ireland. This Report was presented to Parliament in 1906 (Cd. 3126).

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say whether, on the sale of the Eden estate, Dungimmon, county Cavan one of the conditions of sale was that Patrick Morgan, an evicted tenant, was to be reinstated on his former holding; will he say if this has been done, or whether the Estates Commissioners intend to take any steps to deal with the restoration of this evicted tenant; and, if so, what?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that it would appear from communications received from the tenants' solicitor that the statement in the first part of the question is correct. The Commissioners inquired into Morgan's application, and, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them, they decided to take no action in reference to his reinstatement. The tenants' solicitor was notified of this decision in July, 1908, and he was at the same time informed that if the tenants wish to have their purchase agreements set aside they were at liberty, if so advised, to make application with that object to Commissioners in Court on notice of motion. Up to the present this has not been done.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the amount which has been deducted from the grants payable to the county Limerick on account of land purchase; and will he state how the sum which has been deducted is made up under the different headings, and for what period?

The net amount deducted in March last from the share of county Limerick in the Estate Duty Grant in respect of land purchase liability was £2,870 15s. 9d. Of this sum, £654 13s. 6d. was in respect of arrears of purchasers' annuities under the Land Acts of 1891 and 1896 for the year ended 12th February last, £428 18s. 1d. in respect of similar arrears under the Act of 1903 for the year ended 31st January last, and £1,787 4s. 2d. in respect of "insufficiency of income," also for the period last mentioned.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners will take any steps to ascertain the conditions upon which Thomas Nagle would surrender the holding at present occupied by him on the Leader estate, county Cork, in favour of Mrs. Alice Nagle, the evicted tenant, seeing that he expressed his willingness to do so if the Commissioners would provide him with a farm elsewhere, and that he made this statement during the hearing of a case at petty sessions, Kildorrery, on 12th May last, of which the Commissioners have been duly informed?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to a question asked by him on 27th May last, the Estates Commissioners wall inquire into the matter when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Simon Ryan, Cross, Pallasgrean, county Limerick, for reinstatement as an evicted tenant; can he state how this case stands; and is it the intention of the Commissioners to provide this man with a farm other than the one he was evicted from?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Ryan for reinstatement in a farm on the above estate at one time occupied by his father, and since purchased by the present occupier under the Land Purchase Acts. Ryan is the proprietor of another farm purchased under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Commissioners do not propose to provide him with a second holding.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have come to any agreements for the purchase of the untenanted lands on the Taylor estate, at Faha, Patrickswell, county Limerick; and, in view of the fact that adjoining this grazing land there are nine tenants whose entire land amounts only to 61 acres, and who were in possession of this untenanted land until 1887, when their lease expired, will the Estates Commissioners see that those nine uneconomic holders get preference as regards the applicants for a portion of this land which was, previous to 1883, in their possession?

These lands have been inspected, and the vendor has intimated his willingness to accept the Estates Commissioners' estimated price. In the allotment of the lands the Commissioners will consider the circumstances of the occupiers of small holdings in the neighbourhood.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the fact that, in the case of Thomas McMahon, who was fined £l and £2 costs at the Whiteabbey petty sessions, held on 8th July instant, for alleged illegal trawling in Belfast Lough, the defendant was only served with the summons the night before the trial, and had no time to prepare evidence; and whether, since the defendant is willing to prove to the satisfaction of the Board that it was impossible that the evidence on which he was convicted could be true, the Department will order an independent inquiry into the matter?

The summons was served on Thomas McMahon's wife on the 4th instant, and a copy was posted on his vessel on the 5th instant. McMahon did not then raise any question as to insufficient notice. The Department cannot review the decision of the magistrates. McMahon had a right of appeal, but did not exercise it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in the Dunmore (county Galway) district some e pensioners in receipt of pensions since 1st e January have not yet received the second issue of books; and will he state the reason for delay?

There has, I am informed, been some slight delay in the second issue of pension books, but that e issue is now practically complete. In many cases a cause of delay has been the absence of pensioners from home when the pension officer called to deliver new books.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state by what authortiy did a Post Office official named Mrs. Healy, Garrafranes, county Galway, take her pension book from Mrs. Mary Brannon, Cloondalgin, Dunmore, county Galway, to whom the committee had awarded a pension?

Mrs. Brannon was disqualified by the Local Government Board on a question of age raised by the pension officer, who sent the usual notice to the Post Office to stop payment.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the disadvantage suffered by ex-naval and military men who resign their positions to enter the Civil Service, and thereupon forfeit all pension rights which have previously accrued to them; and whether he will favourably consider the suggestion that colour service in the Army or Navy should count with Civil Service as qualifying time for pension in the latter?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the late Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Wandsworth on 3rd March, 1908.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the sinking funds under the various Acts allowing the advance of public money for the purchase of Irish land, from 1869 to 1903 inclusive, or any of them, have been amalgamated; if he will state the condition of each of those sinking funds as regards the gross receipts and the balance remaining due to the end of June, 1909; and, in the case of any of them applied otherwise than towards extinction of the debt, will he state the amount so applied and the purpose?

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, in respect of each of the Acts from 1869 to 1903, inclusive, allowing the advance of public money for the purchase of Irish land, the normal rate of repayment of principal and of interest by tenant purchasers; the length of the term when decadal reductions were not availed of and when they were, respectively: the average number of years' purchase of the rent paid under each of the Acts, the amount of principal, interest, and total paid under each Act, and in the short and lengthened term, respectively, by a tenant purchaser of a £25 yearly rent at the average price under that Act; the amount advanced to a vendor of an estate consisting of 40 such tenancies at the average price under each of the Acts, respectively; whether the vendor had to prove his title and to pay law costs of sale and Stamp Duty from his own resources; whether advances were made in respect of arrears in addition to price; whether a bonus on the price plus arrears was given; whether the vendor was relieved in the matter of proof of title, stamps, and costs of sale; and any other financial advantages enjoyed by the ordinary vendor down to November last under the Act of 1903 as compared with the ordinary vendor under previous Purchase Acts?

The answer to the first part of the first question is in the negative. It would be impossible to answer the rest of this question and the next question, much of which is hypothetical, without an enormous amount of research and labour on the part of the Irish Land Commission and the National Debt Office, and I regret that I should not feel justified in requiring them to undertake the task, in view of the labour at present imposed upon the Land Commission in particular by the congested state of lard purchase business.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action, if any, has been taken respecting the question of the encroachments on the foreshore at Sea View, Isle of Wight, by the erection of groynes and piles, which was brought to his notice by a question on 16th December last?

As regards the piles referred to by my hon. Friend, the question was settled to the apparent satisfaction of all concerned after a local conference held early in 1906 by an officer of the Board of Trade. As regards the groynes, the Board are endeavouring to get "crossovers" constructed at the inner ends of the groynes in order to provide easy means of passage for the public along the shore.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applicants have been disqualified under the Old Age Pensions Act because of having received Poor Law relief?

The number of applicants who have been disqualified from 1st October, 1908, to 30th June last in consequence of their having received Poor Law relief is about 29,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether old age pension applicants whose claims are alleged receive the pension from the date upon which they lodge their applications with the pension officer, or does their right to the pension only begin when their claim has been allowed and approved of by the local pension committees and the pension officer, even though two months may elapse between the date of the lodgment of the application and the passing of the claim by the local authority?

Under section 5 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act new pensions are payable on the first Friday after they have been allowed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in 1803 the Land Tax Commissioners sold the Land Tax charged on the Oxfordshire estates of the Dashwood family to Robert Scott, by contracts numbered 18, 19, 20, and 21; whether in consequence of such sales the Land Tax has been collected by the representatives of the said Robert Scott; whether, seeing that it is impossible for the owners of the land to redeem the tax in the same way as other owners can redeem their Land Tax, and that these owners are deprived of the benefits of the concessions made regarding Land Tax in the Finance Act of 1896, and having regard to the fact that such sale in 1803 was made for the convenience of the Government and in no way for the benefit of the owners of the land, he will take the opportunity of inserting clauses in the Finance Bill now before Parliament to remedy the grievances of the owners of this and all similar land?

Under the contracts referred to the lands affected were wholly freed and exonerated from Land Tax and all further assessments thereof. The answer to the second part of the question is, therefore, in the negative, and the third part does not arise. Possibly the hon. Member has in mind a perpetual fee farm rent issuing out of this land.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether veterinary surgeons are eligible to receive commissions in the Veterinary Corps of the Territorial Force, and be gazetted to or attached as transport officers of field ambulances; and whether officers of a field ambulance are allowed to count service during the South African war as civil surgeons towards promotion and in lieu of the proficiency examination?

Veterinary surgeons are eligible to receive commissions in the Army Veterinary Corps, Territorial Force, which is now in process of construction. There are no appointments in field ambulances for veterinary surgeons as such, but they, in common with other non-medical gentlemen, are eligible for appointment as transport officers in these units. Officers are not allowed to count any service as civil surgeons towards promotion or in lieu of the proficiency examination.

asked the Secretary of State for War why Colonial training in large general hospitals is not accepted for the Queen Alexandra Imperial Military Nursing Service?

My hon. Friend has been somewhat misinformed. Colonial training is accepted under the same conditions as training at home. It depends, however, on the opinion of the Nursing Board whether any particular nurse training institute attached to a hospital is accepted for recognition.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in making his announcement as to the construction of the four new ships contingently sanctioned in the Naval Estimates, he can arrange to state his proposals as to the concurrent increase of personnel?

As the Vote for ship construction is Vote 8, and the Vote relating to the personnel is Vote A, it must be a question for the Chair whether the limits of the discussion on Vote 8 would permit of discussion on Vote A.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of the increased Admiralty price of 2d. per pound put on fresh beef since 1st April; whether in view of this addition the money allowance of 4d. with standard ration will be increased to 4½d., and the 9½d. money allowance in lieu of rations to 11½d.; and whether he is aware that the reduction on other immaterial items of the ration, such as beans, etc., does not compensate for this extra cost of that which is the men's staple article of diet?

The repayment price of all fresh meat has been increased as stated, the price for beef, mutton, or pork being now fixed at 6d. per pound, which is no more than the average cost price to the Crown. The change in the repayment price does not, however, necessitate any adjustment in the value of the standard ration and messing allowance established under the new scheme of victualling, as in reckoning their value at 9½d. per diem (exclusive of spirit), meat has always been correctly charged at the average cost price of 6d. per pound. Similarly in regard to the money allowance in lieu of victuals, this was fixed at 9½d. per diem (exclusive of spirit) as representing the value of the standard ration and messing allowance, the intention being that whilst certain ratings may choose under which system they will be victualled, the cost to the Grown shall be the same in either case. It was never intended that the allowance, although nominally 9½d., should really be worth upwards of 11d., as it would be contrary to the immemorial custom of the service to make a distinction between different ratings in this respect. As regards the reductions in the repayment price of certain other articles of food, these have no connection with the change in the price of meat, beyond the fact that all the prices are closely based on the actual cost price to the Crown.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the petition of the workmen employed in the Director of Works' Department at the Royal Dockyard, Portsmouth, which was presented in 1908, has been replied to; and, if not, when may the reply be expected?

An answer was given to the petition in question on 14th June last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a considerable amount of joinery work in the Director of Works' Department at the Portsmouth Dockyard is being given to outside contractors, with the result that joiners are being discharged and the woodworking machinery of the department laid idle; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take?

The only joinery work that has been obtained by contract is a few manufactured articles amounting to £14 8s. These were stock patterns of local manufacture. No carpenters or joiners were discharged in consequence of this, nor has any of the Works Department machinery been idle. One carpenter only has been discharged recently, and this was due to his absenting himself without leave for six days.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that naval chaplains are being compulsorily placed on the retired list without any opportunity of being heard in their own defence; and whether he will give instructions to the proper authorities that no adverse report shall be sent to any bishop on the character of any naval chaplain until the accused person has had an opportunity of being heard in his own defence?

No chaplain is ever compulsorily placed on the Retired List without the circumstances of the case in all its bearings being fully investigated and carefully weighed by the Board of Admiralty, who are always prepared to give full consideration to any appeal.

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether Mr. Larden, who was recently deprived of his mastership at the Royal Naval Engineering College at Devonport, in consequence of the winding-up of the college, was offered employment in any other Department, in accordance with the Resolution of the House of Commons of 12th June, 1888, which directs that in any future reorganisations officials who are still able and willing to render service for the public money shall be provided with employment in other Departments instead of being forced to become useless burdens upon the country; and, if not, will be explain why this was not done?

There was no suitable appointment for Mr. Larden under the Admiralty, and the Admiralty have no control over appointments in other Departments of State.

asked the President of the Local Government. Board whether he is aware that the Hospital Committee of the Metropolitan Asylums Board have made it a condition of tenancy of cottages on their property that every person residing therein shall be vaccinated and re-vaccinated to the satisfaction of the medical officer; and whether such requirement has been sanctioned by the Asylums Board and by the Local Government Board?

As regards the cottages on the Small-pox Hospitals estate of the Metropolitan Asylums Board at Joyce Green, Dartford, it has been made a condition of tenancy that every person residing in them shall satisfy the medical superintendent of the small-pox hospitals that he or she is adequately protected against small-pox or shall consent to be vaccinated or revaccinated. The condition has been laid down by the Hospitals Committee of the Managers, acting in their behalf, and in pursuance of the general policy agreed to by the managers, and the Dartford sanitary authorities, and approved by the Local Government Board, for the protection of the neighbourhood of the small-pox hospitals against the disease. It only applies to the cottages on this particular estate.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if the application of Thomas Coley, of 6, Harringay-grove, London, N., for an old age pension has been refused; and, if so, on what grounds?

It is the fact that the claim for a pension has been disallowed in this case, the reason being that the claimant had only resided in the United Kingdom for 10 out of the past 20 years, and consequently did not satisfy the statutory condition as to residence?