asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any mark is made on eggs which have been preserved by means of cold storage so that the buyer of them can distinguish them from fresh eggs; and, if not, whether he proposes to make regulations requiring such distinguishing marks to be affixed?

No marks are required to be placed on eggs which have been preserved by cold storage. I am not in possession of any information which shows that it is necessary in the interests of public health that the regulations referred to should be made.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, since the Naturalisation Act was not passed till 1870, a woman who was married in 1865 to a German, since deceased, has lost her English nationality so as to be ineligible, though in all other respects qualified for an old age pension?

I am sorry I am not in a position to give a definite answer to this question, but the information contained in it is not sufficient to enable me to do so. I may add that I should only be empowered to decide the point if it came before me in connection with an appeal against the decision of a local pension committee, and I should then ask to be furnished with a full statement of the facts of the particular case.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is intended to introduce a Census Bill this Session; and whether he intends to appoint any Committee to inquire into the modifications which might be introduced in the next Census schedule?

I am afraid it will not be practicable to pass a Census Bill during the present Session. The suggestion in the latter part of the question will receive consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that grocers who sell cream in jugs will, under the Milk and Dairies Bill, have to register themselves as dairies, with consequent inspection, etc.; also that grocers who sell tins of condensed milk will,, under the same Bill, also have to register themselves as dairies; and if he will consider whether it will be advisable to relieve grocers from this obligation?

I have received representations with regard to these points, and I will give careful consideration to them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can explain why certain postmen in Belfast are refused the privilege of a weekly half-holiday while it is granted to others; and if he will cause arrangements to be made whereby the half-holiday may be made universal?

I will have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having taken into consideration the number of years in which officers at present acting as substitutes for superiors in Belfast have been performing these duties, he is prepared to relax the rule requiring employment for a period of two months before extra remuneration can be given?

The rule referred to is based on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee, and I see no reason for treating Belfast exceptionally.

asked the Home Secretary if he will say how many of those persons who in England and Wales were, in 1906, 1907, and 1908 respectively, sentenced to imprisonment or committed to prison in default of payment of fines or of finding sureties had not been previously in prison?

I regret to say that I am unable to give the information the hon. Member asks for, but. I append a table of figures which will, I think, be of interest to him in this connection:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say how many persons in England and Wales were in 1908 committed to prison in default of payment of fines?

According to my present information, 95,477 persons were received into prison during 1908 in default of paying fines. It is possible that, on revision, these figures may require some correction.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can now state how far advance has been made in supplying arms to the Royal Engineer units of the Territorial Army; and whether, out of nearly 500 men of the Kent fortress companies told off to the Thames and Medway defences, all, except about 100, are still unarmed?

It has been decided to arm these units with the long rifle, and it is hoped that an issue of rifles will soon be made. As regard's the Kent fortress companies, the only one armed is the Ton-bridge Company, which was allowed to retain its arms on transfer to the Territorial Force. The two other companies are newly formed and unarmed.