asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received any further statement with regard to the case of Michael Bourke, late private in the Leinster Regiment; and whether, taking this man's statement into account, and noting all the circumstances of this case, a small increase of pension could be granted in order to help him to get medical assistance and such food as a delicate man requires?

I have received the further statement to which the question alludes. As I have already explained to the hon. Member, this man is in receipt of the maximum pension to which he is entitled, and it is regretted that nothing more can be done for him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the number of bodies there are supposed to be still unrecovered in the collapsed trench at the Newport Dock works; and whether any attempt is being made to recover them from the workings?

I am informed that 33 bodies are supposed to be still in the trench, and that no attempt can be made to recover them until the necessary precautions have been taken to render the work of excavation safe. The whole subject is receiving the careful consideration, I understand, of those responsible, but the date when the excavations can be commenced is at present uncertain.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland what is the total amount of office fees payable in the principal registry or any district registry of probate in Ireland in connection with the issue of giants of administration intestate, administration with will annexed, and probate, respectively, where the net assets, after deduction of debts, do not exceed £100, £300, £500, and £800, respectively, exclusive of fees on special affidavits, renunciation, and other special documents filed?

This question can only be answered with approximate accuracy. The date of the death of the intestate or testator, the length of a testator's will, and other particulars must be taken into consideration in ascertaining the fees. Subject to these observations the following Table gives the fees:— Grants under Fees on Probate. Will annexed. Intestacy. £ £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 100 1 0 0 1 4 0 1 4 0 300 2 0 0 2 4 0 2 4 0 500 2 10 0 2 14 0 2 14 0 800 2 15 0 2 19 0 2 19 0

In the District Registries an additional sum of 4s. must be paid in all the above cases. As the question only refers to net assets after deduction of debts, it has been taken for granted that the hon. Member is not referring to cases coming within the 16th Section of the Finance Act, 1894.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it was formerly the custom to allow the police half the fines inflicted in scab sheep prosecutions; why this custom was altered; and whether there is any intention of resuming the practice?

Section 75 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, provides that one-third of any fine recovered under the Act may be awarded to the informer. The law officers having advised in 1900 that the police who prosecute for offences under the Act cannot be regarded as informers within the meaning of the Section, the constabulary were then instructed not to claim or accept any portion of such penalties.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what grounds James Reilly, Larkfield, Granard, was disallowed the old age pension; is he aware that this man bond fide assigned his place to his son who came from America, and only remained on condition of the assignment being made; whether he is aware that this man is now destitute, and will the pension therefore be restored?

I understand that the pension officer appealed against the committee's decision, reporting that the claimant appeared to have assigned the farm in order to qualify for a pension. The deed of assignment, which was dated 31st August, 1908, recited that the son was about to get married, but the pension officer at the date of his report stated that the son was still unmarried. Under the deed the claimant, in consideration of the handing over of his farm, was to be supported and maintained in the same manner as he was "heretofore accustomed to." Certain other privileges were reserved, and he was also to receive £50 at the date of the agreement and £50 in six months afterwards. Apart from the question of the annual value of the privileges reserved the Local Government Board were satisfied that the assignment came within Section 4 (3) of the Act, and they accordingly upheld the pension officer's appeal.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that Mrs. Caroline Bourke, Ile- clash, Fermoy, has expressed her willingness to reinstate Mr. Patrick Myles in his former holding on her estate at Kilworth with the view to purchase; and whether the Commissioners can see their way to purchase the holding or communicate with the owner in order to ascertain the terms upon which Mr. Myles can be reinstated, seeing that no proceedings for the sale and purchase of the estate, as a whole, are contemplated, and may not be instituted for many years?

The Estates Commissioners have already approached the owner, and have been informed by her solicitor that she is not prepared to consider the application of Patrick Myles for reinstatement until the estate is being sold under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary what progress has been made with the sale of Lord Antrim's Ballycastle estate; if the Estates Commissioners are aware that a body of tenants in the townlands of Glem-makeeran and Ballypatrick on that estate have refused to sign the purchase agreements on the ground that their holdings are uneconomic, the land being in reality overcut bog high up a mountain side; if he is aware that there is a tract of mountain grazing adjoining the holdings which, if divided among the tenant's, would improve their position, and that this mountain formerly belonged to the tenants or their predecessors and was taken by the landlord to make a ranch for a Scotch planter; and will the Estates Commissioners inquire into the demands and grievances of these tenants and into the whole circumstances of the estate before they sanction the sale or give the landlord a bonus?

The purchase agreements in the case of this estate were not lodged with the Estates Commissioners until October, 1908, and the property cannot be dealt with for some considerable time to come. When the estate is being inspected due inquiry will be made with regard to the matters referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he would stats what would be the annual pension allowance of a teacher who, since he arrived at the age of 21, completed 35 years' service under the National Board of Education, and what would be his allowance for 38 years' service, including three years prior to his being 21; whether the Irish Teachers' Pension Office has power to commute such a pension for compensation, and, if so, what would be the amount?

The amount of pension depends on the class for which the teacher is paying premiums. A male teacher, aged 56, with 35 years' service after the age of 21, who has accepted Class A (in which pension is governed by service as well as age), is entitled to a pension of £53 a year if paying for 1 (1) class, £37 for 1 (2) class, £29 for second class, and £22 for third class. The pension is not increased for service rendered before the age of 21, and is not commutable.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state when the purchase agreements were signed on the estate of H. S. Sankey Billis, Virginia, county Cavan, and when the vesting orders are likely to be issued; what quantity of un-tenanted land was on hand when the agreements were being signed; and whether the Estates Commissioners will see that any such land is divided amongst the evicted tenants who have applied to be reinstated?

The purchase agreements in the case of this estate were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in February, 1906, and the property has not yet been dealt with under the Irish Land Act, 1903. When it is being dealt with in its proper turn the applications of the evicted tenants will be considered by the Commissioners in connection with the distribution of the untenanted land, which comprises about 77 acres.

asked the Chief Secretary whether James Lane and John Griffin have signed agreements for purchase on the Erasmus Smith property at Pallasgrean, county Limerick?

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the President, of the Local Government Board whether he can state the total cost of all classes of paupers, including the cost out of loans, for the years 1907 and 1908; and the ratio per 1,000 population of all classes of paupers for the years 1907 and 1908?

The total expenditure on all classes of paupers, including expenditure out of loan, was in the year ended Ladyday, 1907, £14,742,030, and in that ended Ladyday, 1908, £14,848,703. The ratios per 1,000 of population of the mean number of paupers of all classes relieved on 1st July and 1st January in the same years were 25.9 and 25.7 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total quantity and value of motor spirit imported into the United Kingdom during the past year from foreign countries and British Possessions respectively?

I am unable to give the information asked for, there being no separate record of the imports of motor spirit. The imports of petroleum spirit ( i.e., the lighter products of petroleum, including benzine, benzoline, naphtha, gasolene, motor car spirit, petrol, etc.) in 1908 were as follows: From foreign countries, 41,807,995 gallons, valued at £1,118,847; from British Possessions, nil.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether only the fixed Death Duties of 50s. and 30s., respectively, are payable in case of estates which include farms purchased under the Land Purchase (Ireland) Acts, where no debts are deducted, but the redemption value of the annuity on the holding is deducted from the gross value of the holding ascertained in the manner prescribed by the Finance Acts?

Only the fixed Death Duties of 30s. and 50s. respectively are payable in the case of estates which include farms purchased under the Land Pur-

Spirits. Beer. Wine. Home-made. Imported. Total. Home-made. Imported. Total. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ August, 1907 … 1,330,000 270,000 1,600,000 1,228,000 2,000 1,230,000 74,000 August, 1908 … 1,244,000 233,000 1,477,000 1,255,000 2,000 1,257,000 65,000 August, 1909 … 1,075,000 188,000 1,263,000 1,128,000 2,000 1,130,000 62,000

chase (Ireland) Acts, where no debts are deducted, and where the redemption value of the annuity on the holding is not deducted from the gross value of the holding. If the gross value of the estate, including the redemption value of the annuity exceeds £500, advantage cannot be taken of the provision as to fixed duties, and the ad valorem duty remains payable; but if the net value of the estate (exclusive of property settled otherwise than by the will of the deceased), after deduction of debts and the redemption value of the annuity, does not exceed £1,000, the Estate Duty only is payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of standard barrels of beer on which duty was paid in the five London collections in each of the months of May, June, July, and August in the years 1908 and 1909, respectively?

The numbers of standard barrels of beer on which duty was paid in the five Excise collections in London in each of the months of May, June, July, and August in 1908 and 1909 were as follows:— 1908. 1909. May 541,386 549,863 June 578,862 582,710 July 548,302 574,206. August 626,064 547,951

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of duty paid on home-made and imported spirits, beer, and wine, respectively, in the month of August, 1907, 1908, and 1909?

presented the following statement of the amount of duty paid on spirits, beer, and wine, respectively, during the month of August in each of the years 1907, 1908 and 1909:—