asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the number in receipt of old age pensions in the county of Carnarvon, and what is the total sum paid them weekly?

The number of persons in receipt of old age pensions in the county of Carnarvon is 2,289, and the total sum paid to them weekly is £546 7s.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the total number of men, exclusive of Works Department, men, who were employed in tine Hoe dockyards on 30th November, 190S, namely,' at Portsmouth, Devonport, Chatham, Sheerness, Pembroke, Haulbowline, West India Docks, and Portland?

The total number of men employed at the Home Dockyards on 30th November, 1908, exclusive of Works Department men, was 33,842. The number employed at each yard was as follows:— Portsmouth. 10,766 Devonport 9,053 Chatham 8,766 Sheerness 2,033 Pembroke 2,063 West India Docks 217 Haulbowline 794 Portland 150

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any experiments have been made in order to compare the weight and bulk of the average Indian peasant's food with those of the average European; and, if so, whether he will inform the House of the results of such experiments?

I am not aware of any experiments of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member; but I will inquire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state what articles imported into the United States are subject to higher duties if of British origin than if imported from France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, or Switzerland; and what are the respective rates of duty?

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

Statement showing the articles which, on importation into the United States of America are subject to higher duties if the produce of or imported from the United Kingdom than if the produce of and imported from France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy or Switzerland, together with the respective rates of duty.

Note —The reduced duties shown in the following statement will cease to be accorded to imports from France and Switzerland after 31st October, 1909; from Germany after 7th February, 1910, and from Spain, Portugal, and Italy after 7th August, 1910.

Articles Rates of Duty leviable on Imports from the United Kingdom. Rates of Duty leviable on Imports from France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Switzerland. Dols. Cts. Dols. Cts. Brandies or other spirits manufactured or distilled from grain or other materials. Proof gallon 2 60 Proof gallon 1 75 Still Wines: In Casks— Containing 14 per cent. or less of absolute alcohol. Gallon 0 45 Gallon 0 35 Containing more than 14 per cent. of absolute alcohol. Gallon 0 60 In Bottles— Containing each not more than one quart, and more than one pint. Case of one doz. Bottles or jugs 1 85 Case of one doz. Bottles or jugs. 1 25 Containing each not more than one Pint. Case of 24 bottles or jugs Case of 24 bottles or jugs Any excess beyond the quantities named above found in such bottles. Pint or fractional part thereof 0 06 Pint or fractional part thereof 0 04 Sparkling Wines in Bottles— Containing not more than one quart and more than one pint. Dozen 9 60 Dozen 6 00* Containing not more than one pint and more than half a pint. Dozen 4 80 Dozen 3 00* Containing half a pint each or less. Dozen 2 40 Dozen 1 50* In bottles or other vessels containing more than one quart each in addition to the rates above stated (9 dols. 60 cts. or 6 dols. per dozen bottles) on quantities in excess of one quart. Gallon 3 00 Gallon 1 90* * The rates apply to imports from France, Germany, Spain. Portugal and Italy only. Sparkling wines imported into the United States from Switzerland are subject to the rates of duty shown in the preceding column.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to a considerable number of failures in the automatic signal working on the Metropolitan Railway during the months of July and August of this year whether any inquiry has been held; and, if so, in how many cases?

An accident due to a failure in the automatic signalling on this railway occurred on 5th August, and an inquiry was held by Colonel Druitt. la his Report, which has been published, the failure was attributed to the defective design of a valve, and it was stated that at all the signals fitted with the automatic-apparatus of the system that failed valves of an improved design were to be fitted, and meantime the working of the signals was to be watched by flagmen. The company have, however, now determined to withdraw the system mentioned at all sig- nals, except a few which are under a signalman's observation, and to adopt an electrical mechanical system instead. Certain other failures were reported to the Board of Trade of which the company's explanations have been obtained, but as no accident resulted in any of these cases no official inquiry has been held.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that since the new tariff law came into force in the United States the duty on spirits imported from the United Kingdom is $0.85 more than if imported from France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Switzerland, as against $0.50 under the old tariff; whether he has received representations from British distillers to the effect that there is great danger that this increased differentiation against British spirits, if maintained until the various treaties with the United States lapse, may cause a permanent diversion of trade to other countries; and whether, under these circumstances, the Government will take any action to influence the United States Government to place British spirits on a footing of equality with spirits imported from other countries, or to suspend the levying of the increased duty on British spirits until the treaties with other countries lapse.

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second and third parts of the question, representations have been received from certain distillers, but I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on the 2nd instant, from which he will see that the differentiation which exists will cease as regards France in November, Germany in February, Italy, Spain and Portugal in August next. The question of what further action could be taken in the matter is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state what would have been the yield of Estate Duty during the first five months of the present financial year at the old rates?

The yield of Estate Duty during the first five months of the present financial year at the old rates would have been £7,638,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the present Income Tax staff is sufficient to cope with the work of the Budget, apart from the Land Taxes;, and whether he will have an inquiry instituted into the pressure of work in the offices of surveyors of taxes?

If, as would appear from the second part of the question, the hon. Member has in mind the Tax Surveying Staff of the Inland Revenue, I beg to refer him to the answer of my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary on 19th July last to a question by the hon. and gallant Member for East Down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the pressure of work in the offices of surveyors of taxes; whether he is aware that the quinquennial assessments on property have to be made this year; is he aware of the amount of work that this gives the staffs of such offices; has he been informed that the Budget will considerably increase' the work in these offices; is he aware that clerks to surveyors of taxes have to work very late hours without extra payment; and will he state definitely the precise number of hours these clerks can be compelled to work without being paid for overtime?

As regards the first three parts of the question I am aware of the duties which are required to be performed in the offices of Surveyors of Taxes. I have dealt with the fourth part of the-question in my reply to another question) put down by the hon. Member for to-day. The answer to the fifth part is in the negative. As regards the sixth part, the maximum number of hours per week for which clerks to Surveyors of Taxes may toe required to work without extra remuneration is 48.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that full information of the royalties and wayleaves on minerals charged by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners has been given to the House this week, he is aware that the Charity Commissioners state they are unable to give this same information of charity funds under their control, on the ground that their staff is insufficient to collect the information; and whether he will grant a sum of £5 to the Commissioners to enable them to collect this information before the Mineral Clauses of the Budget are taken?

I do not see my way to make the grant proposed by my hon. Friend.

asked whether the share of the proceeds of the new Land Taxes promised to the local authorities will be distributed among them on the basis of rateable value, population, or expenditure?

I hope shortly to put clauses on the Paper dealing with this question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state when he intends to give notice of the clauses he will propose for insertion in the Finance Bill to give effect to his undertaking that one-half of the proceeds of the duties on land, values shall be transferred to the local authorities?

I cannot give the exact date at present; but I hope to put the Clauses on the Paper shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the amount of the annual retiring allowance granted to the last pensioned ex-postmaster of Belfast; whether he is aware that within a few months subsequent to the date of his retirement from the Post Office service this ex-postal official received an appointment as assistant secretary and collector to a Belfast local charity at a salary reputed to be of the annual value of £150 per year; and whether, taking into consideration the severity of competition in civil life for such positions as those to which are attached salaries that would afford a respectable maintenance, he will, in conjunction with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, consider the advisability of introducing an instruction in connection with the new Superannuation Bill which will effectually safeguard the ordinary taxpayer from having to enter into competition for vacancies to which a living wage is attached with subsidised ex-members of the Post Office and Civil Service generally?

The last pensioned ex-postmaster of Belfast retired more than 14 years ago. I have no information as to how he may have employed himself since leaving the Post Office. The question cannot be dealt with in the Superannuation Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say how many persons were committed to prison in default of payment of fines, costs, or damages, in the month of July of this year, in London, Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, and Birmingham, respectively; and in how many of these cases time had been allowed for payment longer than the interval between the passing of the sentence and the rising of the court?

The information at my disposal does not show whether time for payment was or was not given to the several prisoners, but the following statement which I have had prepared will be of interest to my hon. Friend:—

Statement showing the number of prisoners committed to the following prisons during July last in default of payment of fines, costs, or damages, together with the number of such prisoners who were admitted to prison on the same day that the sentence was passed: Prison ( a ) Number of receptions during July,1909, in default of payment of fines, coasts or damages. ( b ) Number of prisoners shown in column ( a ) who were received into prison the same day that sentence was passed. Birmingham 333 293 Bristol 52 30 Leeds 358 276 Liverpool 919 732 Manchester 834 754 Metropolitan Prisons Brixton 5 3 Holloway 698 686 Pentonville 713 592 Wandsworth 477 428 Wormwood Scrubbs 135 134

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he could give the amount of fines levied on motorists by the Steyning magistrates in 1907, 1908, and the first eight months of this year, and to what purpose has the money so collected been applied?

I beg to answer this question on behalf of my right hon. Friend. The magistrates' clerk informs me that the amounts were:—1907, £398 7s. 11d.; 1908, £513 11s. 1d.; 1909, £450 2s. 2d. These sums are paid into the County Fund.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will lay upon the Table or state what are the terms of the reference to the Royal Commission on University Education in London; and whether it has power to prepare and draft statutes or only to make recommendations?

The terms of reference have already been published. The Royal Commission to which my hon. Friend refers has no power to prepare and draft statutes, but it will be free to make recommendations.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Finucane collection of pictures is for sale; and, in that event, if he will recommend its purchase to the Treasury for the Irish National Gallery?

I am not aware that the collection referred to is for sale. The question of the desirability of purchasing any picture or collection of pictures for the Irish National Gallery is primarily a matter for the consideration of the governors of the Gallery.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the reinstatement of Mr. David Riordan in his former holding on the Sherlock estate, Araglen, county Cork, will soon be effected, as a result of the communications which the Estates Commissioners have had with the solicitors to the owner?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member on 8th June last.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the report of the deputation of teachers who waited on the Resident Commissioner of National Education in connection, amongst other questions, with that of their civil rights, when Dr. Starkie stated that the Chief Secretary did the teachers more harm than good over the civil rights question, as he set up the backs of the members of the National Board on the question; whether the members of the National Board and managers are opposed to granting civil rights to teachers; and whether he is prepared to take the necessary steps to have the Irish national teacher permitted to share in the privileges enjoyed by their fellow citizens?

My attention has been called to the report referred to, and I have also seen a letter from the Resident Commissioner denying its authenticity. I am informed that the question of the civil rights of teachers was considered by the Commissioners of National Education en several occasions in 1906 and 1907, when the restrictions imposed on teachers were relaxed to a considerable extent. The Commissioners do not think that it would be in the interests of the teachers or the schools to modify still further the rules on the subject. The responsibility in this matter rests entirely with the Commissioners, and I do not propose to take action with regard to it.