asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether land acquired by statutory waterworks companies for waterworks purposes or for protecting their area from pollution will be exempted from the provisions of the Land Clauses in the Finance Bill?

I may remind the hon. Member of the terms of the new Clause, which was debated last night, exempting from the charge to the proposed Land Values Duties "any land whilst it is held by a statutory company for the purposes of their undertaking, and cannot be appropriated by the company except to those purposes."

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state how much money has been actually advanced under all the Land Purchase Acts to 31st August last; what amount of money's worth of agreements are still pending under the Act of 1903; how much money is available to meet these agreements, and how much of them has been sanctioned?

Up to 31st August last, £31,773,735 has been advanced out of the Land Purchase Fund under the Irish Land Act, 1903 (exclusive of £1,641,655 under Section 16 (1) of the Labourers Act, 1906), and £28,888,100 has been advanced under the Land Purchase Acts, 1870–1896. The amount of advances included in agreements lodged with the Land Commission, or entered into by the Land Commission or Congested Districts Board, under the Act of 1903, and not yet advanced is £49,215,441. The money required by the Land Commission for the purposes of making advances under the Irish Land Act, 1903, is provided by the National Debt Commissioners in the manner provided by that Act. The advances are made as soon as sanctioned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Midland Railway, Northern Counties Committee, have announced that from 1st October, 1909, they propose to alter their evening train service from the North of Ireland to arrive at Belfast at 9.10 p.m., too late to enable passengers to avail themselves of the Belfast Steamship Company, Limited's steamers to Liverpool, which have to start at 9 p.m. in order to connect with the various train services on the English side; further to alter their morning train from Belfast from 8.25 a.m. to 8 a.m., and to take 25 minutes longer on the journey, thus reverting to a slower Schedule than 10 years ago, and making it impossible for passengers by the Liverpool boats to catch the train; whether he is aware that such action will have the effect of compelling intending passengers to travel either by steamers owned by the Midland or partly owned by the London and North-Western Railway Companies; and whether he will communicate with the Midland Company with a view to urging a continuation of the old time table, in vogue for many years, which enabled anyone to travel by whichever steamers they pleased?

I am aware that the alterations in the train service are announced. I have communicated with the Northern Counties Committee on the subject, and will inform the hon. and gallant Member of their reply.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Port of London Authority has established a receiving house for the immigrants detained under the Aliens Act; whether such a receiving house was promised; and, if it does not exist, whether it is their intention to provide it?

Section 29 of the Port of London Act enacts that the Port of London Authority shall, if required by the Secretary of State, provide the receiving house indicated in the question. Having regard to the small volume of alien traffic which now comes into the Thames, I have not thought it right in the first few months of their existence to call upon the authority to add this item to the many and more urgent duties which the Act imposes on them.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any report from the medical officer of the Winson Green Gaol, Birmingham, concerning the women suffrage prisoners; and whether any of them, and, if so, how many, are still having food administered by force.

I have received several reports from the medical officer. From the report received this morning it appears that seven prisoners still refuse to feed themselves, but only one of the seven now requires to be fed by tube. The others accept food when administered to them from a feeding-cup.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received any report from the medical officer at Winson Green Gaol, Birmingham, detailing the method adopted to administer food by force to the women suffrage prisoners; whether the instrument used was Bland-ford's œsophageal instrument, or whose; whether a screw gag was used to prise the teeth apart and keep the jaws open; whether the prisoners were strapped down, or, if not, how many attendants took part in the operation; and whether he can give the names of the women who have been subjected to this treatment?

I have received several reports from the medical officer. I find that Blandford's œsophageal tube has not been used; in those cases where a tube was required the ordinary soft rubber feeding tube used in hospitals was employed. No screw gag was used, and the prisoners were not strapped down. The number of attendants present varied from one to five. I do not think it is desirable that I should mention the names of the prisoners. I am satisfied that everything has been done with the utmost gentleness possible in the circumstances; and the prisoners themselves have borne witness to the kindness of the officers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the contracts for the last two battleships of the German programme for 1909 have yet been placed; and whether he has any further evidence of acceleration of the German shipbuilding programme beyond that already referred to by the First Lord?

It is understood that the contracts for the last two battleships of the German programme of 1909 will be placed on 1st October. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any naval men were lent by the Admiralty for the purpose of the "Nimrod" expedition because of their experience in Antarctic expeditions; if so, whether their pay was stopped during the whole period they were attached to the "Nimrod"; and, if so, whether, seeing that the Government has recognised the national character of the expedition, he can see his way to allow these men a gratuity?

One petty officer applied to purchase his discharge in order to join the British Antarctic expedition of 1907. As the man was anxious to rejoin the Navy on his return the Admiralty, as an act of grace, granted him leave for the period without pay, and directed that his name should be continued on ship's books, thus permitting his service in the Antarctic to count towards his Naval pension. He has now been granted leave on full pay for three months before returning to active service.