asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state what amount would be charged for Licence Duty in the case of licensed premises exceeding £500 annual value, until the annual compensation value was ascertained; and what would the minimum deposit be?

My hon. Friend will find the information he requires in an Amendment to Schedule L, page 53, line 9, which has been placed on the Paper by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state who was responsible for putting upon the Paper the Amendment making a fourth of a quart bottle, instead of a quart bottle, the minimum quantity of spirits that might be sold in England under a retailer's off-licence; and why that Amendment was withdrawn?

In reply to a supplementary question following on a question by the hon. Member for the Stepney Division of Tower Hamlets on the 9th ult., my right hon. Friend stated that he accepted full responsibility for this matter. He has nothing to add to the replies which he then gave on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the headmaster of the National school, Ashford, who was recently fined £5 for flogging a child of ten with great and unreasonable severity, has been dismissed; and, if not, whether the Board of Education will insist on his dismissal?

I beg to refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for Peterborough (Mr. G. Greenwood) on 29th September.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will furnish the hon. Member for North Salford with a copy of the regulations of the Board in respect to the flogging of children in the elementary schools?

Schedule IV. 1 (e) of the code provides that every public elemen- tary school must have a punishment book in which all cases of corporal punishment must be recorded. The Board do not issue any other regulations on this subject, but I may refer my hon. Friend to the remarks on the subject of corporal punishment on page 11 of the Board's Suggestions for the Consideration of Teachers and Others," published in 1905.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state, with reference to special increments granted under Clause 4 of the Order in Council of 29th May, 1905, to second division clerks employed in the Post Office Department, the total number of such increments granted each year from 1905 to 1909 inclusive; the number of second division clerks in each separate branch of the Post Office in which such clerks are employed who, on the 1st July in each year, had six or more years' service with salaries exceeding £190 a year and with salaries not exceeding £190 a year respectively; and the number of special increments granted to second division clerks in each branch in each of the years mentioned?

The total number of special increments granted to second division clerks in the Post Office during the years referred to was as follows:—

Year.		1905.	1906.	1907.	1908.	1909.
Increments	…	122	102	80	57	47

I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by furnishing the other particulars asked for, the increments being payable only to those officers who are exceptionally meritorious, and not to all officers who have reached the qualifying salary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the rule that the places of salaried sub-postmasters who are on annual leave are supplied by sorting clerks and telegraphists from the head office; whether he is aware that in some instances this rule is not observed, and that consequently, where only one established officer is attached to a post office, it is often the case that unestablished assistants are left in charge for several hours daily during the absence of the established officer; whether consequently such assistants are often left in charge during the receipt and despatch of mails, with established postmen under their control, although those postmen are more experienced and receive higher wages; and whether he will investigate the system adopted in sub-offices in this respect?

The rule is not as stated. It is that salaried sub-postmasters should as far as possible be substituted by officers subordinate to them. This rule has worked satisfactorily, and I see no good reason for modifying it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the circumstances which led to the resignation of the postman of the Ballycroy sub-district of Westport district, in the county of Mayo, in October last; and if he will order that the postman be paid the arrears of wages due to him, and for which he has applied, up to the date of his resignation?

The rural auxiliary postman in question was suspended from duty on 25th September last year for grave irregularities. The same day he handed to his postmaster a letter of resignation, but the circumstances were such that it was decided to record him as dismissed. He was paid the amount due to him for extra duty and arrears in March last subject to a deduction made in respect of one of the irregularities referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the value of contracts placed in Scotland for clothing, etc., of the Army and of other branches under his Department during the last financial year; and will he say what proportion this bears to the total of such contracts placed?

The value of the contracts placed in Scotuand during 1909 for clothing, etc., amounted to £76,000. The total value of the orders for clothing, etc., placed during the same year may roughly be estimated to be about £740,000.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a scheme for the improvement in the conditions of service of the surveyors on the staff of engineer services was submitted for acceptance of its proposals to each established surveyor and assistant surveyor in November, 1907, and accepted by all except one; that the scheme contained a statement, as an inducement to accept the scheme, to the effect that a proposal was being considered that removal expenses would be allowed similar to those to be granted to officials of the Army Accounts Branch; will he explain why an Army order has been recently issued according to which these officers are to receive practically the same allowances on change of station as they received before acceptance of the new scheme, with the result that each change of station will involve considerable removal expenses on these officers, as it has done hitherto, and against which they repeatedly protested before the scheme was submitted to them; and whether he is aware that this Army order has caused much discontent among these officers?

The facts are substantially as stated in the first part of the hon. Member's question. I must, however, explain that the mention in the scheme of the proposal regarding removal expenses was limited to the statement that a proposal was being considered. The scheme as set forth in the letter contained the decision of the Army Council on a number of points which had been the subject of representations to the Department for some time. Amongst these was that of removal expenses, and the intention of the circular was to intimate that this had not yet been decided. The whole question has been most carefully gone into, and the decision follows the rule governing the cases of officers holding corresponding ranks and appointments in the Army. I am afraid I cannot undertake to reconsider the decision.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of two men recently sent to prison by the Welshpool justices for three months and two months respectively, and to find sureties in the sum of £10, with an intimation that on failure to do this they would have to remain in gaol for an additional period of six months, the offence being that of having unlawfully destroyed certain game, to wit, 12 rabbits; and whether he would consider if this sentence might be mitigated?

The Secretary of State presumes that the case to which my hon. Friend refers is that to which his attention was called by the hon. Members for Exeter and North Mayo by questions put down on the 3rd ultimo. The Secretary of State would refer my hon. Friend to the answer he gave on the 7th ultimo.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what were the number of deaths and the death rates per million from hydrophobia in Great Britain and France respectively, in each of the last 30 years?

The number of deaths from hydrophobia and the death rates per million of population in Great Britain in each of the years from 1878 to 1907 are shown in the appended Table. Similar information as regards France is, I am informed, not available:—

Year.			Number of Deaths in Great Britain.	Death Rates per million persons living.
1878	…	…	51	1.78
1879	…	…	39	1.34
1880	…	…	40	1.36
1881	…	…	37	1.24
1882	…	…	30	1.00
1883	…	…	34	1.12
1884	…	…	29	0.94
1885	…	…	60	1.93
1886	…	…	26	0.83
1887	…	…	29	0.91
1888	…	…	14	0.44
1889	…	…	30	0.93
1890	…	…	8	0.24
1891	…	…	7	0.21
1892	…	…	6	0.18
1893	…	…	7	0.21
1894	…	…	13	0.38
1895	…	…	20	0.58
1896	…	…	8	0.23
1897	…	…	6	0.17
1898	…	…	2	0.06
1899	…	…	—	—
1900	…	…	—	—
1901	…	…	1	0.03
1902	…	…	3	0.08
1903	…	…	—	—
1904	…	…	1	0.03
1905	…	…	—	—
1906	…	…	—	—
1907	…	…	—	—

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether his attention has been called to the death on 29th August last of Charles Blomfield, aged eight months, of 110, Southam-street, Kensington; whether he is aware that, as the result of a coroner's inquest, the cause of death was certified to be exhaustion consequent upon erysipelas following vaccination; and, seeing that the Royal Commission on Vaccination found that vaccine lymph might contain the micro-organisms which are held to cause erysipelas, will he say what precautions are taken to ascertain that such organisms are absent from all lymph supplied by the Local Government Board or employed in public vaccination?

I am aware of the verdict of the coroner's jury with regard to the death of this child. My attention was called to the case, and I caused inquiry to be made with regard to it. It appears that an interval of at least 17 days elapsed between the vaccination and the commencement of the erysipelas, and, in these circumstances, it seems clear that the erysipelas was not introduced with the vaccination, as otherwise it would have made its appearance at a much earlier date. The child was not vaccinated by a public vaccinator, or with lymph supplied by the Local Government Board; but, as regards the lymph which is so supplied and which is that used by almost all public vaccinators, I may state that very complete precautions are taken for the exclusion from it of erysipelas micro-organisms. These precautions include the use of only healthy calves, the careful watching of the calves while the lymph is being developed, the collection of lymph from those calves only whose vaccination runs a perfectly normal course, and the subsequent slaughter and veterinary examination of all the calves from which lymph has been obtained. The lymph is prepared for distribution in sterile apparatus, and is mixed with glycerine which has been proved to destroy the organisms of erysipelas. Moreover, the absence of such organisms is repeatedly tested before the lymph is distributed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of suffragettes who have been committed to prison for refusing to enter into recognisances for good behaviour, as distinguished from others, and how many of them have been treated in the first division; and whether the women in the second category, to the number of 195, were arrested for acts of violence, such as assaulting the police and breaking windows?

I find that, on further examination, a slight correction is necessary in the reply I gave to the question by my hon. Friend on 23rd August. The corrected figures are: For refusing to enter into recognisances for good behaviour, or for attending unlawful assemblies, 154; for offences such as obstruction, assaulting police, or breaking windows, 197. Of the 154 prisoners first mentioned, all but one were committed for refusing to enter into recognisances to be of good behaviour. The 197 other prisoners include 159 convicted of obstruction and resisting the police; but it would be impossible, without examination of the evidence in every case, to distinguish between those cases where there was violence of a serious nature and those where the offence was of a more technical character. Fourteen of the women in the first category and 118 of those in the second category were placed by the courts in the first division, the reason for the difference being that the greater number of those in the latter category were sent to prison early in the agitation at a time when the courts awarded first division treatment.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Secretary of State for India has been directed to the increasing number of new life insurance companies formed in India; what supervision is exercised by Government over them; and whether he will take into consideration the advisability of insisting on an adequate deposit being made before such companies are allowed to commence business?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. At present the only supervision to which life assurance companies in India are subject is that provided for joint stock companies generally by the Indian Companies Act. The question of securing more adequate control over life assurance companies in accordance with the system in force in this country is engaging the consideration of the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any conclusion has yet been reached as to the proposal of the Government of India that previous commission service out of India of officers of the Indian Army should be reckoned as service towards an Indian pension up to a period of five years; and, if not, when a decision is likely to be arrived at?

I hope that a settlement of this question may be arrived at in a few weeks' time.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the President of the Local Government Board gave a grant for land and trees to be planted in the City of Leeds; and whether such a grant can be given to any part of Ireland?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. I understand that no grant has been given for land and trees to be planted in the City of Leeds. Payments have, however, been made from the Parliamentary Grant in aid of expenditure under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, to the Leeds Distress Committee in respect of the wages of men employed in afforestation on lands belonging to the corporation some 15 miles from the City.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have considered the application of the representatives of Mr. John Barry for reinstatement in a holding on the Maxwell estate, Geragh, Fermoy; and whether, seeing that the farm in question is in the possession of the landlord, the Commissioners will consider the feasibility of acquiring it under the Act of 1907 for the purpose of reinstating the representative of the evicted tenant?

As the hon. Member was informed in reply to his question for 24th June, 1908, the Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action in this case.

asked the Chief Secretary if the two chief inspectors of national schools are entitled to refuse to recommend the annual salary increments of any of the 60 or so subordinate inspectors without assigning any reason whatever for such action; if he is aware that there have been some cases of this kind within the past few years, and that aggrieved inspectors can get neither explanation nor redress; if he will state why the Commissioners do not furnish the subordinate inspectors in question with definite and detailed information, by way of circular or otherwise, as to this unlimited authority with regard to increments, etc., allowed the two chiefs referred to; and whether, as inspectors are prohibited from communicating directly with any of the 20 Commissioners, and the higher officials (including the two chiefs) refuse to allow complaints reflecting on themselves to go before the Board, he will say how aggrieved inspectors can obtain redress of their grievances?

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to the question asked by him on 2nd April last, a chief inspector who refuses to certify that the conduct of an inspector has been approved, so as to entitle him to an increment of salary, must satisfy the Commissioners of National Education that he has good grounds for his refusal. I understand that certificates have been refused or deferred in some cases in recent years owing to unsatisfactory discharge of duty on the part of individual inspectors, but there is only one such case at present. I am further informed that the chief inspectors have no greater power in the matter than is exercised throughout the Civil Service by the immediate superiors of officers entitled to increments of salary. The provisions of the Order in Council of 28th November, 1898, on the subject require no explanation. I have already stated in answer to the hon. Member's previous question that all complaints of inspectors are submitted to the Board or to the Resident Commissioner.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to purchase the untenanted lands at Mortgage and Drominicar, in the parish of Fedamore, county Limerick, the property of Count De Salis, with a view to having it distributed among the deserving people in the locality?

Proceedings are pending before the Estates Commissioners under the Irish Land Act, 1903, for the sale of the above estate, but it has not yet been reported on. The lands referred to in the question appear to be tenanted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many men and officers are engaged on the "Dreadnought" when it is in full commission; and what is the annual cost of their maintenance and salaries?

It is not considered desirable to give details respecting the complements of His Majesty's ships. The estimated annual cost of the pay and maintenance of the "Dreadnought's" complement, including an allowance for the prospective liability in respect of retired pay of officers and pensions of men, is £68,000. An addition of £13,400 to that amount would be required if the vessel is employed as a flagship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give a list of all the names of the battleships in full commission of the "Dreadnought" type; what was the capital cost; what is the annual cost in maintenance, upkeep, and ammunition; and what is the number of men and officers employed, and the annual cost of their maintenance and salaries, in the case of each individual battleship?

It is not considered desirable to give details respecting the complements of His Majesty's ships. The other particulars required are as follows:—

Ship.	Capital cost.	Annual cost of maintenance and ammunition	Annual cost of maintenance and pay of officers and men, including prospective non-effective charges.
	£	£	£
"Dreadnought"	1,968,083	54,000	68,000
			* 13,400
"Bellerophon"	1,950,131	54,000	63,000
"Superb"	†1,864,429	54,000	63,000
"Temeraire"	1,933,537	54,000	63,000
* Addition required if vessel is employed as a flagship.
† Estimated first cost; actual figures not yet available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the experience gained since the substitution of two years' commissions for all ships instead of three years, the Board can see their way to revert to the original practice in certain cases?

The answer is in the negative; but the usual two years' commission is occasionally shortened or lengthened when special circumstances make it desirable.

asked the First Commissioner of Works what is the number of officials, established and non-established, including non-pensionable employés, appointed, or to be appointed, in connection with the Labour Exchanges Bill, and for whose salaries and travelling expenses £9,339 was voted in August last?

The greater part of the sum of £9,339 voted in respect of work in connection with the Labour Exchanges Act was provided for temporary technical assistants, and the number of those officers will, of course, fluctuate with the amount of work immediately in hand. The number of officials appointed to date is 35, of whom 24 are non-established and therefore non-pensionable. I would refer the hon. Member to the detailed estimated requirements which were furnished by me in reply to a question addressed to me by the hon. Member for the Hoxton Division of Shoreditch on 29th July last.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he proposes to appoint officers already in the service of the Board of Trade as superintendents of the Irish Labour Exchanges, or whether he will select them from candidates residing in Ireland if suitable candidates present themselves; whether the Labour Clearing House for Ireland will be established simultaneously with the Labour Exchanges; and whether he could state the additional posts likely to be found necessary for its administration?

It will no doubt be found desirable to appoint the majority of superintendents of Irish Labour Exchanges from amongst applicants resident in Ireland, should such candidates be possessed of the necessary qualification. It is proposed that the Divisional Clearing House for Ireland should be established at the same time as the Labour Exchanges provided that the necessary accommodation can be obtained in time. The staff required for this office will, so far as can be judged at present, consist of four or five clerks, in addition to the divisional officer.

asked the First Commissioner of Works how many officials, established and non-established, including non-pensionable employés, were employed by his Department on 31st March, 1906, and on 30th June, 1909, respectively?

The number of officers, established and non-established, employed by the Commissioners of His Majesty's Works, etc., on the under-mentioned dates was as follows:—

On the 31st March, 1906:—
Established	…	…	323
Non-established	…	…	1,731
Total	…	…	2,054
On the 30th June, 1909:—
Established	…	…	385
Non-established	…	…	1,905
Total	…	…	2,290

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board supplied a bull for the use of the Prestwick district of Caithness, and that the farmer in whose charge it was placed was gored to death by the bull; whether the Congested Districts Board ordered the bull to be destroyed and buried; whether the skin and carcase had any marketable value, if so, why the family of the deceased farmer were not permitted to sell them; and what compensation has been paid to the relatives of the deceased farmer?

In February, 1908, the Congested Districts Board supplied a bull to the township of Aukengill, Caithness, on their usual conditions: (a) that the Grazings Committee should make their own arrangements for the keep of the bull, and (b) that the committee is responsible for damage done by the bull while in their custody, and that under no circumstances will the Board make good such damage. The committee placed the bull under the charge of a farmer, who, unfortunately, was fatally injured by the animal in August last. The bull was destroyed in accordance with local custom in such cases. No proposal was made that the family should sell the skin and carcase. Deeply as the Board regret this accident, they cannot admit that they are responsible in compensation for the death. They had no business relations whatever with the farmer.