asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the rate of duty on opium in the Federated Malay States has been raised to 1,200 dollars or to 1,260 dollars a chest, as the figures are differently given on pages 8 and 39 of the Report of the Resident General for 1908; and what is the sterling value of this duty?

The rate of duty on opium in the Federated Malay States has been raised to 1,200 dollars a chest. The rate of 1,260 dollars, quoted by my hon. Friend, is, in all probability, a printer's error. A duty of 1,200 dollars a chest is equivalent at the present rate of exchange to £140.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state why during the training season of 1909 the Army Service Corps units of the Territorial Force were only allowed rates for horse hire for 15 days, although they were ordered to train for 18 days; and whether he has any official reports showing that the number of horses allowed for the annual training of these units of the Territorial Force is adequate, in view of the number of officers and men who have to be trained?

I think the hon. Member is under a misapprehension, as, if an Army Service Corps unit trained for 18 days, horse allowance for that number of days would be granted to the association. Perhaps the hon. Member would give the specific instance to which he refers. As regards the latter portion of the question, I have had no complaints that the number of horses allowed for camp were not adequate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in taking into conference the representatives of friendly societies to consider proposals for State insurance against invalidity, he proposes to invite the representatives of dividing societies as well as of accumulating societies?

Before formulating their scheme the Government will be prepared to consider representations which may be made to them by any societies or other bodies who may be interested in the matter.

asked the hon. Member for the Crewe Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, whether he can state the number of licences granted on the estates of the above Commissioners for the years 1883 and 1908; and whether there have been any licences allowed to lapse or forfeited during the above period?

Since 1883 two new leases have been granted by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners of premises to be used for public-houses. During the same period the licences of 73 fully-licensed public-houses on the Commissioners' estates have been allowed to lapse without compensation.

asked the Lord Advocate whether a part of the fishing in the river near Peebles, belonging to the Woods and Forests Department, was recently advertised to let; whether an application for such fishing rights was made by Lord Wemyss and another application by the Peebles Town Council; and will he say which application was successful in obtaining the fishing?

The fishing was not advertised, but applications for leases thereof were made both by the Earl of Wemyss and by the town council of Peebles. The negotiations on the subject have not yet been finally concluded, but I hope that a satisfactory arrangement may be made by letting the fishing to the town council on the understanding that they will sublet a specified portion to Lord Wemyss.