asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now state the methods by which it is proposed that compensation value, as defined in Clause 32 of the Finance Bill, will be converted into annual compensation?

On consideration, and with a view to greater simplicity, it will be proposed to amend Sub-section (2) of Clause 44 of the Finance Bill (as amended in Committee) to the following effect: The register to be kept by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise will not be a register of the capital values of licensed premises calculated as though for the purposes of compensation under the Licensing Act, 1904, with the annual equivalent of such capital values, but will be a register of the differences between the annual values of such houses licensed and their annual values unlicensed, calculated on the same principles as would be followed for the purpose of arriving at capital values in cases of compensation under the Act of 1904.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual amount of the pensions under the Old Age Pensions Act in the Union of Belmullet, county Mayo; and what is the total annual rateable valuation of the Union.

The annual amount of the pensions granted in the Union of Belmullet on the 30th ultimo was £9,009. The annual rateable valuation of the Union is £10,994 7s.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will grant the Return relative to Licensed Premises standing on the Order Paper in the hon. Member's name?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the reasons that have led the Local Government Board to disallow the application for an old age pension of Michael M'Mahon, of Coore, West Clare, registered 2623 in the register of the pension officer of Kilrush?

The Local Government Board upheld the appeal of the pension officer in this case, as they considered that the claimant's means as calculated for the purposes of the Act exceeded the statutory limit.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that David White, Kilmichael, Crosshaven, county Cork, has been deprived of his old age pension on the ground that, according to the Census of 1841, he is under 70 years of age; whether he is aware that his brother, Thomas White, who is over 76 years of age, can prove that David White is less than two years his junior, and that several of the oldest and most respectable residents of the district have also given evidence to this effect; and, as it has been proved in numerous instances that the Census of 1841 cannot be solely relied on as proof of age in Ireland, will the case of David White be reconsidered?

The Local Government Board upheld the appeal of the pension officer in this case, as they were not satisfied that David White had reached the statutory age. They received no evidence of any kind showing that he was less than two years younger than his brother Thomas. The latter, however, is alleged to have stated that he was prepared to make an affidavit that David "was only about four years younger than he." According to the Census Return of 1851 Thomas was then 14 years old, and David nine, with a sister aged 12 intervening. The Board's decision in this case had no regard to the Census of 1841, and it is not open to them to reconsider it.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that frivolous and vexatious prosecutions have been undertaken by the sergeants in the Royal Irish Constabulary of county Sligo following upon an order recently given by the county inspector of the Royal Irish Constabulary of Sligo to the sergeants under his jurisdiction requiring them to display in the form of a report the number of their prosecutions for each quarter; whether his attention has been called to the resolution of the Sligo County Council in which they unanimously protest against this order; and whether, in view of this representation, and of the whole circumstances, he will insist on the immediate recall of this order, and introduce a Bill to supersede the Royal Irish Constabulary by a civic police force responsible to the local authority?

It is not a fact that frivolous and vexatious prosecutions have been undertaken by sergeants of the Royal Irish Constabulary in county Sligo in consequence of the order given by the county inspector that a note should be kept of the number of prosecutions instituted by the police in the county. The county inspector wished to have an accurate record of the prosecutions instituted in each sub-division under his command, but, as his order was liable to be misinterpreted, it is understood that on further consideration he is taking steps to withdraw it. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the joiners employed in the dredging department in the Royal dockyards are only being, with two exceptions, paid at the rate of 30s. per week, the foreman receiving 32s. and another man 31s.; whether he is aware that these men do work similar to that done by the joiners in the construction department where the wages are 34s. 6d. per week; and whether he will give instructions that those men must be paid at the same rate as their fellow-workmen in the construction department?

No joiners are employed in the dredging department at either of the dockyards, but at Portsmouth (to which the hon. Gentleman's question apparently refers) six carpenters-are engaged in assisting shipwrights at the following rate of pay:—One, at 32s. (not a foreman, as stated in the question); one, at 31s., four, at 30s. The work performed by these carpenters is not similar to that done by joiners in the Constructive Manager's Department.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a number of joiners employed in the works department at the Royal dockyards are engaged in March and discharged in September or October; that during this period they work 51 hours per week, for which they are paid at the rate of 32s. per week, while the wage paid by the local builders for a week of 51 hours is 34s. per week, or 8d. per hour; and whether, in view of the promise that the Government would be a model employer, he will take steps to insure that the workmen are paid at least not less than they would receive if employed by a private firm?

There is no rating of joiners in the Works Department, all men of the trade being entered as carpenters. There is no such practice, as is suggested, of men being engaged in March and discharged in October, the number of carpenters employed being necessarily contingent on the works in progress at any particular time. Every effort is made to ensure steady employment for as many men as possible, but some fluctuations are unavoidable, as work varies. The rates are based on the pay of carpenters in the Outside building trade, but the Admiralty are about to consider the conditions of employment of all grades of hired men in this Department.

asked the Postmaster-General, in regard to the alleged neglect of telephone line repairs in Sunderland, if he is aware that there are from 20 to 30 line faults each morning in the town and district; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take action with a view to preventing reductions in the staff at that town?

I am informed that the statement on which my hon. Friend's question is based is much exaggerated, and I am assured by the National Telephone Company that no reduction of their staff has been made or is contemplated which would impair the efficiency of the telephone plant at Sunderland.

asked the Postmaster-General whether paragraph 397 of the Select Committee's Report is being carried out in its entirety; whether male assistants over 25 years of age, in Class 2 offices, are being paid less than 7d. per hour; whether assistants are entitled to overtime pay on Sundays; and whether, in a number of offices, they are not receiving it?

Paragraph 397 of the Select Committee's Report has been carried out. Continuously employed male assistants of or over 25 years of age in Class 2 offices are paid 7d. per hour. All full time assistants are entitled to extra pay at a rate and a half for work performed on Sundays. Perhaps my hon. Friend will let me know of any cases in which the authorised rates are not being paid.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the Memorandum on Oxford Reform published by the Chancellor of the University; whether he is aware of the report of a committee of the Council of the Senate of Cambridge Uni- versity bearing upon similar aspects of university work; and whether he will consider the advisability of now recommending the appointment of a Royal Commission to consider the necessity of reform in the government and administration of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge?

I am aware of both the documents referred to in the question, and I understand that both the Universities are giving careful consideration, in the light of these documents, to the various important questions raised therein. In the meantime, and until more precise information is forthcoming as to what action the Universities feel it desirable to adopt in the way of modification of their existing systems, I think it would be at least premature to take any steps in the direction indicated by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any communications from or on behalf of the medical schools of London in regard to the standard of the medical examinations for degrees of London University; and whether he will state the nature of such communications, and what action, if any, he proposes to take in regard to them?

I have received communications from the delegates of the London medical schools and other bodies of the character referred to by my hon. Friend, and I have forwarded them to the President of the Royal Commission on the London University.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Vaccination Order of 1907, which came into force in October, 1907, has had the effect of reducing the total cost of vaccination, comparing the cost per vaccination before and after the Order came into force; and, if so, what the reduction has been?

There can be no doubt that the effect of the Order has been to reduce the cost of vaccination, but it would not be practicable to give the precise particulars desired by my hon. Friend.