Written Answers
Education (Scotland) Act, 1908
asked the Lord Advocate what was the total amount available for distribution this year under Section 15 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908; what was the total amount of the balance of the Education (Scotland) Fund available for distribution under Section 16 (2); what amount was or will be distributed to school boards or other managers of schools for every pupil in average attendance in each county respectively as an addition to the fee grant under Section 17 (11); and what is the present average attendance in schools in Scotland under which the distribution will be made?
The estimated figures under the various sub-sections of Section 15 of the Act are given in the Memorandum prefixed to the Minute of 3rd June, 1909, and on these figures the distribution for 1909–10 will be made. The total amount available for distribution this year under Section 16 (2) is £421,831, as stated in the Memorandum. The allocation is shown on page 4 of the Minute. The amount to be distributed to school boards and other managers of schools within any district as an addition to the fee grant, in terms of Section 17 (11) of the Act, cannot yet be stated. In reply to my hon. Friend's last question, I may remind him that the fee grant is paid on the average attendance of individual schools for their various school years ending between 31st March, 1909, and 28th February, 1910 (see Article 129 of the Code), and the rate payable under Section 17 (11) will vary with the balances which may be found to be available in the respective districts. The total average attendance on which the distribution will be made cannot be known until all the averages for the school years ending between the date named have been ascertained.
French Draft Tariff
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any further information as to whether the French Government is prepared to make any, and, if so, what, concessions in the draft tariff proposals laid before the Chamber under the late Government?
No further information has been received on the subject.
Army Officers (Permanent Disability)
asked the Secretay of State for War whether, when an officer is invalided on active service and granted a pension for life, any periodical examination is held to ascertain whether he is still suffering from the disease he contracted or whether he has completely recovered?
Permanent retired pay is not granted except on the report of a medical board that the disability is permanent. When this is the case there is no further medical examination.
Quartermasters And Riding Masters (Retired)
asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state, with reference to those quartermasters and riding masters who, being retired honorary captains, were brought into the service during the South African War for special services other than in South Africa, and for the performance of which some were promoted to the rank of honorary major, what additional pension is to be granted to those officers and from what date; and what additional pension to the widows?
Retired quartermasters and riding masters who were re-employed during the South African war (whether at home or in South Africa) did not become entitled to any increase of retired pay beyond the maximum rate of £200 a year. A few officers who were not in receipt of the maximum, and qualified by their subsequent service, were granted the maximum rate. The majority received the special gratuity provided by Article 601 (B), Pay Warrant 1900. Officers so employed, if promoted to the rank of honorary major while serving, thereby qualified (subject to the usual conditions) for prospective pension for their widows at the major's rate, namely, £70 a year instead of £50.
Post Office (Substitution Duties, Belfast)
asked the Postmaster-General whether he has recently decided that technical certificates were not an essential element for employment on substitution duties; whether the substitution duty in the telegraph department at Belfast is now exclusively performed by three junior overseers; and whether, in view of his decision, he will state why senior officers have their claim to perform these duties set on one side and their chances of promotion to future vacancies prejudged?
The possession of a Departmental technical certificate is not an essential element of employment on substitution duties. I will make inquiry as to the performance of substitution duties by the telegraph overseers at Belfast. I may say, however, that the performance of such duties is not necessarily restricted to the senior officers of a class, but that junior officers also are properly given from time to time an opportunity of trial upon higher duties, in order that when a vacancy occurs the best qualified of the officers eligible for promotion may be readily selected.
Southampton Post Office
asked the Postmaster-General whether certain employés at the Southampton post office who were employed on special duty at Bournemouth before Easter have not yet received the subsistence allowance to which they are entitled; and, if so, will he state why these men have not yet been paid?
I will inquire into the circumstances of the case.
Darvel And Strathaven Railway
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the temporary cessation of passenger traffic on the Darvel and Strathaven Railway has resulted in considerable public inconvenience in that district; and whether a modus vivendi as between his Board and the two railway companies concerned can be found by which a modified service can be started at once?
I am informed by the two railway companies concerned that arrangements have been made whereby a service of two mixed trains will be provided daily on this line beginning on the 1st proximo. The companies have accepted a stipulation made by the Board of Trade in agreeing to the present proposals that in the event of an additional train being run such train shall be a purely passenger train. I trust that these arrangements will prevent any public inconvenience being felt in the district.
Admiralty (Purchase Of Fabrics)
asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what method is adopted by him of bringing the wants of his Department in woollen and cotton fabrics, etc., to the knowledge of the manufacturers and traders whose place of business is in Scotland, before the purchases are made elsewhere?
The Admiralty from extensive advertising in past years have become well known as buyers of certain classes of goods. From time to time we consider whether advertisement is necessary or not to attract additional competition. Patterns are exhibited at Chambers of Commerce in trade centres in Scotland as in other parts of the United Kingdom.
Finance Bill
Stamp Duties On Conveyances
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that Clause 73 of the Finance Bill, 1909, as now drafted, may prove a hardship to working men's purchases of the houses in which they live, and which usually cost less than £300 each; and whether he can see his way to modify this Clause so that the Stamp Duties shall remain as they are in the First Schedule to the Stamp Act, 1891, up to £300, and shall be double those specified in that Schedule for all amounts exceeding £300?
I have placed on the Paper an Amendment to Clause 73 of the Finance Bill (as amended in Committee), which will cover the cases alluded to by my hon. Friend.
Sinking Fund Purchases
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the amount of 2½ per cent. Consolidated Stock which has been purchased for Sinking Fund purposes since the end of the last financial year?
As I stated in reply to the Noble Lord, the Member for Maidstone, on 20th instant, it is not the practice to give details of the application of the Sinking Fund in anticipation of the annual Return presented to this House.
Skeagh Estate, County Cavan
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that three tenants evicted at the same time as Patrick Carolan on the estate of Sir Robert Hodson, known as the Skeagh estate, county Cavan, have been supplied with farms, whilst Carolan has not; whether the present tenant of Carolan's farm has been asked whether he is willing to surrender it; and, if he has refused, whether steps will be taken to provide Carolan with a farm elsewhere at the earliest possible date?
The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have provided farms for the evicted tenants on this estate whom they considered suitable. The present occupier of Carolan's former holding has bought it under the Land Purchase Acts, and no further advance can be made for its purchase. The Commissioners will consider whether they should provide Carolan with another holding.
Mrs P Pyne's Estate, Fermoy
asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Mr. Jeremiah Twomey, a reinstated tenant on the estate of Mrs. Fanny Pyne, Ballyvolane, Fermoy, county Cork, for a grant to help him to rebuild and restock the holding; whether the matter has been inquired into and reported upon by an inspector; and if the report will soon receive the consideration of the Commissioners?
The Estates Commissioners have received an application for a grant from Jeremiah Twomey, who was reinstated in 1902 by the landlord as a future tenant of his former holding, but up to the present no purchase agreement has been entered into by the parties for the sale of the holding under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and until this has been done the Commissioners have no power to make any grant to Twomey. As the hon. Member has already been informed, in reply to previous questions, the Commissioners have intimated to the owner the price they would be prepared to advance for the holding, but she is not willing to sell at this price. The case will be further considered when the estate is being dealt with by the Commissioners in order of priority under the Irish Land Act, 1903.
Mr J Harman's Estate, Mallow
asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Mr. Timothy Dorgan for reinstatement in a holding situated at Cloughlucas, on the estate of Mr. John Harman, Woodview, Mallow, county Cork, from which he was evicted in March, 1880; whether Mr. M'Conn, an inspector from the Commissioners, visited the holding and made a report on the case; and what is the present position of the matter?
The Estates Commissioners have received an application for reinstatement from Timothy Dorgan and have decided, after inquiry, to take no action thereon.
Board Of Intermediate Education (Ireland)
asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Intermediate Board of Education in Ireland has received a number of complaints about its Irish programmes for 1909 and 1910; and whether, considering the dissatisfaction caused over the greater part of Ireland by the said programmes, the Board will consider the advisability of making its choice of books more representative in future?
I understand that some communications have been received by the Board of Intermediate Education in reference to the Irish Programmes for 1909 and 1910. These communications, together with the hon. Member's question, will be laid before the Board at their next meeting.
Ballyglass Estate, Ballymoe, County Galway
asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has decided on the resettlement of the Ballyglass estate, in the barony of Ballymoe, county Galway; if so, to what extent the 12 small holdings of under £1 valuation are to be enlarged; and whether the untenanted land on the estate is to be used for the creation of new holdings instead of for the enlargement of existing holdings?
The lands referred to have not yet been vested in the Congested Districts Board. The Board never in any case prepare holdings for migrants while neglecting to enlarge small holdings on the estate.
Maguire Estate, Knock, County Galway
asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have yet come to any decision as to the case of Mr. Peter Ryan, whose parents were evicted from the Maguire estate, Knock, Tuam, county Galway; and whether they have decided to recognise the claims of Mr. Ryan as an evicted tenant and provide a holding for him?
The application in question was not lodged with the Estates Commissioners within the time prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, and has not been inquired into.
Teacher's Retirement (Superannuation Allowance)
asked the President of the Board of Education what is the amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. William Kennett, of Symondsbury, has been retired; at what age that retirement took place; and after what number of years' service as certificated head teacher of Symondsbury Church of England School?
Mr. William Kennett was awarded a superannuation allowance of £37 10s. and an annuity of £1 19s. 4d. He retired at the age of 68, and had served as certificated head teacher of Symondsbury Church of England School for 38 years.
Retired Teachers' Allowances
asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. A G. Mannering, of Boxley, near Maidstone, has been retired; at what age did such retirement take place; and after what number of years of service as a certificated teacher in public elementary schools?
Mr. Mannering was awarded a superannuation allowance of £35 2s. and an annuity of £2 5s. 8d. He retired at the age of 67, and had served for 39 years as a certificated teacher.
asked what is the total amount of superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. Henry Hill, of 32, East Bank, late headmaster Scawfell-street Council School, Hackney-road, N.E., has retired; what was his age on retirement; how many years had he served as a certificated head teacher in public elementary schools; and what proportion of his annuity has been certified by the annuitant, Mr. H. Hill, himself?
Mr. Henry Hill was awarded a superannuation allowance of £39 15s. 6d. and an annuity of £3 8s. 4d. He retired at the age of 65. He had served as a certificated head teacher for 42 years 5 months. Mr. Hill's statement in support of his claim for an annuity agreed with the entries in the Deferred Annuity Fund Registers as to his contributions, and his annuity was calculated accordingly.
asked what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. Potts, of Low Fell, Gateshead, has been retired; and at what age such retirement took place, and after what number of years of service as a certificated head teacher in public elementary schools?
Mr. Potts was awarded a superannuation allowance of £32 8s., and an annuity of £1 11s. 4d. This award was made when Mr. Potts reached the age (65) at which, under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, superannuation allowances and annuities become payable. For three years previously Mr. Potts has been out of "recorded service." He had served for 36 years as a certificated head teacher.