asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can explain why at the recent examination for the India Civil Service a change was made in the weight assigned to mathematics, materially altering the order of merit, of the candidates and resulting in a smaller number than usual of the mathematical scholars being successful; why this change was not made by definite announcement, instead of by the removal of a footnote which previously existed, making mathematics an exception to the rule which provided for the deduction of a minimum from the marks obtained in other subjects of less difficulty; why the notice given of the change was so short as to prevent candidates from selecting their subjects with a view to obtain the highest possible total of marks; and whether in future at least one year's notice of such changes will be given?

The change referred to was recommended by the Civil Service Commissioners, who stated that, having carefully considered the position of mathematics in the scheme and the performance of the candidates taking this subject in the past, they had come to the conclusion that there was no sufficient reason for exempting the mathematical papers from the general rule of deduction, and that in fact such exemption gave an undue advantage to weak mathematical candidates. The exemption was originally notified by a footnote, and it was not considered that a different form of announcement was called for on the occasion of its cancellation. The regulations in which the change was notified were published nearly 11 months before the commencement of the examination at which it came into force; the length of notice to be given in the case of any change made in future should depend, in the opinion of the Civil Service Commissioners and of the Secretary of State on the nature of the change.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what were the prices realised per chest of opium at the auction sales in Calcutta, month by month, during the current year, so far as the figures are available?

supplied the following particulars:—

Month, 1909.				Average price realised per chest. Rupees.
January	…	…	…	1,381
February	…	…	…	1,315
March	…	…	…	1,231
April	…	…	…	1,166
May	…	…	…	1,366
June	…	…	…	1,351
July	…	…	…	1,207
August	…	…	…	1,289
September	…	…	…	1,336
October	…	…	…	1,439

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what were the exports of Indian opium to China during each of the years 1904–5, 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, and 1908–9; and what were the exports to the Straits Settlements and to the Federated Malay States during the same periods?

presented the following statement:—

Exports to China in chests:—
1904–5.	1905–6.	1906–7.	1907–8.	1908–9.
51,984	48,007	50,590	47,749	52,758
Exports to the Straits Settlements:—
12,255	12,368	12,953	13,195	11,174

These figures are compiled from the Indian trade and navigation returns. No exports to the Federated Malay States are separately shown.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether representations have been made to the States of Jersey in connection with the embargo placed upon potatoes coming from the United Kingdom with a view to its removal?

Yes, we are in communication with the States of Jersey on this subject.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset whether his attention has been called to the resolution agreed upon by the Fife County Council with regard to the Tuberculosis Order, 1909, that, although the county council approve generally of its provisions, it is in their opinion inequitable, seeing that the Order relates to a service that is national rather than local in its character, that the compensation payable thereunder should be charged from the county rate instead of the national Exchequer, and, considering that the Scotch and English Dairy Bills arranged to come into operation with this Order have been withdrawn, this Order should be revoked; and whether he can make any statement as to his intended action in the matter?

Yes, we have received a copy of the resolution to which the hon. Member refers. The operation of the Order has been postponed to 1st April, 1910, and in the meantime the representations made to us will be fully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the number and value of the motor cars imported into this country from France during the years 1906, 1907, and 1908?

The following statement gives the information desired by my hon. Friend:—Statement showing the number and value of complete motor cars imported into the United Kingdom consigned to this country from France in 1906, 1907, and 1908:—

Year.				Number.	Value.
1906	…	…	…	4,174	£1,751,359
1907	…	…	…	3,613	1,612,151
1908	…	…	…	3,175	1,140,695

The above particulars are exclusive of "parts of motor cars," the value of the imports of which from France was as stated below:—

Year.		Quantity.	Value.
1906		—	£1,308,101
1907		—	1,471,726
		Number.
1908	Chassis*	2,135	£664,136
	Other parts	—	897,128
	Total	—	£1,561,264
* First distinguished in 1908.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state if the buoy off Strangford Bar has yet been moved to the new position, as promised would be done by the Irish Lights Commissioners by 1st October; and, if not, can he state the reason, and communicate with the Board the necessity of having the matter attended to at an early date, in view of the fact that bad weather has set in?

I am informed by the Irish Lights Commissioners that their steamer has, for some time past, been in the vicinity awaiting an opportunity to place the buoy in the new position, but that, owing to unfavourable weather it has not yet been possible to carry out the work.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is in accordance with the practice of that Board to accept the opinion of a pension officer as conclusive on the point of age, and disallow an old age pension granted by a local pension committee, who are satisfied that the applicant is over 70 years of age, the applicant's case being that he was baptised in 1837 by a clergyman known to have been in the parish at that time, has resided in the same district ever since, there is no parish register, the applicant's name does not appear in the Census Returns, and such evidence as he has been able to offer has not been refuted; what further evidence does the Board require in such circumstances; and whether the Board would consent to see and hear the applicant, and then judge for themselves before finally ruling against the pension.

I am not aware that the Board have received any appeal in which the circumstances were exactly as described in the question. In dealing with appeals on the question of age, they do not necessarily accept either the opinion of the pension officer or that of the pension committee, but endeavour to obtain the best evidence available for determining the question at issue. If a personal interview with the claimant seemed to them desirable they would instruct an inspector to visit the locality for the purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the probable date for the publication of the final Report of the Royal Commission on Experiments on Animals?

I understand that a draft of the Report is in an advanced stage of preparation, but I am unable as yet to say when it will be presented.

asked the Lord Advocate, having regard to the fact that, out of 1,515 new holdings or enlargements made with the help of the Congested Districts Board, 727 have been on the estates of individual proprietors, will he state the number of new holdings, as distinct from enlargements of holdings, and give the names of the proprietors concerned in each Highland crofting county?

Up to date, 377 new holdings and enlargements to 353 crofters have been made on estates of individual proprietors. The numbers in each county are as follows:—

	New Holdings.			Enlargements.
Argyll	…	—	…	6
Inverness	…	240	…	44
Ross	…	61	…	159
Sutherland	…	4	…	27
Caithness	…	47	…	36
Zetland	…	25	…	81
		377		353

The proprietors are: The Duke of Argyll, Sir A. C. Orde, MacLeod of MacLeod, Mr. MacDonald of Skeabost, Lord Macdonald, Lord Lovat, Lord Dunmore, Lady Cathcart, Sir Kenneth MacKenzie, Lady Cromartie, Lord Zetland, Major Matheson, Mr. W. E. Gilmour, the Duke of Sutherland, Captain Sinclair of Freswick, Traill's trustees, and Mr. Bruce of Symbister.

asked the Lord Advocate, seeing that the Secretary for Scotland has finally abandoned any scheme of migration for the cottars in the island of Lewis, will he state how he proposes to solve the cottar problem in the congested areas of the Highland crofting counties?

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to similar questions on 26th April and 21st June last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will ascertain why the Imperial Pensions Office at Sydney charges 3½ per cent. on pensions on which only 1 per cent. is charged in Ireland?

I am not aware that any commission is charged on Imperial pensions drawn in the United Kingdom. In New South Wales and in other Colonies where no Imperial pay officer is stationed Imperial pensions are paid through the Colonial Treasurers; in these cases a commission 3 per cent. is charged to compensate the Colonial Governments for the trouble and expense to which they are put in undertaking this service on behalf of His Majesty's Government.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether female telephonists at Edinburgh are now listed for duties terminating at 9.15 p.m.; and whether, seeing that it has been found impracticable to carry out the suggestion of the Select Committee that females should not as a rule be employed after 8.15 p.m., he will state why the Select Committee's recommendation is not being carried out in this respect?

In the notice which I issued to the staff in February, 1908, I stated that, while I accepted the view expressed by the Committee that it is undesirable in general to employ the female staff on night duties, the question is one in which the individual circumstances of the office, the character of the neighbourhood, the means of locomotion, etc., must be taken into account in deciding on the hours of attendance. I am assured that the conditions at Edinburgh are favourable to the employment of women up to the hour mentioned, and therefore female telephonists at Edinburgh are listed for duties terminating at 9.15 p.m.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state on what ground a number of men employed at the Mount Pleasant factory are only working half time, while a number of others have been put off, when a considerable amount of work of a similar character to that which is made at the factory is being given to outside contractors; and whether he is aware that the statement made by him that work would be found for a definite number of men at the factories, which number would be considered to be the minimum number of men employed at the same factories, is not being complied with, and that the number now employed is considerably below the accepted estimate?

The only men who have recently been put off are four french polishers, and one of these has been given temporary employment in another capacity. Eleven men and youths only have been put on half-time, and I hope that in a few days they will be on full-time again. I do my best to keep employment at the factories as steady as possible, but fluc- tuations of work in a particular shop cannot, unfortunately, be altogether avoided, especially when, as in the two cases in question, the diminution in the particular work was due to a specified falling-off in the demand for certain descriptions of work.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. John Reynolds, of Hyde, has been retired; at what age such retirement took place; and after what number of years of service as certificated head-teacher in public elementary schools?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave just now to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superannuation allow- ance and annuity on which Mr. Stokoe, of Dinnington Mason council school of Northumberland, has been retired; at what age such retirement took place; and after what number of years of service as a certificated head teacher in elementary schools?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I have given to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. Thomas S. Harvey, of Leamington Spa, 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. Harvey was awarded a superannuation allowance of £46 11s. 6d. and an annuity of £1 14s. He retired at the age of 70, and had served for 51 years as a certificated head teacher.