asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what securities, other than British, if in the hands of non-residents in the United Kingdom, will be liable to Income Tax when Clause 71, Sub-section (2), of the Finance Bill, 1909, becomes law?

If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular class of securities other than those directly referred to in Clause 71 (2) of the Finance Bill, I shall be happy to give him any information on receiving the necessary particulars.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under Clause 71, Sub-section (2), of the Finance Bill, 1909, British non-residents who hold Foreign securities chargeable to Income Tax under Schedule C will, for the first time, be relieved of the payment of Income Tax on the dividends arising therefrom; and, if so, for what reason he offers this premium on the exchange of British Government and other securities into Foreign investments?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, the Sub-clause referred to merely places on a legal footing and extends to British subjects resident out of the United Kingdom an exemption that in administration has been allowed to foreigners not residing in the United Kingdom ever since 1842. It is not, I think, desirable that an exemption of such long standing should be withdrawn, or, on the other hand, that the British subject resident out of the United Kingdom should remain at a disadvantage as compared with the foreigner.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state what was the amount of revenue derived from direct and indirect taxation, respectively, in the financial year ending March, 1860; and what is the estimated amount over the current year?

The figures for the years in question are as follows:—

	Direct Taxes.	Indirect Taxes.
	£	£
Revenue for year ended 31st March, 1860	22,994,000	18,178,000
Estimated Revenue for current financial year (Revised Budget figures)	77,390,000	59,760,000

asked the Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if the County Council of Huntingdonshire has acquired any land in the parishes of Somersham, Colne, or Earith; what steps are being taken to acquire land in those parishes; and what quantity of land is it proposed to acquire there?

A farm consisting of 90 acres has recently been acquired at Somersham to meet the requirements of approved applicants. It is considered that this farm will satisfy the demand for the time being in the three parishes named.

asked what quantity of land has the County Council of Huntingdonshire acquired in the parish of Yaxley; and how many men are now in possession of small holdings under the Council?

Two hundred and one acres have been acquired by the County Council in the parish of Yaxley, of which 157 acres have been let to twelve small holders. The remaining 44 acres have been let for allotments to the Yaxley Parish Council.

asked if any applications have been made for small holdings in the parishes of Glatton and Broughton, Huntingdonshire; if any of the applicants have been approved by the council; if so, how many and for what acreage; and what steps the council has taken to meet the requirements of the approved applicants?

One application has been approved for 35 acres in Glatton, and two for 15 acres at Broughton. One of these applicants has purchased a holding, a second was offered land in the parish by the Council which he declined, and the case of the third is still under consideration.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset how many officials, established and non-established, including non-pensionable employés, were employed in his Department on 31st March, 1906, and on 30th June, 1909, respectively.

The numbers were 289 and 362 respectively. These figures are exclusive of the staff employed at Kew Gardens and on the Ordnance Survey.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his Department is in possession of a record of the amount of land now possessed by local authorities, and the income they derive from it, apart from the land acquired under the Allotments and Small Holdings Act; and, if not, if he can take steps to obtain the information and to issue it as a Parliamentary Paper.

No record of the kind suggested at present exists, and the preparation of a special Parliamentary Return on the subject would involve considerable difficulty. I may mention that the local authorities who have power to acquire land number many thousands, and that the purposes for which they may acquire land are very numerous.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he can state by whose authority are young Irish officers joining Irish regiments compelled by their adjutant to order their uniform from tailors in London to the prejudice of Irish firms?

The selection of a tailor by a young officer on appointment to the Army is left to his discretion, as shown clearly in the instructions issued to him at the time. No case of pressure such as is indicated in the question has been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State, and he would certainly deprecate any such pressure being exercised.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the reason why the advertisement for contracts for supplies to the Royal Irish Constabulary, which appeared in the "Daily Telegraph" newspaper, omitted to give the name of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce as a place where patterns and specifications of the various kinds of materials could be inspected; and whether he can state to what Irish papers an advertisement was given for this Irish contract?

This question does not concern the War Department, as the contracts are now made by the Inspector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Army Council propose to sell any War Department land in the neighbourhood of Pembroke Dock; and, if so, whether he will favourably consider the question of selling it in small lots suitable for workmen's houses or offer it to the small holdings committee of the Pembrokeshire County Council?

It is proposed to sell certain War Department land near Pembroke Dock by auction in small lots in order to give the small purchaser an opportunity of buying. The Department has been in communication with the county land agent, and has informed him that the date and particulars of the sale will be notified, so that the small holdings committee of the county council may have an opportunity of bidding.

asked the Secretary of State for War if Civil servants employed in the various military prisons and detention barracks are being discharged under Section 7 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, in order that their places may be filled with soldiers who are still serving on their Army engagements; if so, whether the pensions of these men have been made up as provided for in the cases of men discharged under this Section of the Superannuation Act of 1859; and if he will arrange for these men to be employed in other branches of the Civil Service instead of discharging them and thus adding to the body of unemployed?

Owing to reorganisation, by which certain detention barracks will be closed and the staff of all such establishments will be found from serving soldiers, reductions are being made of 11 civilian warders and 20 serving soldiers employed in various military prisons and detention barracks. The latter are being reduced by absorption of vacancies or discharge to pension. The former are being discharged on reduction. The pensions to which all the civilians are entitled under the Superannuation Act of 1859 will no doubt be granted in accordance with the usual practice of the Treasury in such cases. It is regretted that no opportunity offers for their re-employment elsewhere in the Civil Service.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the higher grades of both the Civil and Military medical services in the Native States are usually filled by Indians to the entire satisfaction of the Government and the people; whether similar posts outside these States are held by officers of the Indian Medical Service at much higher salaries; and, seeing that this latter system leads to extravagance, inefficiency, and discontent, whether he proposes to abolish it by filling these places as in the Native States?

So far as the Secretary of State has information on the subject, in the 25 most important native States the headship of the medical department, with six exceptions, is held by an Indian; in the six mentioned the head is an officer of the Indian Medical Service; but in 16 of the remainder there is an agency surgeon, whose advice is doubtless available to the Durbar in medical matters. He has no information as to other medical appointments in those States, and has not heard that any dissatisfaction with them has been expressed. As to the system in force outside those States, and the measures being taken in connection therewith, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Papers recently laid on the Table of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many accidents, fatal and otherwise, due to motor omnibuses, taxi-cabs, and other vehicles, have occurred in London since 1st January last; whether he has any official information showing that most of the drivers of such vehicles being insured tends to make them less careful; whether, when fined in the police courts, such fines are also insured against; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent the increasing danger to the public of the enhanced number of such vehicles now in use?

The following table gives the total number of accidents known to the police to have been caused in the streets in the Metropolitan Police District during the months of January to September, 1909, inclusive:—

——	Horse-drawn Omnibuses.	Other Horse-drawn Vehicles (excluding Tramcars).	Tramcars.		Motor Cars, including Motor Cycles, but excluding Motor Cabs.	Motor Omnibuses.	Motor cabs.	Total.
			Horse-drawn.	Mechanically propelled.
Number of accidents—caused by	710	12,084	288	3,463	3,534	2,850	2,975	25,844
Number of accidents above in which personal injury resulted, caused by	160	3,864	86	1,454	1,575	809	795	8,743
Number of cases in which the injuries proved fatal, when caused by	8	88	2	22	53	45	6	224

It is known that in some cases when drivers of public carriages have been convicted the penalty has been paid from funds provided by the men's clubs or associations or by subscriptions among their comrades, but how far the knowledge that their fines will be paid for them affects the drivers and makes them less careful is not a matter which can be estimated by official returns. The police are well aware of the need of vigilance in dealing with motor traffic, and I do not think that there is any special action in this connection which can with advantage be taken at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the desirability of issuing regulation under the Coal Mines Regulation Acts, 1887 to 1908, showing whether the owners, agents, or managers of collieries and works were required to give on oath the total number of tons of coal, etc., raised yearly, and the number of tons of each class of material so raised, and the value of each class at the pit's mouth or works?

Section 33 and Schedule III. of the Coal Mines Regula-

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superanuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. John Elphick, of Hadlow council school, Kent, and Miss Mary Sheldrake, of St. Stephen's infant school, Tonbridge, have been retired; at what ages such retirements took place; and after what number of years of service as certificated head teachers in public elementary schools?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire on 26th October last.

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

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire on 26th October last.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state the average prices of store cattle, sheep, and pigs in Ireland in October, 1909; and how they compare with the average prices in each of the last six years?

The following table gives the information desired:—Average prices of store cattle, sheep, and pigs in Ireland in October, 1909, together with the average prices during October of the six preceding years.

STORE CATTLE.
Year.		Yearlings.			2 Years old.			3 Years old.
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1903	…	7	14	3	10	12	2	13	2	8
1904	…	7	10	8	10	13	5	13	3	11
1905	…	7	3	1	9	19	0	12	7	7
1906	…	7	7	1	9	18	6	12	7	11
1907	…	7	9	0	10	6	3	12	8	8
1908	…	7	15	6	10	15	7	13	0	2
1909	…	8	6	6	11	2	9	13	8	7

STORE SHEEP.											STORE PIGS.
Year.		Lambs.			1 Year old and over.			2 Years old, and over.			8 to 10 weeks old.
		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1903	…	1	6	2	1	19	1	2	5	1	—
1904	…	1	8	1	2	1	5	2	7	4	1	0	1
1905	…	1	8	1	2	2	2	2	6	4	1	5	2
1906	…	1	11	8	2	7	1	2	7	9	1	4	1
1907	…	1	10	2	2	4	11	2	6	0	0	19	10
1908	…	1	4	2	1	15	7	1	18	1	1	5	1
1909	…	1	2	8	1	12	0	1	16	11	1	7	0

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the proprietor of the Moira Hotel and Restaurant, Dublin, recently applied to the police authorities, Dublin, for permission to allow the members of the University Philosophical Society to remain on his premises after the usual closing hours on the occasion of their annual dinner, and if that leave was refused; whether he is aware that every previous annual dinner was held on licensed premises, and will he state why the privilege was now withheld; whether he is aware that the caterer, in order to fulfil his contract to supply dinner and refreshments, was obliged to apply to the city magistrate for an occasional or temporary licence for an unlicensed restaurant; whether it was granted; and, if so, what is the objection to grant the same facilities to licensed as to unlicensed premises?

I am informed by the Dublin Metropolitan Police authorities that the proprietor of the hotel referred to did not apply to them as stated, but he applied for and obtained an occasional licence to enable him to supply the supper in question from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. on unlicensed premises. Such occasional licences, as I am advised by the Law Officers, cannot be granted for licensed premises without fresh legislation. The police do not know where the previous annual dinners of the University Philosophical Society were held.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what proceedings have been taken, or are contemplated, for the reinstatement of Mr. Richard A. Parker, son of the late Richard Parker, who was evicted from the lands of Ballymote, in the county of Waterford, estate of Colonel R. D. Perry, in the year 1884, having regard to the terms of the Estates Commissioners' letter to Mr. Parker's solicitor, dated 3rd December, 1906, stating that Mr. Parker's application for restoration to his father's holding, or to be provided with untenanted land elsewhere, would be duly considered?

The Estates Commissioners have considered the application of Mr. Parker, who is a bank manager, for reinstatement in the farm at one time in the occupation of his father and now in the occupation of another tenant, and they have decided to take no action in the matter. His solicitor was so informed on the 16th June last.

asked the Chief Secretary can he say when the untenanted land on the Hamilton Stubber estate, Queen's County, will be distributed; and whether a farm will be allotted to William Hyland, who was evicted off the De Vesci estate, Abbeyleix, in 1882, and whose holding is in the occupation of a planter, the said William Hyland's claim having been favourably reported upon by the Estates Commissioners?

Proceedings are pending for the acquisition of the lands on the Stubber estate under the Evicted Tenants Act, but the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when they may be acquired, or to whom they may be allotted, if acquired.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that it is nearly three years since the district council of Dunfanaghy framed a scheme for the building of labourers' cottages, and more than a year since the sanction of a county court judge was given to certain opposed portions of the scheme; whether any progress has since been made in carrying out the work; and, if not, can he state the reason of the delay?

The scheme in question was lodged with the Local Government Board on 16th May, 1908, and was provisionally confirmed by their inspector on 22nd August, 1908. Portions of the Order were petitioned against, as stated, but the Orders of the county court judge on these appeals were not all received until the 17th November. The district council could then have applied for the appointment of an arbitrator to determine the compensation payable for the lands to be acquired under the scheme, but instead of doing so they have been endeavouring to come to terms with the parties interested. The responsibility for the delay rests with them, as the necessary loan was sanctioned in June last.

asked the Attorney-General, in connection with the action commenced by him at the relationship of the Corporation of the City of London against Mr. Robert Horner, the lessee of Spitalsfield Market, whether, in view of the fact that the action was commenced so long ago as 17th January, 1907, and that the public nuisances attending the holding of the market are being daily augmented, he is now able to say when the action will be set down for trial?

This action is of a very complicated character, and involves the examination of a large number of books, but I cannot say that I am altogether satisfied it might not have been pushed with greater expedition by the Relators. I am communicating with them on the subject, and hope that before long the various interlocutory proceedings may be concluded, and the action set down for trial.