asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, by paragraph 379 of the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, an additional summer uniform is granted to the class of London postal porters in excess of that previously supplied, and that this recommendation has been withdrawn in favour of a more modified scheme by the Department, which has the effect of reducing the supply below that which a deputation of the men proposed to accept in settlement of the award, namely, two complete suits per annum, and which claim was described by the second secretary, Mr. A. F. King, as very reasonable; and whether, in view of the pledge given to carry out the recommendations in their entirety, he will take steps to cause two complete suits per annum to be issued to the class and to award compensation to them for the non-issue of summer uniform in 1908?

The recommendation of the Select Committee was that in addition to the present uniform a summer suit should be allowed, but I find nothing in the Report to suggest that a new summer suit was held to be necessary every year. Indeed, in view of the allowances to other classes of uniform-wearing officers, of which the Committee were well aware, I do not think such can have been their intention. In the past porters have received two pairs of trousers and two waistcoats every year, and a coat every two years—all of the same substance. Under the rearrangement I have sanctioned they will receive a thick coat every year, and a thin one every two years—that is three coats every two years, with two waistcoats and two pairs of trousers, one light and one heavy every year. This supply appears to be ample, especially taking into consideration the nature of their work.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of vacancies that occurred for established postmen and postal porters between 1st September, 1908, and 31st August, 1909; and how these vacancies were apportioned between ex-telegraph messengers and ex-soldiers and sailors?

As my hon. Friend is aware, under an arrangement of many years' standing half the vacancies for established postmen and porters have to be offered to ex-soldiers or sailors of good record. The figures asked for in the question are not available for the period mentioned. I may state, however, that between 1st January and 31st December (inclusive, 1908, the 2,700 odd vacancies for established postmen and porters which occurred were filled by 1,366 ex-messengers and 1,334 ex-soldiers and ex-sailors; 24 ex-soldiers also received appointments as sorting clerks and telegraphists, which threw open to ex-messengers that number of additional places as postmen, for in no case is the total number of ex-soldiers entitled to places in the Post Office exceeded.

asked the Postmaster-General why the store porters, classed as redundant and stationed at Studd-street depot, were called upon to pass two Civil Service examinations and still remain porters, whilst other officers who passed the minor examination receive a higher maximum?

The store porters referred to were formerly on the class of established labourers, and before appointment to that class they had to pass the usual Civil Service examination. The further examination which they passed was a competitive examination held among labourers for appointment to the class of store porter. I am not sure who are the other officers referred to, but if my hon. Friend will furnish further particulars I shall make inquiry on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether parcels which cannot be delivered to residents in flats and residential chambers, owing to the absence of the occupiers during the daytime, are liable to be returned to the senders as undeliverable on a notice issued by the Post Office at 2 p.m. informing the addressee that the parcel will be finally proffered at 5 p.m.; whether, in the case of blocks of flats that have only one hall-porter's office, a charge of £1 1s. per annum is made if parcels are left there by instruction; and whether a notice affixed to the door of a flat requesting that this be done suffices without payment of a fee, or whether this is left to the discretion of the postman?

It is not the practice to return undeliverable parcels to the senders until every effort has been made to secure delivery to the addressee. If attention cannot be obtained at the address the parcel is again taken out by each delivery for two clear days, and before the final attempt at the end of that period a notice of non-delivery is left at the address. No charge is made for delivering parcels at a hall porter's office provided his office is in the same building as the addressee's flat. If it were situated in a separate building the question of a charge would arise, but in no case would this question be decided by the postman.

asked the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, if he will give particulars of the amount and situation of all the land in the northern division of Dorset hired or purchased by the Dorset County Council for the purpose of small holdings and let to individual small holders or associations, distinguishing between the two?

The county council have acquired 837 acres to be let to individual tenants in the parishes of Winterborne Zelston, Pimperne, Manston, Stalbridge, and Kington Magna; and they are negotiating for another 30 acres at Gillingham. They are also negotiating for two farms comprising 265 acres to be let to associations at Marnhull and East Stour, and they are endeavouring to obtain land for the Sturminster Newton Association.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain why medical men who are Territorial officers receive daily pay when in camp, but when deputed, as in March last, to examine recruits and men seeking promotion as non-commissioned officers were told by their commanding officers that fees were contrary to regulations?

No fee is prescribed; but a grant of one shilling is made to an association for each recruit passed. These grants form a fund from which fees for medical examination of recruits can be paid if necessary. It is, however, anticipated that in most cases the medical examinations will be conducted by the Royal Army Medical Corps of the Territorial Force as part of their military duties, as was done in the case of the Volunteers. No officer of the Territorial Force is paid for duties outside camp or training.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the result of the inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair Wage Clause at the Coventry Ordnance Works?

It is understood that the matter has been settled and that the rate claimed is being paid.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many persons are in receipt of old age pensions in the towns of Llanelly and Carmarthen respectively; and what is the total amount per week distributed in the said towns respectively in the form of such pensions?

gave the following figures:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners, before sanctioning an advance for the purchase of the estate of Colonel Alexander, situate at Garristown, county Dublin, will give an opportunity to anyone who objected to purchase on the ground that no provision was made for arterial drainage to be heard before them?

Before sanctioning the advances applied for the Estates Commissioners will consider any representations which have been or may be made to them by tenants who have refused to sign purchase agreements on this estate.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the number of unemployed persons and of the distress prevailing in Dublin City; whether he can state what the Government intend to propose as a remedy; and whether he will advise an immediate and sufficient grant to the distress committee and a further grant to the vacant land committee, who have undertaken a similar work to that which has been successfully carried out in and about London and other places?

The Poor Relief Statistics do not indicate the prevalence of exceptional distress in Dublin, and, so far, no official application has been made to the Local Government Board for funds by the Dublin Distress Committee.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now able to state when the establishment at the Royal dockyards will be re-opened?

I regret that I am not yet able to make any statement on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. G. W. H. Pearse, late of the Central Council School, Weston-super-Mare, has been retired; and further, at what age such retirement took place, and after what number of years of service as a headmaster 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.