asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of standard barrels of beer on which duty was paid in the five London collections in the month of October, 1908, and in the month of October, 1909?

The number of standard barrels of beer upon which duty was paid in the five Excise collections in London in October, 1908, was 539,992, and in October, 1909, 505,680.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can say what were the numbers of old age pensioners on the books of the pension officers for England and Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom as a whole respectively for the latest date to which figures are available; what has been the cost of the pensions in each country from 1st January this year to the latest date for which the figures are available; and what is the estimated total cost of old age pensions for the present financial year?

supplied the following particulars:—

Numbers of Pensioners on 30th September.
	Men.	Women.	Total.
England and Wales	155,289	266,143	421,432
Scotland	25,910	49,224	75,134
Ireland	80,221	105,981	186,202

Cost of Pensions to 21st October.
		£
England and Wales	…	3,974,571
Scotland	…	721,489
Ireland	…	1,858,756
United Kingdom	…	£6,554,816

Full details of the estimated cost, both of the pensions themselves and of the administrative expenses in connection therewith for the current financial year, are given in the Civil Service Estimates, Class VI., Vote 5. (House of Commons 54 of 1909.)

asked the Postmaster-General whether the last contract for the carriage of His Majesty's mails between Ardrossan and Arran had expired previously to the making of the present contract; and, if not, why the contract, which was for the water journey only, was cancelled in favour of one embracing the land and water journey, and for a period of 10 years?

I found it advantageous to negotiate a new mail steamer contract with the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company at the time when a new contract for the conveyance of mails by railway was being arranged. The old contract for the Ardrossan and Arran Mail Steamer Service had not expied when the new steamer contract was arranged. The railway and steamer services come under separate contracts, but both are for a minimum period of ten years from 1st July, 1907.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any tenders from Wales for home-grown larch fir to be used in substitution for Norwegian fir for telegraph poles?

I received four tenders. One has been accepted for the whole quantity offered, and one definitely declined, the price being prohibitive. The other cases are still under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a recent Board of Trade Report shows that the numbers of auxiliary postmen in the United Kingdom have been increased by something like 800 in the last two years; and, seeing that this increase is contrary to the spirit of the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office servants, whether he will take steps to reduce the number of auxiliaries employed by the Post Office?

I do not accept the figures given in the question, but I have been making inquiries upon this subject. I may, however, assure my hon. Friend that every effort is made and will continue to be made to keep down the numbers of auxiliaries employed and to create full-time duties, where this can be done with due regard to the interests of the public and of the staff

asked the Postmaster-General whether the need for improved accommodation in the post office at Montasterevan being recognised and inquiries for better premises proceeding, he can say if Mr. Patrick M'Cabe submitted plans and specifications to the Post Office; what changes, if any, did the Department require to have made; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. M'Cabe is prepared to satisfy the Post Office authorities' requirements, he can now say what is the cause of delay in providing suitable post office accommodation for the public?

I am making inquiry on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a complaint was recently made by the Commercial Cable Company of the inefficiency of the present telegraph engineering staff of the South of Ireland to adjust their lines and of the consequent serious delay to their business; whether a complaint of a similar character was made by the postmaster of Buttevant on the occasion of the last Cahirmee horse fair; if he will state the result of his inquiries into these complaints; and whether, in view of the number of such complaints, he will reconsider the transfer of work of this kind from the civil to the military engineering staff?

I will make inquiry on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General what unit of work was disclosed by the recent revaluation at Blackburn; and whether the status of the Blackburn office outdoor staff will be raised in consequence?

According to the latest available Returns the units of work for Blackburn number 461. The classification of the staff will not, therefore, be affected at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the sum of 10s. deducted from Lloyds Bank, Limited, Leeds, by the Leeds post office, although arising from an error on part of the post office authorities, as admitted by the Postmaster-General on 23rd September, will be refunded by the post office to the bank?

The sum of 10s. was over-paid to the bank by mistake, and it was therefore properly recovered. This has been fully explained to the bank.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in answer to an unstarred question, he will circulate with the Votes a list of the coastguard stations which are not yet disposed of; whether he can state why this list has been refused to an open-air school for the cure of children suffering from diseases of eyes, heart, throat, and lungs; and whether the stations may be inspected by bonâ fide purchasers?

I regret that it is not practicable to circulate such a list, as negotiations are proceeding with regard to a number of these stations. Until these negotiations have been concluded it would be premature to make such a list or to offer the stations for inspection.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether application was made to the Admiralty on behalf of an institution for open-air treatment of children with a view to purchasing a number of coastguard stations; whether he can state what were the terms in regard to rental, repairs, and surrender of leases which the Admiralty put forward; and whether the terms as to repairs were on the principles advocated in the Government's Town Planning Bill?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and to the last part in the affirmative. The terms and conditions are generally to the following effect: The annual rent to be fixed by adding to the ground rent payable by the Admiralty an amount equal to 4 per cent. on the lump sum value of Admiralty interest in the buildings, to be ascertained by valuation. The lessees to maintain the property to the satisfaction of the Admiralty. The Admiralty to have power to resume possession at any time on giving six months' notice without payment of compensation, and in the event of resumption the lessees to restore the property to its original condition if called upon to do so. The lessees to pay rates and taxes, to insure the buildings, and generally to free the Admiralty from all liability under the leases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many coastguard stations have already been disposed of, and whether this was done after public advertisement of this sale?

Since the 1st April, 1807, 25 coastguard stations have been disposed of: in six cases the properties were freehold, and in 19 cases leasehold. In the cases of all the freehold properties and in eight of the leasehold the properties were advertised before disposal. In the remainder of the cases the leases had either nearly expired or contained special conditions in favour of the lessor.

asked the names of the coastguard stations awaiting sale or to be let on lease?

This question has been answered by the reply already given.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what will be the armament of the torpedo-boat destroyers of the 1908–9 programme?

It is not considered to be in the public interest to reply to the hon. Member's question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any docks capable of receiving a modern battleship of the "Dreadnought" type are under construction in Great Britain; and, if so, will he state the number, and where situated?

There are four graving docks and two floating docks capable of receiving a modern battleship of the "Dreadnought" class, which are under construction in Great Britain or whose construction is in immediate contemplation, with possibly two more in the latter category.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what increase in the capacity of Great Britain to produce gun-mountings for battleships has been made since last March?

It is not considered desirable to enter into details on the subject, but a satisfactory increase in our capacity has been made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been directed to the firm of Messrs. Grafton and Company, Bedford, Government contractors, now engaged on work for Devon-port Dockyard, which firm is paying 1d. per hour less than the wages current in the

Years.		Estimated Quantity of Wheat Grown in the U.K.	Quantity of Wheat Imported into the United Kingdom.
			Grain only.		Grain and Flour, in equivalent of Grown.
			From Foreign Countries.	From British Possessions.	From Foreign Countries.	From British Possessions.
		Quarters.	Quarters.	Quarters.	Quarters.	Quarters.
1899	…	8,407,571	11,546,348	4,002,070	18,163,522	4,821,005
1900	…	6,790,262	13,644,794	2,378,087	20,177,662	2,828,410
1901	…	6,740,966	12,332,721	3,932,602	19,031,566	4,550,193
1902	…	7,284,805	13,603,715	5,296,804	19,246,231	5,936,899
1903	…	6,102,348	14,055,077	6,508,830	19,876,419	7,363,883
1904	…	4,739,973	12,924,567	9,891,350	16,768,923	10,818,301
1905	…	7,541,582	13,507,223	9,271,419	16,604,261	10,048,610
1906	…	7,577,305	14,269,897	7,422,450	18,106,221	8,184,834
1907	…	7,066,399	13,548,500	9,124,033	17,216,839	9,765,026
1908	…	6,741,180	15,916,976	5,346,972	19,492,389	5,974,753

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will say how many explosions have taken place in mines where naked lights are used, and the number of men killed and injured, since the last interim Report of the Royal Commission on Mines was issued?

Since the issue of the last Report of the Royal Commission on Mines on 9th September, 22 ignitions of fire-damp in naked light mines have been reported, by which 10 persons were killed and 27 injured. The ignition in each case was due to the use of a naked light. The serious explosion last week

The attention of the Admiralty has been called to the case in question, and the matter is now under investigation.

asked the President of the Beard of Trade whether he can state how many quarters of corn were grown in the United Kingdom, how many quarters of corn were imported from foreign countries, and how many were imported from our own Colonies during each of the last ten years?

The following statement shows the estimated quantity of wheat grown in the United Kingdom, and the quantity of wheat imported from foreign countries and British Possessions during each of the last 10 years:—also occurred in a naked-light mine. The investigations of the nature and cause of this explosion are not yet completed, but there is reason to think that in that case the ignition was not an ignition of firedamp, and that it was not caused by a naked light.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether there is any intention to make further changes in the Maltese Constitution other than that announced a few months ago; and, if so, can he indicate the nature of the proposed reform?

No further changes in the Constitution of Malta are contemplated beyond that already announced that is the appointment of two of the elected members of the Legislative Council to be members of the Executive Council of the Island.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can state what was the amount of opium issued and the amount of duty levied in the Assam Valley districts year by year from 1895–6 to 1907–8; what was the Treasury price of opium during this period; and to what figure was the Treasury price of opium raised on 1st April, 1909?

The figures are:—

Year.		Amount of Opium issued	Amount of Duty levied.	Treasury Price.
		Sirs.	Rs.	Rs. per Sir.
1895–6	…	51,063	14,89,215	37
1896–7	…	49,146	14,23,730	37
1897–8	…	49,552	14,25,949	37
1898–9	…	49,771	14,33,237	37
1899–0	…	48,783	13,92,531	37
1900–1	…	48,427	13,80,171	37
1901–2	…	45,399	13,93,886	37
1902–3	…	47,692	13,59,223	37
1903–4	…	50,091	14,27,024	37
1904–5	…	51,423	14,65,929	37
1905–6	…	53,217	15,15,240	37
1906–7	…	57,270	16,37,409	37
1907–8	…	62,410	17,78,684	37

The Treasury price was raised to Rs. 40 per sir from 1st April, 1909. A portion (at present Rs. 8½ a sir) of the Treasury price of issue is credited, not to "Excise" as duty, but to "Opium" as representing the estimated cost of production.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any information as to certain fiscal arrangements which give a monopoly of cotton milling to certain mills made by the States of Dhrangadra and Limbdi, in Kathiawar; whether he is aware of the effect of these arrangements upon the cotton trade in the British State of Wadhwan; and whether they constitute an infraction of the rule hitherto laid down by the paramount Power that the local arrangements of the individual States in Kathiawar should not interfere with the freedom of trade throughout the Province as a whole; and whether the Secretary of State will make inquiries on the matter, and take such action as the circumstances may render desirable?

The Secretary of State is aware of the facts to which my hon. Friend refers and which have been the subject of discussion between the Agent to the Governor of Bombay and the Chiefs of the States concerned. The Secretary of State does not consider that the circumstances are such at present as to call for further inquiry or to warrant any departure from the appoved policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of native States.

asked the Attorney-General if he will say when the Report of the Royal Commission appointed to consider the advisability of extending the English Land Transfer Acts to Scotland will be issued?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the expediency of instituting in Scotland a system of Registration of Title. I am informed that no definite date for the issue of the Report can yet be indicated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the provisions of the commercial treaty arranged between Portugal and Germany by which, under certain conditions, a special preference would be accorded to German goods entering Portugal; and whether His Majesty's Government have taken or are taking any steps for the protection of British trade with Portugal?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. So far, however, as I am aware, the treaty in question has not yet been ratified. The question of a commercial arrangement with the Portuguese Government for the benefit of British commerce has been for some time engaging the consideration of His Majesty's Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has observed, in the recently issued Statistics of Compensation (Cd. 4894), that while the number of deaths from accidents during 1908 in vessels registered under the Merchant Shipping Act is given as 999 the cases in which compensation was paid during the same year are 371; whether he can state what proportion of the 999 deaths were those of persons not of British nationality; and whether, seeing that such distinction confers a preference for the employment of foreign workers, he can devise a means for acquainting the dependants in such cases of their claim to compensation allowances?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The statistics of compensation were issued by my direction, and I am aware of the figures mentioned. Of the 999 seamen killed by accident, 661 were inhabitants of the United Kingdom, or about two-thirds of the whole number; 45 were Colonials, 51 Lascars, and the remaining 242 of foreign nationality. It is obvious, therefore, that the difference between the number of fatal accidents and the number of cases in which compensation was paid was not wholly or largely due to the fact that the persons killed were foreigners. As regards the suggestion in the last part of the question, it is understood, as stated in the statistics, that the rights given by the Act are generally well known to foreign seamen, and that numerous claims are received; and I am of the opinion, in which my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade concurs, that no special steps are necessary to bring the provisions of the Act to their notice.

asked the President of the Board of Education, with reference to the decision of the Government in 1904, that the educational inspection of all the boarding schools to which Poor Law children are sent should be undertaken by the Board of Education; whether his Department is now actually carrying out the educational inspection of all such schools, or only of the schools under the management of boards of guardians and the 23 among all the certified schools on which a Report was made in 1908; and, if all boarding schools to which Poor Law children are sent are not yet being so inspected, when such educational inspection is to be undertaken?

1. The arrangement made in 1904 transferred to the Board of Education the educational inspection of (i) all the schools conducted by boards of guardians and managers of Poor Law school districts, now numbering about 66; and (ii) such of the schools certified by the Local Government Board under the Act of 1862 for the reception of Poor Law children as were then inspected by the Local Government Board inspectors of Poor Law schools, numbering 23. This arrangement is still being carried out. 2. I understand from the Local Government Board that the total number of institutions certified by them under the Act of 1862 is now 275. 3. Of these 275 certified institutions 90 are stated to provide elementary education on the premises. Sixty-four of these are inspected by the Board of Education either under the arrangement of 1904 or as being public elementary schools or special schools receiving grants from the Board of Education; five are inspected by the Home Office as industrial schools, and one by the Admiralty. I am arranging with my right hon. Friend that the Board of Education will now undertake the educational inspection of the remaining 20 schools. 4. Of the remaining 185 certified institutions I am informed by the Local Government Board that 182 do not provide elementary education on the premises, and that three are of a special type—one being an idiot asylum certified by the Lunacy Commissioners, one an asylum for deaf and dumb females, the present inmates of which are adults, and one an asylum for indigent blind formerly certified by the Board of Education under the Blind and Deaf Act. These three are not under inspection by the Board of Education. 5. As regards the 182 certified institutions not providing elementary education on the premises, I am informed by the Local Government Board that in 143 of them all the children of school age attend public elementary schools, while in 37 cases all the inmates are over 14 years of age, and in two cases the institution is, in fact, a convalescent or holiday home. 6. I may add that the total number of Poor Law children, not counting those in receipt of out-relief, was at the beginning of this year about 66,600, counting all children under 16 years of age, not only those between three and 14. About 57,000 of these were in institutions under the direct control of boards of guardians and managers of Poor Law school districts; and about 9,600 were in other institutions, 8,100 being in certified institutions and 1,500 in uncertified institutions. These are round figures. 7. I am carefully considering all the practical questions which arise in connection with the general principle, on which my right hon. Friend and I are agreed, that the educational inspection of all schools or places of education attended by Poor Law children should be fully secured, and I am in communication with the President of the Local Government Board on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the fact that there are a large number of children attending the elementary schools in Watford who are unable, by reason of lack of food, to take full advantage of the education provided for them; and whether he can see his way to issue a circular to the local education authorities in Watford and other places calling their attention to the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, and urging the desirability of putting the Act into operation in urgent cases?

With regard to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, I have no information. With regard to the second part of the question, I may point out that the local education authority for the Urban District of Watford is the Hertfordshire County Council to which the Urban District has relinquished its powers under the Education Act, 1902. The Board issued in January, 1907, a Circular on the effect of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, which pointed out the possibilities opened up by the Act and the responsibilities entrusted by it to local education authorities. The Board have no authority to insist upon the adoption of the Act by local education authorities, and I have no reason to suppose that a further Circular on the subject of the Act would serve any useful purpose.

asked the President of the Board of Education, what is the total amount of superannuation allowance and annuity on which Miss Woodhams, at Croydon, has been retired; and what is the total disablement allowance paid to Mrs. Murry, also of Croydon; and at what age the retirement took place, and after what number of years of service as head or assistant teacher, respectively, in public elementary schools in each case?

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

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the total amount of the superannuation allowance and annuity on which Mr. Edwin Jackson, of Llandegai non-provided school, near Bangor, has been retired; and at what age such retirement took place, and after what number of years of service as a certificated teacher in public elementary schools?

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

asked the President of the Board of Education 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 figures are as follows:—

	31st Mar, 1906.	30th June, 1909.
Established staff	1,234	1,336
Non-established staff.	276	187

These figures exclude the policemen, artisans, labourers, needlewomen, professional assistants, packers, and labellers who are employed in the museums under the charge-of the Board, in the Solar Physics Observatory, and in the Royal College of Arts, and all cleaners and charwomen.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the last steps taken to encourage the rearing of horses for military purposes in Wales; and whether he is aware that exceptionally good horses are bred in Montgomeryshire?

An officer has been twice in Wales during the last few months for purchasing horses, but has only been able to buy a few. The same officer, however, annually purchases a considerable number of horses at Crewe and Wrexham, many of which, no doubt, are bred in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the harness of the Territorial Royal Army Medical Corps has been called in; and, if so, when it is proposed to re-issue it, and enable the men to continue their training?

The harness has been called in, but it will be re-issued at am early date.

asked the Lord Advocate what is the total number of people employed in connection with whale hunting in Shetland and the total number of people employed in connection with the herring fishing in Shetland, stating in each case the number of British subjects as compared with foreigners?

The number of British subjects employed in connection with whaling in Shetland in 1908 varied throughout the season from 67 to 79 and the number of foreigners from 197 to 229; in 1909 British subjects employed varied from 76 to 88 and foreigners from 200 to 207. The total number of people engaged in the herring fishing in Shetland in 1908 was 11,542 and in 1909 13,992, but of these a very large proportion are, of course, not Shetlanders. None of them were foreigners.

Statement showing the quantity of Herrings landed at Stations on the West Side of Shetland, during the years 1899 to 1909, inclusive:—
	1899.	1900.	1901.	1902.	1903.	1904.	1905.	1906.	1907.	1908.	1909.
	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.	Crans.
Whalfirth	1,569	1,274	2,280	630	1,242	2,775	692	509	—	1,586	179
W. Sandwick	2,510	5,533	5,172	2,624	1,971	1,973	288	289	8	—	54
Northroe	4,531	3,317	6,102	3,627	2,728	4,324	137	1,610	7	906	168
Ronasvoe	25,577	24,532	23,992	11,592	10,950	15,892	3,455	60	—	1,205	—
Hillswick			20,015	15,025	8,044	7,964	1,216	620	3	227	285
Mamarvoe			—	—	—	16,003	3,092	273	1	4,210	613
Mangaster			—	1,129	1,237	1,603	722	49	—	—	—
Walls	14,302	11,878	10,695	2,158	7,720	13,623	6,475	1,586	101	2,011	96
Papa			3,510	1,203	—	1,550	345	—	—	—	—
W. Burrafirth			1,678	1,496	669	1,624	782	389	—	358	—
Snarraness			2,761	1,725	865	1,551	551	452	—	281	—

asked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that, in consequence of a decline in the herring fishing industry in the ports of Whalfirth, West Sandwick, North Roe, Ronasvoe, Hillswick, Walls, and Papa Stour since 1903, when whaling was begun in Shetland by the Norwegians, after it had been pro hibited in Norway and the stations in that country had been burned by the fishermen, a number of the Shetland fishermen have been reduced to poverty and numbers of young men have been, and are being, forced to emigrate; and will the Secretary for Scotland, in view of this situation and of the fact that the Government has refused to intervene by mitigating or abolishing the whaling evil, consider the advisability of granting assisted passages to those fishermen who are anxious to emigrate, but are financially unable to do so?

asked when whaling was started in the Shetland Islands by Norwegian whale hunters, the number of steamers employed in the industry each year and the annual catch of whales; also the quantity of herrings landed annually since 1898 at the following herring fishing ports in Shetland adjacent to the whaling stations: Whalfirth, West Sandwick, North Roe, Ronasvoe, Hillswick, Walls, and Papa Stour?

Whaling in Shetland by Norwegians began in 1903. Official Statistics (obtained for first time under powers conferred by the Act of 1907) are available for only 1908 and 1909. The number of steamers employed in each of these years was eight, and the catch was 526 whales in 1908 and 498 in 1909. The quantity of herrings landed at the herring fishing ports mentioned since 1898 is shown in the accompanying table:—

There has doubtless been a decline in the herring catch from the ports enumerated, though I am unable to accept all the inferences drawn by my hon. Friend. I am informed, however, that there has been a reduction in the emigration figures of the last two years. The answer to the concluding part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Lord Advocate if be has received a petition from the county council of Zetland, pointing out the continuous failure of the herring fishing on the West and North-West fishing grounds of Shetland, and praying that the landing of whales in Shetland be prohibited or, alternatively, that the Report of the Committee of 1904 limiting the number of steamers to one for each of the four stations be given effect to by legislation; and if he will take the same into his favourable consideration?

The petition has been received by the Secretary for Scotland, and will receive consideration.