asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether in Ireland the taxes on motorists and petrol, which it is intended to raise, will be administered by the Local Government Board or by the Board of Agriculture, and how they will be allocated; and whether the taxes so collected will be applied to the repair and upkeep of the roads?

The duties in question will, as part of the Customs and Excise Revenue, be administered by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. As regards the application of the proceeds of the duties, I can only refer the hon. Member to the provisions of the Finance Bill and the Development and Road Improvement Funds Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how much has been collected to 31st October, or the latest date for which the information is available, under each new tax and each increase of existing taxes imposed by the Finance Bill?

The figures up to 31st October are:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will state on what date would a claimant, otherwise eligible, who was a year and a half old in the Census Returns of 1841 be entitled to a pension; when would a claimant be entitled who was one in 1841; and, when there is a discrepancy in the Returns of 1841 and 1851 (1½ in 1841 and 11 in 1851), what Return is to be taken as correct?

The Census of 1841 was taken on 6th June of that year, and I am informed that the Local Government Board have adopted that date as a standard date for the computation of the age of those who cannot supply other evidence of the actual day of their birth. A person, therefore, who was 1½ years old in 1841, provided that the other conditions were fulfilled, would, if the actual day of birth could not be proved, become eligible for a pension on the 6th instant. Similarly, if one year old in 1841, he would, in the absence of evidence of the precise date of birth, become eligible on 6th June next. Where there is a discrepancy between the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, I understand that, for the reasons stated in their Annual Report (pages XII. and XIII.), the Board follow the Census of 1841.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many persons are in receipt of old age pensions in the following places, and what is the total amount per week distributed in the said places respectively in the form of such pensions: Pembroke and Pembroke Dock (borough), Haverfordwest (borough), Tenby (borough), Milford Haven (urban district), Narberth (urban district), Neyland (urban district), Fishguard (urban district), and Wiston (Parliamentary borough)?

No statistics of the local distribution of old age pensions are at present published, and while I could easily make inquiries as regards particular neighbourhoods, I am afraid that if I consented to do so in one instance demands might be made for similar particulars from all parts of the country, which could only be supplied at the cost of great labour to pension officers.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury if his attention has been called to the cases of women eligible, as regards age and character, for pensions who are disqualified owing to the non-British nationality of their husbands; whether he is aware that in such cases as that of Mrs. Leleu, of 88, Marshall-street, Folkestone, where the husband is actually in receipt of a War Office pension of 2s. 2½d. per day for military services rendered to the Crown, doubts have been expressed by competent authorities as to the disqualification pronounced by the Local Government Board; and whether, in view of such doubts, he can recommend the question to be laid before the Law Officers of the Crown?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. My attention has been called to cases of the kind referred to, including the particular one mentioned. I am not aware that doubts have been expressed by any competent authority that in such cases the claimant is disqualified, and it does not at present appear to me necessary to consult the law officers on the subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what Excise regulations have been framed to meet the case of beet sugar grown in the United Kingdom?

No regulations have yet been framed to meet the case of sugar made from beet grown in this country.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a circular issued by the Autocar League requesting its members to take out their licences for motor cars, carriages, male servants, armorial bearings, game, dogs, and guns in those counties specified by the league as being favourably disposed towards motorists; and to inquire whether, in order to secure to each county its fair share of the local taxation licences, he will be prepared to introduce legislation by which it would be made obligatory upon persons liable to duty to take out their licences in the county or county borough in which they ordinarily reside?

My attention has been called to this subject by the Home Secretary, and I hope that it will be possible to find some way of dealing effectively with the proposal if a serious attempt is made to carry it into effect. While I cannot announce a decision at present, the matter is receiving my careful consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the representations placed before him in December last by a deputation from the London Customs watchers, when they asked for the recognition of an overtime payment of 2d. extra per hour, and that the existing wage of 26s. per week should be increased for men of 15 years' service by 1s. per week per annum up to 30s. per week, the latter wage to be immediately paid to men with 20 years' service, have yet been considered; and, if so, with what result?

I regret that for the reasons indicated in the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Sunderland on 20th May last I have not been able to come to a decision on the petition referred to, but I hope before long to be in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state upon what grounds the pension granted to Anthony O'Donnell, of Meenaleck, county Donegal, was withdrawn, seeing that the man is shown by the Census of 1851 to be of the required age?

No pension was withdrawn in this case, as no pension had been granted. The claim for pension was disallowed on appeal by the Local Government Board. I have no means of knowing what reasons actuated the Local Government Board in reaching their decision.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the grounds upon which the pension allowed to Mrs. Nancy Cannon, widow, of Carrowcannon, county Donegal, register No. 452, Dunfanaghy sub-committee, has been withdrawn; and whether he is aware that the question of her age was satisfactorily settled by reference to the Census of 1841, and that she holds in common with a married son a holding of 11 acres, valuation £4 10s.?

The decision of the local pension committee allowing the pension in this case was reversed by the Local Government Board on appeal. I have no means of knowing what reasons actuated the Local Government Board in their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that numbers of persons who were passed for old age pensions are now being deprived of same in County Longford; on what basis the valuation of farms is computed by pensions officers; whether any effort beyond mere guesswork is made to ascertain the actual needs of these poor people; and whether he is aware that suffering is the result of deprival of these pensions in many cases?

A comparatively small number of pensions have been cancelled in this county on the ground that the pensioners have not reached the statutory age, or that their yearly means were in excess of the statutory limit. The incomes of small farmers are ascertained by actual investigation, due regard being paid both to the quality of the land and the description of stock kept.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the case of Margaret McGlinchy, of Tieve-clougher, Stranorlar, East Donegal, whose name appears in the Census of 1841 as of three years of age, yet she has been deprived of her pension for seven weeks and had to make a fresh application to the pension officer before she received it; and whether he will take steps to have her paid the money that has thus been withheld from her?

The pensioner, Margaret McGlinchy, having been found to be eight years of age in the Census Returns of 1851, a question was raised by the Pension officer as to whether she was entitled to continue to receive a pension. The local Sub-pension committee decided on the 15th September last that she was not entitled to the pension, and, in the absence of any appeal by the pensioner to the Local Government Board, payment of the pension was stopped. Another claim was, however, made by her ok 6th October, and it then appeared that in the Census Returns of 1841 her age was given as three years, and her claim was accordingly allowed. I have no power to direct payment of the pension for the intervening period of three weeks, during which, under the provisions of the Act, she was not entitled to receive the pension.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any steps have yet been taken by the Estates Commissioners to divide the lands of Toneymore, county Longford, amongst the people; and, if not, when a scheme will be prepared?

The Estates Commissioners are unable, from the particulars given, to identify these lands as pending for sale before them. I would suggest that the hon. Member should communicate with the Commissioners, giving for the purpose of identification the name of the estate on which the lands are situate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a private patient in a lunatic asylum maintained there entirely by his relations without any charge upon public funds forfeits thereby his old age pension for which he is duly qualified; and, if so, whether the Government will bring in fresh legislation to remove this disqualification?

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this question. The reply to the first part of it is in the affirmative. Section 3 (1) (c) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, provides that a person shall be disqualified for receiving or continuing to receive an old age pension under the Act while he is detained in any asylum within the meaning of the Lunacy Act, 1890. I will bring the suggestion for legislation made in the latter part of the question under the notice of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The matter is one for him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the harbour of Nairn has been greatly damaged by a recent storm, that it is in imminent danger of total destruction, and the Fishery Board for Scotland have not sufficient available funds for its repair; and if he will consider making a direct Treasury grant in this case?

I find that there is no information in the Treasury on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Education when, at what age, and on what amount of superannuation and annuity respectively, Mr. F. Mullins, late of the Hopton School, Cam, Gloucestershire, and Mr. Charles Talboys, late of the Church School, Dursley, Gloucestershire, retired from service?

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 whether he will favourably consider the question of providing in next year's Education Estimates for increased grants to education authorities in order to meet the increased cost caused by medical inspection of schools, school meals for children, and smaller classes?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Canterbury.

asked the President of the Board of Education, if he is in a position to announce any prospect of an increased ratio of Government grant as suggested by the deputation of local education authorities which waited on the Prime Minister and on himself on 18th March last?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Canterbury.

asked the President of the Board of Education what are the latest figures in the possession of his Department showing the number of educational authorities which have the Education (Provision of Meals) Act in force; the total number of children who are being supplied with meals; and the total cost thereof?

The number of local education authorities in England and Wales who have, since the Act came into operation, been authorised by the Board of Education to spend money out of the rates on the provision of food under Section 3 of the Education (Provision of Meals) Act, 1906, is 100. I am not yet in a position to reply to the second and third paragraphs of the question or to furnish information as to the extent to which local education authorities have had recourse to the powers conferred on them by the Act otherwise than under Section 3. The Board are still awaiting replies from between 20 and 30 local education authorities to their Schedule of Inquiries on this subject issued in July, but a Report on the subject is now in preparation, and I hope that the Board may be in a position to issue it early next year.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will consider the desirability of instituting an inquiry, either by Royal Commission or Departmental Committee, into the numerous questions which have arisen directly or indirectly out of the methods whereby local education authorities are endeavouring to give effect to the powers contained in Section 13 (h) of The Education (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1907, for attending to the health of the children?

I think it is desirable to postpone a reply to my hon. Friend's question pending the issue of the First Report of the Medical Department of the Board, which is in an advanced state of preparation.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, who has been selected to represent the British Government at the opening of the Argentine National Exhibition in May next; and what steps is he taking to ensure due recognition by Great Britain of the importance of this occasion?

We are fully alive to the importance of the occasion, and the steps to secure the object in view will be taken in due course. The point raised in the first part of the question is still under consideration. With regard to the second part of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member 8th October last.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state as respects England and Wales the number and amount of the advances made by local authorities and of the loans sanctioned under the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899, to the present time, distinguishing between the county of London and the rest of the Kingdom?

The particulars are as follows:—

asked the number of deaths in England and Wales of infants under one year per 1,000 births in each of the years 1904 to 1908, and in the first nine months of each of these years and of the present year, distinguishing London, the 76 great towns, and the 142 smaller towns from the rest of the country?

The following tables give the information asked for:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the present import duties in France on steel ingots, steel blooms or billets, steel bars, and steel plates; and what is the amount of the bounty per ton on ships built in France, distinguishing the various classes of ships in so far as they are distinguished by gradations in the bounty?

The following statement shows the rates of import duty levi- able on steel ingots, steel blooms, or billets, steel bars, and steel plates on importation into France, together with the English equivalents of those duties:—