asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he had yet received any Report as to the alleged cruelties committed under the control of the English Peruvian Amazon Company; and whether the United States Government had also supplied His Majesty's Government with information on this matter and to what effect?

No further reports on the subject are expected, nor has any information been received from the United States Government since the date of my answer to Mr. Hart-Davies on 24th November last. The-information in my possession gives rise to a presumption that abuses have occurred. I have brought the charges to the notice of the company, who deny that they have any foundation and repudiate all responsibility. In these circumstances, I have suggested to them that a Commission of inquiry should be sent to the Putumayo.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman how long ago that suggestion was made, and whether there is any chance of its being accepted?

I cannot answer the latter part of the question. That is a matter that rests with the company. I will answer the first part if the hon. Gentleman will give notice of the question.

asked if the lease of the Lado Enclave on the Nile lapsed or expired on the death of His Majesty the King of the Belgians; if the Government had resumed possession of that territory; and if it was now being administered by the Government of the Soudan?

By Article 1 of the Agreement of 9th May, 1906, between the United Kingdom and the Independent State of the Congo it is stipulated that the Lado Enclave shall be handed over to the Soudanese Government within six months of the termination of the reign of His Majesty King Leopold. Steps are being taken to settle the arrangements necessary for the transfer at the season of the year most convenient for effecting it.

May I ask whether there is any doubt that at the end of six months this territory will be handed over?

If it is not done exactly at the end of six months, it will only be that because of climatic conditions the Soudanese Government will wish to be consulted as to the most convenient time for taking it over.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, at the meeting of the Brussels Sugar Convention held in December, 1908, when the Russian delegates were received for the first time, the proposal was made by them that when 88 per cent. beet sugar exceeded 11s. per cwt. on the London market Russia should be allowed to suspend the restriction upon her exportation, a suggestion which was supported by the British delegate but opposed by the other delegates, who postponed the matter to subsequent meetings; whether he was aware that this sugar was now 13s. per cwt. in London; whether the Convention met in June and December, 1909, and why no White Papers had been issued with regard to these sittings; and what had become of the Russian proposal?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am informed that the present price of 88 per cent. beet sugar is about 14s. per cwt. As regards the third part, the Permanent Commission met in June, but the meeting fixed for December, 1909, was postponed to February last. I did not consider it necessary to lay a White Paper respecting the June sitting as the British delegate's report contained no points of special interest. No documents have yet reached me regarding last month's sitting. With reference to the last part of the question, the proposal has not again been raised by the Russian delegates.

Will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to issue these White Papers? After all, although they are small, they are the only information we have to let us know what is going on in the Convention?

I am not quite sure how frequently the sittings take place. I will look into the matter. I am not aware of any reason why they should not be published.

May I ask whether there is any prospect whatever of the restrictions being removed from Russian sugar, Russia being the largest beet-growing country in the world, so that we may have cheaper sugar in this country?

That does not depend upon our action.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether an official reply had been received from His Majesty's Minister in Pekin in regard to the incident at Kucheng in the matter of opium suppression, referred to in his letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, 15th December, 1909; and whether he could now hold out hopes that the proclamation of the Kucheng magistrates ordering the opium shops to be closed should be sustained and enforced?

A report has been received from His Majesty's Minister at Pekin from which it appears that the statements made in regard to the action of His Majesty's Consul at Foochow respecting the closing of opium shops in the district of Kucheng are in many respects inaccurate. After further consideration of the circumstances the Consul, with the concurrence of His Majesty's Minister, decided to take no further action in the matter, and it appears on recent inquiry that as far as can be ascertained all shops dealing in either foreign or native opium in Kucheng are now closed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention had been called to the fact that the syllabus of temperance instruction issued by the Board of Education last year was being translated into the vernacular and adapted for use in schools in Burma; and whether the Government of India had under their consideration the desirability of taking similar action in the other provinces of India?

The Secretary of State has no information regarding the action said to have been taken in Burma. As regards the latter part of the question, an inquiry made in 1907 showed that in three of the provinces of India lessons on temperance were already included in the books read in schools, and that such lessons were about to be introduced in two more.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he had any official knowledge as to when the inquiry instituted by the Government of India into the conduct of the police officials condemned by the High Court of Calcutta in the Midnapur appeal on the 1st June last was concluded; what was the nature of that report; and what steps the; Government of India had taken upon it?

The inquiry referred to in the question has been held, and the report was submitted on 6th November to the Government of Bengal. But certain civil suits, claiming large sums as damages for false charges and imprisonment, have now been brought against the district and police officers into whose conduct the inquiry was held. While these suits are before the courts it is impossible to publish the results of the inquiry, in which the same questions are dealt with as will now come before the civil courts for judicial decision.

asked the undersecretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State had yet come to any conclusion as to the desirability of treating British subjects in India, who were imprisoned for offences of a seditious nature, as first-class misdemeanants, in the same way as such prisoners are treated in England?

This matter has received careful consideration by the Secretary of State. Having regard to the differences between the Indian Penal Code and the Criminal Law here, and considering also the latitude of discretion permitted by the Penal Code in passing sentence for different offences of a seditious nature, the Secretary of State does not propose to interfere.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention had been drawn to the prosecution for sedition of one Lal Chand, of Lahore, by order of the Punjab Government, for publishing a Hindustani translation of two chapters of Professor Seely's "Expansion of England," and of Mr. William Jennings Bryan's article on British Rule in India, which was originally published in the "New York Sun" in 1906; and whether His Majesty's Government proposed to take any action in the matter?

Lai Chand has been prosecuted by the Government of the Punjab for publishing (in conjunction with Kishen Singh, referred to in the answer given on the 24th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme) nine different pamphlets alleged to be of a seditious character. The Secretary of State has no details as to the actual contents of the publications. His Majesty's Government propose to leave the matter to the decision of the Courts of law.

Have steps been taken to advise those who may be affected as to what is the standard of historic works that are considered seditious by the Indian Government?

These questions are being decided in a court of law. The report will be forthcoming in the ordinary way.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what amount of the sum (page 62, Army Estimates, 1909–10) of £701,000 voted for forage and allowances in lieu, and paillasse straw had been expended, respectively, upon oats, home-grown; oats, grown abroad; hay, home-grown; hay, grown abroad: straw, home-grown; straw, grown abroad?

asked the Secretary of State for War what were the total sums included in the Army Estimates, 1909–10, of £701,000 voted for forage, etc., expended upon hay and corn only for the Regular Army quartered in Great Britain and Ireland and for the Territorial Forces, respectively, the values of home-grown and grown abroad to be specified?

In reply to these two questions I would point out that the Army Contracts for Army Forage do not contain any specification as to sources of supply—whether home-grown or grown abroad—and accordingly it is not possible to give the detailed information required. Further, it would involve considerable time and labour to calculate the expenditure on the different kinds of forage, and as the object of the Noble Lord's question appears to be to differentiate between home-grown forage and forage grown abroad which cannot be given, I hope he will not press for the other figures.

May I understand that so far as possible, for the purposes of recruiting and not for the purposes of Tariff Reform, forage will be bought in the districts where the yeomanry are recruited?

We always try to give local contracts to encourage the people about. It makes them more friendly to the military operations which take place in the locality. But on the general question we make the contracts under such conditions as will get for us the best stuff.

Speaking generally, is it not the fact that nearly the whole of the meat bought last year for the Scottish Territorial regiments came from Liverpool?

:I was not aware of that.

May I take it that all the contractors in the neighbourhood of the Curragh and Newbridge in the county Kildare will get a preference over foreigners in the interests of local produce?

No. These contracts are given where we can get the best beef.

The right hon. Gentleman knows well that there is no better beef in the world than is produced in Kildare.

If the contractors give the best meat at the lowest price we shall be glad to deal with them.

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention had been called to the block in the promotion of lieutenants of the Royal Garrison Artillery; and whether he proposed to offer any incentive to officers of the Royal Garrison Artillery to transfer to other branches of the Service?

The whole question has been considered by a Committee and subsequently by the Army Council, who did not consider that any special steps were necessary. At the present time there are only five supernumerary captains, and promotions from lieutenant to captain, it is hoped, will shortly recommence. It is not proposed to transfer officers from the Garrison Artillery to other branches of the Service.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to state the report of this Committee on the forthcoming Estimates?

:I shall be glad to give any information to the right hon. Gentleman in the course of the Debate.

I will raise the question.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that the Canadian Government imposed a tariff upon trade catalogues coming within the Dominion; and whether he would make representations with a view to the removal of this obstacle to British commerce?

The question of revising the duty on trade catalogues was considered by the Canadian Government on the occasion of the last general revision of the tariff in 1907, but it was decided to make no alteration. The Secretary of State is of opinion that there would be no advantage in making further representations to the Dominion Government on the subject at present.

Has the hon. Gentleman represented to the Secretary of State that in this matter as in so many others Canadian opinion is much more oppressive than that of the United States?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury if he could state if there was such a position as Lord High Treasurer of Ireland; and, if so, what were the duties of this office?

The office of Lord High Treasurer of Ireland was united with that of the Lord High Treasurer of Great Britain by Section 2 of the Act, 56, George in., cap. 98, and the title of the united office is Lord High Treasurer of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; but when there is no such officer, His Majesty is authorised by the same Section to appoint Commissioners for executing the offices of Treasurer of the Exchequer of Great Britain and Lord High Treasurer of Ireland. Perhaps I may add for the information of my hon. Friend that the present duties of the Lord High Treasurer of Ireland are to make a House, to keep a House, and to cheer the Government.

Would the hon. Gentleman be good enough to add to his information by saying who this remarkable person is, because so far I have not met anybody who is prepared to cheer the Government at all?

I shall have great pleasure in introducing my hon. Friend to the Lord High Treasurer of Ireland to-morrow.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any instructions of a special and confidential character had been issued to pension officers in Ireland to set themselves to the task of hunting down old age pensioners and getting them removed off the list in that country; whether any bonus was paid to these officers for the number of persons whom they could get disqualified, and, if so, at what rate; and whether he was prepared to lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the instructions issued to these officers for their guidance in this matter?

No such instructions have been issued. No such bonus as that referred to has been paid or contemplated. The suggestion, which has been widely circulated, that it has been paid is one which I am informed pension officers have keenly resented, and I am obliged to the hon. Member for affording me an opportunity of contradicting it.

How is it, although this Act has been fourteen months in operation, that it is only within a comparatively recent period that the activity of those officers has been so keenly shown?

I am afraid that that is not exactly the fact. They are doing exactly what they did for the last thirteen months.

When were the instructions issued to pension officers in Ireland to revise their former decisions on the questions of age and several other points?

As I have often pointed out to this House, these pension officers give no decisions and therefore they have no power to revise them.

That is not my point. I ask whether instructions were issued to the pension officers in Ireland to revise the original decisions arrived at, or at least to investigate the details and report to the Local Government Board the decisions which might be come to?

There has been no alteration in any of the instructions to the pension officers since February, 1909–one month after the Act came into operation. Since the extreme pressure of getting the first flow of applications through there has been no alteration of the instructions.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that, though the Act has been fourteen months in operation, only recently a large number of appeals from pension officers have been lodged with the Local Government Board?

It is natural that there should be appeals as time goes by.

May I ask if the increase in the number of appeals is due to the fact that pension officers who have not been active in making appeals have been transferred?

There is no truth in that suggestion at all.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us why there has been so much shuffling among pension officers recently?

I am not aware of the fact. I will make inquiry.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if the labourers engaged on the Ordnance Survey in England had been classed under the new scheme issued by the Department; if so, why was it that the labourers of the Ordnance Survey in Ireland had not been included under the scheme; whether the labourers on the English survey had had their rate of pay increased; and, if so, would the same concession be given to the labourers on the Irish survey?

Neither the pay nor the status of the labourers employed on the Ordnance Survey either in Great Britain or Ireland has been in any way affected by the issue of the scheme of classification to which the hon. Member refers.

asked if the hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to the fact that labourers engaged on the Ordnance Survey in Ireland were compelled to retire when they reach the age of 60 years; whether these men received any pension; whether the age limit could be increased to 65; and, if not, could a contributory scheme be set up for labourers who were now compulsorily retired and thrown out on an overcrowded labour market where it was impossible for them to find any employment?

The age for retirement of labourers on the Ordnance Survey whether employed in Great Britain or Ireland, is 60. They receive no pension, but a gratuity of £1, or one week's pay, whichever is the greater, for each year of service is paid if a labourer has been employed for fifteen years. The Board are not prepared to extend the age limit, but they will be glad to consider the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the hon. Gentleman whether he could give the House any statistics of the export trade from this country in decrepit worn-out horses; whether the trade was increasing; and whether the attention of the authorities was vigilantly directed to prevent cruelties and to punish offenders?

We have no statistics as to the number of decrepit worn-out horses exported from this country, but the extent of the trade will appear from the fact that 16,420 horses, valued at less than £5 per head, were exported in 1909. The trade shows no signs of increasing. We have frequently called the attention of the local authorities concerned to the necessity for the utmost vigilance in the supervision of this trade, and we have appointed a veterinary inspector to give his undivided attention to the subject with a view to securing the efficient administration of the law. The punishment of offenders on conviction is a matter which rests with the magistrates but I may say that offences are being treated with much greater severity than was formerly the case.

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman's attention has been drawn to an article in "The Animals' Guardian" in which the writer gives a very definite narrative of the cruelties that he himself witnessed on the Antwerp boat?

I have not seen the article which the hon. Member mentions, but I will get it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether on the opening of Labour Exchanges all over Great Britain and Ireland, it was intended to discontinue the work of the Distress Committees set up under the Unemployed Workmen's Act; and, if not, whether it was the intention of the Government to appeal to Parliament this year for the money to carry on the work of the Distress Committees as heretofore.

The opening of Labour Exchanges under the Labour Exchanges Act, 1909, does not involve the discontinuance of the work of Distress Committees under the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905. I am not at present in a position to reply to the inquiry contained in the latter part of the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a minute has been sent to the Dublin District Committee telling them to keep open their Committee and to work along with the Labour Exchanges, and, if they are to keep open their Distress Committee, how are they to do so without the money to finance them?

I will make inquiry.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman proposes to make any changes in the administration of the Poor Law as a result of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Poor Laws?

Some administrative action has already been taken in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission, and other measures are in contemplation.

asked if the whole of the cargo of Chinese pork, which was landed at the London docks in July last, had now been inspected; and, if so, how many carcases were condemned by the inspectors; and how many had been passed for consumption?

I understand that the whole of the cargo in question has been inspected, and that the total number of carcases landed and inspected was 4,643. Of these 391, or 8.4 per cent., were condemned by the inspectors, and the remaining 4,252 were passed as fit for consumption.

asked the right hon. Gentleman if he had received notice of the arrival in the Thames of any further shipments of Chinese pork; if they had been inspected; and, if so, with what result?

I have received a copy of a report made to the Port of London Sanitary Authority by their medical officer of health stating that two cargoes of pigs from China had arrived in the port in January last. On preliminary inspection it was found that the pork did not comply with the requirements of the Public Health (Foreign Meat) Regulations, and a notice was therefore served under the Regulations by the medical officer of health forbidding removal of the meat for any purpose other than exportation.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to what has become of these carcases not allowed to be landed?

I have no definite information.

What is the matter with those carcases?

The 4,252 carcases which were passed as fit for consumption were severely tested. The 8.4 per cent. rejected were rejected because there were signs of some disease which in the opinion of the medical officer of health did not warrant their being put into circulation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ascertain what has become of the pork that was condemned as diseased—whether it has been re-exported?

I cannot say at this moment where the pork which was not to be landed here has gone.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiry?

Yes.

asked the right hon. Gentleman if he has had notice of the arrival at Liverpool of a cargo of Chinese pork; if the same will be inspected under his supervision; and if he has any jurisdiction over similar shipments at whatever port they may be landed?

I have not received any formal notice of the arrival of Chinese pork in the Port of Liverpool. In the event of such an occurrence the matter would be dealt with at the Port of Liverpool by the Customs officers and medical officer of health, whose action in regard to such a consignment would be governed by the requirements of the foreign meat regulations. These regulations apply to all ports in England and Wales.

Has the right hon. Gentleman no jurisdiction over no port except the Port of London?

Oh, yes; the foreign meat regulations apply to all the seaports in England and Wales. The Irish and Scotch Local Government Boards have a similar jurisdiction under the same Act of Parliament in all the ports of Ireland and Scotland.

Could not the inspector in London, who has now some experience in the matter, inspect the carcases in Liverpool?

That probably might be necessary when the cargo is landed, or an-attempt is made to land it, but until such-an attempt is made I ought not to be asked to send a medical official to Liverpool when there is no need.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the 8 per cent. condemned carcases were what in China are known as "scavenger pigs"?

No; that matter was dealt with some months ago. These carcases are not the carcases of scavenger pigs. The pigs were brought from the Yangtse Valley, and were in the main fed on rice.

What particular form of disease was found in those carcases?

Pigs generally suffer from trichinosis and tuberculosis, and in several cases they had each of these diseases.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will reconsider his refusal to hold a local inquiry, or to allow a deputation from the Tadcaster Rural District Council to interview the Board, in the matter of the sewerage of Sherburn-in-Elmet?

I have not refused to hold a local inquiry in regard to the council's scheme. Such an inquiry has, in fact, been held, and as a result I have been advised that the scheme would not be likely to give satisfactory results. In the circumstances I am afraid an interview would not be of any advantage.

May I ask whether it might not save time and cause very little trouble if he would grant them an interview?

The inquiry held into this matter was held no later than July, 1909, when representations were made by the Local Government Board to the local authority. We can see no advantage to be gained by an interview quite so soon with the Local Government Board, but if the hon. Member presses it I shall be pleased to see them.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he was aware that an outbreak of diphtheria had occurred in the villages of Patrington and Keyingham, in the area of the Patrington District Council, Holderness, Yorks; that on 19th February the medical officer reported forty-three cases; that this was due to the insanitary condition of the villages, to which the medical officer and others had been calling the attention of the council for ten years; and that recently an inspection of the drains at Keyingham was made, when it was found that there was accumulated sewage to the depth of three feet, two feet wide, and 200 yards in length; and would he cause an inspector to be sent down to inquire and report?

I am aware of this outbreak, and have already sent an inspector to the district. He visited the villages last week, and a preliminary report received from him is now under consideration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the answers to the workmen's petitions will be issued?

It is hoped that it will be possible to issue the answers to the petitions about the middle of April.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any of His Majesty's ships carrying guns of four inches calibre and over, and being in other respects liable to carry out heavy gun-layers' tests in 1909, did not, in fact, carry out those tests; what ships were they; and why did they not carry out the tests in question?

Yes, Sir; the ships were the "Invincible," "Blake," "Commonwealth," "Cambrian," "Hermione," "Roxburgh," "Topaze," "Lapwing," "Philomel," "Fox," "Speedwell," "Speedy," "Sharpshooter," "Flora," "Dwarf." The case of the "Invincible" I have already referred to; the remaining ships had no opportunity for carrying out the test named on account of the services on which they have been employed.

Why did those ships not carry out the tests?

I have given the reason. They were engaged on various services, which gave them no opportunity of carrying out the tests.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether His Majesty's ships are understood to be commissioned for a period of two years; whether it is intended to extend the commission of the surveying ship "Egeria," commissioned in March, 1908, from March, 1910 to 1911; whether he is aware that this would entail inconvenience and dissatisfaction on the part of the ship's company: and whether, in view of these facts, the Admiralty will reconsider its decision?

The usual period of a commission is two years, but the actual length is at the discretion of the Admiralty. In the case of the "Egeria" it has been extended beyond the usual two years to 1911 to suit the work on which she is employed, and it is not proposed to vary this decision.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the cost of the destroyers "Stour" and "Test," purchased to replace the "Lee" and "Blackwater," lost at sea, has been met out of the Navy Votes for 1909–10; or whether it will be provided for in the Supplementary Estimates to be submitted to the House?

The cost of the two torpedo boat destroyers purchased in the current year is provided for in the Supplementary Estimate presented on 22nd February.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether all the granite likely to be needed for Rosyth has been contracted for; and, if not, whether he can state when tenders will be invited in respect of any additional dock that may be projected?

This is entirely a question for the contractors for the works, and the Admiralty have no information on the subject.

May I ask whether, in the event of the Admiralty deciding on a further dock for Rosyth, and for which, I understand, they have Parliamentary powers, they will instruct the contractor to have British granite?

I can give no undertaking with regard to it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any information as to the wages paid for quarrying and dressing granite in Norway from whence the granite required for Rosyth is being supplied: and, if so, how those wages compare with the wages paid for the same class of work in the United Kingdom?

I would refer the hon. Member to the information given on this subject on Page 9 of the Diplomatic and Consular Report on the Trade and Commerce of Norway for 1908, presented to Parliament in June last (Command Paper 4446–102), and to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the present Home Secretary in this House on 18th March last.

asked whether, under the system of alternative tenders for the granite contract at Rosyth, the conditions of the fair wage clause applied to tenders for British contract; whether the same conditions applied to rates of wages and conditions of labour in the contract as placed in Norway; and, if so, what steps are taken to ensure that these conditions will be fulfilled?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part of the question in the negative.

asked the Lord Advocate if it is intended to make any further grant or loan for the purposes of the harbour at Wick, N.B.?

No application for a grant or loan for this purpose is at present pending, so far as I am aware.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state when the Government intend to introduce the Amendment in the Agricultural Holdings Act with regard to sheep stock valuations in Scotland, which he announced in his letter published shortly before the recent election?

As the Noble Marquess is doubtless aware, an appeal has been taken to the House of Lords against the decision of the Court of Session on which the request for legislation was based. Until the appeal is decided it would be premature to introduce a Bill.

May I ask is it not the fact that when the Lord Advocate wrote his letter he stated it was decided to introduce a Bill amending the Act of 1908, without any qualification at all with regard to future legislation which may, or may not, suit certain parties?

If there had been no appeal then legislation would have been necessary, but the matter will be decided on appeal, and probably no legislation will be necessary. The appeal has been taken since letter was written.

May I point out—

The hon. Member is not entitled to argue.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, amongst the administrative Bills the Government propose to introduce during this Session, it is intended to include a measure dealing with police superannuation in Scotland?

The Government cannot give any undertaking at present in the natter.

Is he in a position to state whether, in the event of last year's Bill being introduced by a private Member, the Government will withdraw its persistent opposition?

The hon. Member had better give notice of that question.

I give notice of it now.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will state the amounts voted by Parliament for secondary schools in Scotland during each of the past five years, and what is the amount per pupil in average attendance?

The amount voted for secondary schools in Scotland is included in the Vote for "Grants for Continuation Classes and Secondary Schools." The amounts spent in grants to secondary schools from the Vote named during the years in question are as follows:—

asked the Lord Advocate whether any rule has yet been made to allow or forbid the disclosure of the names of recipients of old age pensions to persons applying for the same?

I am informed that pension officers are expressly forbidden by the Board of Customs and Excise to disclose information of the nature referred to by my hon. Friend.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the systematic sending of circulars to old age pensioners at the last election?

I have no such information, but I shall be glad to consider it.

May I ask whether he does not consider it desirable that other persons who may possess the same information as the pension officers should be forbidden to disclose the names of pensioners?

I think old age pensioners' private affairs should be treated with the same consideration as those of anybody else.

asked the Postmaster-General if his Department will consider the advisability of extending the area of investment of the savings of the people to include direct loans to municipalities, with a view to increasing the earning capacity of the people's savings and the cheapening of money required by municipalities, in place of the present system?

I beg to refer my hon. Friend to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to a question by the Member for the Colne Valley Division.

Will he be good enough to consider the question of appointing a Committee to consider the matter, since quite a number of communities feel that it is very difficult to have to pay such large sums of money for municipal purposes, and that the Post Office money should be available?

I think the objections, on the whole, to raising money from this particular source are of a sufficiently strong character, it is not possible to disclose them all in detail, as to render such is a course undesirable and unnecessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the dislocation of business, the financial loss, and the exasperation caused by the recent-failure of the telegraph to Dundee and the North-East of Scotland, also considering the frequent recurrence of these breakdowns, he will implement his Department's qualified promise of a year or two ago, and now without further delay have these lines placed underground?

further asked whether, in view of the statements of members of the Government that they recognise their liability to the unemployed workers of the country, he will now make financial arrangements whereby the work of placing underground the telegraph lines to Dundee and the North-East of Scotland could be at once proceeded with, and thus provide work of general utility and national benefit for some of the unemployed?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply yesterday to questions on the subject of underground cables. I much regret that, in view of the very heavy cost of laying these cables and the many claims which have to be considered, I see no present prospect of laying lines to Dundee and the North-East of Scotland. The hon. Member doubtless realises, however, that a considerable part of the expenditure on underground cables already incurred—over £1,500,000–is on the line from London to Edinburgh, by every mile of which Dundee and places beyond benefit.

Could the right hon. Gentleman not see his way to have some financial arrangement made whereby this could be done, especially as members of the Government have so repeatedly told us what useful work it would be as a means of giving employment?

The Government is proceeding to develop the system of underground cables, but, of course, the claims of the districts have to be balanced against one another.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could state the number of the principal lighthouses on the West Coast of Ireland, from the Fastnet Rock in the south to Tory Island in the north, including both; what were the names of the fog-signal stations on the same coast, and what was the distance between each station?

The number of principal lighthouses on the coast mentioned by my hon. Friend is thirteen. The fog-signal stations on the same coast are as follows:—Fastnet; Mizen Head, nine miles from Fastnet; Bull Rock, twenty miles from Mizen Head; Skelligs, fourteen and a-half miles from Bull Rock; Loop Head, fifty-seven and a half miles from Skelligs; and Tory Island 190 miles from Loop Head.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the number of casual labourers who pass through Brecon on their way from Ireland and West Wales to England, he would consider the advisability of establishing a Labour Exchange in that town?

The further development of the Labour Exchange system in Wales is receiving careful consideration, but it is not possible at the outset of the scheme to establish Exchanges in all industrial areas of the country.

Is it the policy of the Government to employ these Labour Exchanges for the purpose of encouraging the migration of labour from the rural districts of Ireland to Great Britain?

My right hon. Friend particularly stated the opposite. We are very anxious to avoid that, and if the hon. Member will look at the regulations he will see a special regulation dealing with the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention had been called to the death at sea on 27th September, 1909, of an Asiatic coal trimmer, named Allee Mahomed Rajan, whilst serving on the steamer "Mahronda," of Liverpool; whether any inquiry had been held into the matter; and whether he could state the circumstances attending the seaman's death?

Yes, Sir. The disappearance of the trimmer belonging to the "Mahronda" was inquired into by His Majesty's Consul-General at Port Said, by the Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Tilbury, and by one of the Board of Trade surveyors. The man disappeared while dumping ashes, but no one saw him go overboard and no reason for his disappearance can be assigned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the death at sea, on 30th July, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Annisalla Cadis Mahd, whilst serving on the steamer "Arracan," of Glasgow: whether he could state the cause of death; and, if so, why the cause was not given in the Return of Deaths, published by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, for the month of September, 1909?

The cause of death in the case of the Asiatic fireman referred to while serving on the steamer "Arracan" was not given in the Return of Deaths published by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, as it was not shown in the return from which the other particulars of the occurrence were taken, but according to the official log book, and a return subsequently received, the man is supposed to have died from the after effects of a specific disease.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention had been called to the disappearance at sea, on 23rd August, 1909, of an Asiatic fireman named Shibatoola Romeezoola, whilst serving on the steamer "City of London" of Glasgow; whether any inquiry had been held into the matter; whether the seaman was medically examined before joining; how long he had served on the vessel, and whether he had had any previous sea service; whether he was on duty at the time; what was the temperature of the engine-room and stokehold; how many tons of coal the engine-room hands were required to work each twenty-four hours; and whether any previous cases of death from suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance had occurred on this vessel?

The disappearance of the Asiatic fireman referred to from the steamer "City of London" was inquired into by His Majesty's Acting Consul-General at Port Said, by the Assistant Superintendent of the Mercantile Marine Office at Glasgow, and by one of the Board of Trade surveyors. I am informed that the man was medically examined at Calcutta previous to being engaged, and that he had had previous sea service. He had served on the steamer twelve days, and was on duty when he disappeared. The temperature of the engine-room on the day of his disappearance was 100 degrees, and of the stokehold 96 degrees. The coal consumption was 90 tons per day, and the number of firemen and trimmers was forty-eight. No previous cases of death from suicide, supposed suicide, or disappearance have occurred on this vessel.

In respect of this deceased seaman, or of those mentioned in previous questions to-day, were any complaints received against the masters or owners of the vessels concerned?

I have not heard of any.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could furnish a Return showing the number of Chinese seamen engaged through the mercantile marine office, Poplar, during the quarters ended 31st December, 1908 and 1909, respectively, distinguishing the number who signed agreements at the mercantile marine office from those who signed on board ship?

Three hundred and eighty-seven Chinese seamen were engaged through the Mercantile Marine Office, Poplar, during the quarter ending 31st December, 1909, of which 304 were engaged at the Mercantile Marine Office and 83 on board. The numbers for the corresponding quarter of 1908 are: Number engaged, 358; engaged at the Mercantile Marine Office, 236; on board, 122. It may be added that of the 387 Chinese seamen engaged at Poplar during the quarter ending 31st December, 1909, 226 were for vessels lying at other ports, 161 only being for vessels within the Poplar district.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view if the recent decision in the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants of England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales and others and Osborne, he would consider the desirableness of introducing legislation at an early date providing for the payment of Members of Parliament?

I am afraid that, for reasons that are well known and that have already been stated, I cannot promise any legislation in regard to this or any other contentious matter during the present Session?

Does not the right hon. Gentleman really think that some provision for the maintenance of Members of this House is a necessary preliminary to the destruction of the other House?

asked what duties, if any, are, attached to the post of Lord Advocate for Scotland, for whom a salary of £5,000 a year is provided by Parliament; and what provisions, if any, were made for the discharge of such duties during the four months immediately preceding the General Election?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, Has he received any complaints whatever from Scotland or elsewhere as to the way in which the Lord Advocate has discharged his duties?

The answer to the supplementary question is an emphatic negative. The duties of the Lord Advocate as Chief Law Officer and Law Adviser of the Crown in Scotland are multifarious and responsible. They were discharged during the time referred to with the utmost ability and promptitude. My right hon. and learned Friend attended daily at his office, and conducted in court during the election a number of important Crown cases. There are no arrears of work of any kind in his Department.

asked what had been the decrease in the output of coal in the United Kingdom during the last six months of 1909, compared with the same six months of 1908?

I am unable to say what has been the output of coal during the last six months of 1909, as the returns which are furnished to the Home Office in pursuance of the Act give only the total output for the year. The output for the year shows an increase over the whole country of two and a quarter million tons, seven districts—including Northumberland and Durham, where the Act was not in operation—showing increases and five districts showing decreases. The figures will be published in the course of a few days.

May I ask whether the five districts are districts in which the Act is already in operation?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the pits were working full time, even under the Eight Hours Act?

I understand that Northumberland and Durham are included in the seven districts where there has been an increase, and in those two counties the Act is not yet in operation. Over the whole country there has been an increase of two and a quarter million tons.

asked what had been the increase in the cost of production per ton of coal in Wales, Scotland, and the Midlands respectively since the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Act came into operation?

Returns in regard to cost of production are not furnished by mine-owners to my Department, and I regret that I am unable to furnish the hon. Member with any definite information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he was aware that a mine-owning company in North Ayrshire, who were also large shareholders in a mine-owners' mutual insurance company, recently refused to pay compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act to a young miner who had been injured in their employment; that they ultimately, under pressure, paid the compensation due, and that thereafter, although work was plentiful and the miner had been in their service for more than twelve years, they dismissed him on the ground that the said insurance company, in which it was understood they had a controlling interest, would not insure him; that numerous other cases of a similar character had occurred in Ayrshire and other parts of Scotland; that men making successful claims for compensation were marked, and, in order to earn their livelihood, were forced to seek employment under assumed names; and if he proposed to introduce legislation dealing with this state of things?

I have no information regarding the case referred to in the question, nor have I evidence before me to show that such a practice as suggested exists to any considerable extent. The question, however, was brought to my notice, with other questions touching the working of the Compensation Act, by the deputation which my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State, received the other day on my behalf from the Parliamentary Committee of the Trade Union Congress, and will receive my consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been drawn to the trouble which had arisen in the Welsh coalfields over the interpretation of the Clause in the Coal Mines (Eight Hours) Act, by which underground workmen may be required to work an additional sixty hours a year; whether this Clause was only intended to apply to house coal districts, and was not meant to be of general application; and whether he would bring in or support an amending measure making that fact clear, or, as an alternative, issue a circular letter to colliery owners to that effect?

My attention has been called to the question which has arisen in South Wales in connection with Section 3 of the Act. I am not aware that there was any intention on the part of the Government or of the House that the operation of the provision should be limited to the special class of house coal mines, though those mines may have been specially mentioned as illustrating the need for a provision of this kind. I believe it was, in fact, intended to meet difficulties in times of pressure, but it is not so limited in the Statute. I am afraid I can make no promise as to legislation on the subject, and I do not see how I can usefully intervene in the matter at the present moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he was aware that certain of the visiting justices of the Strangeways Prison, Manchester, were recently convicted for an assault upon a woman prisoner; and could he say what action had been taken to remove these men from their positions as visiting justices and as magistrates.

I am not aware of any proceedings of the nature indicated by the hon. Member. A prisoner discharged last year from His Majesty's prison at Manchester did, however, institute an action for damages against certain of the visiting justices. It was held by the court that a technical assault had been committed on the prisoner, but that, the justices having acted in good faith and on reasonable grounds, and no substantial injury having been done to the prisoner, the damages should be merely nominal. The proceedings afford no ground for action on my part, and, further, the selection of justices for appointment on the visiting committee for a prison is not a matter over which I have any control.

asked the President of the Board of Education what is the amount voted by Parliament for secondary schools in England and in Wales in each of the past five years; and what is the amount per pupil in average attendance?

The answer to this question contains a very large number of figures, which I should like to circulate with the Votes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, seeing that the money available for intermediate education in Ireland, all of which is purely Irish money, is most inadequate, and will be still further reduced for the coming year, he will consider the necessity of giving a grant in the forthcoming Estimates in order to enable secondary schools in Ireland to carry on this most important branch of education?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has asked me to answer this question. The income of the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland is not provided by Vote of Parliament, it is made up of the interest on a sum of £1,000,000 derived from the Irish Church Temporalities Fund and of the residue of the Irish share of the Customs and Excise Duties after certain statutory charges have been paid. The latter portion of the Board's income has no doubt decreased owing to the falling off in those duties. I will confer with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer as to the possibility of providing a grant from the Votes of Parliament, but I am afraid it is too late to do anything in connection with the Estimates for the coming year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any complaints have reached the Treasury from Inland Revenue officers now acting as pension officers with regard to the increase in their work without regular increase in remuneration?

The introduction of Old Age Pensions threw a considerable amount of new work upon Excise Officials, and complaints on the subject have from time to time come before the Treasury. Many of the causes of complaint have been remedied, and others are still engaging the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer and myself and our advisers. As the hon. Member is possibly aware, a Committee, under my Chairmanship, will shortly inquire into the conditions of service of those Officers of Excise and Customs who are affected by the recent amalgamation of the two Departments.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that the removal of the pauper disqualification will add at least 30 per cent. to the cost?

It is quite impossible to make any calculation until we find out through the agency of this Committee what the amount of the work is.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many labourers' cottages have been erected in county Clare, and how many are in course of construction?

Up to 31st March last 518 cottages had been erected in county Clare, but the Local Government Board have no information as to the number since completed or the number at present in course of erection. The hon. Member may be glad to know that 1,304 cottages in all have been authorised under the Labourers Acts in the county.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether a list of such cottages will be available for each district, giving certain indications as to the localities?

That has never yet been done.

Is it not a fact that in the annual Report of the Local Government Board, published every year, they are shown union by union?

That is so. There is no doubt whatever where the cottages are.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the order of priority of sale for the thirty-four estates pending in North Longford, a list of which will be sent to him to assist in expediting an answer at the earliest moment?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that registers have been prepared showing the order of priority of all pending cases, and these registers are open to inspection in the Commissioners' Offices by all persons interested.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that within the past few months hundreds of poor persons have, after a few months' enjoyment of them, been struck off the list of old age pensioners in county Longford; whether in the case of doubtful age it is now ordered that evidence of a proved older person cannot be received as satisfactory corroboration of applicant's statement; and whether any special instructions have been given to the Local Government Board to confirm in all cases the objection of the local pension officer?

I am aware that cases have occurred in county Longford in which pensions have been discontinued, but I cannot say what the total number of such cases has been. The reply to each of the remaining portions of the question is in the negative.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take any steps to ask the Local Government Board to take evidence of the age from persons older than the persons claiming? For instance, the English Local Government Board took evidence from a sampler in possession of a woman to show her age, but in the case of Ireland the Local Government Board will not take the age of living persons.

The hon. Member is quite mistaken there. The Local Government Board are perfectly ready to consider any trustworthy evidence.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why the Local Government Board will not give any information as to the grounds for the reduction or the refusal of old age pensions?

There is no reason why they should give the grounds for refusal.

Are these matters dealt with by a Committee of the Local Government Board, or by the Local Government Board itself?

They are dealt with by a Committee of the Local Government Board.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not the fact that the decisions in these cases are decided by clerks to whom a certain number of applications are sent?

I can assure the hon. Member that the Local Government Board take the greatest possible pains in the consideration of these cases.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman himself, as President of the Local Government Board, has ever been consulted in these cases?

Oh, yes, I have.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state what is the Local Government Board?

No.