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 total amounts of grant voted by Parliament in respect of secondary schools in England and Wales (including grants in respect of intending teachers, but exclusive of grants on account of Local Science and Art Scholarships) in each of the past five financial years were as follows:—

1905–6	…	…	£402,500
1906–7	…	…	£571,500
1907–8	…	…	£647,000
1908–9	…	…	£767,700
1909–10	…	…	£791,250

Of the above figures the following amounts were taken for grants in respect

of intending teachers (namely, pupil teachers, bursars, and pupils in preparatory classes):—

1905–6	…	…	£160,000
1906–7	…	…	£232,000
1907–8	…	…	£288,000
1908–9	…	…	£225,870
1909–10	…	…	£160,450

The grants for England and for Wales do not appear separately in the Estimates. Nor have any separate calculations been made for England and for Wales until recently. The total Estimates quoted above for the last three financial years represented a calculation of the needs of the two countries in the following proportions:—

		England.		Wales.
1907–8	…	£593,000	…	£54,000
1908–9	…	£695,500	…	£72,200
1909–10	…	£702,500	…	£88,750

The Estimates are not based on average attendance, nor is any attempt made to calculate the average attendance of pupils in secondary schools. I am not, therefore, in a position to furnish a reply to the second part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the proposals of the Government of India in regard to the question of increased pay to be drawn by Royal Engineer officers serving in the Public Works Department have yet been received; and, if so, when a decision on the question may be expected?

The Secretary of State has recently received the proposals of the Government of India regarding the pay of the Royal Engineers in the Public Works Department. His approval of them was communicated to the Government of India by telegraph on let February.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can state the actual numbers of the Territorial Forces on 1st January, 1910, and their authorised establishment under each head, i.e., engineers, artillery, yeomanry, infantry, transport, medical, and other services; the total number serving; and the total establishment on the same date?

The figures, inclusive of permanent staff, are as follows:—

—			Establishment.		Strength.
			Officers.	N.C.O.'s and men.	Officers.	N.C.O.'s and men.
Yeomanry	…	…	1,345	24,752	1,182	24,139
Royal Artillery:
Horse	…	…	98	2,996	75	2,528
Field	…	…	1,113	29,935	924	26,571
Garrison	…	…	453	11,532	402	9,075
Royal Engineers	…	…	572	14,548	538	12,719
Infantry	…	…	5,678	195,268	5,079	168,188
Army Service Corps	…	…	322	8,562	279	7,395
Royal Army Medical Corps	…	…	1,439	13,665	1,128	11,421
Army Veterinary Service	…	…	198	14	94	—
Total all Arms, Territorial Force			11,218	301,272	9,701	262,036

These figures exclude 741 Royal Army Medical Corps Officers of general hospitals and sanitary service available on mobilisation, and 840 officers of Officers Training Corps, and officers on the unattached list.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction that is created through the delay in notifying civil servants as to whether they are accepted or rejected under the new Superannuation Act; and whether he will say what action he proposes to take to expedite such notification?

Regard being had to the large mass of applications received and to the time required for their individual scrutiny, there does not seem to have been any avoidable delay in dealing with these applications. The decision of the Treasury has been notified as regards 97.5 per cent. of the applications received up to date; the decision on the outstanding cases (many of which have been delayed owing to the necessity of particular inquiries) will be notified at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether all heads of Departments employing ex-soldiers on pension have been informed that soldiers on pension when employed under the Government receive the full wages of their post, and that no deduction is to be made from such pay on account of pension?

No such intimation is needed, as the general practice which has long obtained is well understood. In the absence of express directions to the contrary, no head of a Department would make an abatement from the civil pay assigned to any post, or class of posts, on the ground that the occupant was in receipt of an Army pension earned by service in a non-commissioned rank.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many applications for old age pensions have been received in county Clare; what is the sum that has been paid in respect of such claims; and how many claims have been rejected in consequence of the Poor Law relief disqualification?

As I explained to the hon. Member for the Pembroke and Haverfordwest District on 2nd December last no statistics of the local distribution of old age pensions are available, and it would involve much time, labour and expense to grant the numerous requests for detailed information in respect of particular areas.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he was aware that the solicitors for the sale of the estate of Colonel A. H. Lefroy, at Cranleymore, county Longford, whose tenants signed their purchase agreements in October, 1909, have informed the tenants' solicitors that the Estates Commissioners have returned the agreements and refused to accept them unless lodged under the Act of 1909; and whether, in view of his pledge to the House of Commons during the passing of the Land Bill of last year that pending agreements would be received and dealt with under the Act of 1903, and of the fact that the negotiations were conducted on the basis of the terms fixed under the Act of 1903, and that failure to carry out that agreement will mean loss and delay to the parties concerned, he will now direct that these agreements which were completed before the passage of the Act of 1909 will be received and dealt with under the Act of 1903 in accordance with the terms of agreement between landlord and tenants for the sale?

It is the fact that the purchase agreements referred to have been returned to the parties by the Estates Commissioners. Under Section 13 of the Act of last year "pending purchase agreements" are defined as agreements lodged with the Land Commission on or before 15th September, 1909. I have no power to give the direction suggested in the latter part of the question. Such a course would be entirely contrary to the Act.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state the grounds on which the Estates Commissioners refused to deal with the application of Peter Victory, of Culleenmore, county Longford, to be restored to the farm from which he was evicted in 1881; whether he is aware that his predecessor in office promised that this man's case would be favourably considered, notwithstanding which promise nothing whatever has been done to relieve his condition; and whether he will now request the Commissioners to look into the case again with a view to providing a home and farm for this man?

The Estates Commissioners have considered the application of Peter Victory for reinstatement to a holding in the townland of Culleenmore, containing fourteen acres, now in the possession of his daughter, and they have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have yet caused an inspection to be made of the estate of Maria Quirke, of Coolroe, in East Kerry; and, if not, will the Estates Commissioners direct their inspector to specially report on the case of John Cronin, who has been excluded from the sale?

This estate has not yet been inspected. The Estates Commissioners cannot see their way to direct a special inspection to inquire into the matter referred to, but it will be duly inquired into when the estate is being inspected in its turn.

asked what steps the Estates Commissioners are taking in the case of Daniel O'Donoghue, formerly of Ballycasheen, near Killarney, who was evicted from his holding on the estate of Mr. Coltsman, and on whose case several of the Estates Commissioners' inspectors have reported favourably?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into Daniel Donoghue's application. The holding is not situate on the Coltsman estate, but on the estate of Lord Kenmare, and Mr. Coltsman is the tenant, his grandfather having purchased the tenant's interest so far back as 1830. The Commissioners have decided that they cannot take any action in the matter of Donoghue's application for reinstatement

asked the amount available for secondary education in Ireland in each of the past ten years, the amount of this given to the schools, the amount for prizes to students, and the cost of inspection and examination in each of those years?

I will, with the hon. Member's permission, publish with the Votes a tabular statement giving the information which he requires.

asked whether, in view of the defective nature of the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, and the consequent hardship inflicted on deserving aged persons, especially in Ireland, the Government contemplate an amendment of the Old Age Pensions Act whereby some other standard or test of age will be adopted other than that supplied by these Returns?

It does not require legislation to enable the Local Government Board to adopt a new test of age other than the Census Returns. The difficulty the Board have is to find one. Perhaps the hon. Member can suggest an efficient test. If so, the Local Government Board will be most happy to consider it.

asked what amount was granted by the Department of Agriculture in subsidies to agricultural shows in Ireland in the year 1909?

I understand that the amount expended by the Department in the year 1909 in connection with Agricultural Shows in Ireland was £3,926. Of this amount £3,581 was paid to County Committees of Agriculture towards recoupment of their expenditure on such shows, and the balance was expended directly by the Department in capital grants and on the work of inspection and judging.

asked how many originating applications for the sale of estates in Ireland were received by the Estates Commissioners in the three months November and December, 1908, and January, 1909; and how many they have received since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1909, in the corresponding three months, November and December, 1909, and January, 1910.

I am informed by the Estates Commissioners that 46 originating applications were lodged in November, 1908; 12 in December, 1908; and 8 in January, 1909. The numbers for November, December, and January last were 17, 8, and 2 respectively.

asked what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to restore the representative of the late Michael D. O'Sullivan to the evicted farm at Dooks, county Kerry?

As I informed the hon. Member in reply to a question asked by him on 1st December last, the Estates Commissioners have carefully considered the application of this man's daughter and have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked what steps, if any, had been taken to secure the reinstatement of John Gaine and James Gaine on the Colomb estate, near Kenmare?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into the applications of these men and have provisionally noted them for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land.

asked on what grounds the training college authorities of Drumcondia, Dublin, refused to accept Thomas Sweeney, of Drumkeerin, county Leitrim, as a candidate for training in that institution this year, seeing that he passed the necessary examination last year?

I am informed by the Commissioners of National Education that Mr. Sweeney was examined at Easter, 1909, as a candidate for St. Patrick's Training College, but that his answering was much below that of the last student then selected by the authorities of the college for training. He has not been put forward as a candidate this year. The selection of candidates for examination rests with the college authorities, and the Commissioners cannot say whether Mr. Sweeney applied to be admitted this year, or, if so, why he was excluded.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he could state when the Estates Commissioners expect to go into possession of Earl's Park, the Loughrea section of the Earl of Westmeath's estate; and, having regard to all the circumstances of the estate, namely, the state of unrest, the length of time the lands have been thrown idle since 1906, the expense incurred in connection with the State trials instituted against a large number of people in the locality in connection with these lands, and the willingness and anxiety of the Noble Earl to co-operate with the people in bringing about a sale, whether, in the interests of everybody concerned, he will direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the seriousness of leaving this estate in its present condition?

As I have already informed the hon. Member in reply to a question asked by him on 24th February, the turn of this estate to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners has not yet come. Moreover, the consent of the Congested Districts Board will be necessary under the Act of last Session before the property can be purchased by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the amount available for secondary education in Ireland in each of the past ten years, the amount of this given to the schools, the amount for prizes to students, and the cost of inspection and examination in each of those years?

, in reply, submitted the following statement, showing the amount available for secondary education in Ireland in each of the past ten years, and administered by—(1) The Intermediate Education Board for Ireland, and (2) the Department of Agriculture and technical Instruction for Ireland:—

1.—Intermediate Education Board for Ireland.
Year.	Income of Board.	Payments to Schools.	Rewards to Students.	Cost of Examinations.	Cost of Inspection
	£	£	£	£	£
1900	105,314	56,263	19,313	12,406	—
1901	99,010	56,922	20,406	13,181	1,008
1902	111,443	57,475	13,329	11,806	2,126
1903	111,409	57,482	11,462	11,022	1,373
1904	91,211	59,293	8,925	11,434	—
1905	88,914	53,463	10,492	14,078	—
1906	83,763	53,301	10,037	15,662	—
1907	80,836	53,214	7,944	17,238	—
1908	86,479	53,204	9,127	16,589	—
1909	84,733	52,800	7,766	16,495	2,996

2.—Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland.—The amount available for secondary education, so far as the Department is concerned, is the sum actually earned by the schools as attendance grants under the conditions of the Department's programme for such schools, which provides grants for instruction in experimental science, drawing, manual instruction in wood and metal, and domestic economy. The grants paid for the past ten academic years are:—Academic year ending 31st July, 1901, £2,500 (approximately, see note); 1902, £9,575; 1903, £12,808; 1904, £16,144; 1905, £19,417; 1906, £21,991; 1907, £25,151; 1908, £26,718; 1909, £27,650 (estimated); 1910, £28,500 (estimated). Prizes for students are not granted by the Department in connection with their work in day secondary schools, nor do they hold examinations in connection therewith. The inspectors of the Department are appointed for the purposes of technical instruction generally. The total annual cost of inspection for technical instruction is at present about £9,500. It is not possible to give accurately the cost of the inspection of day secondary schools, but an approximate estimate would be from one-fourth to one-third of the total cost of inspection.NOTE.—Previous to the Session 1901–2 grants were claimable for instruction in Science and Art only. It is not practicable to state exactly how much of the £5.185 grants paid in respect of the Academic Year 1900–1, were made upon account of students in attendance at day secondary schools.

asked what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to reinstate an evicted tenant named Daniel Barry on the Twiss estate, at Newmarket, county Cork, the farm not beings occupied and the landlord and tenant having agreed to terms of purchase, the agreement having been signed and the landlord being anxious for the reinstatement to take place?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner is willing to sell the holding to the Commissioners at a price which they are willing to advance, but Barry disputes a right of way which an adjoining tenant has over the holding, and until Barry agrees to purchase subject to this existing right of way the Commissioners will not take any further steps with a view to his reinstatement.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any recent steps to acquire the untenanted lands on the Cleary Minors estate, at Athlacca, county Limerick; and, if so, how soon may it be distributed?

Formal proceedings have recently been instituted before the Estates Commissioners for the sale of this estate. I am not in a position to reply to the concluding portion of the question at this stage of the proceedings.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the untenanted lands on the Roche Kelly estate at Ballybricken; and, if so, how soon may the people expect to have it distributed?

The Estates Commissioners have not acquired the untenanted lands on this estate. The owner has instituted proceedings for sale, and the estate will be dealt with in order of priority. It is impossible at present to answer the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in not advancing the money on the property of Dwyer and others, at Scart, Killealy, county Limerick, and, having regard to the fact that the tenants on this property signed their purchase agreements in September, 1905, and are still paying interest, will steps be taken to have the sale completed, and thus place the tenants on the property on a level with tenants in their neighbourhood, who are paying at the rate of 3¼ per cent., although they had not their farms purchased for months after the Dwyer tenants?

The Estates Commissioners presume that the hon. Member refers to the estate of Lady H. Dyer and others, the agreements for the purchase of which were lodged in January, 1906. It will be inspected at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether steps will be taken to see that the half-gale is not enforced against T. Mannion, W. Fahy, M. Hurley, and M. Fahy, tenants on the Weetman estate, Tuam district, county Galway, who did not sign agreements to purchase in December, 1908?

This estate has been purchased by the Estates Commissioners and undertakings to purchase have been signed by the tenants, with exception of the four referred to in the question. These four tenants have refused to purchase their holdings at the prices fixed by the Commissioners, and continue therefore as tenants, and as such are liable for their rents as heretofore. If the rent is not paid, legal proceedings will be taken for its collection.

asked the Chief Secretary in what position the sale of the Rout-ledge estate, Barbersfort, Tuam, county Galway, now stands, and how soon will it be completed?

The Estates Commissioners are unable from the particulars given in the question to identify this estate as pending for sale before them under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners can say when the sale of the Browne estate, Ballybanagher, county Galway, will be completed; and whether they will push on its completion without delay?

The owner has instituted proceedings for the sale of this estate under the Irish Land Act, 1903, but the requirements as to title have not yet been complied with.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state to what tests and analysis, chemical, microscopic, and physical, have the specimens of granite for Rosyth been submitted; and whether he can inform the House of the results of these tests, and how these compare with British and Irish stone?

The specimens of granite have been submitted to physical but not to chemical or microscopic tests. The result of the test is satisfactory and shows Norwegian granite to be as suitable for the purpose for which it is required as British or Irish stone.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he could say if any statutory obligations were imposed on the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, Ireland, when compulsory powers were granted to them for the erection of the line between Ballybrophy. Queen's County, and Roscrea, to provide a station at Borris-in-Ossory; is he aware that sufficient land was taken to provide station accommodation, that the land is now derelict; and whether, as the traders of Borris-in-Ossory are placed at a disadvantage in having to cart goods from Ballybrophy, a distance of four miles, he will represent to the company the desirability of providing a station for their accommodation?

So far as the Board of Trade are aware, there is no statutory obligation on the railway company to provide a station at Borris-in-Ossory. A copy of the hon. Member's question was forwarded to the company for their observations, and I have received a reply to the effect that the question of providing a station has been considered from time to time, but the company regret that the circumstances are not such as would warrant them in incurring the necessary expense.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, as to the Report on Trade Unions printed in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" for December, 1906, he can state or issue the complementary figures for 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909" for the tables on pages 352 and 353, so as to bring these tables up to date?

The figures required for 1906 appeared in the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette" for December, 1907, and those for 1907 in the same journal for May, 1909. A full report (Cd. 4651) on trade union statistics, dealing in detail with the figures for 1905–07 was published in May, 1909. I am sending copies of these documents to my hon. Friend. The corresponding statistics for 1908 will appear in the April number of the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette." Those for 1909 will, I fear, not be available for some little time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if any reports are available which account for the large reduction in the membership of those trade unions upon whose returns the monthly reports on employment are made; and, if so, whether he will lay copies of those reports upon the Table of the House?

There has been no such reduction as is stated in the question. The number of members of trade unions covered by the Returns for January last was 694,456. The average number included in the monthly Returns for 1909 was 679,600, and for 1908, 677,400. The membership of the unions covered by the Returns fluctuates slightly from month to month, but on the whole it has been remarkably steady.

asked why no Labour Exchange has been established in county Louth, in view of the size and maritime importance of the towns of Dundalk and Drogheda?

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

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that recent changes have resulted in the reduction of the maximum wages of postmen in the Oakham postal district from 24s. to 23s. per week; and whether he will say if the Report of the recent inquiry into the pay and conditions of the postal service contained any recommendation for reduction in the scale of wages?

There has been no reduction in the maximum of 24s. for existing postmen. The recommendations of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants would, on the basis of the volume of work and cost of living at Oakham have involved new entrants there being included in a class with maximum of 21s., but in the circumstances explained in the Parliamentary Paper "Post Office (Changes in Wages, etc.)" issued in July, 1908, they have been exceptionally placed in a class with maximum of 23s.