asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state what arrangements are being made to give the Metropolitan policemen one day's rest in seven, in accordance with the promise made by his predecessor?

My predecessor at the Home Office explained fully to the House on 14th June last the arrangements which were being made to give the Metropolitan police one day's rest in seven, and I would refer the hon. Member to that statement. I would also refer him to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for the Holborn Division of Finsbury on Wednesday last. The Commissioner of Police is arranging to give the first instalment to the force next month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state what progress had been made with the programme of building four large armoured ships of the latest type by the Italian Government?

According to the Italian Navy Estimates nearly £1,000,000 is to be spent on the "Dante Alighieri" by the end of June and £132,000 by the same date on the "Conte di Cavour"; otherwise we have no official information.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that two firms of Government contractors, namely, the Wallsend Slipway and Engineering Company and Parsons' Marine Steam Turbine Company, follow the practice of borrowing the patterns for the turbine engines for warships in the course of construction instead of employing pattern-makers in making them; and whether that is in strict conformity with the spirit of the fair contracts clause?

The two firms named, like many other firms, use turbine patterns for Admiralty work which have been made by other firms. It is considered that the practice does not contravene the Fair Wages Clause of Admiralty contracts.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state, in the form of a table, what "Dreadnought" battleships and cruisers are now built and building in Great Britain and Germany, showing the programmes to which they belong, dates of laying down, launching, and anticipated completion, and particulars of tonnage and armament?

I am afraid I cannot undertake to supplement the information given in the Dilke Return. It is hoped that if this Return is moved for, the new edition will be ready next month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state the total value of the exports from and imports into Argentina for each year during the last five years?

further asked the right hon. Gentleman if he can state the total value of the exports from the United Kingdom into Argentina and of the imports from Argentina into the United Kingdom for each year during the last five years?

The following statements give the information desired by the Noble Lord:—Statement showing the total value of the exports from and imports into Argentina in each of the undermentioned years.(Extracted from the Official Trade Returns of the Argentine Republic.)

Year.	Value of Total Exports from Argentina.	Value of Total Imports into Argentina.
	£	£
1904	52,832,000	37,461,000
1905	64,569,000	41,031,000
1906	58,451,000	53,994,000
1907	59,241,000	57,172,000
1908	73,201,000	54,595,000
1909 (9 m'ths. Jan. to Sep.)	65,367,000	44,119,000

Statement showing the total value of the exports from the United Kingdom to Argentina, and of the imports into the United Kingdom from Argentina in each of the undermentioned years:—

Years.			Value of Exports (Consignments) from the United Kingdom to Argentina.			Value of Total Imports (Consignments) into the United Kingdom from Argentina.
			United Kingdom Produce.	Foreign and Colonial Produce.	Total.
			£	£	£	£
1904	…	…	10,845,000	727,000	11,572,000	23,407,000
1905	…	…	12,997,000	381,000	13,378,000	25,430,000
1906	…	…	19,426,000	485,000	19,911,000	23,922,000
1907	…	…	17,795,000	476,000	18,271,000	26,655,000
1908	…	…	16,404,000	535,000	16,939,000	35,986,000
1909	…	…	18,721,000	499,000	19,220,000	32,732,000

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if it is the intention of the Government to allow cattle from the Argentine Republic to be imported and landed alive in this country at an early date?

Further information on this subject has been received from the Argentine Government which is now engaging our consideration. I will communicate with the hon. Member so soon as a definite decision is arrived at.

asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, on what date he wrote to the Peruvian Amazon

The suggestion was made on the 8th ultimo, and a reply dated the 11th stated that it was under consideration by the board, but I have not yet been informed of the board's decision. The locality is on foreign territory where we have no special Treaty rights, and is not within reach of any British representative from whom we could receive a report. All I can do, therefore, is to bring any information which reaches me to the notice of those who are directly concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to benefit farmers in the United Kingdom in framing his new scheme for the supplyof remounts, he will favourably consider buying horses at the age of two years?

This proposal has been carefully considered, but it is held that the risk and expense involved in the purchase of horses at this early age renders it prohibitive.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many horses were purchased for military purposes in Ireland and England, respectively, during the year 1909?

The figures are as follows:—England, 940; Ireland, 2,266.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has re- ceived replies from all the county associations to the War Office Memorandum respecting the supply of horses on mobilisation; and whether he intends to lay before Parliament the replies he has received?

Replies have not yet been received from all the associations, and the limit of time for their receipt has been extended to 15th April. It is not proposed to lay these replies before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the great changes in the system of Army accountancy made by the Army Order of the 26th October, 1909, and its inconsistency with the Army Order of 1st August, 1905; whether this Army Order of 26th October, 1909, was in any way submitted to or brought to the knowledge of the Public Accounts Committee during the last Session of Parliament; and whether, in view of the assurance of Mr. Harris to that Committee in 1909 that any changes which might be made would be of a minor character not affecting the principles laid down by the Public Accounts Committee on 26th May, 1905, he will reconsider the very great and serious changes made by the Order of October, 1909, their inconsistency with the principles laid down by the Public Accounts Committee, and their effect in impairing the responsibility and independence of the chief accounting officer and his staff, and therewith the control of this House over Army expenditure?

asked the Secretary of State for War, in reference to the reorganisation of the Army Accounts Department, whether any appointments to the reconstituted Army Pay Department will be made before the Public Accounts Committee has had an opportunity of reviewing the changes brought into operation by the Royal Warrant of 26th October, 1909?

In reply to this question and to question No. 105, I may remark that it is not possible to deal adequately with a subject of this kind by way of question and answer in the House. I shall deal fully with the whole matter in introducing the Army Estimates next week, and I shall, I think, be able to satisfy my hon. Friends that there is no departure whatever from the principles laid clown by the Public Accounts Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether there is any deficiency in the officers of the Regular cavalry?

There are at present thirty-four vacancies for first appointments in the Household Cavalry and the Cavalry of the Line.

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the cost of the recent expedition of Sir John French and staff to China and Singapore; why was the same not provided for from the Indian command; had not Lord Kitchener recently covered the area visited by General French; and what was the advantage from the point of view of economy or efficiency of the French mission?

The garrisons mentioned are under the control of the Home Government, and not under that of the Government of India. The Inspector-General of the Forces was carrying out his duties as laid down by the Order in Council of 10th August, 1904; and there was no reason for asking Lord Kitchener to undertake duties which are specifically assigned to Sir John French. The cost of Sir John French's visit amounted to about £900.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the amount of the pension paid to Michael Burke, late gunner in the Field Artillery, and at present an inmate of the Chatham Lunatic Asylum?

It has not been found possible to trace this man from the information supplied in the question. Will the hon. Member be good enough to inform me of the date of the man's discharge from the Royal Artillery?

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state in how many of the applications for old age pensions approved by local pension committees and refused by the Local Government Board in Great Britain was the absence of the applicant's name from the Census Returns a reason for the refusal?

The number of appeals from England and Wales (with which alone I am concerned) decided by the Local Government Board in which the point at issue was that of age has been 1,273. The statistical records do not show in how many cases resort was had to the Census Returns to elucidate the age of the claimant.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if Civil servants on a contributory pension scheme become entitled to the benefits of the Superannuation Act from the date of the first payment accepted by the Treasury; and, if not, will he state why they should be called upon to contribute prior to the date of the Civil Service Commissioners' certificate?

I do not understand the hon. Member's question. The scheme of pensions embodied in the Superannuation Acts does not involve any "contribution" by a Civil servant.

asked what are the annual amounts which have become liable to pay the Death Duties, and also the annual average amount of each estate during the last three years?

The annual amounts which have become liable to pay Estate, Inventory, Probate or Account Duty, and the annual average amount of each estate during the last three years, are as follows:—

Year ended 31st March.		Annual accounts which have become liable.	Annual average amount of each estate.
		£	£
1907	…	300,627,697	4,472
1908	…	283,949,090	4,135
1909	…	272,616,022	3,982

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would state at what date the increased emoluments of Cabinet Ministers commence; and what is the total annual amount of the increase?

The increase in the salary of the President of the Board of Trade dates from the appointment of the present holder of the office. The increase in the salary of the President of the Local Government Board will date from the passing of the Estimate for that Department in Committee of Supply if the proposed salary is approved. The increase is £3,000 in each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the permanent loss to the Treasury which each week's delay in passing the Budget into law causes?

It is not possible yet to say what the permanent loss to the Treasury will amount to.

asked whether the Resolutions which will be introduced in connection with the Finance Bill of 1910–11 will be of such a character as to have retroactive effect upon the payment of duties and Income Tax intended to be imposed by the Finance Bill of 1909–10?

Yes, Sir. The Resolutions in question will be retroactive in respect of those duties imposed by the Finance Bill of 1909 which were leviable under the Financial Resolutions of last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Section 4, Superannuation Act, 1839, under which, in computing the amount of superannuation allowance, seven years were added to the years of service of a full-time professor in the Royal College of Science in London and the sister college in Dublin when these institutions were under the control of the Department of Science and Art, still applies to the professors in the Dublin college now that it is under the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction?

Primâ facie, I see no reason to suppose that the transfer of control, in itself, has affected the position as regards Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1859, of any chair the identity of which has remained unchaged. If any professor wishes for an authoritative decision on the point, it is open to him to ask for one officially through the head of his Department.

asked whether the Treasury is empowered by the Appropriation Act, 1909, to borrow £70,9991,102, either on Treasury Bills repayable not later than 31st March, 1910, or otherwise than on Treasury Bills at an interest not exceeding 5 per cent., the repayment to be not later than in the next succeeding quarter to the borrowing; to what extent has this power been exercised; have the Treasury exhausted their power under this Act of borrowing during the present quarter, otherwise than on Treasury Bills, sums to be repaid in the quarter ending 30th June, 1910; or is it held that, inasmuch as the borrowing is made on the credit of the total sum granted, and that this sum has not been effectually provided by Ways and Means, the authority to borrow thereon lapses; and, if it is so held, is it held to be the case not only in respect of Treasury Bills, but also in respect of borrowing otherwise effected?

The amount of borrowing authorised by the Appropriation Act, 1909, is £76,991,102. The conditions of borrowing are as described in the question. There is also power to borrow £48,670,405 4s. 10d., subject to similar conditions, under the Consolidated Fund (No. 2) Act, 1909, of which £48,475,000 is in respect of Supply Grants for the current financial year, making the aggregate borrowing powers on the credit of such grants £125,466,102. These powers have already been exercised to an aggregate amount of £34,300,000, and there is an unexhausted balance of £91,166,102, which might still be raised either upon Treasury Bills repayable not later than 31st inst. or by other loans as provided in the Acts, repayable not later than 30th June, or partly by the one means and partly by the other. In neither case would these powers be affected by the fact that Parliament has not up to the present provided for the raising of the revenue necessary to repay the amounts to be borrowed; but as the amounts borrowed have under the Acts to be repaid out of the growing produce of the Consolidated Fund within the prescribed periods, the deficiency in that produce makes it necessary to extend the period for repayment. The Treasury have, it is true, under the existing Acts, power to borrow the whole amount required, otherwise than by Treasury Bills, on terms of repayment not later than 30th June, but the amount in question is too large to be raised conveniently by the alternative methods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the actual yield, as ascertained most nearly up to date, of the additional duties and taxes proposed in the Finance Bill of 1909 as shown by comparison with the duties and taxes levied for the corresponding period of 1908; about how much additional has been paid by consumers in Ireland in respect of the addition to the duty on tobacco during the current financial year up to the date to which the same is ascertainable?

It would be contrary to precedent to give the information asked for in the first part of the question in anticipation of my annual financial statement. As regards the latter part, I propose to give such estimates as I can form in regard to the incidence on Ireland of the taxes contained in the Finance Bill of 1909 in reply to a question by the hon. Member for North Galway which I have asked him to postpone till an early day next week.

asked what was the total amount paid or payable to old age pensioners in Ireland and Scotland, respectively, during the year 1909; and how many old age pensions have been withdrawn or cancelled in Ireland and Scotland, respectively, up to the latest date for which the information is available?

The total amounts paid in old age pensions in Ireland and Scotland respectively in the fifty-two weeks from 1st January to 30th December, 1909, were: Ireland £2,305,649, Scotland £907,508. The number of old age pensions cancelled up to 31st December last (the latest date for which information is available) in Ireland and Scotland were 9,673 and 404 respectively.

asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury, whether the experiment of working the Band gold mines in South Africa by indentured Chinese labour has now come to an end; whether the number of white labourers there employed has largely increased; whether the miners now employed, whether black or white, are free from the servile conditions under which the Chinese were engaged; and whether he has any official information showing that the effect of the change has been beneficial or disastrous to the mining industry?

The last indentured labourers from the Rand are now at Durban awaiting shipment to China. In January, 1907, when the maximum number of Chinese were employed, the number of white labourers on the Rand mines was 17,198. In December last the number had increased to 23,077. The comparative figures for other classes of labour for the same months are:—January, 1907, natives, 94,221; Chinese, 53,856; December, 1909, natives, 168,665; Chinese, 2,038. The Chinese were engaged on special conditions which do not apply to any other form of labour and have come to an end. In connection with the last part of my hon. Friend's question, it will be sufficient to quote the following figures from the reports of the Transvaal Government Mining Engineer:—Output of gold—1906–7, £26,640,000; 1907–8, £28,508,000; 1908–9, £30,986,000. Number of tons milled per year for each coloured labourer employed, 1906–7, 110 tons; 1907–8, 113 tons; 1908–9, 123 tons. Working cost per ton—1907–8, 19s. 7d.; 1908–9, 17s. 4d.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state for what reason the post office at Ballymoney has been recently reduced to the status of a sub-post office; and if he will state the cause of the delay in providing the inhabitants at Ballymoney and district with new post office premises equivalent to those in Portrush?

The alteration in status of the Ballymoney post office was made with a view to greater convenience of administration. No alteration in the public services is involved. Dearth of suitable premises has hitherto delayed the provision of an improved office, but proposals are now under consideration which are expected to result in the provision of satisfactory accommodation. The volume of business is not sufficient to warrant the cost of a building like the post office at Portrush.

asked what steps were taken, before closing the post office at Crieff for the delivery out of letters on Sunday, to ascertain the wishes of the public in the matter; whether the parish councils were consulted; and what evidence there was that the inhabitants were substantially unanimous in desiring the change?

The Crieff post office was closed for the delivery of letters on Sundays in response to an application for the change by the Crieff Town Council. It was ascertained by local inquiry that the application of the council was in harmony with public opinion in the town, and I have every reason to believe that the inhabitants were substantially unanimous in desiring the change.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will ascertain and state the amount of the ratepayers' money paid in Westmeath in each of the last six years to rate collectors for getting franchise requisition forms filled to office persons and otherwise for alleged registration of voters; the number of men, more than twelve months dead, who are now on the Parliamentary register of that county; the number of labourers and other qualified inhabitant occupiers in that county who are deprived of votes solely by not being registered; and, in a case in which the controlling members of the county council connive at neglect which disfranchises poor people, what action, if any, the Local Government Board take to prevent the payment of public money for registration work which is not done?

I have no means of obtaining the information asked for by the hon. Member. If any person considers that he has been wrongfully omitted from the register it is open to him to apply in the ordinary way to the revision court at the next annual revision.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state in how many of the applications for old age pensions approved by local pensions committees and refused by the Local Government Board for Ireland was the absence of the applicant's name from the Census Returns a reason for the refusal; and in how many cases, if any, was the pension allowed notwithstanding that absence?

The Local Government Board are not in a position to supply the information asked for by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851 are in- complete and inaccurate and therefore unreliable, he will direct that sworn testimony be accepted to prove the ages of applicants for old age pensions, particularly in respect to those applicants who are deprived of pensions in consequence of their names not appearing in Census Returns?

The Local Government Board do not admit that the Census Returns are as a rule unreliable. On the contrary, they have been accepted in support of the great majority of claims. Whilst prepared to consider all evidence on behalf of claimants, the Board cannot bind themselves to accept the opinions of other persons as sufficient merely because they are testified on oath. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that persons are deprived of their pensions if their names do not appear in the Census Returns. If they are in receipt of pensions and the Census Returns show that they have not attained the age of seventy years, they are deprived of the pensions, but if no such evidence can be found against them in the Census, they are not deprived of pensions by the Board without further evidence.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what progress has been made with the sale of Colonel Clarke's estate near Maghera, county Derry; have the Estates Commissioners yet declared that the holdings in respect of which purchase agreements have been entered into constitute a separate estate for the purpose of a sale under the Act of 1903; are the Commissioners aware that the bulk of the tenants in the townlands of Slaghtneil and Tirkane, occupying, as they do, small bad farms high up on a mountain-side, have refused to purchase at the terms demanded by the landlord in respect of their holdings; will the Commissioners, before declaring the residue of the estate a separate estate, take into consideration the grievances of the tenants in these townlands and inspect their holdings; are the Commissioners aware of the means that the landlord is taking to try and break up the tenants' combination by attempting to induce individuals amongst them to go behind the backs of the other tenants and sign purchase agreements in return for favours; and, when the Commissioners come to deal with the estate, will they inquire into this allegation and endeavour to discover if any of the purchase agreements with which they are called upon to deal have been improperly or unfairly obtained?

Proceedings for the sale of this estate were not instituted until April, 1908, and, having regard to its place in the priority list, it cannot yet be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners. No portion of the estate has been declared to be a separate estate for the purposes of sale. When the estate is being inspected the inspector will inquire and report as to the circumstances in which certain of the tenants have not signed purchase agreements and also as to the other matters referred to by the hon. Member.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to purchase the untenanted lands at Clorane, in the county of Limerick, on the Fosberry estate?

No proceedings for the sale of the lands referred to appear to have been instituted before the Estates Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he can say what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners have taken to purchase the untenanted land of Ballylin and Glenville on the Massy estate, in the county of Limerick, for the purpose of apportioning them among the small holders and labourers in the district, which is practically a congested one?

The Estates Commissioners have made a preliminary inspection of these lands, and have communicated to the owner their preliminary estimate of price, but up to the present the owner has not instituted formal proceedings for sale.