asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the statement of the Imperial Chancellor in the German Reichstag, on Saturday, regarding Anglo-German relations, would influence, in the direction of retrenchment, the Naval Estimates shortly to be presented to Parliament?

The friendly tone of the German Chancellor's speech is cordially reciprocated, but I must point out that our Navy Estimates are not based upon the assumption that other nations mean to be unfriendly to us or that we mean to be unfriendly to them. They are framed to preserve our standard of naval power and depend upon the actual naval expenditure of other countries. I do not understand that any public utterances of German Ministers have indicated any intention to modify the expenditure on the German naval programme as fixed by law.

May I take that to mean that the magnitude of our Naval programme is entirely unaffected by the friendly assurances of a neighbouring nation?

I think I have stated the terms fully in reply to my hon. Friend.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to anticipate that there will be a reduction of the German Naval Estimates in consequence of the statement of the Imperial Chancellor?

I think the supplementary question is fully answered in the original reply I have given to my hon. Friend.

asked if the Admiralty had up to the present time erected any garage or shed for the housing of the dirigible balloon now being constructed for it at Barrow?

The reply is in the negative.

What is proposed to be done with this dirigible balloon when it is constructed if the Admiralty have no shed to put it in?

I think I gave the hon. Member a very full answer to the very same question last week. The garage at Barrow does not belong to the Admiralty but to Vickers, Maxim and Company. When the experiments are made with the new balloon it will enable us to see the precise size of the shed required. Then the Admiralty will be prepared to take all necessary steps.

May I ask if it is not a fact that this balloon will have to be kept at Barrow for, at any rate, a year or two while the shed is being constructed?

No, Sir; I hope the shed would not take so long as a year to build.

Has the Admiralty a right to use the garage already existing at Barrow?

Yes. Messrs. Vickers, Maxim would not turn us out of the shed that was built for our purposes.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he would consider the giving all men employed in His Majesty's dockyards an equal chance of being placed on the establishment, that was to say, would he favourably consider the case of the class known as hired men?

The cases of men who have become over age whilst the establishment has been suspended will receive special consideration. In other respects the matter will be dealt with in accordance with the regulations.

Will there be any change made?

The regulations will be followed. There will be no change in the ordinary regulations governing the establishment except that the men who become over age in the service of the establishment will have their case specially considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the event of war in which this country was engaged, granite imported from abroad for purposes of Admiralty dock construction would be contraband of war?

As the hon. Member is doubtless aware, there is at present no universally accepted international list of contraband; but if he will refer to the Declaration of London, Article 28 (7), he will observe that stone is included in the list of articles which under that instrument may not be declared contraband.

asked whether, in view of certain clauses in the Anglo-Japanese treaty of alliance, His Majesty's Government would ask Japan to define the limits of her interests in Manchuria, and more especially to explain on what ground she based her demand for so large a measure of participation in the Chinchow-Aigun Railway, which was, in Chinese opinion, so far removed from the South Manchurian Railway as to prohibit any objections on the plea of competition?

I do not see that there is anything in the question to modify the answer given to the hon. Member on the 28th of February, and I can only refer him to that answer and especially to the first two paragraphs of it, in view of which there is no object in pursuing the course advocated in the question, even if it were on other grounds reasonable.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that during the proceedings in the recent trial of Rex v. Crosland a witness was allowed to write a certain name upon a piece of paper and that such name was then handed to the judge, but was withheld from the jury; and whether he will consider the advisableness of introducing legislation making it obligatory that the jury shall be acquainted with the contents of all documents used in the course of a trial?

It is not improper for the Court to allow the name of a person who is not a party to the case to be written down, instead of being mentioned in open court, until it can be seen whether or not the name or identity of that person is material or not to any issue in the case. That was what was done in the case of Rex v. Crosland. Later on in the case the matter in connection with which the name was written was gone into, and the name was then given in open court. Such a matter is best left to the discretion of the presiding judge, and I see no occasion for legislation in the matter.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state whether, seeing that at a meeting held at the Home Office during the summer of 1909 to consider the census of horses to be obtained by the police, and that the police were given clearly to understand that the information obtained by them should not be used for the purpose of requisitioning horses, he adhered to this resolution, considering that a circular memorandum had recently been issued by the War Office proposing to use the information for compulsory requisition, and in no other way?

It is not the fact that at the meeting referred to the police were led to suppose that the information they were asked to collect would not be used for the purpose of requisitioning horses if any national emergency should arise which should make it necessary to put in force the law on the subject. On the contrary, the Secretary of State is unable to understand how anyone who was present at that meeting could have failed to grasp the object for which the return was required. It was agreed at the meeting that notice should be given that the return was required for military purposes, and not for purposes of taxation; and a note to this effect in prominent type was printed on all the forms for the Return.

Was the information to be given voluntarily about the horses or was it to be given necessarily?

I understand voluntarily.

Then how could the War Office use the word "necessarily" if it was voluntarily?

That question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked how many men were employed in the Dinorwic slate quarries, Carnarvonshire, in 1909; how many men, giving separately those employed inside and outside the quarry, were injured during the year; and how the ratio of accidents compared with that of other slate quarries?

There were 2,802 persons employed in 1909 at the Dinorwic slate quarries, 1,017 inside and 1,785 outside. Four of the persons employed inside were killed, and 332 and 170 of those working inside and outside respectively were injured by accidents disabling the injured persons for more than seven days. All the returns of non-fatal accidents have not yet been received, so that the Secretary of State cannot say how the proportion of accidents compares with that of other slate quarries.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is now in a position to say when the Commission on Mines will make the promised inquiry into the working of quarries?

The Royal Commission on Mines have not yet completed that part of their inquiry which relates to coal mines, but the Secretary of State understands that only one or two important questions are still outstanding. The Commission was constituted primarily to inquire into questions affecting coal mines, and it was anticipated that some change in its constitution would be necessary to enable it to deal with metalliferous mines and quarries. To expedite the latter part of the inquiry the Secretary of State proposes to recommend the appointment of a separate Commission, consisting of a nucleus of the members of the Coal Mines Commission with the addition of representatives having a special knowledge of metalliferous mining and quarrying.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention had been called to the recent explosions at the Cardiff Dowlais Works; and whether he would institute a special inquiry into the causes of such explosions?

The Secretary of State has received reports on the two recent occurrences at the Dowlais Works and is directing an inquiry to be made with regard to them.

Have special instructions been given to inquire into the foundations of those furnaces?

I cannot say without further inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary how often the taximeters on motor cabs were officially tested for accuracy; and whether he was considering the advisability of making taximeters compulsory for horse-drawn vehicles?

The regulations require that every taximeter shall toe tested by the National Physical Laboratory at least once a year, and a road test is also made by the Police. Taximeters are further tested if, upon complaint, there is reasonable doubt as to their accuracy, and if from any cause the official scale are broken; and it may be taken that each instrument is tested three or four times a year. Both the owners and drivers of horse-drawn cabs are divided in opinion as to the advantage of taximeters, and in these circumstances the Secretary of State feels unable at present to require their use on horse-drawn cabs.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, whether he could supply information regarding an outbreak of infectious disease in the Germiston municipality of the Colony of the Transvaal from June to August, 1909; whether the endemic originated in the native compound and then spread to the white population; whether the report of the medical officer of health was to that effect; whether he was aware that over 1,000 cases of the same disease occurred in the adjoining municipality of Johannesburg; and whether the medical officer of health there was held responsible, and what action, if any, was taken against him?

also asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention had been called to the complaints made by doctors holding the position of medical officer of health under the Germiston town council in that they were dismissed summarily by the council, and that the effect of such dismissal had been damage to professional reputation; whether the dismissal of one of these Germiston medical officers of health in September, 1909, arose out of a report presented to the council that an infectious disease had broken out among the natives in the compounds; and, if so, what steps would be taken to protect medical officers of health having to perform duties in the compounds from the risk of summary dismissal and loss of reputation as the result of presenting a report which, though a statement of fact, may conflict with the economic interests of the mine-owners?

I have no information on the subject of either of the questions addressed to me by my hon. Friend. Local matters of this kind are not reported to the Secretary of State, as they are matters for the Transvaal Government to decide upon their own responsibility.

Are these cases not reported to the Secretary of State?

The Transvaal having a responsible Government, the Secretary of State is not made aware of the circumstances to which the hon. Member refers.

Is not the medical officer of health appointed directly under the supervision of the Secretary of State?

No; I think he is appointed by the Transvaal Government.

asked whether reforms had recently been sanctioned in the constitution of the Legislative Council of Ceylon recognising for the first time the principle of an elective franchise; and whether the Government would lay Papers on the subject on the Table?

also asked what changes had recently been made in the constitution of the Legislative Council of Ceylon; whether it was proposed to introduce an elected element into the Council in respect of the Tamil, Singhalese, and Mahomedan populations, respectively; and whether he would lay Papers on the subject?

I will answer together this question and question No. 17, standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for West St. Pancras. It is proposed to introduce an elected element into the Legislative Council of Ceylon. In future there will be two members elected by the European community, one by the burghers, and one by native Ceylonese who have attained a certain standard of education. It is not considered possible at present to introduce the principle of election for the members who represent the Singhalese, Tamils and Mahomedens, and these members will continue to be nominated by the Governor. Papers will be laid shortly.

asked what number of indentured Indian coolies were employed in Natal under agreement between that Colony and the Government of India; whether the suicide rate among these coolies was equal to 501 per million; if so, whether directions would be given that an immediate investigation be made into its causes; and whether His Majesty's Government would consider the desirability of stopping the exportation of coolies to South Africa, especially in view of the treatment they receive there and of the conduct of the Governments of Natal and the Transvaal towards their free kindred?

On 31st December, 1908, the last year for which figures are available, the number of indentured and reindentured Indians in Natal was 43,427, and the number of deaths in that year from suicide eighteen, which is at the rate of 414 per million. It appears from the reports of the Protector of Immigrants that the treatment of indentured immigrants is good and the Secretary of State sees no sufficient reason to request the Government of Natal to investigate the matter. As regards prohibition of immigration, I would refer to the replies given on 3rd March by the Under-Secretary of State for India to the Noble Lord the Member for the Hornsey Division of Middlesex, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what were the amounts of the grants made in each of the last three years out of the sums voted by Parliament for the relief of distress due to unemployment; and what proportion of this total had been granted to authorities in Cornwall?

The expenditure in England and Wales out of the Parliamentary Grant for the three years ending 31st March, 1907, 1908, and 1909, was £105,420, £124,195, and £232,738 respectively. The money is voted by Parliament for the purposes of the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, and consequently it is only available for distribution amongst the Central (Unemployed) Body for London and the distress committees set up under the Act. There are no such committees in Cornwall.

In view of the fact that distress does exist in Cornwall, will the right hon. Gentleman see that the necessary authority is created to deal with it?

I have received no applications from Cornwall during the past twelve months.

Can the right hon. Gentleman now announce to the House anything with regard to his intentions for the current year in reference to unemployment?

At this moment, no.

asked the President of the Board of Education if sixty-three public vaccinators had been appointed as medical inspectors for elementary schools under the Education (Administrative Provisions) Act by local education authorities; whether the Board of Trade agreed that these two offices should be held by the same person; and whether any communication to that effect had been made to local education authorities?

The answer to the first part of the question is, so far as the information of the Board goes, in the affirmative. I think that in the second part of the question my hon. Friend intended to refer, not to the Board of Trade, but to the Local Government Board, who prescribe the qualifications of public vaccinators, and this part of the question should be addressed to the President of that Board. With reference to the third part of the question, it is the practice of the Board, when they find a reference to vaccination in the schedule of medical inspection adopted by a local education authority, to remind the authority that care must be exercised on this point, and that the information obtained by medical inspection should, in no case, be used as the basis for action under the Vaccination Acts. I may add that the Board of Education are not in a position to require of local education authorities that members of their medical staffs should refrain from holding other public appointments.

Is there any saving in salaries effected by the combination of the two offices of medical inspector and public vaccinator?

I have no official information, but I should think it is quite possible.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the practice adopted in Scotland, and set out in the Memorandum entitled the Cleansing and Disinfecting of Schools, was enforced in England; and, if not, if he would explain why such precautions should not be observed?

The Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools requires that the school premises must be healthy and must be adequately lighted, warmed, ventilated, cleaned and drained. The Board of Education have not, up till now put forward any specific recommendations as to methods of cleansing or disinfection. They are confident, however, that adequate precautions will be observed in this respect if the local education authorities act in co-operation with the local sanitary authorities.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a special Memorandum applying to Scotch schools in reference to cleaning after infectious disease, and that that Memorandum does not apply to English schools? I would like to know whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider the advisability of applying such Memorandum to English schools?

I am informed that the Memorandum issued by the Scottish Office is issued in the form of a recommendation to the local authorities, and it is not one of their ordinary regulations. In so far as it may be wise to issue such a recommendation to the local authorities in England, I will consult the President of the Local Government Board to see if we can act together in this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he had received any official information showing, as the result of the medical inspection of children in the elementary schools, that an average of over 35 per cent. of such children were suffering from more or less defective teeth, and that the medical officers were almost unanimous in attributing such condition to the consumption of white bread made of flour from which the germ had been mechanically extracted; and, if so, whether steps would be taken through the medium of the local authorities to bring the cause of this condition to the notice of the parents, with a view to its amelioration?

A summary of the information at the disposal of the Board on the subject of the condition of the teeth of those children in public elementary schools who were medically examined in the year 1908 will be found in the recently issued Report of the Board's chief medical officer, pages 53–57. The Report shows that the number of children with defective teeth is considerable, but the information at present at the disposal of the Board is not sufficient to enable them to form a precise estimate of the percentage of children in public elementary schools who are suffering from defective teeth. I am not aware that any medical officers have been so rash as to attribute the defects in children's teeth solely to the consumption of any one particular article of food.

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of this admitted physical defect, it is not advisable to institute an inquiry as to what is the underlying cause of such defect?

I am afraid this defect is not peculiar to children in elementary schools alone. We cannot start an inquiry until the whole of our information on medical inspection has covered the ground.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman find it a little difficult to justify the expenditure upon the medical inspection of school children unless some steps are taken to remedy the more serious defects disclosed by such inspection?

That would be carrying medical inspection much further than is contemplated by the Act, but it is not outside the bounds of possibility.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the German black bread, so-called, contains the germ referred to, and whether he can inform the House that the condition of the children's teeth in Germany is more satisfactory than the condition of children's teeth in this country?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he had received recent reports from education authorities relating to medical inspection; and whether he could make any statement as to the general results of the work done under this head?

The reports received from local education authorities relating to the work of medical inspection during the year 1908 were reviewed in the Annual Report of the chief medical officer of the Board for that year, which was issued last January. A few reports have been received in respect of the year 1909, and these will in due course be reviewed in the next annual report of the chief medical officer. The Board have reason to believe that satisfactory progress is being made, but I am not in a position to make any statement as to the results of medical inspection beyond that which is contained in the Report I have referred to.

Arising out of that answer, may I ask whether the reports indicate that all the local education authorities are carrying out the scheme to the satisfaction of the Board?

Yes, Sir; our information is that all the local education authorities are already fulfilling their duties under the Act or taking such preliminary steps as will enable them to fulfil them at the earliest possible moment?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, under the special rules with regard to registration of juvenile applicants in England and Wales, made in pursuance of Regulation IX. of the General Regulations for Labour Exchanges, managed by the Board of Trade, it was proposed to supply every day and evening school with copies of the form of registration, and to recognise the principal teacher of each school as an agent acting officially for a Labour Exchange in behalf of any pupils desirous of registering; whether there was any provision in the special rules or form of registration for consulting the wishes of the parents of juvenile applicants; and whether the Labour Exchanges would, as the General Regulations now stand, register the personal application of a boy or girl of 14 years of age, and advance travelling expenses under Regulation V. (1) and (2)?

The recognition of a school for the purposes of registration under Rule 1 of the Special Rules with regard to the Registration of Juvenile Applicants in England and Wales will be a matter of special arrangement in each case between the Board of Trade and the local education authority. As regards the second part of the question, the Special Advisory Committee for juvenile employment will no doubt suggest to the Board of Trade such arrangements, if any, as appear to them desirable for ascertaining the wishes of parents with respect to the choice of employment by their children. Juvenile applicants may register in person at any Labour Exchange, and the regulations authorising advances of travelling expenses does not exclude juveniles. Officers in charge of Labour Exchanges will, however, be instructed not to make advances in the case of juvenile applicants without the assent of the parent.

asked when it was proposed to open the Labour Exchange in Merthyr Tydfil?

The Labour Exchange at Merthyr Tydfil will be opened in the course of the next few days.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is intended to open a central office specially for the mining district?

That is a point I have under consideration. It is not a very easy matter to decide offhand; but I have it under consideration, and I hope to be able to arrive at some conclusion.

asked what was the number of appointments that had been made by the Board of Trade under the Labour Exchanges Act; and how many of these had been conferred on men who have given military service to the State?

The total number of appointments including all grades which have been made under the Labour Exchanges Act up to the present is between 500 and 600. I am unable to say how many of those appointed have given military service to the State.

asked whether the "Freeman's Journal" Company, Limited, had complied with The Companies Consolidation Act, 1908, as to the lodgment of balance sheets with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies; and when was the copy of its last balance sheet lodged?

The "Freeman's Journal," Limited, have complied with the requirements of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, as to the lodgment of a balance-sheet with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies. The last balance-sheet was lodged on 18th March, 1909.

asked what quantity of sugar was manufactured from beet in France and in Germany in each of the last three years, and the value of the sugar produced?

The following statement gives the information as to quantities desired by the hon. Member. The official figures of production in Germany relate to the production of raw sugar, whilst those for France are expressed in their equivalent in refined sugar, and would have therefore to be increased by about one-ninth to render them comparable with those for Germany. The figures are for years ending 31st August.

asked whether, in view of the danger to the Lancashire cotton industry arising from the increasing absorption by America of her cotton crop, the Government would grant a charter to, and guarantee the stock of a company of which the British Cotton Growing Association should form the nucleus, so as to develop the cotton-growing areas within the Empire?

I have already stated in reply to the hon. Member the nature of the financial assistance which His Majesty's Government propose to render to the British Cotton Growing Association in the prosecution of its experiments in certain portions of the British Empire.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he accepts the statement in the question to the effect that the shortage in cotton is due to an increased absorption in America?

No; I could not accept that. I thought the hon. Member was really asking for information as to the amount of financial assistance the Government propose to give, and I gave the information a few days ago.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will have the reply given to my hon. Friend printed with the Papers?

I will see if I can do that.

I should like to ask whether, in view of the very large national interests involved, the right hon. Gentleman will not consider whether, over and above the question of experimental purposes, this is not a matter for State action.

No very definite proposals have been put before me. If any definite proposals are put before the Board of Trade, we shall carefully consider them, but so far the question has been what amount we should give to assist this association, and the Government have assisted the association in carrying out experiments.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has received any representations from the British Cotton Growing Association or any other authority in Lancashire for assistance on the lines suggested in the Question?

No, we have not. We have been asked to render financial assistance in the matter. I think the Treasury have given very liberal provision in order to carry out these experiments.

Have any representations been made by any bodies in Lancashire to the Government to grant facilities for the carriage of raw cotton free on the railways of Nigeria?

I must ask for notice of that.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he would grant the Return standing in the name of the right hon. Member for St. George's, Hanover Square?

If the right hon. Gentleman will alter the form of the proposed Return, and substitute the following, I shall be happy to grant it. The form I suggest is:—"Government Officials—Return giving the number and the total immediate cost per annum of the new officials, permanent and temporary, respectively, who have been appointed up to the close of the year 1909 in consequence of the legislation passed by the present Government."

asked the Postmaster-General if he was aware that the inhabitants of Bigwood and district, in South Kilkenny, were inconvenienced by the absence of a pillar-box or post office, as the nearest place for posting letters is three miles distant; and, if so, what action he proposed to take in the matter?

I am having inquiry made on the subject.

asked whether male telegraph learners at Leeds were being offered vacancies at Liverpool, on the grounds that there was a paucity of vacancies at Leeds, and with the understanding that if they refused, the Post Office would be relieved of all further liability to provide them with established appointments; whether a number of vacancies were in existence at the Leeds office; and, if so, whether he could state why these vacancies could not be filled by the learners already employed in that office?

Offers of appointment at Liverpool were made recently to the senior male learners at Leeds because there appeared to be little prospect of providing them with appointments at Leeds before they would complete two years' service as learners. It may not be possible to make them other offers before the expiration of their two years' learning. The vacancies at Leeds to which the hon. Member refers are being kept open because it appears probable that, in connection with a proposed revision, an alteration in the staff will be necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he was aware that a number of senior messengers at the Leeds post office were not receiving the due number of appointments for postmen; whether some twelve of the messengers, of the age of nineteen and twenty years, had been waiting for assistant appointments as postmen for three years, and at present only received an average wage of 9s. per week; and, if so, would their cases be considered with a view to improving the official status of these young men?

The boy messengers at Leeds are receiving their due number of appointments as postmen; their promotion is slow, owing to the fact that the services of too many boys have been retained in the past. Every effort has been and will be made to provide the youths with substitute duties, carrying suitable wages, pending their appointment as assistant postmen.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these boys, who are practically young men, and have been three years in the service, are only getting 9s. per week?

I know that statement is made in the question. I regret that promotion is slow owing to the fact that too many boys have been engaged in the past, in consideration of the number of appointments open to them later.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he was aware that in many cases the mounted rural postmen employed by contractors were not allowed to finish their duties at an early hour on Bank Holidays, as was the case with the mounted rural postmen employed direct by his Department; and whether he would make representations to the contractors concerned, with a view to extending to their employés the same privileges as were enjoyed under the Post Office?

The men referred to by the hon. Member as mounted rural postmen employed by contractors are the drivers of mail carts, run under contract, for the conveyance of mail bags. I fear it would not be practicable to arrange generally for mail carts to return on Bank Holidays at an early hour without causing considerable public inconvenience. As a rule, they serve offices of greater importance than those included in rounds of the mounted rural postmen of the Department, and the hours of the post at those places are generally the same on Bank Holidays as on ordinary week days, whereas in smaller places served by postmen, mounted or otherwise, the, night mail collection is often made on Bank Holidays shortly after the morning delivery has been completed. If, however, the hon. Member will furnish particulars of any cases in which he thinks there will be no public objection to the alteration, I shall be happy to consider them.

asked the Lord Advocate if, in view of the difficulties which electors in many country districts experienced in exercising the franchise owing to the long distances they had to go to the nearest polling station, he would introduce a measure for providing a polling station in every rural school so as to enable these electors to have reasonable and proper facilities for recording their votes, and that the cost thereby entailed be defrayed out of public funds instead of being thrown on the respective candidates for Parliament?

On the information which I at present possess I am not satisfied that the facilities provided by the County Elections (Scotland) Act, 1853, have proved insufficient for the needs of electors in the county districts in Scotland. I am not, therefore, prepared to undertake so important a change in the law as is suggested in my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he could state what the amounts of the deposits were in the Australian Savings Banks between the years 1891 and 1901, and between the years 1901 and 1909?

The average of the total deposits in the Australian Savings Banks for the ten years 1891 to 1901 inclusive was about £22,250,000, and for the years 1901–2 to 1907–8 about £37,500,000. The figures for 1908–9 are not available.

In what year did Protection begin in Australia?

asked what the estimate of the Treasury now was of the additional taxation imposed upon Ireland for the current financial year, under the various heads, by the 1909–10 Budget?

asked a similar question, and further inquired what was the estimated amount of the advantages likely to accrue to Ireland from the purposes to which the yield of these taxes will be devoted?

also had a similar question on the Paper.

The amount which will be received from Irish sources in respect of the new and additional taxes included in the Finance Bill before 31st March will be approximately £265,000. If the Bill ultimately becomes law in its present form there will have to be added to this about £173,000, which ought to have been collected this year, but will not be received until next year, owing to the delay in passing the Bill. This will make the total Irish contribution to the Revenue proper to 1909–10 £438,000. Of the increased expenditure for which the Budget proposals are intended to provide, Ireland receives the advantage of £2,460,000 under the head of Old Age Pensions alone. There are also considerable additional charges upon the Exchequer in respect of the legislation of the last two Sessions affecting Land Purchase and University Education, as well as increased grants for elementary education and other Irish services. The total advantage to Ireland on the expenditure side of the account is thus not less than £2,800,000.

May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer is it not a fact that Treasury estimates about Ireland have differed no less than £80,000,000 between the Purchase Act of 1903 and the Land Act of last year, and, under those circumstances, does he expect Ireland to be very much impressed by Treasury figures about Irish affairs?

I do not know what the hon. Member thinks, but I know that what he stated, both about land purchase and the Budget, was rather wild. But if he will be good enough to point out to me in what respect these figures are wrong I shall be very glad to receive any representations from him on that point.

As the right hon. Gentleman has stated that I am rather wild, may I ask him if he denies that the Treasury estimate of the cost of land purchase in Ireland at the time of the Act of 1903 was £100,000,000, and that the Treasury estimate last year was £180,000,000?

As a matter of fact—I am only speaking from the information I got from the Treasury—last year it was not a Treasury estimate at all. The Treasury was not in the slightest degree responsible for the land purchase finance of 1903, and I am very glad to be able to say that in their defence.

Who was?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he denies it is a fact that the taxpayers of Ireland, including the poorest part of the population, do in fact regard the Budget proposals as very oppressive?

Am I correct in saying that the figures stated by the right hon. Gentleman do not include the increase in the Stamp Duty?

No, they include the Stamp Duties for this year. The second figure—£173,000–includes the Stamp Duty as from the date it was imposed.

I understand the second figure was the figure giving the increased amount which will now have to be paid in case the Budget is passed. The Stamp Duties, therefore, are not included.

Am I to understand from the figures given by the right hon. Gentleman that under no circumstances will the Budget, even if passed into law, impose for the financial year a burden on Ireland of half a million pounds?

No, because it will not be passed.

The extra taxes will amount to £438,000.

May I ask whether if the Budget is introduced the right hon. Gentleman will have any objection to adding a proviso to the Budget that under no circumstances will the burden on Ireland exceed the figures now given by the Treasury?

I do not know whether the hon. Member is authorised to make a proposal on behalf of the Irish Members. If he is, I should be very glad—I think I am authorised to speak on behalf of the British taxpayers—to cry quits on the whole transaction. In that event British taxpayers would be about £1,600,000 to the good.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government still adhere to their pledge that the first act of the present House of Commons must be to deal with all the exigencies of the financial situation which have been created by the rejection of the Budget and by what has followed since; and whether the collection of the Income Tax will be treated as one of the financial exigencies of the situation?

I stated in the speech to which the hon. Member refers that the House would not be asked to part with control of the Budget until after the Resolutions relating to the House of Lords have been submitted to it. For reasons which have been frequently explained, we cannot treat the Income Tax as a separable thing, and as standing in a different category from the rest of the Budget. It is the intention of the Government, as I have said more than once, to ask the assent of the House to the taxations imposed by the Budget, including the Income Tax, before the House rises for the Spring Recess.

Am I to understand that the Budget will so far as this House is concerned be finally disposed of before the Spring Recess?

No, I did not say that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say one way or the other? Is it intended to get the Budget through all its stages in this House before the Spring Recess, or not?

I am not going to give any undertaking on that point. I am going to repeat what I said several times, that we are going to ask the House to assent to the various taxes proposed by the Budget before the House rises for the Spring Recess.

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman—[HON. MEMBERS: "No," and "Order, order."]

asked whether correspondence has passed between the Treasury and the Commissioners of Inland Revenue as to the course to be adopted by the latter in reference to the collection of Income Tax; whether such correspondence may be laid upon the Table; whether the Commissioners of Inland Revenue received assurance that the first act of the Government on return to power after the recent General Election would be to reimpose as from the date of the dissolution of the last Parliament all taxes and duties embodied in the Finance Bill, 1909–10, and to validate all past collections and deductions; and whether, in referring to collections and deductions in his announcement of 2nd December, 1909, he included the collection and deduction of Income Tax?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second and third in the negative; and to the fourth in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is responsible not only for the political pensions granted during his term of office, but also for those pensions granted prior to his taking office; and whether he will have revision made of the political pensions now being paid if cause be shown?

I cannot accept any responsibility for the acts of my predecessors; nor am I entitled to review the present circumstances of those who are receiving pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the increased charges upon the agricultural ratepayers in Ireland, he can see his way to increase the grants in aid to the local authorities?

I am not aware what are the increased charges to which the hon. Member refers?

asked under what article of the Sugar Convention Act, 1903, it is held that a charge is necessitated of Excise duty on sugar manufactured from sugar-beet grown in the United Kingdom?

Under the last paragraph of Section 2 of the Act.

asked what was the Customs Duty imposed on 88 per cent. sugar imported into the German Customs Union and France, respectively; and whether an Excise Duty on sugar was imposed in those countries equivalent to the respective duties of Customs?

In Germany the duty levied on raw sugar of all descriptions imported is 18 marks 40 pfennigs per 100 kilogs., or about 9s. 3d. per cwt. The Excise Duty on sugar is 14 marks per 100 kilogs., or about 7s. per cwt. In France raw sugar of less than 98 per cent. yield, whether manufactured in the country or imported, is subjected to consumption duty at the rate of 25 francs per 100 kilogs. of its equivalent in refined sugar, sugar yielding 88 per cent. of refined sugar being thus dutiable at the rate of 22 francs per 100 kilogs., or about 8s. 9d. per cwt. Imported raw sugar of all descriptions is subjected in addition to an import duty of 5 francs 50 centimes per 100 kilogs., or about 2s. 3d. per cwt.

Will the same obligation under the Convention attach to France and Germany as to this country in regard to the difference between the Customs and Excise Duty on sugar?

I should not like to answer a question of that character without notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he had noticed that a beet sugar company had advertised for capital for the erection of a factory at Sleaford, and that the appeal was based on the calculation that it had become possible to make beet sugar in England at a profit owing to the Brussels Sugar Convention; whether he was aware that the standard price of beet sugar was now 14s. per cwt., or more than twice as much as when this Convention was entered into; whether the promoters of this company had received any pledge that the Convention would be permanently maintained; whether he had promised any allowance from the Excise Duty that would be levied to balance the Customs Duty on sugar; and, if so, whether he would lay Papers upon the Table of the House to show the obligations the Government had incurred in support of this undertaking?

I am aware that it has been proposed to form a company for the purpose of erecting a factory at Sleaford for the extraction of sugar from sugar beet. I understand that my right hon. Friend's information as to the relative price of sugar now and when the Sugar Convention was entered into is correct. The promoters of this company have not, so far as I know, received any pledge that the Convention will be permanently maintained, nor do I see who could possibly be in a position to give such a pledge. A deputation of the promoters waited upon my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury in October last, who undertook that any Excise Duty which might be imposed should be fixed so as to make full allowance for the extra cost of manufacture taking place under Excise restrictions. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

Will my right hon. Friend say what is the meaning of these words "full allowance"? They do not exist in any other case with regard to the difference between Customs and Excise.

Certainly; they have existed for some time in regard to Irish tobacco.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that, owing to the uncertainty which exists as to the rates of Estate Duty, Settlement Estate Duty, Succession Duty, and Legacy Duty, in respect of the estates of persons dying on or after the 30th April, 1909, grave inconvenience was being experienced by the executors of the persons so dying and their legal advisers, and the winding-up of such estates was being seriously delayed, and the interests of the beneficiaries were being injured; whether, to prevent the continuance of this un desirable state of things, he would at the earliest opportunity introduce the Finance Bill of 1909 into this House, or such part of it as related to the duties mentioned above; and whether if he should decline to take this course, he would undertake either that the increased rates of the above-mentioned duties should not apply to persons dying before the 30th April, 1910, or that no interest on the amount by which such duties were increased should be demanded or become payable?

I am not aware that there is any such inconvenience as the hon. and learned Member alleges. As regards the second part of the question, I have already informed the House when the Finance Bill will be reintroduced and the objection to introducing a part of it separately from the rest. The answer to the third part is in the negative.

What is the objection to introducing some of the Resolutions earlier than others?

As I have already announced, some of the Resolutions must be introduced earlier than others.

Will he lose no time in introducing those Resolutions which are most necessary in the public service?

The Noble Lord has already asked the Prime Minister that question, and he has got his answer on that point.

No; I understood I have not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Post Office Department suffered a loss of £220,000 per annum by forwarding Press telegrams at a reduced rate; whether he was aware that this money passes into the pockets of newspaper proprietors; and whether he would, in his forthcoming Budget, remove this preference to the Press?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Although, as my predecessor stated in answer to a question by the hon. Member two years ago, the loss on Press telegrams had been estimated for the year 1905–6 to be £220,000, similar calculations based on figures for the year 1908–9 showed the loss to be £205,000. The rates for Press telegrams were determined by the Telegraph Act, 1868, and any alteration would require an Amendment of that Act. As was stated by my predecessor in the answer to which I have referred, the Government do not intend to propose legislation for that purpose.

asked what is the total amount deducted from dividends on Government stocks by the Directors of the Bank of England; to whose credit the amounts so deducted now stand; and what arrangements have been made to secure to the Exchequer the benefit of the interest earned, or capable of being earned, on the amount so deducted.

I presume the hon. Member refers to the deductions made since the prorogation of Parliament last Session, which amount to about £197,000. The amount has been placed to the credit of a suspense account, and the amount so held in suspense is earning no interest.

asked whether the amounts deducted by public companies for Income Tax have been so deducted with the concurrence of the Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury; whether the amounts so deducted have been received by the Exchequer; and, if not, what arrangements have been made to secure to the Exchequer the benefit of the interest earned or capable of being earned on the amounts so deducted?

The deduction of Income Tax from the dividends of public companies is a matter of arrangement between the companies and their shareholders, and the concurrence of the Treasury is not required. It cannot be stated to what extent the amounts so deducted have been included in the duty received by the Inland Revenue and paid over to the Exchequer.

Is that consistent with the assertion of the Prime Minister just now that Income Tax is not separable?

I have said these funds are not collected at all. That is the exact point of the answer. It simply means that the companies who deduct the amount are retaining it. In some cases I have no doubt they are paying it over, but they do that voluntarily.

Is the Inland Revenue receiving some of these sums with the authority of the right hon. Gentleman?

I have already stated that. I should not like to say that some of these companies have not paid over some of the sums which they have deducted. It is purely a voluntary offering.

asked the Under-Secretary for India if he can say as from what date the new Indian duties on tobacco and cigarettes are enforceable; whether this operation will be suspended until the question of a countervailing excise has been decided; and how soon a decision on the latter point may be expected?

The duties took effect from the 25th February, in accordance with the Act that has been passed by the Imperial Legislative Council of India. The Secretary of State does not propose to interfere with the operation of that Act. The Government of India have been directed to give the question of countervailing duties early consideration, but it is impossible to say within what time a decision will be arrived at.

asked whether the lower price of silver brought about by the new duty, entails increased precaution against the illicit coinage of rupees?

It is not anticipated that the duty will lower the price of silver outside India to such an extent as to stimulate in any material degree the illicit coinage of rupees for importation into India. The duty cannot, therefore, operate as an incentive to illicit coinage in India.

asked what revenue has the Indian Government derived from opium exported to China during the last 10 years; and what annual revenue is estimated from the new duty on silver?

The average net revenue from opium exported from India beyond seas for the ten years ending 1909, when the arrangement with China began to operate, was £3,274,634 a year. Approximately two-thirds of this was derived from the trade with China. The net additional revenue from the new duty on silver is estimated at £366,000 in 1910–11.

In view of the present unsatisfactory condition of British trade in China, may I ask if the Indian Government in future will extend some consideration to the currency of a country out of which they have derived such enormous revenues in the past?

The Government of India does not expect that this duty will affect the export trade.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have provided, and, if so, where, a farm for Mr. Carrigan, an evicted tenant on Lord Ashtown's county Waterford estate, whose old farm has been planted with trees by the landlord?

Carrigan's name has been noted for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as the Estates Commissioners may acquire. They are not at present in a position to provide him with another holding, but the matter is receiving attention.

asked the Chief Secretary if he could state upon what grounds the Estates Commissioners have refrained from restoring Bernard Martin to his former farm on the Countess of Kingston estate, in the parish of Ardcarne, county Roscommon; whether he is aware that Martin was evicted from this holding eighteen years ago for non-payment of rent; whether it is now held by the present heir to the estate, the Earl of Kingston; and whether he can give any approximate date at which Martin may expect to be restored to the farm in question?

The Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action in reference to the application of Bernard Martin. The farm in question was put up for sale at the suit of a creditor who had obtained judgment against Martin, and the landlord exercised his right of pre-emption and paid the value of the tenant's interest as fixed by the court.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the English Board of Agriculture are considering the question of removing the embargo upon the importation of live cattle from the Argentine; and whether, having regard to the injury which would result to the Irish cattle industry from such a step, the Irish Department of Agriculture are taking any measures to safeguard Irish interests in this matter?

I understand that the Argentine Government have made representations to the English Department of Agriculture and Fisheries that, owing to the absence of foot-and-mouth disease for a year, animals should again be admitted into Great Britain for slaughter at the port of landing only. These representations are under consideration, and the Irish Department of Agriculture is in communication with the English Board on the subject. No question arises as to the importation of store cattle.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that St. Patrick's College, generally known as Maynooth, has been affiliated as a college of the National University in Ireland; if so, what members of the senate were present when it was decided to affiliate this college; and whether it is intended that Maynooth shall remain, as at present, a training college for the Roman Catholic priesthood; whether, under the terms of affiliation of Maynooth with the National University it will be possible for a Maynooth student to become a graduate of the National University without attending lectures at that university or ever leaving the precincts of Maynooth; and whether it is proposed that the degrees awarded to Maynooth students shall be distinguished in any way from the degrees granted to ordinary graduates of the National University?

I will answer these three questions together. I understand that St. Patrick's College, Maynooth, has been admitted to be a recognised college of the National University in the subjects included in the faculties of Arts, Philosophy and Celtic Studies. This matter was before the Senate at three of its meetings. All the members of the Senate were present at one or other of those meetings, and thirty-one of the thirty-nine members attended the last of the three meetings. Under the Act of Parliament, Charter, and Statutes, it is possible for a student of a constituent or recognised college to obtain degrees of the University without attending lectures elsewhere than in the constituent or recognised college of which he is a member. It is not intended to make any distinction between the degrees obtained by students of the constituent or recognised college otherwise than by giving in the published University Lists the names of the colleges at which these students attended their courses of studies.

May I ask whether the granting of degrees to persons who have not been in residence at the University is not entirely contrary to the spirit of the right hon. Gentleman's own argument when the University Bill was before the Committee last year, and also whether it is not directly contrary to his refusal to allow extern students, that is to say, students who were not in residence at the University to have the benefit of this new University, as they had the benefit of the old Royal University?

No one knows better than the hon. Member, who took an active part in the discussion of this measure, that the whole of the question as to the students was left to the Senate of the new University.

Has he now dropped the old statement that the University would be undenominational?

I do not think the House would desire to revive the discussion of the year before last.

Was it not definitely re fused when the Bill was before Parliament to allow extern students to get the benefits of the degree of the new University—the very point?

That is an argumentative question on the action of the House.

No, on the action of the right hon. Gentleman, not of the House.

asked if the Estates Commissioners have received a memorial from the landholders and labourers Of the locality asking them to distribute the turbary on the Langley estate, at Longford Pass, county Tipperary, amongst themselves and others in the district who have no turbary right; and what steps the Estates Commissioners propose to take with a view to distribute these turbary rights?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to the question on the same subject asked by him on the 7th instant, the offer of the Estates Commissioners for these lands has been accepted, but no scheme for their distribution can be made until they have been vested in the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Armagh County Council Committee of Agriculture have requested permission for a committee of their number to inspect the four Normandy sires now on the Department's farms, and their request has been refused; whether a further application from the same committee to the Department to receive a deputation with reference to horse-breeding schemes for the county of Armagh has also been declined; whether he is aware that the Armagh County Committee have made many applications for stallions suitable to the requirements of horse breeders in the county without any satisfactory result; and whether he will state the reasons which have induced the Department to adopt this attitude towards the county committee?

The Armagh Committee of Agriculture applied on 5th February for permission to inspect these sires with a view to one or more of them standing in county Armagh. The Department replied that it was not proposed to send these sires into the country for service. The suggested visit of inspection was therefore unnecessary. The Department have since arranged that a deputation from the committee shall wait upon the Vice-President in regard to their horse-breeding scheme. The Department have not refused any application for permission to see the Normandy sires.

Who recommended the importation of these Normandy sires?

I cannot answer that question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the committee of agriculture of the Armagh County Council have passed a resolution, which has been endorsed by other county committees in Ulster, declaring that the scheme for encouraging improvement in the breeds of horses which has been worked in Ulster since the formation of the Department of Agriculture has proved itself totally valueless for the purpose, and that the Department be requested to hold such an inquiry into the subject as will give representative breeders from each of the Ulster counties an opportunity of expressing their views; and whether it is intended to hold such an inquiry?

I understand that some Ulster county committees have adopted the resolution referred to, and that others have not. The Department make a practice of having an annual inquiry as to the views of all the county committees on their horse-breeding schemes, and they will do so this year as usual. The views that have hitherto been expressed by the Ulster county committees do not correspond with the statement in the resolution.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Department of Agriculture, Ireland, imported other Normandy sires previously to the four now on the Department's own farm; whether he will state how many of these animals were purchased and give the dates when they were imported, state the price paid for each of them, the proportion of thoroughbred blood claimed for them, and where they are now standing?

The only Normandy sires imported by the Department are the four recently purchased.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the consultative committee for purposes of fisheries contemplated by Section 48 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, has yet been constituted; and, if so, whether he will give the names of the members of the committee?

The consultative committee for Fishery purposes under the 48th Section of the Irish Land Act of 1909 was nominated on 25th January. The representatives of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction are the Right Hon. T. W. Russell, Mr. T. P. Gill, and the Rev. W. S. Green, C.B.; and the representatives of the Congested Districts Board are the Most Reverend Doctor O'Donnell the Right Hon. Sir David Harrel, and Mr. W. L. Micks. The committee met on 27th January.

Are we to assume from that answer that Mr. T. W. Russell is going to remain President of the Department?

For the time being.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the judgment given on the 1st instant by the Master of the Rolls in the matter of the sale of the Heard estate, county Cork, in which, referring to the provisional regulations made by the Lord Lieutenant on 15th February, he alluded to the emission from the regulations of any provision for the allocation of stock in cases of pending purchase agreements proposed to be financed wholly by means of stock; and whether he will explain the reason-for this omission?

It was unnecessary to provide by the regulations for the allocation of 2¾ per cent. Stock to vendors who are prepared to take the whole of their advances in stock. The amount of stock which may be issued in any year for that purpose will be limited only by the amount of such cases which the Land Commission can administratively dispose of in addition to those pending cases in which advances are made in cash or partly in stock and partly in cash.