asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the money allocated under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906, for the erection of labourers' cottages has been exhausted; and whether any provision has already been made, or will be made, in the 1909–10 Budget for providing the funds necessary for continuing the operations of the Labourers Act of 1906?

I understand that the whole of the £4,250,000, which under the Labourers Act, 1906, may be advanced on land purchase terms for the provision of labourers' cottages and plots, has been either advanced or earmarked for advance in respect of pending schemes. The question of reviving the powers of the Labourers Act of 1883 in order to enable further advances to be made is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor whether, having regard to the necessity of retaining Irish capital for investment in Irish business and of attracting capital from other sources, he will be able to make public at an early date any concessions and exemptions to agriculture and industry from the taxation about to be imposed under the Budget that he proposes to make?

I have already informed hon. Members on several occasions that I cannot, in anticipation of my financial statement, reply to questions of this character.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a public company at Rugby deducted, in August, 1909, and in February, 1910, from the half-yearly dividends which it paid to its shareholders an amount necessary to pay Income Tax at the rate of 1s. 2d. in the pound; that the local collector of taxes states that he has no authority to receive such Income Tax; that consequently none of the amount deducted from the dividends has been paid into the Treasury; and that nevertheless some of the shareholders of the company who are entitled to an abatement have claimed and received from the Claims Department of the Board of Inland Revenue such portion of the amount deducted from their dividends as the abatement entitles them to; and whether he will state the total amount which has been refunded in consequence of similar claims during the financial year 1909–10?

If the hon. Member will furnish the name and address of the company to which he refers, I shall be happy to inquire into the circumstances of the case, and to arrange for the receipt by the Inland Revenue of duty if tendered. I am unable to give the information asked for in the concluding part of the question.

asked whether Parliamentary sanction by legislation would be necessary for the imposition of an Excise duty on the manufacture of beet sugar in this country; whether he is aware that Dutch sugar manufacturers are at present making contracts with farmers in the Eastern Counties to grow sugar beet for shipment to factories in Holland; what is the amount of beetroot sugar imported annually into this country from the Continent of Europe for the past five years; whether he is aware that not an ounce of the large home demand is supplied by a home industry; whether he is aware that both soil and climate in many parts of Great Britain are at least as favourable as those of France and Germany; and whether the Government are prepared to encourage the manufacture of beet sugar in Great Britain by undertaking that no Excise duty shall be levied, thereby affording employment to many thousands of the unemployed?

As regards the first part of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 7th ultimo to the hon. Members for Great Yarmouth and Sheffield Central. The answer to the second part is in the negative. The imports of unrefined beetroot sugar into this country from the Continent of Europe during the last five years were: 1905, 8,182,108 cwts.; 1906, 10,991,819 cwts.; 1907, 9,470,735 cwts.; 1908, 9,734,950 cwts.; 1909, 10,258,197 cwts. The imports of refined beetroot sugar cannot be stated, as the official statistics do not distinguish between sugar refined from cane and beetroot. I understand that at present practically no sugar is produced from beetroot grown in this country, but I am not able to offer my opinion as to the relative merits in this connection of the soil and climate in Great Britain, France, and Germany. I cannot give the undertaking proposed in the last part of the question, and I should be inclined to doubt whether, if I could, it would have the effect suggested; but as I have already stated, in fixing the rates of Excise duty on sugar manufactured from beetroot grown in this country, care would be taken to allow such a reduction from the rates of Customs duty as would fully compensate for the additional cost of manufacture under Excise restrictions.

asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the deficit in the whisky money and the consequent loss to the education authorities, he can hold out any hopes to them of any alternative grant in the future which will save them from any immediate curtailment of their activity?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 21st ultimo to the hon. Member for Fulham.

asked if the £25,000,000 of Income Tax, which was payable in the year 1909–10, but was not collected in that year, will, when collected, fall into and form part of the revenue of the year 1910–11.

All Income Tax receipts in 1910–11, whether in respect of the tax imposed for that year or in respect of arrears of previous years will, in accordance with the usual practice governing the public accounts, be brought to account as part of the revenue of the year in which they are received.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state how much of the sum of £131,000 mentioned in Memorandum of the Civil Service Estimates, Civil Services, Class 1, paragraph 6, is recurring expenditure; how much is being paid for hire of buildings; whether he can state how much of the sum of £117,808 mentioned in Class 2, paragraph 17, he anticipates will be recoverable; and, whether, in regard to Class 2, paragraphs 23 and 24, he can state how much of the sum of £18,626 and £4,334 is incurred by the Labour Exchanges?

As will be seen on reference to the Civil Service Estimates, the sum of £131,000 inserted for Labour Exchange Buildings, Great Britain (Class 1, Vote 9) includes £90,400 for new works, alterations, additions, and purchases. The balance, of which £20,350 is for hire of buildings, represents provision for expenditure of a recurrent character (maintenance, repairs, furniture, rents, fuel, light, water, and household articles). Of the amounts to be advenced to workmen under the Labour Exchanges Act, it is anticipated that £2,500 will be recoverable (Board of Trade Estimate, subhead S S). The increases of charge due to Labour Exchanges under the Votes for Stationery and Printing, and for the Office of Works and Public Buildings (additional staff), are estimated at £10,000 and £2,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will say when the Report of the Advisory Committee on Treasury Grants to university colleges will be published?

Very shortly.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that those second division clerks of the Civil Service, who were formerly assistant clerks, and who enter the second division by means of open competitive examinations, are not allowed to count their previous established service for the purpose of calculating the amount of their annual leave; and whether he will extend to them the advantage which is enjoyed by certain other clerks who, having been promoted to the second division, are entitled to the same amount of annual leave as if their previous established service had been in the second division?

I regret to be unable to authorise the extension of this concession to clerks appointed to the second division as the result of an open competitive examination.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, before sanctioning the introduction of higher division clerks into any Department of the State already efficiently and capably served by its existing staff, it is the practice of the Treasury to make searching inquiries into the duties performed in order to ascertain whether they are of such a character as to justify the employment of clerks of the higher division, involving an ultimate increase in the cost of the establishment?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, what is the cause of the delay in effecting the sale of the Coraslira portion of Mr. Arthur O'Connor's estate; and whether steps will be taken to expedite the sale of this estate?

The Estates Commissioners have refused to declare the lands fit to be regarded as a separate estate for the purposes of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and proceedings under that Act are not now pending before the Commissioners.

asked whether any, and, if so, how many, licensed publicans have been appointed in Ireland to be justices of the peace within the past six months; in what counties and on whose recommendation; was the Lord Chancellor of Ireland in each case aware that the person appointed was a publican; and whether the persons appointed are authorised to act as justices in the districts in which they carry on licensed business?

I understand that five persons who held a licence were appointed by the Lord Chancellor to be justices within the period mentioned. They were in the county of Mayo, where in some parts it is difficult to procure suitable persons. One was already a magistrate by Statute under the Local Government Act. One was recommended by the lieutenant of the county, and the others each by more than one person in whose judgment the Lord Chancellor had confidence. In each case the Lord Chancellor required as a condition of the appointment that there should be a transfer of the licence.

asked what is the scale on which fees to the Law Officers and to counsel are fixed; and how much did such fees amount to in the last financial year?

The Law Officers receive fees for contentious business on the following scale, which was fixed in 1886, with the consent of the Treasury:—

	£	s.	d.
Brief for trial at Assizes, when only one brief and case	105	0	0
Refresher fees (to include consultation)	21	0	0
Fee on second brief and case at same Assizes	52	10	0
Refresher (to include consultation)	21	0	0
Brief on trial in Dublin	26	5	0
Refresher (to include consultation)	21	0	0

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been recently called to the condition of Cour-town Harbour, county Wexford; and what steps the Department of Agriculture propose taking with a view to improving it?

The Department of Agriculture are aware of the condition of Courtown Harbour, and have adopted the view of the Wexford County Council that the existing sluicing arrangements should be thoroughly overhauled. The county council have informed the Department that the months of June and July would be the most suitable for carrying out this work, and arrangements will be made accordingly.

asked whether any portion of the £4,000,000 advanced under the Irish Labourers Act, 1906, has been allotted to the Kilmallock Rural District Council, county Limerick; and, if so, how much, and, if any, of the portion now earmarked will be available for the said council?n the scheme which they are just carrying through?

I understand that a sum of £27,380 has been sanctioned for cottages already authorised to be provided in this rural district, and a further sum of £2,350 has been earmarked in respect of the opposed portion of the Order made by the inspector regarding the council's scheme. The reply to the last portion of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state what has been the entire cost of administering the Irish Poor Laws during the years 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, and 1909; and what is the proportion spent on salaries?

The total expenditure of boards of guardians in Ireland from revenue on all purposes, including local administration, in the years named is as follows:—

Year ended	Total Expenditure from Revenue.	Portion of the fore going expended on Salaries and Rations of Officers.
	£	£
March, 1905	1,261,797	320,142
March, 1906	1,285,989	320,916
March, 1907	1,284,517	335,058
March, 1908	1,329,367	343,558
March, 1909	1,376,693	349,901

The central administration is carried out by the Local Government Board, but its cost in respect of Poor Laws cannot be stated, as the Board discharge a number of other duties.

asked how many vendors of land in Ireland, up to 1st April, had agreed to take stock in lieu of money, and how many a proportion of stock and the residue in money, and the total amounts of the gross purchase moneys involved under each of these heads; and if the new registers of priority will be open to the public for inspection?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just given to the question asked by the hon. Member for East Clare. The registers are open for inspection by parties interested.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the grounds upon which the Local Government Board refused to sanction an old age pension to John Mooney, of Effishmore, Gleneely, county Donegal, No. 1,171; whether he is aware that the pension committee awarded him a pension of 5s. a week; that the pension officer appealed against such award, but granted 4s. a week; and that the Local Government Board, without any further evidence, granted no pension whatever; whether he is aware that the applicant lives on a small mountain farm of £4 rent; and whether he will take steps to have a pension granted in this case?

The decision of the pension committee and the report of the pension officer in this case are correctly stated in the question. The Local Government Board refused to sanction a pension on the ground that the claimant's means exceeded £31 10s. per annum. He lives on a farm of thirty-four acres, paying a small annuity of £4 2s. 6d. He has six cattle and twenty sheep, besides potatoes, oats, turnips, hay, and free turf, of which he consumed sixty loads.

asked why Charles Galbraith, of Foyfin, Castlefin, county Donegal, farm labourer, has been deprived of the pension granted to him in January last?

The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal in this case, as there was no evidence that the claimant had reached the statutory age.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to lessen the disparity between the first and second class Naval Reserve by giving to the second class some grant of money on completion of twenty-five years' service?

There has always teen provision in the regulations to enable second class men to qualify for advancement to a pensionable rating. These men have received retaining fees and drill money for their service, and no reason is seen for conferring now the, further benefit of pension which they could have obtained by fulfilling the conditions for promotion under the regulations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will inquire into and consider the case of A. W. Ellerton, hired boiler maker, Portsmouth Dockyard, who after eight years' service has been discharged with his ticket marked for misconduct; and whether he is aware that Ellerton has never been told the charge against him, and has never been given an opportunity of clearing himself?

I am aware of the circumstances under which Ellerton was discharged, and see no reason for interfering with the decision given. I cannot accept the suggestion that Ellerton was unaware of the grounds for his discharge.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the question of the muster station, Unicorn Gate, Portsmouth Dockyard, seeing that this muster station was built about twelve months ago, and is so small and inadequate that the men passing through to their work lose some ten minutes or more of their own time, and that when the muster station was built representations were made as to its inadequacy, and promises of improvements were held out?

The muster station is considered to be adequate to meet requirements. The time that the men are delayed is very much over-estimated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps are taken to ensure the observance of the Fair Wages Resolution of this House in respect of Admiralty contracts where the work is executed abroad?

The Fair Wages Resolution of the House of Commons has reference to the wages and hours of workpeople in the United Kingdom, and is devised for safeguarding the interests of such workpeople. It is not intended for the defence of the interests of the workpeople of foreign countries. The action that would be practicable in regard to work executed abroad would be to consider on any well founded complaint whether the firm in question should be entrusted with any further orders.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state whether it is contemplated to amalgamate the Royal Marine Artillery with the Royal Marine Light Infantry; and whether in such amalgamation, if undertaken, steps will be taken to prevent the promotion of the senior officers of the latter corps being prejudicially affected?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state a date when establishment will be reopened in Devonport Dockyard; whether it is the intention of the Government permanently to diminish the number of men on the establishment in the yard; and, if so, to what extent the establishment is to be permanently diminished, specifying the exact diminution that is to take place in each class of workmen?

The question as to the manner in which each yard and class of workmen will be affected under the revised establishment is at present under consideration; instructions as to the re-opening of the establishment at all the yards will be issued as soon as practicable, but in the meantime it is not expedient to forecast those instructions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any agreement has been come to with Tyne shipbuilding firms for the construction on the Tyne of dry docks capable of taking in warships of the largest class, as suggested by the Admiralty to these firms a year ago; and whether the Government still maintain that preference should be given to private enterprise in providing docks for the ships of the British Navy rather than that the Government should establish such docks themselves?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. The attitude of the Government is not such as is indicated in the latter part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are taken to ensure the observance of the Fair Wages Resolution of this House in respect of War Office contracts where the work is executed abroad?

The object of this House in passing the Resolution was, I think, to improve the conditions of labour in the United Kingdom. If, however, fully substantiated representations should be made regarding the wages paid on an Army contract executed outside the United Kingdom, the propriety of entrusting further orders to the contractor in question would, of course, receive consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can promise that the House shall have an opportunity for discussing the Ordnance Vote, or the Vote on Account of the same, in order that the question of a 30s. minimum wage in the danger zone may be adequately considered?

I am afraid that at the present moment I am not in a position to give the hon. and gallant Member an undertaking that an opportunity shall arise for discussing these Votes.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether Patrick Dockery, No. 5603, late private of the 2nd Coldstream Guards, now of Athlone, Ireland, will be allowed to rejoin his regiment, having been recently deprived of his pension on the grounds that he was no longer disabled and was fit for active service?

While the Chelsea Commissioners were of opinion that this man had recovered from his disability, and that his wage-earning capacity was not impaired, they did not state that they considered him fit for active service as a soldier. This man, however, if under thirty years of age, can present himself for re-enlistment, and if he is found fit for military service his case will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Glasgow regiments of the Territorial Force have had equal opportunities with other parts of the country of acquiring efficiency in shooting; and, if not, whether this was due to the difficulty of getting landowners in that district to lease ranges at reasonable rates?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Every battalion has an open range within nine miles of Glasgow, and every battalion has tested with the standard test over 89 per cent, of its strength in officers, noncommissioned officers, and men for last year.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will say when the dial sights will be served out to those units of the Territorial Artillery which still do not possess them; and whether it is possible to carry out correct practice under cover without them?

The dial sights will not be available until those now being used by the Regulars are released by the supply of new pattern sights for the latter. It is quite possible and feasible to carry out correct practice under cover without them.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the usual period devoted to gunnery practice by Regular batteries of Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery; and what period it is proposed should be devoted to that practice by the corresponding branches of the Territorial Force?

The usual period devoted to gunnery practice by Regular batteries is about three weeks. The period which it is proposed should be devoted to that practice by the corresponding units of the Territorial Force will vary in the different units according to the range accommodation available, and the time which it is found necessary to give to other forms of training. No definite period can therefore be stated.

asked the Secretary of State for War if any of the guns lately removed from Gibraltar have been replaced?

Certain alterations have been and are still being made in the armaments with the view of modernising and strengthening the defences.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the. subordinate transferred from Curragh to Island Bridge to fill the position of foreman has been found incompetent?

The man who was transferred to fill the position of foreman was found incompetent as such and was reduced to assistant foreman in consequence.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of the officers at Island Bridge allowing those charged with the custody of stores a choice as to the men employed under their supervision; whether recently men were suspended in connection with the loss of public stores and after suspension were sent to other foremen; and whether any objections were offered by any or all of the foremen?

Certain men were recently suspended in connection with the loss of clothing. After inquiry nothing could be proved against these men, but it was considered advisable to place them on another class of work, where they came under other foremen. The latter offered no objection to the arrangement. A reasonable representation from a foreman on this subject would receive due consideration from the officer in charge, but the adoption of the proposal contained in the first part of the question would be impracticable.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state the total amount granted out of local rates in the year ended March, 1909, for secondary education in England and in Wales; and the average amount from this source per pupil in average attendance?

The amount received from the rates in 1907–8 (the latest year for which figures are available) for Education other than Elementary, was as follows:—

England Wales	£1,467,283
Wales	130,660
	£1,597,940

The Board have not the information necessary to enable them to say to what extent the amounts received from rates are distributed between secondary and other forms of education other than elementary,

asked the President of the Board of Education whether lie will state what is the financial condi- tion of the elementary school teachers superannuation fund; and whether it would be possible to increase the amount of pension made on retirement, seeing that the larger proportion is contributed by the teachers themselves?

The hon. Member appears to be under some misapprehension as to the facts. Each teacher who has accepted the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, is entitled on retirement to the annuity purchasable by his contributions, and, if he has satisfied the prescribed conditions, is eligible for the award of a superannuation allowance. The superannuation allowance is paid by the State out of funds voted annually by Parliament; the annuities are paid out of the Deferred Annuity Fund, to which all certificated teachers contribute during their period of recorded service. The amount of superannuation allowance is prescribed by the Statute; the amount of the annuities is regulated by tables constructed by the Treasury in pursuance of the Statute. An increase of the former would require legislation which I am not prepared to undertake, for the present at any rate. An increase of the latter would involve an alteration of the tables by the Treasury, which, in view of the recent Actuarial Report, does not appear to be warranted by the present state of the fund. Of the total allowances of teachers retiring at the present time about 90 per cent, is paid by the State. For an account of the finances of the Deferred Annuity Fund the hon. Member cannot do better than study the Report to which I have just referred.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what authority issues licences and certificates to experiment on living animals; and what are the respective charges for same?

Licences are granted by the Secretary of State. Certificates are given by the scientific authorities named in Section 11 of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; they are not available until a week after copies have been sent to the Secretary of State, who may disallow or suspend them. There is no power under the Act to charge fees for either licences or certificates.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the present post office in Carlow is too small for the business, every day increasing, which has to be transacted in it, and from a sanitary point of view is injurious to the health of the staff engaged there; whether he will take steps to have an office provided suitable to the requirements of the business and health of the staff, and central for the convenience of the people of the town; and if his attention has been called to this matter on several occasions by the Carlow Urban District Council?

My predecessor's attention was called to the case by the Carlow Urban District Council, and that body has lately repeated its request for a new office. The Carlow head post office is held by the Crown on a lease for thirty or fifty years from 1889. It is central, and its sanitary condition is not considered unsatisfactory, but more space is required, and the matter is receiving attention. The building will be improved so as to meet all objections, but the provision of an entirely new building could not be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the adult night messengers were considered one of the principal classes of Post Office servants by the recent Select Committee; if so, why have these messengers not been allowed the same privilege as other classes in being granted an interview to discuss several points affecting their class, such as the refusal to place Mr. Murray, who represented the adult night messengers before the Select Committee, upon the establishment; whether he is aware that a mistaken interpretation has been placed upon the Select Committee's recommendation, it being clearly understood that the ordinary age limits were not to be adhered to in placing adult messengers of five years' service upon the establishment; whether he is aware of the partiality shown in granting good conduct stripes to a few adult messengers, thereby causing ill-feeling among the general body of messengers who have been persistently refused good conduct stripes; whether he is aware of the attempt on the part of some local officials to force the adult messengers, men of no mechanical training, to do the work of displacing cycle mechanics; and whether he will now grant an interview with a view to all these points being thoroughly discussed?

I am aware that the class of adult night messengers was represented before the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, and that the recommendations of that Committee regarding the class were adopted by my predecessor. I should be very willing to receive a deputation from this body to discuss the matter referred to in the question, and any other they may desire to bring before me. I have fully considered the case of Mr. Murray, and I can find no reason for treating him or other adult night messengers exceptionally as regards the age limit for established appointment. The discontinuance of the award of good conduct stripes took place many years ago, and the Select Committee made a specific recommendation against such award being reintroduced. Adult night messengers are not required to do mechanical work in repairing cycles other than the simple jobs performed by an ordinary careful rider.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the "Lusitania" again failed to call at Fishguard on Monday last, 4th April, and did not reach the landing-stage at Liverpool until 8.10 a.m. on Tuesday, 5th April; whether he is aware that, if the mails brought by the "Lusitania" had been landed at Queenstown on the Monday afternoon, they would have been delivered throughout Great Britain and Ireland by the first post on the Tuesday morning; and whether, in view of the loss and inconvenience which such delays entail upon business men and the public generally, he will suggest to the postal authorities of the United States the desirability of reverting to the former practice of landing the mails carried by the Cunard Company's fast mail steamers at Queenstown?

I am informed that the "Lusitania" passed Queenstown at 3.50 p.m. on the 4th instant, and, finding herself unable to call at Fisfaguard, proceeded to Liverpool, where she arrived at 8.12 a.m. I am further informed that if the mails brought by the "Lusitania" had been landed at Queenstown on Monday afternoon those for London and beyond would only have reached the General Post Office fifty-three minutes before they actually arrived there.

asked the reasons for abolishing established posts in the engineering stores and factories sections of his Department and substituting casual labour to perform similar duties?

I do not understand to what specific matter the hon. Member refers, but if he will be good enough to give me some further information on this point, I will communicate with him on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the fact that primary sorting has now become a recognised part of the duties of London postmen as a recommendation of the Hob-house Committee, he will consider the advisability of utilising the means thus afforded by reducing to a greater extent the numerous split attendances of these officials, thereby giving more complete effect to the recommendation?

Primary sorting has been performed by postmen in London for many years past, and the Parliamentary Committee's recommendation in paragraph 328 of their Report was therefore not a new departure. No efforts are spared to reduce the number of split attendances for postmen, and in the last few years the number of three attendance duties has been substantially diminished, and the four attendance duties have been abolished.

asked if, considering the cost of conveyance of mails from Gills Bay to Scapa, as compared with the cost of their conveyance from Scrabster to Scapa, the Postmaster-General will take into account the fact that the distance between Gills Bay and Scapa is much less than the distance between Scrabster and Scapa, and that, owing to more favourable conditions of tide, the time occupied in the crossing would be reduced by at least one-third?

The inquiries I am making will cover these points.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of his recent consent to reopen the sub-post office in the Stonefields district of the town of Stone, he will say at what date it will be reestablished?

Instructions have been given for the re-opening of this office, and I hope it will not take long to make the necessary arrangements.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any steps are being taken to carry out the scheme of decentralisation recommended in the Report of the Select Committee in 1907,and, if so, will he furnish the House with a statement on the subject, and explain what effect this scheme will have on the status and remuneration of the staff of the Secretary's office?

Steps are being taken in the direction indicated by the hon. Member, but I am not yet in a position to make a statement on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the dissatisfaction of the staff with various departmental interpretations of the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, he will take into reconsideration the principal points of difference between the representatives of the staff and the heads of his Department?

The recommendations of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants were carried out by my predecessor after very careful consideration, and I think it will be obvious to my hon. Friend that I could not undertake a general review of questions on which the representatives of the staff may not be entirely satisfied with my predecessor's decisions. If fresh facts are brought before me in any particular matter I will, of course, give them the fullest attention.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what was the total amount of the whisky money grant paid to the county councils in aid of higher education in the year 1908–9, and the total amount of the said grant paid or to be paid for the year 1909–10; and whether the Government contemplates making up the difference from other sources?

For the year 1908–9 the amount paid to the councils of counties and county boroughs up to 31st March was £746,253. A further balance of £61,007 was distributed in September and October, 1909. For the past financial year the sum distributable up to 31st March was £525,619. I am not in a position to give any further information as to the amount to be paid at present.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in order to check the continued promotion by some urban local authorities of piecemeal legislation affecting the production and distribution of milk, he will introduce, in the course of this Session, a Bill of universal application which will secure uniformity of administration on the part of all such authorities?

I am afraid that in the present circumstances I cannot contemplate a general Bill on the subject of milk.

asked whether the Royal Commission on Human and Animal Tuberculosis, which was appointed on 31st August, 1901, is still pursuing its investigations in reference to the communicability of bovine tuberculosis to human beings; and, if so, whether, in view of the urgent importance of the questions referred to the Commission, especially in their bearing upon the production and distribution of milk, and of the fact that no Report of the Commission has been issued since the Third Interim Report of January, 1909, the Commission will be urged to present a fourth interim or a final Report with as little delay as possible?

I understand that it is not the intention of the Commission to issue any further Interim Report, but they are now engaged in considering the results of the experimental investigations and drafting the Final Report, and it is hoped that they may be able to present this in the course of a few months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will instruct the Harbour Department of the Board of Trade to remove the wreckage on the county Wexford coast, near Black-water, which is a constant source of injury to the local fishermen?

The Board of Trade have no power to remove wrecks and no funds which they could apply to such a purpose. The Wexford Harbour Commissioners are empowered by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, to remove wrecks within their harbour limits if in their opinion such wrecks are likely to become an obstruction or danger to navigation, but I understand that the Commissioners do not consider that these particular wrecks fall within this description. I learn, however, that the Wexford County Council and the Department of Agriculture have the matter under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether an appeal has been made to the Board of Agriculture asking that the terms of the recent pension scheme should apply to all labourers employed on the Ordnance Survey, including Ireland; whether it was represented in such appeal that the labourers were willing to contribute out of their present meagre wages towards pension; whether, before the matter receives consideration, the labourers as a body or individually will be allowed to express their views in the case; and, if such a pension scheme were ratified by the Treasury, would civil assistants be allowed to reckon their labourer's service towards pension?

A petition of the nature mentioned was received on the 18th ult., and it is now under consideration. It purported to represent the wishes of the labourers generally. If this is not the case the Board would be glad to receive any representations which the dissentients may wish to make. The question to which the hon. Member refers in the last part of his question will be kept in view.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether any of the money for the Development Grant is yet available; if not, when it is likely to be available; when it is available whether such institutions as dairy associations, which have for many years past spent considerable sums on maintaining instructors in cheese-making, will be likely to obtain assistance from the Development Grant; and to whom should they make application in order to obtain such assistance?

The Development Commission is not yet constituted, and it is therefore premature to consider the provision of the necessary funds. A sum of £400,000 is included in the Estimates for the current year. As regards the latter part of the question, the purposes to which the Development Grant is to be applied are primarily for the consideration of the Development Commission when it has been constituted. All applications for advances under Part I. of the Development Act are, in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 (2) of the Act, to be made to the Treasury, in accordance with regulations made by the Treasury.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the difficulty experienced by small farmers in obtaining credit and of the failure and neglect of county councils to form credit banks under the Small Holdings Act, he will consider the desirability of appointing a Committee to consider what further steps, if any, should be taken by Parliament with a view to the establishment of agricultural banks?

The Board will be glad to consider the suggestion made by my hon. Friend, but I may say that full information as to the proper procedure for the establishment of a credit bank can be obtained from the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies or from the Secretary of the Agricultural Organisation Society, and that a Central Co-operative Bank is in existence for the purpose of financing local credit societies. If my hon. Friend has reason to believe that the circumstances are favourable to the establishment of a Credit Bank in any particular locality we will gladly see that any necessary assistance is given.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state how many local authorities have adopted the Notification of Births Act in Scotland, the names of such local authorities, and what diminution in the infant death rate under one year has taken place?

I am informed that twenty-three local authorities in Scotland have already adopted the Act referred to, while four have resolved to do so this year. The infantile mortality rate depends so much upon the yearly weather conditions and the incidence of epidemic disease that it is not as yet considered safe to base upon its variations any inference as to the effect of the Notification of Births Act. The names of the local authorities are as follows, the four in which the Act is to become operative this year being marked with an asterisk:—

asked what is the total amount of rate aid granted to secondary schools in Scotland for the year ended March, 1909; the number of pupils in average attendance; and the average rate aid per pupil in attendance?

This information is not at present available in respect of the year 1908–9. For the year 1907–8 the total amount of rate aid given to secondary schools was £101,190; the number of pupils in average attendance at these schools was 29,756; and the average rate aid per pupil in attendance was £3 8s.