asked the Chief Secretary whether any documents bearing on the Parnell Commission are still preserved at the Irish Office, London, or in Dublin Castle; if so, whether he can state the general character of them; and whether any have been destroyed?

There are a number of documents in Dublin Castle referring to the Parnell Commission and dealing with the attendance of officials on subpœna before the Commission, the transfer to London of prisoners who were required to appear as witnesses, applications on behalf of "The Times" and the respondents, respectively, for inspection of official documents and requests from the Commission for information and returns as to crime, and other matters pertinent to the inquiry. No papers on the subject belonging to the Chief Secretary's office have been destroyed.

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there will be any objection to giving outsiders an opportunity of having access to these papers now?

I do not know about that. I can assure the hon. Member he will find nothing in them.

If permission is given to anybody to have access to those papers, may we have access to the papers dealing with the dynamite outrages at that time?

The right hon. Gentleman has not stated whether any of those papers have been destroyed or not.

No, Sir; none of them have been destroyed. They are all there.

Are any of those papers in the private custody of any public official connected with Dublin Castle or Scotland Yard?

None at all.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the total amount of money drawn up to date by Sir Robert Anderson from the public purse, including salaries, pensions, and Secret Service allowances?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Sir Robert Anderson as Secretary to the Prison Commissioners drew a salary of £600 a year from July, 1877, to August, 1888. His salary as Assistant-Commissioner of Police was at first £800 a year with certain allowances; but in October, 1899, it was raised to £1,350 without any allowances, except one of £100 a year. On his retirement in May, 1901, he received a pension of £900 a year, which he still draws. I can give no information as to any allowances he may have-received from Secret Service.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any check whatever on amounts expended under the Secret Service by men like Sir Robert Anderson?

Oh, yes; the Ministers of the different Departments are absolutely and personally responsible for all these payments.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen an extraordinary statement by this Gentleman that the Home Office had at the time of the Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Victoria received complete information as to an alleged plot to blow up Westminster Abbey, and whether there are any records at the Home Office which support that statement?

I must have notice of that. I do not think there are any records at all.

What amount of money out of the Secret Service Fund was placed at the disposal of Sir Robert Anderson, and how much money did he spend on procuring evidence for the Parnell Commission?

I am quite sure the hon. Gentleman will not expect me, even if it were in my power, to answer that as a supplementary question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question which the Prime Minister referred me to the Home Office for? What was the precise positions held by Sir Robert Anderson at the Home Office?

That does not arise out of this question. I will certainly give my attention to it if it is put on the Paper.

asked whether any papers bearing on the Parnell Commission! were removed from the Home Office or destroyed; whether any were removed from Scotland Yard or destroyed; and whether he can state generally the character of any documents still preserved at either place?

So far as I can ascertain no papers relating to the Commission have been removed from the Home Office or from Scotland Yard, or destroyed. The Home Office papers relate to such matters as the appointment of the Secretary to the Commission, the supply of stationery, the treatment of Irish prisoners brought over as witnesses, and the presentation to this House of the Commissioner's Report. There is also an extensive collection of newspaper extracts. The Scotland Yard papers are equally miscellaneous and uninteresting. It must be remembered that the Government took no part in the proceedings before the Commission.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Irish witnesses were brought over at the expense of "The Times" or of the Government?

I must have notice of that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow an outsider to have access to these papers, interesting or uninteresting?

I require notice of that question.

asked whether there is any such post as that of Political Adviser to the Home Office; if so, whether it was ever filled by Sir Robert Anderson; and, if not, what was his precise position?

A similar question was answered yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

Might I ask the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement of Sir Robert Anderson himself that he did occupy the position of Political Adviser?

If he says so it is a mistake.

Then will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question, and say what was his precise position?

I think my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has already described it.

No.

Then he will be prepared to do so if the hon. Member will put a question to him.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that Sir Richard Webster, now Lord Alverstone, denied in the House of Commons that Sir Robert Anderson had taken any part in the presentation of "The Times" case for the Special Commission, and that Sir Robert Anderson made a similar declaration in the columns of "The Times"; and whether, in view of Sir Robert Anderson's recent admissions, he will reconsider the question of having further inquiry instituted?

I do not think, as I have already said, that any sufficient ground has been shown for such an inquiry as has been suggested.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the statements contained in that question are not true?

I have no reason to think they are not true, but I have no means of information, other than every hon. Member has, whether they are true or not.

asked whether His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant had received a memorial signed by certain justices of the peace for the county of Fermanagh in reference to certain disturbances which took place on 29th February, 1910, and the petty sessions proceedings which followed thereon; if so, will he state what action the Lord Lieutenant proposes to take; and will he grant the request of the memorialists that a Commissioner should be appointed to inquire into the riot of 29th January and the disturbed condition generally of the districts of Maguires-bridge and Brookeborough?

His Excellency has received the memorial referred to, and has informed the memorialists that their request for a commission of inquiry cannot be granted.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state on what grounds His Excellency the Lord Lieutenant remitted three days in each case of the terms of fourteen days' imprisonment to which two men named Bowles and Boyd were sentenced, and discharged the rule of bail under which one M'Farland was bound to the peace, by the justices of the peace for the county of Fermanagh, sitting in petty sessions recently at Lisnaskea; whether this action was taken as the result of representations made to His Excellency; and, if so, will he state by whom these representations were made?

It would be contrary to practice to state the names of the persons who made representations to His Excellency in such cases, or the reasons which influenced him in the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when representations were made to have these sentences reduced a magistrate for the county of Fermanagh was sitting on the bench proposing to take part in the case, and he was compelled to leave on the representations of the solicitor defending the case?

I am not in a position to give the name of any person who made representations in this matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why these people who were sent to prison were not allowed the ordinary remedy of applying to have their sentences set aside?

His Excellency thought the case was one which called for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any further steps have been taken by the Irish Local Government Board in regard to the erection of the two cottages passed by the inspector, Mr. M'Caffrey, in the month of February, 1908, at Lisnagry, county Limerick, on the grounds that the houses in which Peter Sullivan and William Boyle and their families lived were condemned by the doctor as unfit for human habitation; can he say what has occurred since to prevent the cottages being erected; have the labourers made repeated application to the district council to proceed with the work and put them in possession of the plots; have the Local Government Board asked what was the cause of the delay, and what answer the council has given; and whether the Local Government Board will now take action in this matter and have the Act put in force?

As promised in my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member on 8th July last, the Local Government Board have called the attention of the rural district council to the duty imposed on them by the Labourers Acts of carrying into execution their improvement scheme as confirmed. Since then the council, who are building thirty cottages in a field at Annacotty, in the neighbourhood of Lisnagry, have offered two of them to Sullivan and Boyle, who, however, declined to take them. The council have represented that these thirty cottages are sufficient to supply the wants of the neighbourhood, and have adjourned consideration of the question of building the two cottages in Lisnagry pending completion of the cottages at Annacotty. In these circumstances there are no means at the disposal of the Board by which they can compel the council to immediately proceed with the Lisnagry cottages.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what was the amount of the Exchequer Grant coming to the county Down for the purposes of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts in the last financial year prior to the Labourers Act, 1906, coming into force; and if he would state what was the amount of the same Grant paid to the same county for the purposes of the Labourers (Ireland) Aces in the corresponding years 1908–9 and 1909–10, and since the Labourers Act, 1906, came into force?

The amount distributed in respect of the financial year 1905–6 was £6,217 3s. 6d., of which more than two-thirds was out of the reserve undistributed in previous years. The amount of the Grant for each year since the passing of the Labourers Act of 1906 has been £296 19s. 9d., and a similar sum will shortly be distributed in respect of the year 1909–10. In addition the reserve not previously, issued amounting to £3,264 15s. 5d., was distributed in July last, making a total of £3,561 15s. 2d. for the year 1909–10.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say what steps the Estates Commissioners have taken to purchase the two evicted farms on the estate of Lane Joynt, at Aughanish, in the county of Limerick, with the view to reinstating the evicted tenants on them; and whether, seeing that these tenants have been out of their holdings for twenty years, the Estates Commissioners will now take steps to have them reinstated?

The Estates Commissioners are not yet in a position to make an offer for the purchase of these lands.

Is it not time, after twenty years, that these evicted tenants were returned to their farms? What is the cause of the delay? Is it due to any action on the part of the landlords?

I will call the attention of the Estate Commissioners again to the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether his attention has been directed to a report of Dr. Beatty, senior inspector of national schools, calling attention to the number of small and unnecessary schools in the locality of which Cookstown, county Tyrone, is the centre; whether the Commissioners of National Education intend to take any, and, if so, what, action in reference to this matter; and whether the Commissioners intend to reconsider an application previously refused by them for the recognition of a new school at Orriter, within the area dealt with in Dr. Beatty's report?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in his general report for 1907–8 Dr. Beatty, formerly senior inspector of National Schools, called attention to the excessive number of small schools in Cookstown and its vicinity. The Commissioners are endeavouring to reduce the number of small or unnecessary national schools wherever possible. An application for aid to a school at Orriter has been under the consideration of the Commissioners, but they have declined to take it into connection with the national system. The allocation of national schools in the locality will be reviewed by the Commissioners at an early date.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the hardship under which fishermen suffer, amounting to practical disfranchisement, if the polling in any Division takes place at the time when they are at sea in pursuit of their calling; and whether, in order to remove this hardship, the Government will be prepared to support a short non-contentious Bill, for the purpose of enabling fishermen to record their votes between the day of nomination and the day of poll, under suitable arrangements?

The Government will carefully consider the matter, but I cannot at present undertake to promise legislation. I believe that my hon. Friend the Member for St. Andrews Burghs has introduced a Bill dealing with the subject, but has not yet been fortunate enough to bring it to Second Reading.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to introduce legislation amending the financial clauses of the Irish Land Act, 1909?

No, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Mr. John Fells, of Broadstairs, was recently fined £25 and costs for selling adulterated food; whether there were two previous convictions against him; whether he is a member of the local bench of magistrates; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps to have his name removed from the commission of the peace?

I understand there is to be an appeal against the judgment referred to, and therefore I do not wish to say anything which might prejudice the case. With regard to the two alleged previous convictions, I am not yet fully informed. The matter will be brought to the notice of the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state the date on which the Whitsuntide Recess will begin; and whether proper provision will be made for the continuance of old age pension during the time the House is up?

Perhaps with the indulgence of the House I may here make the statement which I have promised to make to the House to-day (Thursday). I do so, because I want to pay a tribute to the memory of an hon. Member of this House whose loss we all deplore.

On Monday next, April 18th, we intend to take the Allocation of Time Motion relating to the Finance Bill, as passed through the House of Commons last Session, and the Eleven o'clock Rule will be suspended. There will also be a Motion on Monday to enable the Report stage of the Vote on Account to have precedence over private Members' Bills on Friday, 22nd instant. On Tuesday, 19th, and Wednesday, 20th, in accordance with the provisions of the Motion which we hope to secure on Monday, the first Order will be the Ways and Means Resolutions relating to last year's Budget, the Committee stage of which, if not previously brought to a conclusion, will terminate at seven o'clock on Wednesday evening, and will be immediately followed by the consequent stages of Ways and Means (Financial Resolutions).

The proceedings on Wednesday are so arranged that the private Member's Motion set down for that day will be respected.

On Thursday, 21st April, we propose to take the Committee stage of the Vote on Account, and

On Friday, the 22nd, the Report on that Vote.

It may be for the convenience of the House if I indicate, as far as I can, the business of the succeeding week.

On Monday, 25th April, Tuesday, 26th April, and Wednesday, 27th April, we propose to proceed with the Budget, in accordance with the terms of the Allocation of Time Motion which appears on the Paper to-day.

On Thursday, 28th April, we hope to move the Adjournment of the House for the Spring Recess. It may possibly be that a formal sitting may be necessary on Friday, 29th April, to receive the Royal Assent to the Finance Bill and other Bills.

I understand there will be no Consolidated Fund Bill?

No, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us what will fee the length of the Spring Recess?

I was going to ask the same question, fan the right hon. Gentleman give us any indication as to the length of the Recess: and would he say whether it is a fact that the Government are now paying money without any Parliamentary authority for certain Services?

I should like notice as to the latter part of the question. With regard to the length of the Recess, I hope it will be a substantial one, at any rate extending over three weeks.

Will the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the latter part of my question?

I do not think it calls for any answer.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether it is not a fact that only sufficient money has been taken up to 13th May, and whether all authority for expenditure on old age pensions will not by that date expire?

Not at all. We shall take a Vote on Account next week.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why he has cut out the Bill of my hon. Friend dealing with Poor Law in Ireland, while he has given all his Radical friends a chance?

If we get the Report stage of the Vote on Account reasonably early that Bill can go on.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman for how long he is going to take the Vote on Account?

I think for about six weeks.

May I ask whether the Motion on Wednesday, the 27th, will be left to private Members?

Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat that question?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Committee nominated to inquire into the scheme known as the All-Red Route has come to any conclusion, and, if so, what conclusion, as to the establishment or otherwise of the service advocated by the supporters of the All-Red Route; and what prospects there are of the scheme being pushed for ward to a practical result?

I regret I am not in a position to add anything to previous answers on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take into his consideration the advisability of so arranging the business of the House that hon. Members may reap the benefit of the Eleven o'clock Rule?

Our object is always to avoid any interference with the Eleven o'clock Rule which is not absolutely in the interests of public business.

asked what are the names and areas of the various denominations of untenanted land in county Cavan which have been acquired by the Estates Commissioners since 1st November, 1907, and the average price paid per acre; and will he fully state the names and areas of the various denominations of such lands in county Cavan in reference to which negotiations are at present pending?

The Estates Commissioners have strongly urged upon me the view that to prepare lists such as the hon. Member asks for would occupy a considerable number of their staff and divert them from other and more important duties, and that it might not be fair to intending vendors to publish the fact that they have entered into negotiations. For these reasons I am not in a position to add anything to my reply to the non-oral question on the same subject asked by him on the 6th instant.

Is it not the fact that similar particulars with regard to another county were given recently in answer to a question in this House; that it would not take more than five or ten minutes' work on the part of the staff of the Estates Commissioners to give the information asked for, and cannot the right hon. Gentleman, at any rate, supply me with the average price paid per acre?

It is a fact that somewhat unfortunately an answer was given in the case of another county, but it does not seem to me a desirable plan to follow as it causes a great deal of trouble to the Estates Commissioners. I really must appeal to hon. Members not to put this great burden on the staff of the office.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman give the average price paid per acre?

I will get an answer to that.

asked whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have for some time past been obliged to suspend the making of grants for building and repairing schoolhouses owing to the inadequacy of the provisions made by the Treasury for this purpose; how many applications have been refused within the last year on account of want of funds; whether a large number of such applications were made for the purpose of providing sanitary and suitable buildings instead of those which are at present in use, and which are most insanitary and unsuitable; and what steps the Government intend to take to enable the Commissioners to meet such applications?

As I informed the hon. and learned Member, in reply to the question asked by him on the 11th instant, the provision for building grants amounts to £240,000 for the period from 1st April, 1907, to 31st March, 1913. I understand that the Commissioners of National Education have already sanctioned grants to the amount of £235,000, and are therefore obliged practically to suspend further grants. They inform me that they have had to postpone the sanctioning of grants in ninety-nine cases owing to want of funds, and that they have many other applications before them. I am most anxious to secure that cases of urgency arising out of insanitary or dangerous conditions of buildings should be given priority of treatment, and am quite prepared to co-operate with the Board in securing that object, but it is manifest that some financial limit must be observed.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman see that the sum of £70,000 for the Development Fund is secured to the Commissioners for this very necessary purpose?

The £70,000 was the capital sum put on the Development Fund, but that has become depleted owing to other reasons, and the sum of £240,000 was substituted.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to get a further grant made in view of the urgency of this question?

asked the Under-Secretary for India, if a warrant has been issued against Mr. Arabindo Ghose for an article which appeared in the "Kharmayogin" on 25th December; whether warrants have been issued against the publishers of the paper as well; if so, under what law these warrants have been issued; and whether a copy of the paper containing the offending article can be placed in the Library for the information of Members?

Before the hon. Gentleman answers, may I inquire if the seatless syndicate which supplies these questions has not shown that it has no desire that seditious persons should be brought to justice.

Is it in order for one hon. Member to characterize questions put by another hon. Member as having been put by a secret—

Seatless.

Quite apart from the meaning of the adjective the offensiveness of the question is perfectly apparent, and I want to know whether any hon. Member is allowed to characterize the questions of another hon. Member in this way?

I withdraw the word "seatless" if it gives offence. I meant, of course, that they had no seats in this House.

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. The Secretary of State is not aware of the issue of any other warrants in this matter, and he is informed that the warrant for the arrest of Mr. Ghose has been issued under Section 124a, Indian Penal Code. I may add that considerable delay occurs just now in obtaining information, and I must ask my hon. Friend to exercise some patience in the matter while the fullest information is being procured. At the present time the Secretary of State would rather not commit himself to the undertaking asked for in the last part of the question.

asked whether the Secretary for India will consider the propriety of placing in the library copies of the last will and testament of still-surviving Arabinda Ghose, for whose arrest a warrant is said to have been issued in India, and copies of some of the numerous issues of the newspaper, for which he is responsible, containing articles hostile to British rule and British officials in India and encouraging sedition?

The Secretary of State cannot accede to my hon. Friend's request. He must not, however, be taken to accept his description of writings the character of which is a subject for trial.

asked the average prices obtained for land sold in the Punjab irrigation colonies; and whether as much as £3,000 an acre was realised quite recently for market sites sold at Jaranwala?

The selling value of ordinary agricultural land in the irrigation colonies varies, according to situation and quality, from about £7 to £15 the acre. Land so sold would be subject to land revenue assessment and water rates. Land suitable for building or for market sites fetches higher prices, but the price of £3,000 per acre reported to have been paid for sites in the new town of Jaranwala in the Ghenab colony is, of course, exceptional.

asked whether the Secretary for India is willing to appoint a Committee or Royal Commission to inquire into the system of elementary and higher education in India, with a view to ascertaining the extent to which it is at present adapted to the needs and social conditions of the native population?

The demand and necessity for an improved system of education in India call for comprehensive and urgent recognition. The Secretary of State is unable at present to give an undertaking as to the appointment of a Committee or Commission, but he recognises the probable advantages of proceeding by such means. Perhaps the hon. Member will repeat his question when the Secretary of State has had an opportunity of considering further this important matter from practical points of view.

May I ask whether the latest writer of authority on this subject has not condemned the British Government for having rashly conceded university and secondary education before having taught the masses how to read?

If my hon. Friend will refer to the Debates which took place in the Viceroy's Council on the introduction of the Indian Budget, he will see the full references to this question.

asked whether any communications have passed, by cablegram or otherwise, between the Government of the Orange River Colony and the Colonial Secretary with regard to Mr. Gunn's resignation of the directorship of education in that Colony; and whether the Secretary of State has any reason to suppose that the circumstances which led to such resignation were in any way due to administrative incompetence on Mr. Gunn's part?

The reply to both parts of the Noble Lord's question is in the negative.

Are the Government fully impressed with the fact of Mr. Gunn's appointment by the British Government, and that when responsible government was given no provision was made for the Civil servants, and therefore the responsibility rests on this Government for the well-being and future of Mr. Gunn?

That is a very general question arising out of a particular case. I, of course, fully accept the theory that this Government should do whatever it can to see that those officers who have been retrenched through no fault of their own are protected as far as possible by this Government. But as to Mr. Gunn's case, we know nothing officially or unofficially of the facts. As I have said, the answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. I know from Ministers that Mr. Gunn has always in the past shown great administrative competence and ability, but I think it would be undesirable in the interests of all concerned, and especially of Mr. Gunn, to make any statement as to this unfortunate disagreement.

Do the Government recognise their full responsibility?

We have recognised our responsibility, as the hon. Gentleman knows, by having found a great number of appointments for retrenched officials.

Will the hon. Gentleman telegraph out to the Governor for a full report of the circumstances which led to Mr. Gunn's resignation?

No. Sir. We shall receive full reports in due time. The whole matter is not concluded. A great deal of information has yet to come, and I do not think it would be wise to telegraph.

asked the Under-Secretary for the Colonies if he can supply any particulars of the alleged increase of crime among the natives in the Transvaal in the past few months; and if he can give any figures of the numbers now confined in prisons there later than 30th June, 1909?

The Secretary of State has no later information than that with which I have supplied the hon. Gentleman. I may add I should be glad of the return of the information that I supplied to him.

May I say that the information reached me only yesterday, but, arising out of that reply, I would ask whether the Government has not an interest now in the condition of the natives in the Transvaal, and is not this a matter on which they should be informed, having an interest?

Of course, we have an interest in the well-being of everyone in the British Empire, but we have full confidence in the Transvaal Government, as we have in the Governments of all the other self-governing Colonies, to take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard the interests of the native races.

Have not His Majesty's Government a peculiar interest in the well-being of the natives in the Transvaal?

The hon. Gentleman himself has a still more peculiar interest.

Will the right hon. Gentleman obtain the information?

If I can obtain the information I will certainly get it, but I would ask the hon. Gentleman to return the information which I gave to him. It is so embarrassing when I do not get back documents again when I part with them.

asked whether any representations have been received from His Excellency the Governor or from any responsible bodies an Ceylon protesting against the proposed alteration in the constitution of the Legislative Council; and, if so, whether the Colonial Office intend to modify the original proposals?

Representations against the proposed reforms have been made by the Chamber of Commerce and the Planters' Association on the ground that they would prefer to retain the privilege of nominating members of the Council. But His Majesty's Government having decided to introduce the elective principle so far as is possible, the retention of this privilege would not be consistent with the principles of the reforms, and the chamber and association have been informed accordingly.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount of political pensions paid in the last completed financial year; the number of persons to whom they are paid; whether they were paid without regard to service, merit, age, capacity, or means; whether the only qualification known to exist in each case was relationship to wealthy persons; and whether it is proposed to hold any inquiry into those pensions?

The total amount paid in respect of political pensions in the financial year ended the 31st ultimo was £8,025 5s. 6d., and the number of recipients six. The answers to the last three questions are in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, though a revaluation of the city of Dublin is pending, and will be so apparently for some decades, it is being conducted in an unfair and irregular manner, that the valuation of premises occupied by members of the corporation as well as that of all licensed houses awaits the indefinitely postponed revaluation of the city as a whole; is he aware that houses in the Clontarf added area, let at £30 a year, are valued as high as some of the best shops in the city; that licensed houses are valued without any reference to goodwill; and will he supply the com- missioner with a sufficient staff and urge him to complete the revaluation?

The revaluation lists will, it is expected, be issued to the rating authorities within the next three years. The Corporation of Dublin do not make any selection of premises to be valued, but under the Act 17 Vic, Cap. 8., Sec. 4, every Poor Rate collector is required to furnish lists of all tenements the valuation of which requires revision, and these are forwarded to the Commissioner of Valuation. The valuation of Clontarf is made on the same basis as that of the rest of Dublin, but no doubt there are some old shops in the city the valuations of which have never been altered. The number of these, however, is small. Pending revaluation, the licensed houses are valued on the same basis as those in the other parts of Ireland, except Belfast, where, on the revaluation of the whole rating area, the value of the licence was taken into consideration. The Treasury have given the Commissioner all the staff he has asked for.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a revaluation of the city of Dublin was provided for by the Dublin Corporation Act of 1900, and that, in Committee, Sir John Barton, the Commissioner of Valuation, gave evidence that such revaluation was urgently necessary inasmuch as the city was undervalued, and particularly licensed property, while the areas added to the city by the Act were fully valued; is he aware that the Commissioner stated he could revalue the city in about eighteen months, and that the High Court, several years ago, granted a mandamus directing the revaluation; has the revaluation been opposed and delayed by the influence of the licenced trade; has the Commissioner been provided with an extra staff; if so, how many in number; and will he take steps to ensure that a revaluation ordered ten years ago by Parliament, and urgently necessary, shall be carried out promptly, even if it results in increased rates on public-houses?

The facts are as stated in this question, subject to certain modifications due to altered conditions since Sir John Barton's evidence was given. The fall in value of all classes of property, except shops and manufactories, in the best parts of the city, has had the effect of lessening the discrepancy in the relative values of the different heredita- ments, as has also the fact that nearly all the best property in the city has now been revalued. In spite of the fall in the rateable value of many classes of property, the total valuation of the city, without the added area, has increased 12½ per cent, during the past ten years. There is no truth in the statement that the work was delayed by the influence of the licensed trade. There are now some twenty valuers and surveyors employed on the revaluation work. A staff of five surveyors and one clerk is constantly employed on it, and in addition a great deal of work is done upon it by the permanent staff in overtime and during the three months when the valuation staff is at the head office. This staff could not be increased except by employing untrained men or English valuers unaccustomed to Irish work, which would be most undesirable.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the staff of the Commissioner of Valuation in Ireland have already been making inquiries and valuations in Dublin for the purpose of assessments under the land value clauses in the Budget, 1909–10?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will explain why occupants of pensionable age of the Miners' Homes at Middlestone Moor, in the county of Durham, are having their pensions reduced by the sum of 3s. weekly in respect of room-rent, coals, attendance, etc., seeing that the major portion of the upkeep of the said homes is attributable to the corporate contributions of the miners themselves?

If the hon. Baronet will be so good as to supply me with particulars of the cases to which he refers, I will have inquiries made into the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how much (if any) of the amount available under the Local Taxation Act is given to Scottish education; and will he Bay what are the total sums spent respectively on Scotch and Irish education from rates, Parliamentary Grants, and all other sources for the last available financial year?

As this question relates to education in Scotland and Ireland, I must ask the hon. Member to address his inquiries to my right hon. Friends the Lord Advocate and the Chief Secretary respectively, who are responsible for education in the two countries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Votes that I ask for information about are under his own hand in the Estimates? They are signed by himself.

Yes; the totals, but it is quite impossible, in order to obtain uniform statements in the House, for me to reply to these questions. He will get the information he seeks if he applies to the two Departments. He has only to put a question down to another Minister.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will instruct the officials of the Board of Customs and Excise to desist from suits instituted in Ireland to recover from old persons sums paid to them under the Old Age Pensions Act in cases where the pension was once granted by pension committees without appeal by pension officers, and where the recipients of the payments have been in bonâ fide?

The only cases in which proceedings are instituted for recovery are those in which there is a debt due to the Crown under Section 9 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, and the Treasury has not felt justified in such cases in departing from the general rule that debts due to the Crown must be enforced in all cases in which the debtor is in a position to pay. The rule is, however, applied with all possible indulgence to cases of real hardship.

Is it not the fact that in cases where old age pensioners have been paid for some time the pension has been stopped and a new application lodged and pension granted, but the pensioners are not paid anything until the money received has been refunded to the Government?

Yes, I think that is so in cases where the pensioner has not been entitled to the pension, and, therefore, has obtained from the Government sums of money to which he was not entitled, and which is a debt due to the Crown which has to be recovered.

May I ask what authority there is for enforcing this counterclaim, legal or otherwise?

That is to be found in the Old Age Pensions Act, and is not to be found in the general law, which relates to the recovery of debts due to the Crown.

Are the pensioners on the second occasion given their pensions?

I should like notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many cotton-spinning firms in Oldham, Bolton, and Rochdale have fitted the whole of their carding engines with the automatic locking-cover over the cylinder?

The numbers of the firms, so far as I have been able to ascertain, are as follows: Bolton 7, Rochdale 12, Oldham 5. In each case the surrounding district is included. These figures, however, should not be taken as indicating the amount of work already accomplished in this direction; many other firms have provided lookers for a large proportion of their cards.

asked how many cotton-spinning firms in Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, and Ashton-under-Lyne have fitted their cardrooms with new and efficient apparatus for taking away the dust caused by the stripping and grinding process on carding engines?

The numbers of the firms are as follows: Oldham 9, Bolton 7, Rochdale 4, Ashton-under-Lyne 6. In each case the surrounding district is included. I understand that a large number of firms have the matter in hand, and I propose to instruct the inspectors to press for the installation of efficient apparatus at an early date.

asked whether it is in accordance with the Regulations relating to medical referees under the Workmen's Compensation Act for a doctor, who is in partnership with an official medical referee, to examine injured persons on behalf of an insurance company when such cases may be afterwards referred to his partner for final decision?

It would as a general rule be considered incompatible with the position of a referee for his partner to hold, as part of the partnership, an appointment for an insurance company in connection with workmen's compensation cases. The Home Office has not objected to the partner of a referee holding such an appointment outside the partnership agreement, so that the referee has no interest in it; and to do so would, I am afraid, militate against the Department getting the best men for the post of referee.

asked when the publication may be expected of the Report of the Royal Commission on Mines dealing with the question of pneumono-koniosis among ganister miners?

I am not in a position to make any statement at present. As I stated in reply to a question the other day, the Royal Commission on Mines is being reconstituted to deal with metalliferous mines and quarries, and this matter will be referred to them. I hope that their inquiry will be completed without any delay.

asked when the special rules applicable to rock-drilling in ganister mines were imposed, and what are the statements referred to which have been made by workers that the effect of the special rules have been most beneficial; and whether these statements were oral or in writing, and, if in writing, whether they are to be found in any published report or document?