asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to make any new provisions to enable land purchase in Ireland to proceed with greater rapidity under the Act of 1909?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply to a similar question which has just been given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the War Loan had been redeemed on 9th April by repayment in cash; and whether any further public notification will be given that holders who do not claim payment in cash will receive Consols?

It is not desirable to give the information asked for in the questions until the operations contemplated by the Act have been concluded. I propose to give instructions for the insertion of an announcement in the public Press some little time before 31st May that the redemption money belonging to holders who have not taken any action in respect of it will, in the absence of such action, shortly be invested in Two-and-a-Half per Cent. Consolidated Stock, in accordance with the provisions of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the names of the Irish elected representative bodies that have, since the introduction of the Finance Bill of 1909–10, presented petitions or adopted Resolutions against the imposition of further taxes upon Ireland, and the names of similar bodies, if any, that have taken similar action in support of that measure as a whole; and whether he is aware of the influences at work in Ireland to prevent spontaneous action with the former object and to encourage action with the latter object?

As regards the first part of the question, I have received memorials from several district councils and other local bodies in Ireland protesting against the imposition of any further taxation on Ireland. As regards the second part of the question, I may remind the hon. Member that it is not a common experience for Chancellors of the Exchequer to receive memorials in favour of additional taxation, however light and well distributed it may be. I do not know to what the hon. Member refers in the last part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state how many gallons of home-made and foreign spirits respectively were duty-paid for home consumption during the month of March last?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his questions on the 5th instant, one of which asked for the same information as is specified in this question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the question of advancing the minimum rate of wages of Customs watchers in the outports to 24s. a week is receiving consideration?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for North Hackney.

asked the amounts voted for secondary education in England, Scotland, and Ireland for the year 1910–11?

I must ask the hon. Member to address his inquiries to the Ministers responsible for the Education Departments in the three countries.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state how many old age pensioners have been deprived of their pensions in the rural districts of Ballinamore, Carrick-on-Shannon No. 1, and Mohill, respectively, all of which districts are situate in the county Leitrim?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for North Longford on the 4th instant.

asked on what basis the pension officer calculated the income of Patrick Smyth, an old age pensioner living at Kilmakenny, in the Mohill rural district, county Leitrim, at £26 per annum, considering that the rent of the man's farm is only £2 10s. 4d. and the Poor Law valuation £3 15s.; and, as the Local Government Board accepted evidence that the man was over seventy years of age when he was receiving the pension, why is it that his pension is still stopped from him?

In December last the Local Government Board determined that this claimant was entitled to a pension. I have no information as to the pension having been withdrawn, as alleged, or the method adopted by the pension officer in calculating the pensioner's income.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state why Daniel Connelly, Derrygowa, Newtown, Cashel, county Longford, an old man over eighty years of age, and living on a poor bog farm, was deprived of an old age pension after enjoying it for more than a year, when there was a change made in the pension office district by the appointment of a different pension officer; and will he direct the pension officer to restore the pension to this old man?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that Connelly was in receipt of a pension for more than a year. His pension was discontinued in consequence of a decision of the Local Government Board in April, 1909, upholding an appeal by the pension officer, and his second claim was disallowed by the Board on appeal in February last. He holds a farm of nine acres, well stocked and cropped, and on each occasion the Board calculated that his means were in excess of the statutory limit. Pension officers are not under my control.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Collis Sandes estate at Brosna, county Kerry, which was sold to the Congested Districts Board in the year 1904 was transferred to the Estates Commissioners more than a year ago; whether the latter body, though causing an inspection of the holdings to be made many months ago, have so far taken no steps to conclude the sale; whether he will explain the cause of the delay; and whether, having regard to the poor circumstances of the tenants and the pressure of the extra burden imposed on them pending completion, he will see that steps are taken to have the estate dealt with as soon as possible?

This estate was purchased by the Congested Districts Board for £68,167, and the advance was made in July, 1906. Agreements for the resale of the estate to the occupying tenants were entered into by the Board in 1908 and 1909, and the agreements, 192 in number, were lodged from time to time with the Land Commission. The estate has been inspected and advances have been sanctioned in 165 cases. The vesting orders in these cases are in preparation. In the remaining twenty-cases various queries have still to be answered. The hon. Member will see that there has been no undue delay.

asked the Chief Secretary what was the amount of the deductions made from the grants payable to the Limerick County Council in respect of land purchase during the twelve months prior to the Act of 1909 becoming law; and what deductions have been made since the Act has come into operation?

In the month of March, 1909, there was deducted on account of land purchase liability from the share of county Limerick in the second instalment of the Estate Duty Grant for the year ended the 31st of that month a sum of £2,870 15s. 9d., of which £l,079 17s. 11d. was deducted from the share of the county Limerick County Council as a road authority, etc., and £1,346 1s. 7d. from the shares payable to the council on behalf of the guardians of unions wholly or partly included in the county, the balance of £444 16s. 3d. being deducted from the shares of the Limerick Corporation as a road authority and the portion of the Limerick Union in the city of Limerick. There have not been any deductions in this respect made from grants in the case of this county since the Irish Land Act (1909) came into operation.

asked the Chief Secretary who are the members of the Departmental Committee on the Flax-growing Industry; and whether he will take steps to have the Fishery Department officially represented on such Committee by the addition of the chief fishery inspector of the Agriculture and Fishery Department as a member thereof?

further asked the Chief Secretary whether, a Departmental Committee having been appointed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries in Ireland to inquire into the present state of the flax-growing industry in Ireland and the causes which are contributing to the decline of that industry, and it being alleged by those interested in that industry that one of the causes of such decline is that they are prevented by the Irish Fishery Statutes from discharging as they please flax water and other deleterious matter into the tributaries frequented by salmon and trout, he will take steps to secure that, as the owners of several salmon fisheries and the public fishing for salmon in tidal waters are interested in and will be affected by such inquiry, they shall be given adequate representation on such Departmental Committee?

The members of the Departmental Committee on the Flax-Growing Industry in Ireland are:—John Ritch Campbell, B.Sc, Assistant Secretary in respect of Agriculture of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction (chairman).

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that more than a month has elased since the Estates Commissioners undertook to have a report made on the application for a grant to stock his farm by Thomas Doona, an evicted tenant on the Blennerhassett estate, near Beaufort, county Kerry; and whether he is now in a position to state what action has been taken in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the application of Thomas Doona is with other cases in the hands of one of their inspectors for inquiry, and will be considered when his report is received.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will give the names of the evicted tenants on the Ventry estate, county Kerry, whose cases have been inquired into and who have been placed on the list to be dealt with, the names of those that have been reinstated, and the grants given to them?

One evicted tenant on this estate has been reinstated. Detailed particulars in his ease are given on pages 4 and 5 of the Return for the quarter ending 30th September, 1908, presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 3 of the Evicted Tenants Act. Four others have been noted for consideration in the allotment of land to be acquired by the Estates Commissioners, and the application of two others will be further considered when the estate is being dealt with under the Land Purchase Acts. It would be contrary to established practice to give the names in these cases.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the attention of the Commissioners of Intermediate Education in Ireland was, so long ago as the 10th February, 1910, called to the fact that the dates of the annual examination prevented Jewish candidates from competing; did they then promise to make arrangements as regards obligatory subjects that would get over the difficulty; have they made any such arrangements; and, if so, why did they not publicly announce them?

I am informed by the Commissioners of Intermediate Education that the Board did not make any promise such as that suggested in the question. The attention of the Board was not called to the date of the Jewish holy days till it was too late to adapt the time table to that date, all the schools in Ireland having nearly two months previously made arrangements in accordance with the published time table, which could not be altered without great inconvenience and expense. The Board having considered the whole question, find that the only remedy now possible, namely, that of setting alternative papers for Jewish students, both in pass and honours, would involve insuperable difficulties inasmuch as no care or skill could make such papers so uniform with those set to candidates in general as to avoid the possibility of unfairness in the awards, and the certainty that such awards would be challenged by unsuccessful candidates.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the total amount paid in county Monaghan as grants for building, providing stock, seeds, etc., to evicted tenants on their reinstatement since the passing of the Land Act, 1903, to 1st January, 1910?

From the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, to 1st January, 1910, the Estates Commissioners have sanctioned in the case of reinstated evicted tenants in county Monaghan advances repayable by annuity for buildings to the amount of £925, and have sanctioned free grants for buildings, purchase of stock, etc., to the amount of £5,545.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state upon what terms the farm of Cappa, Lyster estate, Borris-in-Ossory, Queen's County, is held by the: present occupier, Mr. Colclough, Hazelpit, Castletown, Mountrath; whether he is aware that this farm was surrendered two years ago by the then eleven months' grazier, Mr. Bennett, in order to give the Estates Commissioners an opportunity of purchasing it for redistribution; and can he state what steps, if any, have been taken by the Commissioners for that purpose?

The Estates Commissioners have no information as to the matters referred to in the first and second paragraphs of the question. The Commissioners, with the consent of the owner, had a preliminary inspection made of the lands referred to, and communicated to the owner the price which they would be prepared to advance for the purchase of these lands if formal proceedings for sale were instituted. No such proceedings have been instituted.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state what educational advantages the Commissioners of National Education assume is derived from withholding their civil rights from Irish national teachers; whether he is aware that the Managers' Association, the Teachers' Congress, and various public boards in Ireland have adopted resolutions in favour of granting full civil rights to the teachers; and whether the Commissioners will eliminate these restrictions on the liberty of the teachers from the next issue of their rules and regulations?

I am informed that the question of civil rights of teachers was considered by the Commissioners of National Education on several occasions in 1906 and 1907 when the restrictions imposed on teachers were relaxed to a considerable extent. The Commissioners in-from me that the existing restrictions are designed for the real advantage of the teachers. As I stated in reply to a previous question on the subject the Commissioners claim that general abstention of the teachers from local political quarrels has added materially to their usefulness. They inform me that resolutions have from time to time been received from different associations of managers, from the Teachers' Congress and from other public bodies to the effect that unreasonable restrictions of the civil rights of teachers should be removed. The responsibility in the matter rests entirely with the Commissioners, who do not consider that it would be in the interests of the teachers or the schools to modify still further the rules on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give the dates on which, from the 1st January, 1906, to the present time, ordinary, special, committee or other meetings of the National Board of Education have been held, the number of members present at each, and, if possible, their names, together with the total number of meetings attended by each member of the Board during the period in question?

There is no objection to furnishing the dates of the various meetings of the Board and the number of members present at each meeting since the beginning of 1906, but this information could hardly be compressed within the limits of a reply to a question. The Commissioners inform me that they do not think it desirable to give details as to the attendance of individual members of their body, as they consider that no useful purpose would be served by furnishing this information.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to purchase the untenanted lands of Ballynorth, Askeaton, in the county of Limerick; and, if so, whether any agreement with the landlord as to purchase has been yet arrived at?

The Estates Commissioners presume that the hon. Member refers to untenanted lands on the estate of the representatives of Dudley O'Grady, situated in the townland of Ballynorth, county Limerick. The Commissioners were negotiating for the purchase of these lands, but were unable to arrive at an agreement with the owners.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the event of a naval fight in the North Sea and of our catching a ship of 90-ft. beam, there is any dock within several hundreds of miles that could take her in for the purpose of repairing the damage?

There are no docks on the East Coast capable of receiving a vessel of 90-ft. beam. There are docks at Southampton which are 90 ft. in breadth, and one at Portsmouth which exceeds 90ft. in breadth, but the possibility of docking any given vessel would depend on the form of the vessel as well as her extreme breadth.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will inform the House what are the outside dimensions, length, breadth, and draught of the largest British warships afloat or under construction for the British Navy; what dry docks there are capable of accommodating these vessels assuming they were maimed and so low down in the water as to be on the point of sinking; and what is the greatest beam of vessels these docks would be able to take in between Liverpool round the North of Scotland down the East and South Coast of England to Portsmouth, between Portsmouth along the South and up the West Coast to Liverpool, and under British control in the Mediterranean?

It is not desirable to give the dimensions of the latest British war vessels. With regard to the last two parts of the question, the question of the suitability or otherwise of docks is dependent on the form as well as on the extreme breadth of a vessel.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that on Saturday last, at the Unicorn Gate of the Muster House, Portsmouth, 1,200 men were passing through one narrow door, and that from the moment of joining the line to the moment of reaching the Muster House the time taken by many was from four to four and a quarter minutes; and, seeing that the men have to pass through these doors four times a day, and during the time of waiting are exposed to the weather, whether he will consider the advisability of taking steps to improve the passage at the place indicated?

I am aware that 1,200 men have to pass through each of three doors and that 1,000 men have to pass through each of four other doors, about 7,600 men through seven doors, in mustering at the muster station referred to. The time taken by any individual workman in passing through the station is usually much less than the time stated in the question, which, it is observed, is less than one-half the time stated in the hon. Member's question on the same subject on the 7th instant. It is not considered necessary or desirable that the passages should be enlarged, as the workmen would then be able to enter at a greater rate than they could deposit their tickets.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the reasons why, when the old hexagonal Muster House, Unicorn Gate, Portsmouth, was pulled down, a new place differing entirely from the old was provided?

The plan of the new muster station was made oblong instead of octagonal, because the former was considered the more convenient, and could be more easily extended if necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that the recording of day-work and piece-work raises questions requiring intimate technical knowledge, he will consider the advisability of placing the recording staffs in the Royal dockyards under the supervision of the professional officers who are directly responsible for the performance of the work?

The recording of day-work and piece-work is carried out by a staff selected from the various trades employed at the Royal dockyards possessing the requisite technical knowledge. This staff is employed under the local direction of the accounts officer, who acts quite independently of the professional officers, who, however, certify weekly to the accuracy of the records of all labour employment. The present system has been found to meet all requirements satisfactorily. It ensures the correct compilation of the records of the employment of workmen and their earnings, and acts as an adequate safeguard against irregular employment, while, at the same time, it relieves the professional officers of much clerical work, thus enabling them to devote practically the whole of their time to the direction and supervision of the workmen under their control. The system suggested in the hon. Member's question was in operation for many years, but, in view of its defects, it was superseded by the present system, which is considered the most advantageous both in the interests of the workmen and the Crown.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any official information showing what percentage of the officers and men in the Hamburg-American and North German Lloyd are members of the Royal Naval Reserve of Germany; and what percentage of officers and men of the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company and Cunard Steamship Company are members of the Royal Naval Reserve?

We have no official information on the subject of the first part of the question. As to the second part, reference to the current crew lists of vessels belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental and Cunard Companies, supplemented by reference to the companies' lists of Royal Naval Reserve officers in their service, would simply the information required, but considerable clerical labour would be entailed in obtaining it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that on the occasion of a temporary vacancy for an assistant engineer on a dredger at the Admiralty Harbour Works, Dover, a man who had registered at the Labour Bureau was offered the post at a wage of 35s. per week of seven days, the rate paid for similar work on dredger plant in the past having been 39s. per week; whether he is aware that the rate offered in this case is below the union rate, and the man being a trades unionist could not accept it; and whether he will take action with a view to bringing the wages paid at the Harbour Works into harmony with the Fair Wages Clause?

With regard to the first part of the question the facts are as stated, except that, as the Admiralty scale of pay for assistant engineers on dredgers is 35s. minimum to 42s. maximum per week of seven days, the post was, as is customary, offered at the minimum rate. I am not aware that there is any trades union or standard rate in this district for assistant engineers on dredgers, and the evidence before me does not show that the man in question refused the post for the reason stated. Several assistant engineers now employed at Dover are receiving the minimum rate of 35s. per week, whilst others, with longer service, are getting higher rates up to 42s. Under the circumstances no action in the direction indicated in the last part of the question is considered necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps he proposes to take for the better protection of our food supply in time of war, in view of the fact that under the Declaration of London, 1909, all food coming to any place in this country which may happen to be a base of supply or equipment for any of our armed forces is to be presumed to be contraband of war, and, as such, may be seized?

The provision of the Declaration of London to which I understand the hon. Member refers, introduces no change in the existing law of nations. Its effect is not, as the hon. Member supposes, that foodstuffs consigned to a "place serving as a base for the armed forces of the enemy" may be seized as contraband, but merely that if a capture be made on the ground that the ship carries foodstuffs so consigned, the onus of proof as to the contraband character of the consignment is shifted from the captor to the neutral. It would not be in the national interest that I should give particulars as to the manner in which the necessary protection of our food supplies in time of war will be effected.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the new naval manual which is now being prepared, and which is to be based upon the provisions of the Declaration of London, 1909, instructions will be given to British naval officers that all our enemy's food at sea is to be immune from capture, provided such food is consigned to the enemy riâ a neutral port?

The manual will embody the provisions of the Declaration of London when ratified. As to the nature of these provisions, I must refer the hon. Gentleman to the articles dealing with contraband of war in Chapter II. of the Declaration of London.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has obtained copies of the naval manuals of any other signatories of the Declaration of London, 1909; and, if so, if he would lay upon the Table of the House, or publish with, the Votes and Proceedings, any extracts from these manuals which deal with the question of the contraband nature of food in time of war?

The reply to the hon. Gentleman's question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the reply to the Sheerness Dockyard petitions of 1909 will be issued?

I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the reply given to the hon. Member for Devonport on the 5th instant. The replies to the petitions will be sent to Sheerness at the same time as to Devonport.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that the stokers, under new regulations, have lost 3d. per day by the abolition of the rating of mechanical stoker, and that, unless the stoker is a man advanced in education, he can never expect to reach more than 2s. 1d. per day, exclusive of badge money; and whether, in view of the laborious life of the stoker, and seeing that the wear and tear of his clothes is far in excess of that of the deck-hand, he will consider the possibility of granting 3d. per day extra to the stoker, first class, after three years' service in that capacity?

The abolition of the rating of the stoker-mechanic was part of the general scheme for the training and advancement of stoker ratings adopted in 1906, by which the system of mechanical training was standardised and the prospects of advancement for the stoker class as a whole were improved. Stoker-mechanics under the old system were allowed to retain that rating unless advanced to the new rating of leading stoker.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the scale of pensions received by chaplains of His Majesty's forces on retirement; whether there have been any changes in this scale since 1870; and, if so, what changes have been introduced?[

The rates of voluntary retired pay for chaplains appointed on or after the date of receipt or promulgation of the Royal Warrant of 2nd April, 1894, are as follow:—

After 20 years service	…	10/-a day.
After 25 years service	…	13/-a day.
After 30 years service	…	17/6 a day.

The scale in force in 1870 and until 1894 was as follows:—

After 20 years service	…	12/6 a day.
After 25 years service	…	15/-a day.
After 30 years service	…	17/6 a day.

The rates of compulsory retired pay are as follows:—

After 15 years service	…	10/-a day.
After 20 years service	…	12/6 a day.
After 25 years service	…	15/-a day.
After 30 years service	…	17/6 a day.

There has been no change in these rates since 1870.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether consideration is given to the pension a man may be in receipt of when the rates of wages are being revised?

The answer is in the negative, except in the case of certain posts, which are reserved for pensioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is the intention of the War Department to employ at Island Bridge assistant foremen the maximum of whose pay is 27s. a week, in the receipt and issue and custody of stores; and whether he is aware that two assistant foremen are so employed?

The reply is in the affirmative. The two assistant foremen are so employed in accordance with their grade.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he intends this year to further advance the rate of wages paid to labourers employed in the Army Ordnance Department, Dublin; whether he is aware that recently a labourer resigned because he was refused leave without pay granted weekly for the purpose of filling a second post through which he earned a second man's wages to enable him to live; and if he is aware that the minimum rate for labourers employed by the corporation of Dublin is 25s. a week?

The rate of wages paid to labourers in the Army Ordnance Department, Dublin, was raised by 2s. in 1906. I have no information to show that any further advance is called for. No report as to the second part of the hon. Member's question has reached the War Office; it is a matter for the decision of the local officers. The information in my possession as to the wages paid by the Dublin Corporation does not altogether agree with the statement that 25s. is the minimum rate.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state whether a number of men employed in the Army Ordnance Department and the Equipment and Stores Inspection Department, with less than six months' service, have received less than the minimum wage of 23s. a week, laid down by the Army Council, their pay having been stopped for the half-day on the occasion of the recent Parliamentary election, and also for Good Friday, Saturday, and Easter Monday: and, if so, whether, in view of the hardship entailed on these men by a compulsory cessation of work, he will take steps to have them paid up to the amount of the official minimum?

The hon. and gallant Member is correct in believing that a certain number of employés received recently less than 23s. a week in the circumstances detailed. The question is at present receiving my attention, and I will communicate with him on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of men in the Regular Army and Special Reserve respectively are under the age of twenty?

The percentage of rank and file of the Regular Army under twenty years of age on 1st March, 1910, was 15.27; this figure includes boys. As regards the Special Reserve no figures are available for a date later than 1st October, 1909; the percentage on that date was 29.39.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the Lord Mayor of Dublin draws the pay of a captain of foot in His Majesty's Army, and, if so, what is the annual amount?

The Lord Mayor of Dublin receives a perpetual annuity of £300 (Irish currency), representing the pay of a captain of foot, which is charged on the Consolidated Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for War to what force the Militia Ballot Acts could apply in view of the abolition of the local Militia under the Territorial Forces Act?

The power to raise and maintain a Militia force remains unimpaired. The Territorial and Reserve Forces Act did not abolish the power of raising the Militia.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the establishment of officers, giving respective ranks, of the Special Reserve Field Artillery, Army Service Corps, and Royal Army Medical Corps; and why the establishment has not been included in Army Estimates this year?

The officers of the Special Reserve of these arms will all be unattached, i.e., they will not be on the strength of unite; and no establishment of unattached officers has yet been laid down.

asked the Secretary for War what is the amount expended on the purchase of foreign motor vehicles for Army purposes during the financial years 1908–9, 1909–10, and the number of vehicles so purchased?

In 1908–9 the expenditure was nil, and in 1909–10 was £l,160, and two vehicles were so purchased.

asked the War Secretary whether he will lay upon the Table a Return giving, in detail, according to the units, an analysis of the men of the Territorial Army who have volunteered for service abroad in case of national emergency?

It is understood that in the cases of several units the Commanding Officers have deferred the registering of the names of those who would be willing to undertake the liability in question until the period for the annual training. Any Return, therefore, of the nature suggested could now only be incomplete, and would not be of any value. I am not, therefore, prepared to lay a Return at the present time.

asked the Secretary for War whether, in order to disseminate more precise knowledge as to the Government's requirements in the matter of horses, and to create greater inducements to breeders within the United Kingdom to meet these requirements, he will convey, through the medium of the county territorial associations, to farmers and others who may be prepared to breed horses for the express purpose of selling them to the Government at three years old for military purposes, what particular types and sizes, both of draught and saddle horses, the War Office require, and what is the maximum price proposed to be paid for them respectively?

The proposal to buy horses at three years old has not yet developed sufficiently to enable me to give any statement as to prices. The Board of Agriculture issued in January, 1909, a pamphlet containing photographs of types of horses required for remount purposes in the Army, with descriptions of the different classes of horses. This pamphlet was distributed free to all breeders of horses in Great Britain.

asked the number of foreign motor wagons or vehicles in the equipment at present maintained at Aldershot?

Four lorries.

asked how many officers and men in the Territorial Force have undertaken the liability to serve abroad in case of national emergency?

The figures for 1st April were as follows:—Officers, 624; Noncommissioned officers and men, 9,721.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Education whether the failure to pay the accustomed grants to the local education authorities for secondary schools is due solely to the diminution in the consumption of whisky, or to what other cause?

I am afraid I do not quite understand the question. There has been no failure on the part of the Board of Education to pay Grants due in respect of secondary schools. If the question refers only to the residue under Section 1 of the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Act, 1890, commonly known as the Whisky Money, it should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the determination to make the 10 square feet rule retrospective will involve the Roman Catholic community of Liverpool in an expenditure estimated at £10,000; and whether he will consider the expediency of suspending the re-assessment of accommodation in the case of schools which are efficient both for sanitary and for working purposes?

The only estimate I have seen placed the cost at £100,000, and I am relieved to find that the hon. Member is able to reduce this estimate by £90,000. I am not in a position to correct or to con firm either estimate, but if either of them is approximately correct the reassessment appears to be amply justified. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, the Board are always prepared to consider cases of individual hardship and difficulty arid to allow time for the fulfilment of their requirements, provided that they are satisfied that a determined effort will be made to meet them within a reasonable period. I cannot, however, undertake to adopt generally the procedure suggested, inasmuch as the Board's requirement is based upon the principle that until the reassessment has been carried out the schools affected cannot be regarded as reaching the standard of efficiency or hygiene which has long been considered necessary in the interests of the children and the teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the desire that the Police Sunday Rest Bill should become law this Session, the Government are prepared to give facilities for its further Parliamentary progress?

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the present intention of the Government to afford facilities for the consideration of the Police (Weekly Rest Day) Bill with a view to its becoming law this Session?

I shall be ready to help the supporters of the Bill in any way in my power to allay opposition in the House and outside; but I am not authorised to promise special facilities in Government time.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when Sir Robert Anderson held office in the Secret Service the reports which he received from Le Caron and other subordinate agents relating to the Parnell Commission were kept at his own private residence and not with the Government archives; and whether it is still the practice of similar officers at the Home Office to retain in their own hands documents of that nature?

I understand that my hon. Friend is right in saying that the documents in question never came into the possession of the Home Office. There is no officer now in the Home Office whose position can be described as similar to that of Sir Robert Anderson.

asked whether Sir Robert Anderson was at Scotland Yard at the time of Pigott's escape from England; whether there is any explanation on record as to how he escaped, seeing that he was under the surveillance of two Scotland Yard detectives and one Dublin detective; and whether any official inquiry was ever held into the circumstances of his escape?

Sir Robert Anderson was at Scotland Yard at the time of Pigott's escape, and it was by officers belonging to his Department that Pigott was traced from place to place until finally his arrest was secured in Madrid. Previous to his flight he was not in any way under the surveillance of Scotland Yard officers; he was attended by two officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary, not for the purpose of watching him, but to protect him from molestation. These officers reported his disappearance on the afternoon of 25th February, 1889, and the following day the Commission issued its warrant for his arrest. The warrant was directed to the Commissioner of Police, and thus for the first time brought Scotland Yard into the case, with the result that he was pursued and captured, though at the moment of capture he committed suicide. There was no occasion for any official inquiry, all the facts being notorious.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the practice of his Department to request the local police authority to take special precautions to protect from violence Ministers of the Crown when visiting localities outside the Metropolitan Police area for the purpose of making a political speech; and, if so, whether the Home Office makes any grant towards the cost of such precautions; and, if not, under what statute local authorities are asked to incur this burden?

The preservation of order and maintenance of the peace is a matter for which local police authorities are responsible, and expenditure for this purpose falls on local funds; but half the cost of the pay and clothing of the police is repaid from the Exchequer contribution. Cost incurred by local police authorities on the occasion of visits by Ministers of the Crown forms no exception to the general rule.

asked the same right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the Metropolitan policemen are only receiving one extra day's holiday in every two months instead of the one day's rest in seven promised by his predecessor in office; and if he is prepared to take action in the matter?

It has been explained in this House more than once, both by my predecessor and by me, that the introduction of one day's rest in seven, depending as it does on the progress of recruiting and training, could proceed only gradually and by instalments. The first instalment has now been given, and the others will follow as speedily as the number of additional constables recruited and trained permits. The Commissioner anticipates that the full benefit of the change will be given within four years— possibly sooner.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can now state the result of his communications with the Isle of Man authorities as to the possibility of bringing the Manx workmen within the scope of the Workmen's Compensation Act?

I have communicated with the Lieutenant-Governor of the island and am informed by him that no disposition has been shown by the House of Keys, which is the elected House, to legislate on the lines of the Workmen's Compensation Act, nor has there been any strongly pronounced demand on the part of the people of the Island for such a measure. The Employers Liability Bill introduced by the Government in 1901 was rejected by the House of Keys. In these circumstances, he does not propose to take any action at present, but it is open to any member of the House of Keys to introduce a Bill on the subject in that House, or if the House should express a wish to that effect, the Lieutenant-Governor would direct the Attorney-General to prepare a Bill. It would not, in my opinion, be desirable for the Imperial Parliament to legislate on this matter for the Isle of Man.

asked whether it has been the practice of the present Lord Chancellor and of his predecessor not to appoint as justices of the peace any gentlemen directly or indirectly connected with the licensed trade?

The Lord Chancellor asks me to say that the reply to this question is in the negative.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India what are the respective values of exports of cigarettes from the United Kingdom to India for the months of March, 1908, 1909, and 1910; and whether he is prepared to advise the Indian Legislative Council to reduce the recently increased duties on the imports of cigarettes into India, which have materially raised the price to the British soldier, the principal consumer of imported cigarettes?

The values are:—

				£
March, 1908	…	…	…	19,730
March, 1909	…	…	…	27,128
March, 1910	…	…	…	15,064

With regard to the second part of the question, according to the information before the Secretary of State, the bulk of the trade in imported cigarettes is for the supply of the general population of India, which is now a large consumer of cheap tobacco in this form. The magnitude of the trade is against the supposition that it is chiefly for the British soldier. The Secretary of State is not prepared to interfere, though he has directed the Government of India to watch the effect of the duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is in existence an effective Anglo-Russian agreement or understanding identical in its aims and objects with the former Anglo-German agreement?

I must ask Noble Lord to explain to me to what Anglo-German agreement he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the principle of spheres of influence regarding railway concessions in China is still in existence; and, if so, how Germany and Russia justify their claim to participate in the proposed Hankow-Canton and Han-kow-Szchuen loans?

The principle of spheres of influence regarding railway concessions in China has never been formally repudiated. It is a question how far the German and Russian participation referred to is in accordance with the spirit of the agreement between the groups, but in any case His Majesty's Government would in similar circumstances claim reciprocity on be- half of British groups. I must point out, however, that there is an important distinction between participating in a railway applied for and approved by one party to an agreement in what is supposed to be the special sphere of that party, and applying for such a railway or railway loan in which that party has no share and to which it is known to object.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that an old man at Sowerby Bridge, whose wife is in the workhouse, but who is otherwise qualified, has been refused an old age pension; and whether he will consider the advisability of issuing rules by which this disqualification will cease at the end of this year?

I am aware of the case referred to in the question. The disqualification for receipt of a pension arising from the receipt of poor relief is a statutory one, and no rules that I could issue could remove it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Board has issued an order that a Poor Law guardian shall not deal with applications for relief from people resident in the particular district for which he is elected; if so, can he state the reason for the order; and whether any opportunity will be afforded the House of discussing it?

No order has been issued to the effect described. The hon. Member has probably in mind a passage in the circular letter which I recently issued to boards of guardians on the subject of out-relief. In that circular allusion was made to the obvious dangers which are present when out-relief is dispensed by a committee consisting of the guardians for the locality in which the applicants reside, and it was suggested, as a useful rule, that each committee should be representative of all parts of the union, and not of a particular area only, and that a guardian should not adjudicate upon applications from residents in the parish or ward which he represents. So long as human nature remains as it is the danger I have mentioned will exist, and must be guarded against. Both the Majority and Minority Reports of the Royal Commission draw attention to the evil.

asked the same right hon. Gentleman whether he will inform the House if the superannuation allowances of vaccination officers are still based on the average salary received during the last five years; and whether, in view of the fact that the fees of vaccination officers are so greatly reduced by reason of the facility with which exemption from vaccination is now obtained, he will reconsider the matter, with a view of meeting the altered conditions?

Under the provisions of the Poor Law Officers Superannuation Act, 1896, the superannuation allowances are based on the average amount of salary and emoluments received during the five years immediately preceding the date of retirement. In the case of officers who have suffered loss for the reason mentioned I have been willing to sanction gratuities, and such gratuities would count as emoluments for purpose of pension. In other cases the special circumstances have been met by allowing an addition of years under the provisions of Section 5 of the Act to an officer on retirement.

asked the President whether he is yet in a position to give complete figures of the county rates in England and Wales for the past ten financial years?

No later figures can yet be given than those furnished in reply to the hon. Member's question of last month.

asked if attention has been called to the action of the Great Eastern Railway Company towards one of their employés, Councillor J. Banks, signalman at Salmon's Lane box, Stepney, in seeking to compel him to sign a petition asking to contract out of the recent arbitration award given by Lord Gorell, or, as a punishment for not doing so, to remove to another station, to his disadvantage; and whether the Board of Trade will take steps to prevent any variation of Lord Gorell's award, which takes away concessions to the men, being made without the consent of a full meeting of the Central Conciliation Board?

I have communicated with the railway company, and am informed by them that they have not asked Mr. Banks to sign any petition to con- tract out of the recent arbitration award. I understand, however, that as two of the signalmen at his box have asked to be allowed to work under the former arrangements, instead of under the award, it was proposed that Mr. Banks and another man who wished to revert to the old system, should exchange cabins. The question of this exchange is, I understand, at present before the directors of the company, and I cannot believe that they would take any step that would prejudice an employé who desired to work under the award. As regards the general question. I understand that an application for a formal interpretation of certain provisions of the Conciliation Scheme affecting the matter may be made to me, when I will give the matter immediate and careful attention; meanwhile it would not be proper for me to prejudge the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, by the new Japanese tariff, it is proposed to raise the tariff by 7s. 2d. per ton on tin plates, or an increase of 30 per cent., and on black plates, Class A, 3s. 7d. per ton, or an increase of 35 per cent., on Class C an increase of 10s. 3d. per ton, or 102 per cent., and on galvanised sheets an increase of £2 3s. 7d. per ton, or 170 per cent., and it is also proposed to place a greatly increased duty on tinned plates (crystallised, embossed, and the like); and if he can explain what the respective classes A and C, mentioned above, are supposed to cover; and whether he intends taking action in the matter?

The facts are correctly stated in the question, except that the increase in the duty proposed on black plates included under subhead C is 10s. 6d., and not 10s. 3d. Sub-head A covers plain black plates of a thickness not exceeding 0.7 millimetres, Sub-head B covers plates of a thickness exceeding 0.7 but not exceeding 1.5 millimetres, and Subhead C covers plates of a thickness exceeding 1.5 millimetres. The provisions of the new Japanese Tariff Bill have been communicated to chambers of commerce and other representative associations with a view to ascertaining the probable effect of the new proposals, if enacted, on British trade. When the replies have been received they will be considered by the Board of Trade Advisory Committee on Commercial Intelligence. Pending this I am not in a position to say what further action, if any, may be found desirable.

asked whether attention has been directed to the legislation contemplated in some foreign countries with the view of requiring ocean-going passenger steamers to be equipped with efficient radio-telegraphic apparatus; and whether it is in contemplation to introduce legislation to require British vessels to carry such an equipment?

My attention has been directed to the legislation on this subject which is contemplated in certain foreign countries. A large and increasing number of British vessels are voluntarily fitted with radio-telegraphic apparatus. Compulsory legislation at the present moment would, I think, be premature, but the matter will be carefully watched.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the value of the exports from China in 1908 to all destinations other than Hong Kong, to Hong Kong, and to the United Kingdom of the following articles: tea, silk, and beans respectively; and what was the value of the imports into China in the same year from all sources other than Hong Kong, from Hong Kong, and from the United Kingdom of the following articles: cotton and woollen goods, iron, steel, and other metals, kerosene oil, and machinery, respectively?

The following statements give the information desired by the hon. Member:—(

asked the President of the Board of Trade what stage has been reached in the negotiations inaugurated by his predecessor in order to establish the All-Red Route?

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

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will consider the alteration of the present narrow and inconvenient gates at Stanhope Gate, Hyde Park, and the replacement of the two entrances and two exits by one entrance and one exit, thereby making it easier for vehicles and horses to enter and leave the park?

I am not sure that the alteration suggested by the hon. Member would be an improvement, though I do not desire to commit myself to an opinion at the moment. But no provision has been made for the cost of such a change in this year's Estimates.