asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can say whether grants in lieu of rates are made by the Treasury to local authorities in respect of naval and military barracks and other premises in the occupation of the Crown for naval and military purposes; if so, whether there is any distinction for this purpose between such premises and premises occupied by county associations under the Territorial Forces Act, 1907, which in effect are also in the occupation of the Crown; and whether, having regard to the difficulty which local authorities experience in meeting the ever increasing demands upon their funds, he will make provision for such grants being made in respect of the latter as well as the former class of Crown property?

Grants in lieu of rates are made by the Treasury in respect of all premises in the occupation of the Crown for the public service when such premises are provided and maintained directly out of Votes of Parliament. The premises in the occupation of the county associations do not come under this category, being in a similar position to Volunteer premises prior to the Territorial Forces Act, for which no contributions in lieu of rates were given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why it is estimated, according to the Return with reference to Income Tax for the past three years, that the increase for the year 1909–10 over the year 1908–9 will be about £107,000 in the case of Ireland but only about £35,000 in the case of Scotland, the estimated figures for the past year for Ireland being £1,327,819, and for Scotland £3,324,956?

No exact comparison can be made, at the present time, of the variation in the estimated yield of Income Tax between Scotland and Ireland for the two years in question. But it may be pointed out that in Scotland the proportion of tax that is charged on trades, etc., under Schedule D is much larger than in Ireland; and it follows, as a consequence of ordinary fluctuations in trade profits, that the tax collectible in the former country will normally differ more widely from year to year than in Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of Sugar Duty paid in Ireland during the year 1909–10; and what was the amount paid in Ireland during the last financial year previous to the reduction of the duty in the last Parliament?

The net amount of Sugar Duty paid in Ireland during the year 1909–10 was £138,895. The net amount during the year 1907–8, i.e., the last financial year previous to the reduction of the duty—was £335,989.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the Tea Duty paid in Ireland during each of the last three financial years?

The net amount of Tea Duty paid in Ireland during each of the last three financial years was:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in framing the Budget, he will consider the propriety of providing for the scale of court fees chargeable in county courts being revised, and reduced fees charged in the smaller actions tried in those courts; whether he is aware that in actions tried in those courts the charge is one of 3s. in the pound on the amount claimed, so that on a claim for £1 1s. heard a court fee of 6s. has to he paid; and whether he is aware that the scale of fees is fixed by authority of His Majesty's Treasury?

The scale of fees in county courts is fixed by the Treasury with the concurrence of the Lord Chancellor. Certain reductions were thus made in the year 1901, and I am not aware of any adequate reason for further altering the scale which is at present insufficient to meet the total expenditure on the county courts. But I will communicate with the Lord Chancellor on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are any payments in respect of contracts or services which are due by the Government that have not yet been paid, and, if so, what is the amount of such payments due under each Vote of the Army and Navy Estimates, under the Customs and Excise, the Inland Revenue, and the Post Office Estimates, and under each class of the Civil Service Estimates; whether the proportion of the amount to the total net Estimate in each case is greater or less than that obtaining at the same date in the year 1908–9; and, if so, what is the reason?

So far as I am aware, all payments in respect of the public service are proceeding in normal course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any receipts received by any of the Public Departments in the present financial year have been applied as Appropriations in Aid; if so, what is the amount up to 9th June that has been so received under each Vote of the Army and Navy Estimates, the Inland Revenue, and the Post Office Estimates, and under each class of the Civil Service Estimates; under what direction, by Treasury Minute or otherwise, have such appropriations been made; have the moneys in question been paid into the Exchequer: to what payments under what Votes have they been applied; in virtue of what statutory powers has such action been taken in each case; and what has been the total sum so applied in the present financial year as compared with the sum so specified during the same period of the financial years 1908 and 1909?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative. I am unable to give the figures asked for by the hon. Member without inquiry for the respective accounting departments of the separate Votes and the compilation of a Return to a day in the middle of a month would only be practicable, if at all, at the cost of considerable labour. The statutory authority for the practice of applying certain receipts in aid of Parliamentary grants for Supply Services is contained in Section 2 of the Public Accounts and Charges Act, 1891.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Tipperary board of guardians five years ago authorised the erection of a small building for Dr. M. J. Madden, which still remains uncompleted; whether he can state the name of the contractor, and why such a long period has elapsed I since the foundation stone was laid; whether the Local Government Board have any powers to compel the completion of the building; and, if so, will he authorise steps to be taken to that end?

I understand that the project of building a dispensary residence has been in the guardians' hands since 1905. There was considerable delay and difficulty in obtaining a suitable site and a further protracted delay in making out a legal title to the site suggested by Dr. Madden, so that it was not until October, 1908, that the Local Government Board's certificate could be issued to enable the guardians to apply for the requisite loan. Subsequently the guardians repeatedly advertised for a contractor, but were unable to secure one; and in October last they asked for and obtained the permission of the Local Government Board to erect the buildings by direct labour under the supervision of their engineer. Building operations appear to have been in progress for some twelve weeks past. The provision of the residence was a matter entirely within the guardians' discretion, and the Local Government Board had no power to compel them to erect the residence and have no authority to compel its completion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the flannel scourers supplied to the Navy are made in this country?

From the description given it is not possible to identify the article referred to with any of the cleaning materials issued to the Fleet. If more definite particulars can be given further inquiry shall be made. As far as is known all materials supplied to the Fleet for cleaning purposes are manufactured in this country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, with reference to the correspondence which took place between the British and German Governments in 1884–5, respecting the boundary question between German South-West Africa and British territory, what the British Government's reply was to the German Government's request that the line of demarcation might be extended to 21 degrees east longitude?

I have been unable to trace any communication with the German Government on this point.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will cause to be circulated with the Votes or placed in the Library the Paper which the Portuguese Government has published regarding the movements of labour in Portuguese colonies?

I have ascertained from the Portuguese Government that they have not published any Paper regarding the movements of labour in Portuguese colonies.