asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can explain the delay in issuing the Report of the Viceregal Commission on Irish Railways; and whether he can state when it will be published?

I am informed by the Secretary to the Commission that the Commissioners hope to present their final Report to the Lord Lieutenant very shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state what is the amount of the whisky money due to Ireland for intermediate education for this year; and if he will take any steps to make good the deficiency?

I shall not be in a position to state the amount available for Intermediate education from the Customs and Excise Duties for the year ended 31st March last before next month. As regards the remainder of the question I have nothing at present to add to my reply to the question asked by the hon. Member on 28th April last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it was the intention of the Government not to renew the lease of the present post office at Newtown; and, if so, whether he would ensure that premises in the immediate vicinity of the old post office should, in the public interests, be acquired for this purpose?

No decision has been arrived at. If, however, it should be decided not to renew the lease, I will take care that the hon. Member's suggestion is borne in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposed to take in regard to the level crossing at Townley station, where two persons were killed by a train on 6th March; and whether he was aware that close upon 10,000 foot-passengers had to traverse this crossing per week?

The inspecting officer who inquired into the accident of the 6th March recommended that the wicket gates at the crossing should be locked on the approach of all trains, as is already done in the case of those which do not stop at Townley Station. This recommendation was communicated to the railway company, and they have informed me that they have issued instructions accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average price of sugar per pound in the Havana market during the year 1909; what was the average price per pound of similar cane sugar in the Liverpool and Glasgow markets during the year 1909; and what was the duty per pound payable by the consumer in the United Kingdom?

I have no information as to the price of sugar per pound in Havana. I understand that prices in the Liverpool and Glasgow markets are practically identical with those in London, and I am informed that the mean of the monthly quotations for Cuban Centrifugals 96° test in London in 1909 was 11s. 10½d. per cwt., equal to 1·272d. per lb. The duty leviable on sugar of this degree of polarisation is 1s. 7·7d. per cwt., or 0·176d. per lb.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average price of Ceylon and Indian teas per pound in the London market during the year 1909?

The average values of all Indian and Ceylon teas imported in 1909 into the United Kingdom as declared by the importers were as follows: Tea consigned from India, 8·26d. per lb; tea consigned from Ceylon, 8·09d. per lb. These figures represent the values of the teas as landed exclusive of the duty payable. It is not possible to quote any market prices which accurately express the average prices in the London market of Ceylon or Indian teas taken as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he could state the prevailing wages paid to cotton operatives, male and female, in Japan; and if he would state the numbers of men and women, respectively, employed in the Japanese cotton industry?

According to the Twenty-Fifth Statistical Report of the Department of Agriculture and Commerce of Japan, the total number of cotton operatives employed in that country in 1908 was 134,365, namely, 18,782 males and 115,583 females. The only class of cotton operatives whose wages can be stated are spinners. The average wages of male spinners in 1908 were 10¾d. per day and of female spinners 6½d.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government propose to take any steps to carry out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Care and Control of the Feeble-minded?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer the question. As stated by the Prime Minister, in reply to a question on 1st November last, the Government are fully alive to the importance of this matter, and a draft Bill is already in preparation, though legislation this Session is, I fear, not practicable.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the goods of Mrs. Emily Pridgeon, of Victoria Road, Teddington, have been seized under a writ of extente by the Treasury without trial in order to satisfy a disputed claim by them of £150 against a deceased estate; and whether he will see that proceedings are only taken in the usual way and not by a form of writ which is never used except for the recovery of taxes?

It is the fact that the goods of Mrs. Pridgeon have been seized under a writ of extente issued by the Treasury Solicitor on the instruction of the War Office and with the fiat of the Attorney-General. This seizure is only for the purpose of securing the property in the event of the Crown claim being ultimately substantiated. The Crown claim cannot be satisfied by the sale of the property or otherwise until after trial. Meantime Mrs. Pridgeon is being allowed to continue her business. The claim is disputed by Mrs. Pridgeon, but the War Office have been advised that they have a good claim against her. Their right against Mrs. Pridgeon is quite independent of their right against the deceased's estate which is referred to. It is not the fact that this form of writ is never used except for the recovery of taxes. I do not propose to give any directions in the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the result of the inquiry into the allegation that the firm of S. Thomas and Son, Government contractors, Redditch, was violating the Fair Wages Clause?

A very searching investigation has been made into the circumstances of this case, and the attention of

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the lowest, the highest, and the average rate of wages per week paid to men and women workers respectively at the Government clothing shop at Pimlico?

addressed a question in similar terms to the Secretary of State for War.

in reply to both questions, presented the following statement of the highest, lowest, and average weekly wages paid to men and women working on an average forty-eight hours a week:—