asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the rule nisi for a mandamus obtained against the Shore-ditch assessment committee by the licensee of the "Crown and Shuttle" to insert those premises in a provisional list at a reduction equal to the increased Excise duties under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; whether he is aware that, if this is done, an increase of rates to the general ratepayer will result equal to about 4d. in the £ in Camberwell, and a reduction in the produce to the Exchequer of the land- lord's Property Tax and Inhabited House Duty will follow; and whether, in view of the inability through poverty of the Shoreditch assessment committee to incur the cost of carrying this case for final settlement to the House of Lords, he will assist the committee in this litigation by providing them with the services of the Law Officers of the Crown, or otherwise take steps to protect the interests of the Exchequer in this case?

I am aware of the case referred to. As regards the effect of the new License Duties on rateable values in London, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Taunton on 7th June, 1909. I regret that I cannot see my way to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of duty paid in respect of sugar consumed in Ireland for the year 1909–10; and what was the amount paid during the year 1907–8?

The net amount of duty paid in respect of sugar consumed in Ireland during the financial years 1907–8 and 1909–10 was:—

				£
1907–08	…	…	…	639,000
1909–10	…	…	…	276,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of duty paid in respect of tea consumed in Ireland during each of the last three financial years?

The net amount of duty paid in respect of tea consumed in Ireland during each of the last three financial years was:—

				£
1907–08	…	…	…	567,000
1908–09	…	…	…	582,000
1909–10	…	…	…	542,000

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number of houses purchased in Irish urban areas under the provisions of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act; the number purchased in each area; the average sum advanced by the local authority; the rate of interest; and the number of cases of I default in payment?

The number of houses purchased is 298, the particulars being as follows:—

Urban Area.		Number of houses.	Average sum advanced.
			£	s.	d.
Belfast	…	79	207	16	6
Dublin	…	210	227	0	6
Limerick	…	2	228	10	0
Bray	…	4	128	0	0
Portadown	…	2	203	10	0
Strabane	…	1	240	0	0

The Local Government Board do not possess information which would enable them to state the rate of interest in each case or the number of cases of default in payment. The Act provides that the interest shall be at such rate as may be agreed upon, not exceeding 10s. above the rate at which the local authority can borrow from the Commissioners of Public Works.

asked the Chief Secretary what will be the charge on the funds of the Agricultural and Technical Department to meet the expenses of the advertised summer courses of instruction to members of enclosed religious orders in science, drawing, and domestic economy?

The amount for the present year will be approximately £520.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the Ecclesall Board of Guardians, Sheffield, calling attention to the grievance felt by relatives of patients chargeable to Poor Law Unions who died in county asylums, because of the description pauper patient in the notice of death sent out from such asylum, and to the fact that a large number of union cases sent to county asylums the full amount demanded by guardians for the maintenance of the patient in such asylums is repaid by the relatives or friends, or out of moneys belonging to the patient, and requesting the Secretary of State for the Home Department to take immediate steps for the deletion of the description pauper patients from such notices; and whether he will give effect to the request?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I have received a copy of the resolution referred to from the Guardians, and I am communicating with the Commissioners in Lunacy on the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any, and, if so, which, universities or university colleges in England and Wales have applied for or received grants from the Board as technical institutions under Chapter 3 of the Board's regulations for technical schools; what were the amounts of such grants to each institution during the financial year 1909–10; and what conditions were attached to such grants?

The following universities and university colleges were recognised for the purpose of grants under Chapter 3 of the Regulations for Technical Schools in respect of the year ending 31st July, 1909:—

ENGLAND.
	£	s.	d.
University of Birmingham	978	5	0
University of Durham—
Armstrong College, New-castle-on-Tyne	710	0	0
University of Leeds	1,317	10	0
University of Liverpool	*915	10	0
University of Manchester	622	10	0
University of Sheffield	875	0	0
University College, Nottingham	337	10	0
Hartley University College, Southampton	123	0	0
WALES.
University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, Cardiff	256	15	0
* The payment of a portion of this sum was delayed till shortly lifter the close of The financial year 11109–10.

The grants, which were actually paid (with the exception noted above) during the financial year 1909–10, are shown against the name of each institution, and were made in accordance with the conditions set out in Chapter 3 of the Regulations for Technical Schools.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can undertake to have printed and presented to Parliament the complete judgment and findings of the court of inquiry into the wreck of the "Thistlemoor"?

Yes, Sir. I propose to present to Parliament, at the earliest possible moment, the complete judgment and findings of the court of inquiry in the case of the "Thistlemoor."

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that in some parts of the British Dominions beyond the seas postage stamps do not have the Sovereign's portrait upon them; whether, seeing that such portraits are the most widespread and popular symbol of the unity of the Empire, and having regard to the fact that new designs will be required owing to the accession of His Majesty King George, he will use his influence with the Governments in question towards having the portrait of His Majesty on all postage stamps throughout the Empire?

The portrait of the reigning Sovereign is very generally imprinted upon the postage stamps of the Empire, and I do not think it is either necessary or expedient to suggest that there should be no exceptions to its use.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of repeated promises made by the Post Office that established positions should be created where-ever possible, he will direct that surveyors should be asked to recommend that in any pending revisions of the indoor staff at head offices or salaried sub-offices all adult duties needing an attendance of eight hours per day throughout the year should be filled by established officers?

I am satisfied that the Post Office surveyors are fully aware of the necessity for filling by established officers all full indoor duties at head offices. As regards salaried sub-offices, the general question of the staffing arrangements is now under consideration with the Treasury.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is yet able to announce his decision with regard to the recent petition from East Bolton, county Durham, praying for further postal facilities there?

Arrangements are being made to establish a sub- post office near East Bolton Railway Station.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state when the reply of the Treasury to the memorial from the Royal Gardens, Kew, Employés Union, of February last, may be expected?

The matter is still under consideration, but the decision of the Treasury is expected at an early date.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state the number of children educated, the total cost of such education, the number of teachers, the number of inspectors in public elementary schools in Scotland for the years 1899 and 1909 respectively?

The figures are as follows:—

	1899.		1909.
Number of Pupils on Registers of Primary Schools	741,737		803,820*
Total Maintenance Cost	£1,621,544		£2,327,362*
Number of Teachers (Certificated and Uncertificated but excluding Pupil Teachers)	12,747		17,942†
Number of Inspectors:—
Inspectors and Junior Inspectors	26	57	36	65
Sub-Inspectors	31		29
*Excluding Higher Grade Schools.
†Including a small number partly employed in Higher Grade Schools.

It should be explained that there is no distinct class of inspectors for primary schools, and the staff enumerated deals with other than exclusively primary work.

asked the Lord Advocate if he has received a letter from the Idrigill crofters in Skye in reply to the communication from the Secretary for Scotland to them, in which they offer to prove to the satisfaction of any impartial tribunal that the whole of the farm of Scuddaburgh was promised to them by the manager for the proprietors, the Congested Districts Board; that the crofters' arrangements were made accordingly, and that the decision of the Congested Districts Board to give them only part of the land has had and will have serious consequences for them; whether, under the circumstances, he will induce the Congested Districts Board to alter the decision at which they arrived to reserve the best part of the farm for a separate holding; and whether, as the majority of the Crofters Commission are also members of the Congested Districts Board, who are the owners of the farm of Scuddaburgh, he will consider the advisability of an impartial arbiter being employed?

The Secretary for Scotland has received from the Idrigill crofters various letters containing among other allegations, assertions of the kind referred to by the hon. Baronet in the first part of his question, for which I cannot admit that there is any foundation in fact. I must remind my hon. Friend that these crofters have not confined themselves to allegations, but have entered on an unlawful course of action, which has forced the Congested Districts Board to take legal proceedings against them. Under the circumstances, I cannot undertake to suggest to the Congested Districts Board that they should alter their decision.