asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the exemption provided by Section 37 of the Finance Act of 1910 includes places of public worship in Scotland as well as in England?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he observed that 860 representations for labourers' cottages in the Cork Union have been suspended owing to the increased rate of interest now demanded for loans under the Irish Labourers Acts; and whether, having regard to the promise of the late Chief Secretary that when the funds allocated for the purposes of the Labourers Act of 1896 were exhausted further loans on the same terms would be forthcoming, steps will be taken in the present Session to provide for the resumption of operations under the Act?

According to the minutes of proceedings of the Cork Rural District Council, 851 representations have been suspended for the reason stated. I have no knowledge of the promise referred to, but I have already dealt fully with the question of future operations under the Labourers Acts in my reply to the question asked by the hon. and learned Member for Waterford on 23rd March, 1910, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds Thomas Sheehan, Thomas Ryan, and William O'Brien were refused acre allotments, under the Labourers Acts, on the lands of Basil Roche Kelly, at Rockstown and Friars-town, Ballybricken, county Limerick, in the Limerick (No. 1) District; and, in view of the fact that six other applicants have been granted acre plots on the same land with the consent of Mr. Roche Kelly, will Mr. M'Cafferty, the inspector who held the inquiry, give an explanation as to why the above-named parties did not get the free acre, especially when the owner was anxious they should get it?

According to the Minutes of Evidence taken at the local inquiry held into the improvement scheme it would appear that it was agreed at the inquiry on behalf of the owner and of the district council that only half-acre plots should be acquired in these three cases. In these circumstances the latter portion of the hon. Member's question does not appear to arise; but, in any event, Mr. McCaffrey, the temporary inspector, who held the inquiry, is not now in the service of the Board.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have received from the local organisations at Croom, county Limerick, a list of people entitled to portion of the untenanted lands at Carrigeen; and will they see that the inspector in charge of this estate will look into the claims of those named by the two leagues, and as an act of justice to the men who are most deserving applicants?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to say whether the list referred to was received, as all communications in reference to this property are at present with their inspector for consideration in conection with the preparation of a scheme for the allotment of the land.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have made any offer for the untenanted lands of Mortgage, Fedamore, county Limerick, on the estate of Count de Salis; what reason can the Commissioners assign for sending down an inspector three years ago to inquire into the merits of those who applied for this land; has Mr. Chatterton, who, it seems, was middleman, purchased under the Act of 1903; and, if so, what becomes of the two subtenants to Mr. Chatterton, namely, James Power and Mrs. Keane; who is to be their future landlord—is it the Estates Commissioners or Mr. Chatterton's representative; and, having regard to the uneasiness caused in the locality by the action of the Commissioners, will they now purchase these lands and have them distributed among those whose cases their inspector inquired into a few years ago?

As I have already informed the hon. Member in reply to his question of the 4th October last, the lands to which he refers appear to be tenanted. The cases of the sub-tenants will be considered under Section 15 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, with a view to their being declared direct tenants for the purposes of sale. The estate is being sold to the Commissioners, and their formal proposal to purchase will be issued as soon as practicable.

asked on what grounds the Land Commission, when fixing fair rents on the Horace Stafford O'Brien state at Cappamore, county Limerick, thought it just to raise the old rents there; have any instructions been recently given by them to raise rent in all cases; whether, as the result of the action of the Land Commission Court, the tenants sought for a purchase from their landlord, with the only result that writs have been served on every single one of them; and, in view of the wrong inflicted on them, both by the landlord and his abettors, will steps be taken to see that no assistance be given by the Government to the landlord in dealing with difficulties with his tenants?

Applications to fix fair rents are heard by the Court of the Land Commission in open court, and are decided judicially in accordance with the Land Law. No instructions have at any time been issued in reference to the amount of judicial rent to be fixed. The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension in stating that writs have been served on all the tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that clerks of the peace in Ireland are allowed for official postage necessarily incurred by them in the discharge of their duties, he will take steps to ensure that the clerk of the peace for county Antrim is prevented from henceforth charging country solicitors with postages to them in connection with the clerk's official duties; whether, in the county of Derry, practitioners are not required to send stamped addressed envelopes for replies to their communications to the clerk of the peace's office; and, if so, what authority has the clerk of the peace in Antrim to charge solicitors with postages that in county Derry are borne by the Treasury?

The allowance made by the Treasury to clerks of the peace in Ireland is not a matter over which I have any control. I have no knowledge of the practice in the county of Londonderry, but if it is as stated in the question, it appears to be a matter for consideration whether it should not be assimilated to that of county Antrim, which appears to be a reasonable one.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the master of the Limavady workhouse, at a meeting of the board of guardians held on 6th June, complaining that in the work of the farm, including the feeding of the stock and the pigs, and the supervision of the putting in of crops, he received no assistance from the schoolmaster, and to the statement of one of the guardians that he thought the schoolmaster was to assist the master in this work; whether there is any precedent or parallel for imposing the duty of feeding the pigs on a workhouse schoolmaster in Ireland; and whether the Local Government Board will inquire into the matter?

The Minutes of Proceedings of the Board of Guardians on the date mentioned record that "The Master complained that the schoolmaster was not assisting him as he should do in connection with the superintendence of the work of the farm." The guardians have referred the matter to their visiting committee for investigation, and the Local Government Board will await the committee's report.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the ignoring by the Antrim Board of Guardians of the recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health, forwarded through the Local Government Board, that a skilled nurse for the sick poor should be appointed in the Ballyclare district; whether he is aware that no skilled nursing for the poor is available in case of necessity in the district; and what action the Local Government Board propose to take in the matter?

The facts are as stated. I understand that the Antrim Board of Guardians have had their attention drawn on several occasions to the advisability of appointing a midwife. The Local Government Board have again referred the matter to their medical inspector, and on receipt of his report will again communicate with the guardians.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to remedying the present prospects of ships' stewards' assistants and ships' stewards' boys by making the following alterations in their pay and position: ship's steward's boy, Is. per diem; ship's steward's assistant (on being rated from ship's steward's boy or on entry as ship's steward's assistant), 2s. per diem; after serving four years as ship's steward's assistant, being rated assistant ship's steward with rank of petty officer, 3s. per diem; assistant ships' stewards being promoted to ships' stewards as vacancies arise?

The question of the position of the ship's steward branch in the matter of pay and advancement has recently been fully considered by the Admiralty. It is hoped that it may be found possible to introduce certain improvements.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention hen been called to the fact that naval writers are entitled to no extra pay for good conduct badges; that a naval writer cannot now attain the rank of chief writer until after twelve years' service instead of ten as formerly; that a chief writer has to serve for five years as such before obtaining an increase of pay; and that the warrant rank for naval writers is limited to twelve, though there are about 784 naval writers; and whether, having regard to the nature of their duties and to the fact that the rating of boy writers was created by reason of the difficulty of getting suitable persons for the position of writer, he will grant additional pay for good conduct badges, as in the case of nearly every other class in the Navy, accelerate the period of promotion to the rank of chief writer, diminish the time a chief writer has to serve before obtaining an increase of pay, and increase the number of warrant writers or take some steps to improve the position of naval writers?

With regard to the first three parts of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the Noble and Gallant Lord the Member for Portsmouth on 31st March last. With regard to the fourth part, warrant rank has only recently been introduced for the writer class, and the number of warrants for this class as for other kindred classes has been fixed with due consideration for Service requirements. As to the fifth part of the question, the rating of boy writer was established in 1873, because the entries of men writers at the time were not considered to be up to the educational standard. The entry of men, however, was continued concurrently, and since 1890 they have been entered as required by competitive examination with satisfactory results. The numbers required are small, applications for entry are numerous, and it is not anticipated that there will be any lack of suitable candidates. It is not considered that occasion exists for any action in the directions suggested in the remainder of the question.

asked the First Lord whether he can see his way to allowing the increase of pay of ships' stewards to take place once every three years, instead of once every five years as at present, to enable ships' stewards to reach the maximum rate of pay as laid down in the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions?

I would refer the Noble and gallant Lord to a reply I gave to a similar question on 30th March last. In the circumstances the Admiralty do not see any occasion for substituting a triennial increase in pay for the present quinquennial increase in the case of the chief petty officer grade of ship's steward.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that James W. Britton, of the Royal Horse Guards (No. 739), who enlisted in 1898 at Enniskillen, was discharged from the Service as medically unfit, but with a very good character, in April, 1904; that the cause of his disablement was rheumatic fever contracted in the Service, which still prevents him from work; that he was granted a small pension, which ended in 1905; and will he inquire into the case and see whether a small pension or allowance can in the circumstances be granted to Britton?

The cause of this man's discharge was rheumatism (not rheumatic fever), which, in the opinion of the Medical Board, was not caused or aggravated by his service, and was probably constitutional. He had served for five years 141 days only and the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital consider that his case has been fully met by the grant of the temporary pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many substantive colonels have not been employed since the establishment of that rank?

The question presumably refers to the period from December, 1906, when an establishment of colonels was fixed. Since that date ninety-four colonels have not been employed, but of these eleven have refused the appointments offered to them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can set out the names of the schools to which the special Grants for the building of new public elementary schools, under 2 Edw. 7, c. 42, s. 10, have been paid; and what amounts have been given to each school?

A statement showing the payments by the Board of Education in respect of Special Grants for the building of new public elementary schools up to 31st March, 1910 (Cd. 5155), was recently presented to Parliament, and I think that the hon. Member will find in that statement the information which he desires. These payments have not been made, as suggested, under Section 10 of the Education Act, 1902.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the Code will be laid upon the Table; and whether he can see his way to bring it out earlier in the year, so that local education authorities can have more time to make their arrangements before the summer recess?

The Board have decided not to make any changes for the ensuing educational year in the Code of Regulations for Public Elementary Schools. An intimation to this effect was conveyed by a circular which was issued to local education authorities on 2nd May. I shall have much pleasure in sending the hon. Member a copy of the circular in question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will now move for a Return of charges made to candidates at the General Election of January, 1910, in Great Britain and Ireland in the usual form, in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 302, of Session 1906, and take steps to secure the prompt issue of such Return?

The Return will be moved for immediately, and its compilation carried out as rapidly as possible. The preparation must, however, take some considerable time.

asked the Home Secretary if he can make any statement as to the number of prisoners who were released from any of His Majesty's prisons under the clemency extended on His Majesty's accession, stating when the release was effected; and how many of those released have since been re-committed to prison?

The number of prisoners who have benefited, or will benefit, by the Royal clemency is 11,873. Remission was given on a graduated scale of earlier release, based on the length of time each prisoner had still to serve, and of those already released very few are believed to have returned. For instance, out of 113 already released from Holloway only one has returned.

asked the Undersecretary of State for the Colonies if he will state the number of troops in Malta during the year 1905, the half-years ending June and December, 1906, and the years 1907,1908, 1909, and 1910; the civil population of the island; the numbers, respectively, of civil and military and naval cases of Malta fever, for the same periods, respectively; the date when the cleansing of the harbour was carried out; and the date when the garrison was removed from the St. Elmo to the new barracks?

The figures asked for by my hon. Friend, so far as they are available in the Colonial Office, are as follows:— NUMBER OF THOOPS IN MALTA. (Average strength, all ranks.) 1905 9,587 1906 1st January—30th June 8,101 1st July—31st December 6,979 1907 6,525 1908 6,819 1909 7,122

Number of Military cases of Malta fever:— 1905 643 1906 1st January—30th June 119 1st July—31st December 42 1907 11 1908 5 1909 1 1910(1st January—31st May) Nil

Total Naval Force. Naval cases of Malta Fever 1905 14,360 270 1906 12,130 145 1907 10,530 14 1908 9,780 6 1909 9,920 11

Number of Civil cases of Malta fever:— 1905–6 822 1906–7 714 1907–8 501 1908–9 463

The figures for the exact periods named are not available in the Colonial Office as regards the number of cases among the civil population. The civil population of Malta was estimated at 190,250 on 31st March, 1909. I do not understand to what my hon. Friend refers as the cleansing of the harbour. If he means the construction of drainage works to prevent sewage draining into the harbour, I can only say that various works with this object have been carried out from time to time during the last ten years. As regards the last sentence of the question, I would point out that there are still troops in occupation of the barracks at St. Elmo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the question of compensation arising out of the sinking of the British-India Company's steamship "Ikluna" by a Russian cruiser during the Russo-Japanese War is still under consideration; and, if so, when it is likely to reach a settlement?

The amount awarded by the Russian Courts in respect of the steamship "Ikhona" was paid in April last.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that for more than fifteen years quantities of fishing thread have been imported direct from Ireland into the island of Madeira, and the duty has always been assessed at Is. 4d. per kilo, until recently, when 3s. per kilo, was demanded on such thread imported per parcels post; whether he will inquire whether this alteration of duty has been regularly and legally made; if not, whether he will ask that a refund should be made of the amount of duty overpaid by the persons concerned; and whether he will also make representations to the Portuguese Government as to the delay in the examination of parcels arriving in the island of Madeira by parcel post?

I have already received a report from His Majesty's Consul at Funchal stating that a modification was made on 12th December, 1904, in the Article of the Customs Tariff affecting the import of linen thread and cotton into Madeira, under which the duty on the former was legally raised to 3s. per kilo. I have received no complaints of the nature indicated in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can state whether the Russian troops have now left Persia, and, in the event of their not having done so, what troops still remain; and what is the reason for their still remaining in the country?

As regards the first part of the hon. Member's question, I have no information subsequent to that contained in the reply returned to the hon. Member for Darlington on 7th April As regards the second part, the state of public order in the north of Persia is not, in the opinion of the Russian Government, such as to justify the immediate withdrawal of all the troops, but I understand that their numbers may shortly be reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a joint note from the British and Russian Governments had recently been presented to the Persian Government in which it is sought to restrict in any, and, if so, in what, way the freedom of action of the Persian Government in respect of the granting by that Government of internal concessions in that country?

I am not in a position to make any statement at present with regard to communications which have recently passed between the British and Russian Governments and the Persian Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the investigations into claims adverse to the Crown which have been made to the foreshore at Seaview, Isle of Wight, have yet been concluded, if so, will he state the result; and, if they are not concluded, can he state how long it will be before they are?

I am advised that the investigations which have taken place do not support the claims adverse to the Crown, and, if they are persisted in, I propose to lay the papers before the Attorney-General with a view to obtaining his sanction to proceedings being taken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that a scheme is in operation in the General Post Office under which the clerical staff have the choice of commencing their duties an hour earlier during the months from May to September, he can see his way to give instructions to provincial postmasters that, where there is a general desire on the part of the clerical staff in any office to adopt the scheme, it shall be adopted?

At offices in the provinces where there is a purely clerical staff, such as the surveyor's offices, no objection would be offered to an earlier commencement of duty in the summer if the staff as a whole were in favour of the change. But at post offices where the hours of duty are determined by the necessities of the work earlier attendance is not practicable.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the practice of the Post Office in inviting nominations from universities for certain posts in the engineering department, and why is it that he or his predecessor has refused to receive nominations from the University of London of external students while accepting nominations of internal students?

The practice alluded to is to reserve one vacancy out of every four occurring on the second class of engineers in the Post Office for competition among young men of general as well as technical education. Men from the universities, especially "internal" students, are considered most likely to fulfil this condition.

asked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will direct that the drags kept in Regent's Park and used in cases of drowning in the Regent's Canal be placed in more accessible positions than at present; and whether his attention has been called to the case of a youth rescued from drowning in the canal on 18th June, and to the fact that needless delay and injury to a constable resulted from the inaccessibility of the drags?

I am in communication with the police as to what arrangements can be made for the greater accessibility of drags. The last effort in that direction resulted in the theft of the implements.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, during the last four years, there have been any inclosures of the common known as Hunter's Bark or Long Preston Moor, in the Skipton Division; if so, what acreage has been inclosed, by whom, and what are the dates of the Parliamentary awards; and whether he will give a list of all the inclosure awards, with the dates, acreage involved, and the names of the inclosers, affecting this common, under the Inclosure Acts, 1845 to 1899?

No inclosure of the land to which my hon. Friend refers has has been made under the Inclosure Acts.