asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Sir John Ramsden, the owner of the Bray Roy estate, extending to 11,000 acres, in the Lochaber district of Inverness-shire, has recently cleared the farms of Glenturet, Lochroy, and Annat of the stock of 4,000 sheep, with the object of converting these farms into a deer forest; and whether, in view of the fact that this extension of the deer forest area deprives the country of food supplies and also closes land which might be occupied with profit by crofters, he will discourage such deer forest extensions by imposing a special tax on deer forests?

My right hon. Friend has not had his attention called to the matter, but in any case he could not make any statement as to the financial proposals of His Majesty's Government for the coming year in anticipation of his Budget speech.

asked the Chancellor whether his attention has been called to the case of John Shaw, accused of defrauding the Income Tax Commissioners; and whether it is the practice of the Inland Revenue Department to retain all the money that it gets, whether legally due from the taxpayers or not?

I am not aware that my right hon. Friend's attention has been drawn to the case referred to in the first part of the question; but, if the hon. and gallant Member will furnish me with further particulars, I will cause inquiry to be made. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked what steps can be taken to terminate the payment of political pensions to five gentlemen, all of whom formerly held office in recent administrations at high salaries and to whom since 1887 the sum of £68,620 has been paid?

Political pensions are payable under Statute, and are granted for life.

asked whether it is now proposed to make payment in full to Irish local authorities of the amounts calculated upon by them as to be received from the Local Taxation Account (Ireland) for the current financial year; and whether before any deductions were made (without notice), the necessary amount could have been temporarily borrowed to meet the deficiency, as was done in the case of the English Local Taxation Account, until provision was made for replenishing the fund?

If, as I assume to be the case, the hon. Member refers to the grants proposed in the Budget of this year to make up for the diminished yield of the Local Taxation Account share of the Beer and Spirit Duties, the reply is that these grants cannot be issued until the necessary statutory provision has been made. The hon. Member is in error in supposing that there has been any borrowing on behalf of the Local Taxation Account (England and Wales).

asked the Chancellor whether he still intends to charge the local authorities in Ireland with any portion of the pensions now paid to former recipients of Poor Law assistance?

This matter will be dealt with in the Revenue Bill shortly to be laid before the House by my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor if he is aware that in the holiday resorts on the Clyde the hotel-keeping business is being injured by the increased licence duties imposed by last year's Budget; and if, in those cases where the great bulk of the business is done in the summer months, he will so modify the duties that seasonal concessions, in such cases, be obtained?

Under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, a very liberal concession was given to seasonal hotels. If a case for amendment of the law can be made out, I have no doubt my right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider it. But at present no evidence has been furnished to indicate either that the concession has, generally speaking, failed to secure the object aimed at, or that any premises entitled to be regarded as bonâfide seasonal hotels have been excluded from its operation.

asked the amount of income assessed to Income Tax and Super Tax which was derived from sources outside the United Kingdom in the present financial year?

The information required by the hon. Member is not at present available.

asked the Chancellor whether he will make a reasonable extension of time in which relief upon earned income may be claimed under Section 19 (4) of The Finance Act, 1907, in cases where the declaration was not made by 30th September, 1910, owing to misunderstanding and extra business caused by the new methods of finance?

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to his reply on this point to the then Member for King's Lynn on the 12 July last.

asked whether attention had been called to the effect of the Old Age Pensions Regulations in all cases where one only of an aged couple, both of whom have been in receipt of poor relief amounting in the aggregate to more than 5s. per week, is over seventy years of age and applies for a pension; and what steps, if any, it is proposed to take to modify such regulations?

The position in these cases is the effect not of the Old Age Pensions Regulations, but of the Old Age Pensions Act, and cannot be modified except by legislation.

asked the respective amounts received from the following taxes during the present financial year, increment value duty, undeveloped land duty, mineral rights duty, and reversion duty?

In accordance with normal usage, my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, will review details of this, as of other branches of the current year's taxation, in opening his Budget for the coming year.

asked what amount has been repaid up to date in discharge of claims made under Section 69 of The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

The amount repaid to date in discharge of claims made under the Section referred to by the hon. Member is £4,037.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he had seen a resolution of the Tipperary Farmers' Society impressing upon all Irish Members of Parliament that the cessation of land purchase outside the congested counties has become a grievance of the utmost urgency; and whether he proposes to introduce a Bill this Session to amend the Act of 1909 in this particular?

I have not seen the resolution referred to, but there is no ground for the suggestion that there has been a cessation of land purchase outside the congested counties since the passing of the Act of 1909, and I do not propose to introduce any legislation this Session for the amendment of that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary when he proposed to introduce a Bill to redeem his promise that an additional million shall be provided for the purpose of financing the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906; if he is aware that this sum will scarcely suffice to meet the immediate requirements of district councils promoting schemes under the Labourers Acts; if he can declare the intentions of the Government as to the future; and, when the proposed amending Bill comes before Parliament, will facilities be given for the consideration of urgent amendments which experience has shown to be essential to the due and efficient working of the Act?

The Bill will be introduced next week. The extra million will be sufficient to provide not only for all immediate requirements but also for all schemes that are likely to be framed in the future so far as can be contemplated. It is hoped that the rapid passage of the Bill through Parliament will not be jeopardised by the introduction of fresh amendments.

asked the Chief Secretary to state the number of valuers appointed last year by the Congested Districts Board (Ireland); whether further appointments are intended to be made during this year; and the salaries attached to these positions?

In the year 1910, the Congested Districts Board appointed six temporary valuers at a salary of two guineas a day when employed and expenses, and an assistant valuer at a salary of £1 10s. per week with allowances. They have this year appointed two temporary inspectors to value land and conduct negotiations for land purchase at a fee of one guinea a day with expenses, and it is probable that some further similar appointments may be made.

asked why an old man named Thomas Muldreid has been refused a pension on account of assigning a small farm to his son, although the farm is in the occupation of the son, seeing that the old man is unable to do anything with it, and that the farm is at Rahula, county Roscommon, annual value £4 9s. 3d.; and whether his annual income is officially estimated at £34; and, if so, how was this estimate arrived at?

I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act 1908. The holding assigned by Thomas Muldreid comprises twenty-six acres of good land, and carried, besides crops, two cows and their calves, five yearlings and other stock, the profits on which were estimated to exceed £31 10s. per annum.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the effect of paying the sum of £37,000 out of the Local Taxation Account in respect of the cost of maintenance of pauper lunatics for the three months ended 31st March, 1899, will be to still further deplete to that extent the income of the account remaining available for distribution to local authorities for medical and educational expenditure incurred by boards of guardians, for the salaries of sanitary officers in urban and rural districts, and for the maintenance of the insane poor in the past twelve months; and whether he can hold out any hope that the insufficiency of the account to meet its statutory liabilities will be made good in the present Session.

The sum of £37,000 referred to in the question was made good to the Local Taxation Account by the Exchequer by means of a Supplementary Vote in the year 1900, but was retained in the unexpended balance of the account and not paid over to local authorities. There can, therefore, be no further payment out of the Exchequer, and, as the claims payable in the current year exceed the whole amount standing to the credit of the account, the result of the payment of the £37,000 will be as stated by the hon. Member. I am not in a position at present to say whether the insufficiency of the account to meet its statutory liabilities can be made good in the present Session.

asked the Chief Secretary if it is proposed by the Crown to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ireland upholding the decision of Mr. Justice Barton that the county and county borough councils were entitled to be paid out of the Local Taxation Account the cost of the maintenance of pauper lunatics in district asylums which accrued during the three months ended the 31st March, 1899; and, if not, what is the reason for the delay in making payment to these bodies?

It is not proposed to appeal against the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Ireland. The payments cannot be made until all the accounts are received and audited.

asked the Chief Secretary to state the terms of the order made by the Lord Lieutenant, pursuant to Section 58 (5) of the Local Government Act, 1898, directing an abatement of the payments to be made from the Local Taxation Account formed under that section.

The following is a copy of the Order referred to:—"Aberdeen. Whereas the sums paid and payable under Section 58 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, to the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account in the financial year ending the 31st day of March, 1911, are insufficient to meet the sums payable thereout, in the said year under this Section, as amended by the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902: Now, therefore, We the Lord Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, in pursuance of the power vested in Us by Sub-Section (5) of the said 58th Section, and of every other power Us thereto enabling, do hereby order and direct that the sums payable out of the Account during the said year ending the 31st day of March, 1911, shall be proportionately abated, having regard to the insufficiency aforesaid. Given at His Majesty's Castle of Dublin, the 10th day of September, 1910.—J. B. DOUGHERTY."

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have received memorials from tenants and others asking the Board to purchase the lands known as the Seven Cartrons, Dunfore, and Oxfield, part of the Gore Booth estate, county Sligo; whether it has been brought to the knowledge of the Board that all the above are lands from which the tenants were formerly evicted, and that the holdings of the petitioning tenants are all uneconomic and that the neighbourhood is poor and congested; and whether the Board have entered into negotiations, and when they will be able to complete the purchase and distribution of these lands?

Memorials have been received from the tenants of the lands referred to in the question, and the Congested Districts Board are making enquiries in relation to the Gore-Booth Estate. At the present stage it is not desirable to make any further statement in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which exists in county Sligo on account of the failure of the Congested Districts Board to take reasonably prompt steps to acquire for the purposes of the Land Act of 1909 the unoccupied lands and grazing ranches in the county suitable and available for the relief and settlement of congestion; whether he will give any explanation of this delay; and whether he can now promise that the Board will proceed without any further delay to acquire these lands either by bargain or by exercising the compulsory powers conferred upon them by statute?

There has been some difficulty and delay in arranging for the voluntary purchase of untenanted lands in County Sligo. This has been due to the difficulty of bringing negotiations for voluntary purchase to a successful isue. The Congested Districts Board have now determined to make final offers for voluntary purchase in this and other counties, and if these are not accepted they will put in force the compulsory powers conferred by the Irish Land Act, 1909.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of old age pensioners in Ireland as at 31st December last and as at 31st December, 19093/4

The numbers are:—

At 31st December, 1909	…	183,976
At 31st December, 1910	…	182,967

asked when the estate of Michael F. Barry, county Cork, will be reached in its order of priority by the Estates Commissioners; and whether any inspection of it, with a view to vesting orders being issued to the tenants, has yet been made?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate referred to has not yet been inspected, and, having regard to the number of estates in priority thereto the Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when it will be dealt with.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have entered into negotiations with the proprietors for the purchase of the Parke's estate, Dunally, county Sligo; and when the purchase is likely to be completed?

Negotiations had been entered into by the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the estate referred to, but proceedings have been suspended by the grave illness of Colonel Parke.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have received applications from various tenants in Dunmoran and Skreen, county Sligo, for the purchase of the lands of Dunmoran, at present owned or let to Mrs. Geddes, and used as a ranch, and also for ranches in the same district known as Heathfield and Doonflyn; whether the Board have entered into negotiations for purchase; and with what result?

Applications have been received from the tenants on the lands of Dunmoran, Skreen, and Doonflyn for the purchase of the lands in question, and the Congested Districts Board have communicated with the owners with a view to the sale of their estates voluntarily, but no definite statement can yet be made in the matter. The property alluded to in the question as Heathfield cannot be identified?

asked the Chief Secretary whether he had received a copy of a resolution passed at the public meeting of the city of Dublin Distress Committee; whether it is the intention of the Government, in view of the exceptional want of employment and consequent distress in Dublin City, to give an immediate grant to the distress committee to enable them to meet adequately the demands made upon them; whether he was aware that the grants given to Ireland are not proportionate in amount or ratio to those granted in Great Britain; and whether equality of grants in proportion to the distress existing in the various centres will in future be observed?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. An additional grant of £500 was made to the Dublin Distress Committee three days ago, making £2,550 in all given to the funds to this committee up to date. The hon. Member must recollect that the sum available this year is very limited, being only one-half of that voted in 1909–10. It is not intended that the chronic distress and unemployment of a great city should be met by this fund. Section 13 of the Local Government Act, 1898, enables the guardians and the Corporation to raise ample funds for providing relief and work for this class if they are satisfied that there is exceptional distress. I am not in a position to say that the grants given to Ireland are not proportionate to those granted in Great Britain, but in any case this is not a matter within my control.

asked the Prime Minister, whether the office of Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture in Ireland had been vacated, in accordance with the understanding that this post should be held by a Member of this House; and, if so, whether he was in a position to name the new Vice-President?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. Although the Vice-President has placed his resignation in the hands of the Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend has not thought fit in present circumstances to accept it. There is therefore no occasion to appoint a successor.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the book entitled "Compulsory Service," written by General Sir Ian Hamilton and prefaced by an introduction by the Secretary of State for War, is in any sense an official work, or whether it is to be considered as merely expressing the personal views of the writers; and whether the permission granted to General Sir Ian Hamilton to publicly express his opinions upon controversial questions of military organisation will be extended to other officers on the active list who may hold views divergent from his and who may also wish to lay them before the country?

asked whether the opinions expressed in the memorandum entitled "Compulsory Service" represent the opinions of the officers of the General Staff at Headquarters, whose duty it is to advise upon the adequacy or otherwise of the military forces for Imperial defence?

The work in question is not an official publication. It was originally prepared by Sir Ian Hamilton as a memorandum containing his personal views for my private information, and subsequently I decided, with his concurrence, that it would be in the public interest to have the document published. As regards the last part of the question, this matter is governed by the King's Regulations, by which sanction may be given to an officer on the active list to make a communication to the Press if he previously submits the manuscript to the War Office for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of Mr. Channing's farm at Tilshead and other farms, parts of which have been taken by the War Office for their Tilshead and Lavington extension of artillery ranges, it is proposed to let the grazing on parts of the farms taken by the War Office to the former farm tenants, or whether it is intended to let in one block to a Scotch grazier or graziers?

Arrangements were made during the progress of the negotiations for the purchase of the land in question that the present occupiers should have the first option of retaining their holdings at a rent to be agreed, and instructions have accordingly been issued that any steps taken to let the land should be subject to this understanding. Nothing is known at the War Office of any proposal to let the land to a Scotch grazier or graziers.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office Pensions Committee is sitting with a view to the reduction of the rank and file pensions; if so, will the vested interests of serving soldiers be safeguarded; and, as a soldier usually serves twenty-one years to qualify for pension, will the reduced pension scale not come into operation until 1032 in order that the vested interests of men joining in 1911 may be safeguarded?

The Committee to which the hon. Member refers was appointed to consider whether, consistently with the requirements of military efficiency and due recognition of the vested rights of those now serving, any steps can be taken to reduce the present and future charges for pensions of warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men; and accordingly any changes which may be deemed desirable will he made with due recognition of the vested rights of those now serving.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in communicating the terms of the King's pardon to the rank and file, care was taken to point out that the pardon carries penalties with it?

The hon. Member is apparently alluding to the conditions which were attached to the grant of the pardon. These were published in the Special Army Order of 23rd May last, which notified the grant of the pardon.

asked the Secretary of State for War why soldiers who confessed under the terms of the King's pardon were ordered to forfeit all previous service up to date of confession?

The forfeiture of prior service was one of the conditions of the pardon and was in accordance with the procedure adopted in connection with the pardon granted in 1887. The service so forfeited can be regained by subsequent service for three years without regimental entry, and in cases where the forfeiture has been represented as involving special hardship the soldier's Commanding Officer has power to put forward an application for restoration of service under the latter part of paragraph 273 King's Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the attention of the War Office had been drawn to the cures effected by the use of Professor Ehrlich's preparation 606; and whether any steps have been taken to employ this preparation in suitable cases in the British Army at home and abroad?

Yes, Sir. If the hon. Member will kindly refer to the Journal of the Army Medical Corps for November, 1910, and February, 1911, he will find accounts of the cases in which the remedy has been tried.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that at Parliamentary elections warders in His Majesty Prison, Dartmoor, who have recently been removed there from Portland can only record their vote at Portland on condition that the time so occupied by the warders be deducted from their allotted holiday; and if he will issue an order providing that reasonable time be given for the purpose without any deduction being made from the warders' hard-earned holiday.

Warders are always given an opportunity to record their votes at elections in the district where they live, but it might cause serious dislocation to the service if the rule were extended to elections in distant places. I have no doubt, however, that, so far as is consistent with the demands of the service, the Prison Commissioners would do their best, if applied to, to facilitate the grant of a holiday to an officer who can satisfy them that he is going to a distant place to vote.

asked whether there is any, and what, difference between the treatment of criminals undergoing a sentence of criminal detention and of those undergoing a sentence of penal servitude; and what are the respective regulations referring to these two classes of criminals?

There are not, and cannot be for some time yet, any convicts undergoing Preventive Detention, as this always follows a sentence of three years' penal servitude. Rules for this form of detention will be laid before the House in a few days.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of Borstal institutions which have been established, and the number that are in course of being established, respectively, in the United Kingdom, and the locality and capacity of such institutions?

The particulars for England are as follows:—

Borstal Institutions.
(Males.)
Borstal	…	403
Feltham	…	172	(at present)
Canterbury	…	51
(Females.)
Aylesbury	…	55

There was another very small Borstal Institution at Lincoln which was discontinued on the opening of Feltham. As regards Ireland and Scotland, inquiries should be addressed to the Chief Secretary and the Secretary for Scotland respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether a certificated teacher who may have contributed for some years in accordance with the terms of the Elementary School Teachers Superannuation Act, but has since been unable to find employment or to continue the contributions, is unable to obtain any benefits from these contributions until late in life or any return of money on account of contributions already paid?

Section 1, Sub-section (2), Clause (c) of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, provides that a teacher, on attaining the age of sixty-five years, or on any later date at which his certificate expires, shall be entitled, out of the Deferred Annuity Fund, to such an annuity in respect of his contributions to that fund as may be fixed by the Tables under the Act, but that he shall not be entitled to any return of contributions or to any benefits in respect of his contributions other than that annuity. An unemployed teacher is in precisely the same position in this respect as a teacher still in employment.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he could promote legislation whereby school teachers who are thrown out of employment by the compulsory closing of schools would be transferred without financial loss to them to other schools under the control of the local authority, or be adequately compensated, and to prevent the Board of Education making retrospective a refusal as head teachers to certificated teachers not college trained?

I am not prepared to promote so considerable an interference with the discretion of Local Education Authorities. I must point out, moreover, that the majority of the Public Elementary schools closed from time to time are Voluntary schools, the teachers in which are the servants of the Voluntary school managers. I think it would be difficult to defend a proposal to compel Local Education Authorities to find employment for, or otherwise to compensate, teachers who are not their servants. It will, however, be found, I think, that in practice Local Education Authorities generally endeavour to mitigate any hardship involved upon teachers displaced by the closure of schools in their areas. With regard to the last part of the question the Board do not contemplate taking any action prejudicial to the interests of certificated teachers who, though untrained, are well qualified by their attainments and experience for appointment as head teachers in Public Elementary schools.

asked the Prime Minister whether the recent agreement entered into between the Governments of the United States and Canada, in reference to tariffs, was submitted to His Majesty's Government before it was assented to; and whether His Majesty's Government will now lay before this House the said agreement and all correspondence in relation thereto?

The agreement was not submitted to His Majesty's Government, whose assent is not required for changes in the Canadian tariff. The agreement was made with the knowledge of His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, who reported to the Foreign Office before it was signed. The correspondence is not complete, and it is not proposed to lay any papers at present beyond the telegram from the Governor-General of Canada communicating the conclusion of the agreement.

asked the Prime Minister if the Naval Prize Bill will be reintroduced at an early date?

The Bill will be re-introduced, but I am unable at present to name a date.

asked the Prime Minister if he will state whether the Australian Government has expressed itself as opposed to the Declaration of London; and whether he can make any statement concerning the Declaration?

The Australian Government have given notice of their intention to submit objections to certain articles of the Declaration of London to the Imperial Conference. I do not propose at present to make any statement in regard to the Declaration.

asked the Prime Minister whether he would undertake that, before committing the Government to the details of a scheme for dealing with insurance against invalidity, infirmity, and unemployment, he would appoint a Commission or Committee, representing the thrift organisations and the various interests affected by the proposals, to recommend a scheme?

No, Sir. The views and interests of all these organisations have been and are being carefully considered.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the new scale of remuneration of sub-postmasters adopted as the result of the recommendations of the Hobhouse Committee is less than the former scale; and whether he proposes to recommend any modifications?

The new scale gives a higher payment than the former scale in a large majority of cases. It is not proposed to recommend any modifications of the new scale.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Secretary for Scotland is aware that children attending public schools in the island of Lewis are still required to carry peats to school as a contribution to the school fuel supply; and, seeing that the practice was prohibited under the Scottish Office circular of 17th January, 1894, will he state why the Department's orders are not enforced?

I have nothing to add to my answer to the question addressed to me on this subject by my hon. Friend on the 12th July last to which I would refer him.