asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to require that a contribution shall be made by Poor Law authorities towards the cost of pensions of septuagenarian paupers?

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that during the past year a number of old age pensioners obtained medical relief in workhouse hospitals; that the guardians were debarred from applying the pensions of such persons to the cost of their maintenance; that some pensioners allowed their pensions to accumulate and periodically received a lump sum, and others authorised relations to draw the pensions weekly; that since the removal of the pauper disqualification, at 31st December, 1910, a number of persons discharged from the workhouse obtained their pensions and within a short period were readmitted; and whether it is proposed to deal with these matters by legislation in the present Session?

The attention of my right hon. Friend has been drawn to certain difficulties with regard to the position of persons to whom old age pensions have been granted who subsequently became chargeable to the guardians, and the whole question is receiving careful con- sideration. I am not at present able to say whether it will be possible to deal with the matter satisfactorily under the existing law or whether amending legislation will be required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the actual amounts received in respect of licence duties from manufacturers, wholesale dealers, and retailers in the financial year 1908–9; what were the actual sums received for the licence to trade for the year 1910–11; and what are the amounts now outstanding in respect of each class of licences as the result of the concession made by the Commissioners of Customs and Excise permitting the payment of licence duties in instalments?

The total net revenue received in respect of liquor licence duties in the financial year 1908–9 was £2,177,000. I regret that I cannot give the figures asked for for 1910–11. It is not the usual practice to make public detailed statements of the yield of particular heads of revenue during the course of the financial year, and I could not anticipate the usual Budget Statement of my right hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the practice of the Estate Duty Office in addressing inquiries to executors of wills, years after Estate Duty has been paid, as to whether legatees are still alive; what is the object of such inquiries; whether these inquiries are made with his sanction; and whether he will take steps to have this practice discontinued?

I am aware of the practice, now of long standing, which is referred to by the hon. Member. The inquiries, which are made with my right hon. Friend's sanction, are necessary in the interests not only of the revenue and of the taxpayer, but of the beneficiaries, and it is not considered that any alteration of the practice is advisable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the need of funds for the heating and cleansing of Irish national schools, the expectations encouraged by the Countess of Aberdeen and the Chief Secretary for Ireland that these funds should be provided in the current financial year, the resolutions passed by the general assembly of the Presbyterian Church and other representative bodies asking managers to provide their half of the cost, and the action of many managers in providing funds in accordance with these resolutions, and in the expectation that the Treasury would supply their proportion, he can now say if the expected grant has been sanctioned?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he would 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 12th July last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will lay upon the Table a copy of the instructions to valuers under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; and whether he will state if any definite principle of valuation has been laid down by the Inland Revenue Commissioners?

It is not usual to publish merely Departmental instructions; and accordingly I do not see my way to comply with the suggestion contained in the first part of the hon. Member's Question. As regards the second part, I can assure him that the principle adopted is to make every valuation on a fair and reasonable basis.

asked whether, previous to the Finance Act of 1909, owners of land in country districts in Scotland paid and still pay county rates, consisting of county general assessment, police, valuation, registration of votes, courthouses, lunacy (all consolidated in 1889), the interest and repayment of debt incurred previous to 1890, one-half of the assessment for roads and bridges, and the assessment under Public Health Acts, and parish rates, consisting of one-half poor rate, including registration, burial, etc., school rate, special parish rate, not exceeding 6d. in the £, and the whole amount of ecclesiastical assessments for buildings and repairs of manses and churches; and whether these assessments, amounting in 1908 on an average to nearly one-seventh of the gross rental, were and are still borne wholly or in part by owners and occupiers of land only?

The Noble Lord's enumeration of the rates payable by owners and occupiers in Scotland is substantially correct. The facts are fully stated in the annual Local Taxation Returns. The rates are levied on all lands and heritages, as defined in the Valuation Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the cause of the delay in the completion of the sale of the property of the Earl of Kenmare at Hospital, county Limerick; or how soon may it be expected that the purchase money will be advanced, having regard to the fact that the purchase agreements have been signed for more than five years?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the agreements by the tenants to purchase their holdings on the estate referred to were lodged on 21st October, 1908, and subsequent dates. The estate is on the principal register of direct sales, and will be dealt with in order of priority, but the Commissioners cannot at present say when it will be reached in that order.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, owing to the fact that several thousand Irish labourers are still living in unsanitary dwellings and that money cannot be obtained for building houses only by paying a high rate of interest, he will introduce, at the earliest possible moment, a measure allocating a further sum of £1,000,000 on the same terms as the loan was granted under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1906?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question of the hon. Member for Mid-Cork on the 8th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners what is the cause of the delay in acquiring the lands belonging to William N. Leader, Esq., D.L., Dromagh, county Cork, negotiations for the purchase of these lands having now gone on for upwards of four years?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they are not prepared to purchase the lands at the sum required by the owner.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners what is the cause of the delay in acquiring the lands on the May-berry estate, near Kanturk, county Cork, from which the O'Connell family were evicted, seeing that these lands are in the owner's occupation and have been scheduled for compulsory acquirement for the past two years?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they have made an offer under the Evicted Tenants Act for these lands, which has been accepted by the owner, and they hope to be in a position to distribute them at an early date. The lands could not be compulsorily acquired pending the change in the law effected by section 67 of the Irish Land Act, 1909.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have been requested to purchase by tenants in the locality the waste farm known as Doonflynn Lower, near Skreen, county Sligo, consisting of 130 acres or thereby; and whether the Board have allowed this farm or ranch to be sold to a bailiff, named Coulter, within the last few months, thereby defeating the claims of the tenants of uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood to have their holdings enlarged?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they received memorials from the tenants in the locality asking them to purchase the farm in question, and the Board have communicated with the landlord as to whether he was prepared to negotiate for a sale through them. The Board have no knowledge as to the alleged sale of the farm to a bailiff.

asked what local authorities in Ireland have accepted leases and entered into covenants to pay rent and perform conditions for the purpose of providing technical schools?

The Department of Agriculture in Ireland will communicate with the local authorities on the subject referred to in the question, but it will take some time to obtain the required information.

asked the grounds upon which the Irish Local Government Board refused the request of the Slievardagh Ratepayers' Protection Association for a sworn inquiry into the expenditure and management of the Callan Union?

The Local Government Board have not refused a request of the Slievardagh Ratepayers' Protection Association for a sworn inquiry. In June last that Association asked the Board to send an accountant to inquire into the increased expenditure of the Union. The Board of Guardians endorsed this request, and an auditor was instructed to investigate the matter. His report was communicated to the guardians in August last. On 3rd December the guardians asked for a sworn inquiry into certain discrepancies in the workhouse stores, and on the 17th December adopted a further resolution extending the scope of the proposed inquiry. On 14th January, however, the Guardians received a communication from the Ratepayers' Association declining to have anything whatever to do with the proposed sworn inquiry. The Board are at present in communication with the Guardians with a view to being furnished with more de finite details of the points which it is desired should be investigated on oath.

asked if the Estates Commissioners have noted, for reinstatement to the farm from which her husband was evicted on the Drummond estate, county Kerry, Mrs. Nolan, now living in Brosna, county Kerry, the planter having surrendered the farm in 1908 and refused to pay the Land Commission the instalments due?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this case is at present being inquired into by an inspector.

asked whether any inspection has yet been ordered by the Estates Commissioners in the case of the Gollock estate, Knocknagoppal, county Cork; and when it will be vested in the tenant purchasers?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. This estate is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash), and having regard to the claims of the estates in priority thereto, the Estates Commissioners cannot at present say when its turn will be reached. The estate will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether he could state the grounds upon which Mrs. Annie Casey, Cuguilla, Templemore, has been refused (on appeal) an old age pension by the Local Government Board?

The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal on the ground that Mrs. Casey's means exceeded the statutory limit.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state when the "Orion," "Colossus," "Hercules," and "Lion" will be ready for trials; and when the "Princess Royal," "Monarch," and "Conqueror" will be launched?

The "Orion" and "Lion" will, it is expected, be ready for first steam trials some time in the months of June and August respectively; the "Colossus" and "Hercules" in the month of April. The "Princess Royal" and "Conqueror" will, it is anticipated, be launched in April, and the "Monarch" possibly towards the end of March.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would give the following information in respect of certain vessels built and building, namely, "King George V.," "Centurion," "Ajax," "Audacious," and the new large armoured cruiser, date of order, and laying down?

For the ships being built in the dockyards, namely "King George V. "and" Centurion," the date of order is 16th November, 1910, and that of laying down 16th January, 1911, in each; case. Orders were placed provisionally for the "Ajax" and "Audacious" on 13th December, 1910, and for the armoured cruiser on 12th January, 1911. None of these vessels have yet been laid down, though work under the contract in each case is in actual progress.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the firm of Sir John Jackson, Limited, have recently signed contracts for public work at Portsmouth; and, if so, were the fair wage clauses inserted in such contracts in accordance with Resolution of the House of Commons?

A contract was made with Sir John Jackson, Ltd., on the 3rd October, 1910, for a jetty and viaduct for the floating dock at Portsmouth. The old Fair Wages Clause was inserted in the contract in accordance with the Resolution of this House of the 13th February, 1891. In all future contracts there will be inserted the new Fair Wages Clause, as passed by this House on the 10th March, 1909.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether his attention has been called to the grievance of the seamen of the Royal Navy in having to pay heavy railway fares to their homes on Christmas leave; and whether it is possible to use vessels now lying idle in the Government dockyards for this and similar purposes?

I am aware of the circumstances mentioned in my hon. Friend's question, but it is unavoidable that wherever the ships may be when Christmas leave is given expense in railway fares must be incurred by those men who do not live in the immediate neighbourhood of the port where their ship is at the time. The best arrangements are always carefully considered, having due regard to the convenience of the men as well as to the capacities of the different ports and the maintenance of the ships in readiness for service. I am not sure that I understand what vessels are referred to in the last part of my hon. Friend's question, but it is not considered practicable to convey the men to their homes by sea in Government ships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the number of workmen now employed by the contractors on the new dock works as Rosyth; whether he has received any suggestion from the contractors for the decent housing of the workmen; and what action, if any, his Department has taken to provide such accommodation?

The number of men now being employed by the contractors on the dock works at Rosyth is 1,813. The responsibility for the housing of the workmen rests entirely with the contractors, but in order to assist the contractors in carrying out their responsibilities, the Admiralty have placed at their disposal a site to be used only for the erection of workmen's dwellings.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what percentage of the Territorial infantry failed to pass the standard test in shooting?

The number of men tested was 153,445, of whom 103,486 qualiged. The percentage of failures, therefore, amounted to 32 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for War, what is the present establishment and strength of the Territorial cavalry, artillery, and infantry?

The figures for 1st February are as follows:—

	Establishment.			Strength.
	Officers.	N.C.O's. and Men.		Officers.	N.C.O's. and Men.
Cavalry	1,345	24,766	…	1,201	23,702
Artillery	1,657	44,299	…	1,409	37,957
Infantry	5,679	195,297	…	5,002	165,878

asked the Secretary of State for War what percentage of the Territorial infantry attended camp for the minimum training of one week; how many for the full fortnight; and how many did not attend camp at all?

The figures are as follows:—

	Officers.	N. C. O's. and Men.
8 to 15 days	14·30	33·36
15 days and over	70·44	56·80
Less than 8 days	·69	·11
Absent with and without leave	14·57	9·73

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the minimum number of rounds which a private soldier in the Territorial Army, who is not a recruit, must fire with the military rifle to pass the standard test of shooting; at what distances must they be fired, and is it a necessity that the target shall be hit at all; and, if 80, how many times out of the necessary minimum number of rounds?

The information required is as follows:—Twenty-three rounds of ammunition must be fired at the following distances:—

(i.) 5 rounds at 100 yards	Lying.
(ii.) 5 rounds at 200 yards	Lying, taking cover, Five seconds for each shot.
(iii.) 5 rounds at 500 yards	Lying, taking cover.
(iv.) 8 rounds at 300 yards	Lying. One minute allowed. Chamber and magazine to be empty until the command "Rapid fire" is given.

Grouping standard for above practices:

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of rounds are allowed a recruit of the Territorial Army for shooting with the military rifle at the new 30-yard ranges now about to be used in the country; what is the number of rounds with the military rifle which a recruit must fire with the military rifle in order to pass the standard test in shooting; is there any rule that the rounds must be shot at certain stated distances, or may they all be shot at 30 yards; is it necessary for a recruit in order to pass the standard test in shooting to hit the target at all with the military rifle; and, if so, how many times must the target be hit out of the necessary minimum number of rounds?

Ninety rounds of ammunition are allowed per annum, all of which may be fired, subject to the discretion of the commanding officer, at thirty yards' range. The standard test for recruits must be carried out on an open range and not on thirty yards ranges, but in cases where recruits are not considered competent to fire on an open range, or where congestion exists owing to lack of range accommodation, they may fire for classification on thirty yards' ranges provided that not less than fifty rounds of ball ammunition have been expended during the year. The conditions of the standard test are as follows: Twenty rounds of ammunition must be fired at the following distances at open ranges only:—

(i.) 5 rounds at 100 yards lying.

(ii.) 5 rounds at 200 yards lying.

(iii.) 5 rounds at 300 yards lying.

(iv.) 5 rounds at 500 yards lying with rest.

at which the following hits are required—

(i.)	4 shots in 12 inch ring.
(ii.)	5 hits and minimum score of 14 points.
(iii.)

Those who satisfy the standards and score fifty are classified as having reached the qualifying standard.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Henry Davies, who enlisted on 16th November, 1904, in the Shropshire Light Infantry, was discharged from Netley Hospital on 20th December, 1910, suffering from consumption; that he has only a temporary pension of 8d. a day, and, being unable to work, is obliged to live in the same house with his father, a farm labourer, and six children; and whether any provision is made by the War Office for cases such as this, where a soldier has contracted disease in the service of his country, where the total income for eight persons is only 13s. 8d. a week, and where there is risk that the children will become consumptive from living in the same house with a consumptive soldier?

It appears in this case that the disease mentioned was neither caused nor aggravated by military service. It is not, therefore, possible under the regulations to award this man more than a small temporary pension.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a man named George Evans, late of Loch's Horse, was discharged as medically unfit from the Army in July, 1901, and given one year's pay as gratuity on account of wounds received from a shrapnel shell; that this man was in July, 1910, given 1s. per diem pension for life owing to the disability from which he suffers; and that the Secretary, Royal Hospital, Chelsea, in a letter dated 24th January, 1911, has informed Evans that the Commissioners of the Hospital refuse to pay him the arrears of wound pension between 1902–1910; and whether, seeing that the disability commenced in 1901 and has been continuous, he will direct that these arrears to which he is clearly entitled shall be paid to him.

George Evans was discharged in 1901 in consequence of a ruptured muscle—not a wound. It was not then considered that his disability would prevent him from earning a full livelihood. He was given a gratuity of a year's pay. On 11th July last he applied for further pension, and upon medical examination it was found that he was now incapacitated to the extent of one half. He was accordingly given a life pension from the date of his application. Arrears are never given in such cases, and it is not proposed to depart from this rule.

asked the Secretary of State for War if the advisory committee appointed last year to inquire into the conditions of employment prevailing in the Government factories at Pimlico, Weedon, Woolwich, Enfield, and Waltham Abbey have concluded their inquiries; and, if so, when their Report is likely to be presented?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he could make any statement as to the progress of the inquiry into the wages and conditions of service of the War Office employees which has been proceeding for some months; and whether he can state when the report may be expected?

I will reply at the same time to question No. 114. The Fair Wages Advisory Committee have reported upon the matters referred to them in connection with the minimum rate of labourers' wages at the establishment mentioned. An increase to the minimum and some other rates of wages will be made as from 1st April next, but the details have not been fully settled. I hope to be able to give full information upon Army Estimates within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state when he is going to take the steps he promised to relieve the block in promotion in the Royal Garrison Artillery; and if he can see his way to extend to the Royal Garrison Artillery the same privileges which have been conceded to the Indian Army and the Royal Engineers, and grant automatic promotion or brevet to lieutenants, captains, and majors of a certain length of service?

I am glad to be able to say that promotion in the Royal Garrison Artillery has recommenced, and during November and December five subalterns were promoted to captain. It is hoped that within the next three or four months ten more steps will occur. It is not considered advisable to adopt the suggestion contained in the last part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether any decision has been arrived at in favour of the proposal to lower the age at which candidates are admitted into the Royal Military College at Sandhurst; and, if so, whether he can give the reasons for the change?

I am not yet in a position to give any information. I hope shortly to make an announcement on this subject.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state whether, in face of the various colliery accidents that occur, he will consider the advisability of enforcing an increased number of exit shafts in all mines, which would afford increased facilities of escape, and also by improving ventilation lessen the chances of explosion?

I am informed by my expert advisers that it would not be possible to lay down any such general rule as the hon. Member suggests, nor would it necessarily produce the results which he contemplates. In some cases the rule would be impracticable on physical grounds—as at Whitehaven, where the workings are under the sea at a distance of three to four miles from the land—and in other cases, which would be numerous, on account of the heavy cost of sinking the shafts, which would make it impossible to carry on the mine. The utility of an additional shaft or shafts, as providing increased facilities of escape, would depend on their position with regard to the workings, and this would be continually altering, as the workings retreated in one direction or advanced in another. I am advised, moreover, that in none of the disasters of the last two or three years, except Whitehaven, would lives have been saved had there been a shaft near to the workings. As regards ventilation, the difficulties that have to be met have to do, not so much with the quantity of air introduced into the mine, as with the proper disposition of the air so as to bring it to the face. There are other and more satisfactory ways of meeting these difficulties than by the provision of additional shafts. The question of the ventilation of mines has been considered by the Royal Commission on Mines, and I am proposing to give effect to their recommendations in the amending Bill, which is now in preparation.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the result of the recent Home Office inquiry as to the conduct of the Heswall nautical school; and will a report of the inquiry be published?

The Report will shortly be laid before the House.

asked how many criminals have been sentenced to terms of penal detention under the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908; and how many of such criminals have been released upon the advice of the Home Secretary or otherwise?

Sentences of preventive detention have, up to date, been passed on 229 convicts. In one case the convict has been released on licence; another case has been noted for future release of the convict on licence before he begins his sentence of preventive detention; and in two other cases the sentence of preventive detention has been remitted, leaving the convicts to serve only their terms of penal servitude.

asked the Home Secretary whether the office set up in connection with the recent Royal Commission on the Church and other denominations in Wales has been closed; if so, on what date; and whether any Supplementary Estimate for the cost of the Commission will be presented?

The office has not yet been closed, as there are still four volumes of appendices, etc., to the Report to be published; but the staff has been greatly reduced. It is expected that the work will be finished and the office closed before the end of the present financial year, and no further Estimate for the cost of the Commission will be presented.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary teachers are at present unemployed; what has been the cost of their training to the public funds; and what steps he is taking to so regulate the number of teachers trained at the public expense as to make it more closely approximate to the demand?

As the answer to this question is very long, my right hon. Friend would be glad if the hon. Member would allow him to circulate it with the Votes to-night.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether the actuarial estimates upon which the Teacher's Superannuation Act was based allowed for a State expenditure of over £500,000 during the first seven years of the Act coming into operation; whether the actual expenditure has been less than £200,000; and whether, seeing that the State pension for a teacher after forty-four years' service is £22 per annum only, although male teachers contribute £3 10s. and female teachers £2 8s. per annum, he is now in a position to recommend that an increase shall be made in the pension rates?

The estimates referred to are presumably those appended to the Report of the Departmental Committee on the Superannuation of Teachers which was issued in 1895. The probable cost to the State of the pensions during the first seven years following the establishment of the scheme was there placed at £576,418; the actual cost during that period was £196,178. But the Committee's estimates were based on the supposed maintenance of a staff of about 56,000 certificated teachers, while the number now employed in public elementary schools is about 100,000. This increase has no appreciable effect on the pension charge for the present, but the liability to which the State has committed itself by the Act will probably in future years exceed the amount estimated by the Committee. The last paragraph of the hon. Member's Question appears to be based on a misapprehension. The Super annuation Allowance receivable by a teacher retiring on April 1st, 1910, after forty-four years continuous service would be £40 3s. if a man, and £34 2s. if a woman. Under the scheme of the Act, the Allowance decreases as the number of years service prior to the passing of the Act grows less, but it will not be as small as £22, as stated in the Question, until the year 1943. Moreover, it has no relation to the amount of the teacher's contributions, which are credited to the Deferred Annuity Fund, and produce an annuity which he receives at the age of sixty-five, in addition to any Superannuation Allowance to which he may be entitled. Assuming the present rate of contribution to be maintained, the Annuity receivable by a male teacher retiring after forty-four years' service in 1943 would be about £42, and his total pension would therefore amount to £64.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many elementary teachers are at present unemployed; what has been the cost of their training to the public funds; and what steps he is taking to so regulate the number of teachers trained at the public expense as to make it more closely approximate to the demand?

Assuming, as I think I may, that the question is intended to refer only to certificated teachers, I must point out that it could not be answered with precision unless the Board were able to keep in touch with every teacher who has received the Board's certificate since the year 1847, when certificates were first granted. The number of teachers certificated from the year 1847 to 1st January, 1910, was 187,299. The Board's records show that there were on the staffs of public elementary schools during the year ending 31st July, 1910, 97,851 certificated teachers. The Board have investigated the records of service of each of the 187,000 teachers referred to above. Of the 90,000 not employed in public elementary schools in 1010, upwards of 4,000 are known to be in receipt of superannuation allowances, disablement allowances, or Code pensions. The Board have no means of keeping in touch with the teachers whose names do not appear on the staff sheets of public elementary schools, other than those in receipt of pensions. They are, therefore, unable to say how many of the 86,000 remaining to be accounted for are dead, or how many have permanently retired from the profession; but it is obvious that a great number must, if still alive, be upwards of sixty-five years of age. I am afraid it would be quite impossible to calculate the amount expended out of public funds on the training of the residue, whatever it may be. Indeed it would be extremely difficult to find out what kind of training, if any, was given in the case of a great number of them. The last part of the question refers to a matter which I have been considering very closely of late. Having regard to the supply of teachers as a whole throughout the country, I am not aware that any material disproportion can be shown to exist between supply and demand in respect of properly qualified teachers for public elementary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government has considered any proposals to cede the whole or part of the Colony of Gambia to a foreign Power?

No proposals of the nature indicated are before the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the event of the whole or part of the Colony of Gambia being ceded to a foreign Power, he can state what measures are contemplated for adequately safeguarding the interests of British traders, British trade interests, and British subjects resident in the Colony?

It would be premature to contemplate measures for safeguarding British interests in the Colony of the Gambia when no proposal for its cession is before His Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Development Commissioners are officially represented in this House; and, if not, to whom should questions in reference to their work and policy be addressed?

Questions should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, or, in his absence, the representative of the Treasury.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has been requested by the West Biding County Council to consent to the raising of the equivalent of a 4d. rate for secondary education in the West Biding; whether before giving that consent he will cause a full inquiry to be held at which all parties can be heard; and, if so, when and where that inquiry will probably take place?

I am arranging for a public local inquiry to be held in regard to this matter, at which all parties can be heard. I propose that the inquiry should be held in the County Hall, Wakefield, and I trust to be able to arrange it for Thursday, the 2nd of March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of advisory committees there are formed under the Labour Exchanges Act, and the towns or districts in which they are established?

Advisory trade committees under the Labour Exchanges Act have already been appointed by the Board of Trade in the following nine areas:—London and the Home Counties, West Midlands, East Midlands, Liverpool and District, Manchester and District, Yorkshire West Biding (Northern section), Yorkshire West Biding (Southern Section), West of England, and South Wales. Arrangements are in progress for the formation of such committees in Scotland, Ireland, the North-East Coast, Hampshire, and the Eastern Counties. In addition, special advisory committees for juvenile employment have been appointed in a number of towns.

asked the President if he will grant a re-issue of the Return, No. 329, December, 1909, entitled United Kingdom (Trade, Commerce, and Condition of the People), substituting the Returns for the year 1910 in lieu of those therein given for 1908?

I shall be happy to have a Return prepared on these lines if my hon. Friend will move for it. As, however, some of the figures are not yet available for 1910 I think it will be convenient to include in the Return particulars for 1908 and 1909, as well as for 1910.

asked the Postmaster-General whether telegrams are delivered within the London area at any time of the day or night free of charge for porterage; to what distance from the Central Telegraph Office does the London area extend; what arrangements are made for the delivery to persons living just beyond that area of telegrams received after eight o'clock p.m.; and what charge is levied upon them for porterage?

Telegrams are delivered at any time within the London postal area without charge for porterage. The area extends about six to eleven miles from the General Post Office according to the direction. During the hours when the usual delivery office is closed, telegrams for persons residing beyond that area, are, if the sender has so requested, delivered at a charge of 1s. per mile for porterage from the Central Telegraph Office, or from a Provincial Post Office if there happens to be one open for telegraphic business situated nearer the address.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state in what counties, if any, the Small Holdings Commissioners have acted in default of the county council to supply the demand for small holdings; and the acreage of land, if any, that has been acquired by the Commissioners in each of such counties, respectively?

No order under Section 6 (2) of the Act of 1908 has been made against any County Council. One such order has been made in the County Borough of Bournemouth, in which case the Commissioner has arranged to acquire forty-eight acres on a seven years' lease by agreement with one of the landowners.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture when it is proposed to issue the Report of the Departmental Committee on Swine Fever?

The Committee have not yet finished their deliberations, and I am unable to say when the Report will be issued.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if a building lease of a site bounded by Glasshouse Street, Sherwood Street, Brewer Street, and Air Street, in the parish of St. James's, has been granted by the Office of Works. Woods, and Forest to a large firm who had no previous connection with the site; and, it so, will he state the reason why the interests of the present Crown tenants were not previously considered by giving them the option either of renewal of their leases, of obtaining building leases, or of acquiring the same by public tender?

The Commissioners of Woods have arranged to grant a building lease of the site in question for the erection of an hotel with a number of shops on the ground floor, and it has been arranged that occupiers of shops now on the site shall have the first option of taking the new shops. The small houses now on the site are of considerable age and the Commissioners were advised that they should be removed, and that for the improvement and development of the Crown property the site should be let for the erection of one large establishment rather than for the re-erection of houses of a class similar to those now existing. With a view to causing as little disturbance as practicable to those of the present shop occupiers who desire to remain on the site a new letting before the expiration of the present leases was expedient.