asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether an Advisory Committee on fishery matters has been appointed by the Development Commissioners; and, if so, would he state the names and qualifications of the members?

In pursuance of the powers conferred on them under Section 4 (3) of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, the Development Commissioners have appointed an Advisory Committee to advise them on applications for advances and schemes for the development and improvement of fisheries.The Committee is constituted as follows:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is the practice of the revenue officials in Ireland, in collecting Income Tax under Schedules A and B from tenant purchasers, to apply for the tax in the first instance on the assumption that the lands are held free from any annuity to the Land Commission, and only to make an allowance in respect of such annuity when application is expressly made for it by the occupier, who is in most cases quite ignorant as to the basis on which Income Tax is payable; whether, in consequence of this practice, Income Tax is in many cases paid on application by persons not really liable, or liable for a lesser sum than that paid; and whether instructions will be given to collectors to inquire as to the possible existence of a Land Commission annuity in cases where it is likely that one exists, or that at least information will be given on the form of application that where such annuity exists the occupier is entitled to an allowance in respect of it?

While it is impracticable (owing to the fact that the demand notes have been already issued) to adopt for this year the suggestions of the hon. Member, I will consider whether any further steps can be taken next year in the direction indicated. As regards the current year, I may explain that the instructions issued to Revenue officers in Ireland in this matter are that every care is to be taken to discharge from the demand for Income Tax (Schedule A) the equivalent duty on interest in lieu of rent or in respect of the purchase annuity, and if in any case tax has been inadvertently demanded and paid upon such interest it is to be repaid upon application and proof as to the amount of interest. Liability under Schedule B is not affected by the fact that the land is subject to a purchase annuity payable to the Land Commission.

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 the 12th July last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a number of those who are entitled to exemption or abatement of Income Tax do not, through ignorance, obtain it; that many only obtain it through agencies, and thereby lose a proportion of the money which ought never to have been taken from them; and whether he will issue regulations to the Income Tax officials pointing out that it is as much their duty to see that no more is collected and retained than is due as to see that all that is due is collected?

Every facility is afforded to the public of reclaiming (without the intervention of agencies) the Income Tax to which they are entitled, and the issue of any such regulations as suggested does not appear to be necessary.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of old age pensioners in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, respectively, on the 31st December, 1910; and the sum paid by way of pension in each country in the last week of December, 1910?

The numbers of Old Age Pensioners on 31st December, 1910, were:—

England and Wales	…	…	470,456
Scotland	…	…	80,502
Ireland	…	…	182,967
			733,925

The aggregate amounts paid out in respect of pensions in the week ended the 29th December, 1910, were:—

		£	s.	d.
England and Wales.	…	114,564	2	0
Scotland	…	19,876	16	0
Ireland	…	49,997	17	0
		184,438	15	0

It should be added that the week in question is, in some respects, an abnormal one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state why John Ponting, who owns Pill Heath, Hurst-bourne Tarrant, size thirty-three acres, has not received the deduction due to him under Schedule A, seeing that he applied for it four months ago?

I will cause inquiry to be made into the case to which the hon. and gallant Members refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in making any Amendments in the Old Age Pensions Act, he will consider the advisability of reducing the number of years which makes it eligible for a person not resident in the United Kingdom to receive a pension from twenty to fifteen years?

The question whether this or any other Amendment of the statutory condition as to residence is desirable will be carefully considered.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of the income of any individual, owing to a permanent diminution of such income, being under £5,000 since April, 1909, from which date Super-tax is imposed, such individual would be liable to pay Super-tax because his income happened to be over £5,000 for the year immediately preceding the imposition of the Super-tax?

Liability to Supertax is in all cases required to be based upon the statutory income for the year preceding the year of charge.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the proportion of the new licence duties imposed by The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, which falls upon the licensed trade in London is in excess of the amount paid by the trade in other parts of the United Kingdom; and, if so, whether he will at the earliest opportunity take steps to remedy this inequality?

It has been publicly announced that my right hon. Friend has been in conference with representatives of the licensed trade on the subject of the proper method of computing annual value for the purpose of licence duties, and that he has promised to include in the financial provisions which Parliament will be asked to pass before the close of the financial year an Amendment dealing with this matter. In these circumstances, I must ask the hon. Member to wait until that Amendment is before the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience and risk of loss resulting from the necessity of having deeds assessed for Increment Duty prior to registration in the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry of Title in Ireland; whether any similar question has arisen in counties where registry of land or deeds exists in England; and whether, in view of the fact that priority of right may, in many cases, depend on priority of registration, and that such priority may, without any fault of those concerned, be lost by delay in having Increment Duty assessed, he will make such amendment in the law as will enable deeds to be registered without having Increment Duty first assessed?

It is not a fact that deeds are required to be or are assessed for Increment Value Duty prior to registration in the Registry of Deeds and the Land Registry in Ireland. Reasonable particulars only of the transaction carried out by a deed are required to be presented to the Inland Revenue Department, and normally the deed is stamped with an Increment Value Duty ("Particulars Delivered") stamp without delay, and in the great majority of cases is handed back on the same day as the particulars are delivered. Any inconvenience or delay is thus reduced to a minimum, and the same practice prevails in England. With regard to the third part of the question, I do not consider that any amendment of the law is required.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in 1900 the grant to the Irish Intermediate Board from Ireland's share of Customs and Excise duties was £71,400, and last year it was only £16,000, while the grant to Scotland was £187,200, and to England, £776,740; and whether, in view of the disproportion of these figures and the urgency of additional funds being provided for Irish secondary education, he is prepared to include a Treasury Grant for this purpose in the Supplementary Estimates for the current financial year?

I am unable to admit the comparison between the English, Scotch, and Irish figures quoted by the hon. Member. There is no intention of including in the Supplementary Estimates a Grant to supplement the statutory income of the Intermediate Education Board, Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any rules of procedure have yet been laid down under which the Commissioners are to act in coming to their decision on applications made under Section 47, Sub-section (1), of The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; whose business it is to lay down such rules; what is the reason, if any, for the delay in dealing with applications under the section; and when applications made as long ago as September last, having reference to payments made last April (1910), will be dealt with and communicated to the applicants?

Section 47 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, does not provide for the issue of rules of procedure. The Section raises questions of some difficulty, and as the duty imposed on the Commissioners of Customs and Excise is a novel one, they have deferred giving their decisions in order to be able to give full consideration to the views of the Justices, who, under the Section, are to have an opportunity of reporting on the matter, on the various classes of cases to be dealt with. I am informed that the Commissioners hope shortly to be in a position to announce their decisions on the applications before them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he would call on the Estates Commissioners to explain how it was that, in the sale of the lands of Brannigan, the property of the Messrs. Shaws, of Ballymahon, county Longford, one of the evicted tenants, Patt Kenny, on this property, got no opportunity of purchasing either the part he lost or the part he still held in possession; and whether the Commissioners would provide Patt Kenny with some other holding?

The Estates Commissioners have not received an application from any one named Patt Kenny seeking reinstatement in a holding on the estate of J. R. Shaw, and another in the county Longford. There was a Pat Kenny, a sub-tenant on the estate referred to, who occupied two plots on the lands of Bally-branigan amounting to less than one acre, and the Commissioners decided that this was not a case in which they should declare the sub-tenant to be a direct tenant for the purposes of sale.

asked the Chief Secretary if he would call on the Estates Commissioners to reinstate William Kenna, son of an evicted tenant, to his father's holding in the townland of Rathmore, the property of Edward Shore, Rathmore, Ballymahon, from which they were evicted about six years ago, the farm being derelict and waste?

The application of William Kenna will be considered when the Estates Commissioners are dealing with the estates on which the lands in question are situate.

asked whether, in the case of applicants for old age pensions whose names cannot be traced in the Census Returns of either 1841 or 1842, the Local Government Board would consider the advisability of adopting some scheme whereby the statutory declarations or sworn affidavits of aged persons giving facts and reasons will be deemed conclusive evidence as to age in future?

All facts and reasons submitted on behalf of a claimant or pensioner are fully considered, but the Local Government Board could not accept statutory declarations or sworn affidavits as conclusive evidence of age.

asked whether Elizabeth Lavin, of Geevagh, county Sligo (Bally-farnon (No. 2) sub-committee, county Sligo), has been deprived of her pension by the Local Government. Board, because her name does not appear on the Census of 1841; and whether, seeing that this applicant's age is given as eleven years in the Census of 1851, and that it is a matter of notoriety in the neighbourhood that this old woman is over seventy-one years of of age, as has been attested to by the parish priest and other old residents of the locality, her pension will be given to her?

The facts are as stated. Mrs. Garvin's claim was disallowed in September last, and she would now be regarded as having reached the statutory age. If she is in all other respects qualified for a pension it is open to her to make a fresh claim.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in connection with the case of Thomas Mulreed, of Rahula, in the Castlerea pension district, county Roscommon, an applicant for an old age pension, he was aware that the land alleged to belong to the applicant is not his property, that he has no interest in the stock, and that the valuation of the alleged good land of 26 acres is only £4 9s. 3d.; and whether he will state on what basis it is estimated that a profit of over £31 10s. can be derived out of land of such valuation, which is now in the possession of another person?

The Local Government Board were aware that Thomas Mulreed had assigned his farm and stock to a son in March, 1910, but as the assignment appears to have been made with the object of securing the pension the profits from it were regarded as part of his means in accordance with Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908. The papers are not in the possession of the Board and they are therefore not able to state definitely whether the valuation is as stated. The Board's estimate of the profits was based on the stock and crops on the farm at Mullen to which Mulreed was charged by the Congested District? Board.

asked whether Patrick Feely, of Cornalaughta, Fivemile-bourne. Register No. 1045, who was in receipt of the old age pension from the 18th of August, 1909, was disqualified on the ground that he was not the statutory age according to the Census of 1851; and, having regard to the fact of a mistake being in the entry of Census, as he was given as the fifth child of Pat and Anne Feely, married 1836, whereas he is the fourth, and to the fact of the local committee granting him the pension three times on the sworn evidence of persons whose ages ranged from 75 to 80 years, he will be granted the pension with all arrears?

Patrick Feely's name did not appear in the Census return of his parent's family in 1841, and he was recorded as six years old in the return of 1851, from which it would appear that he is now about sixty-six years of age. The evidence adduced to controvert this did not satisfy the Board.

asked whether his attention had been called to the case of Mrs. Ann Casey, Cuguilla, Templemore, who was the owner of a small farm of sixteen acres, which she handed over to her son William ten years ago on the occasion of his marriage, in consideration of receiving his wife's fortune, namely, £100, out of which she provided for her other child, as is customary amongst the people of her class in Ireland; whether he is aware that Mrs. Casey has been refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board, on the grounds that her means exceed the statutory limit; and whether, under these circumstances, he will advise the Local Government Board to reconsider her appeal, with a view to granting her an old age pension?

The assignment of the farm of eighteen Irish acres and the stock thereon was made on the 15th April, 1910, and not ten years ago as stated in the question, and it appeared to have been made with a view to enable Mrs. Casey to obtain a pension. The profits of the farm were therefore included in the estimate of her means in accordance with Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds Mrs. Ellen Fleming, of Ballylanders, county Limerick, was deprived of her pension; whether he was aware that her age could not be found in the Census Returns or in the parish registry, and that two respectable men, viz., James Riordan and William Brassil, certified to the pension officer that this woman was more than seventy-two years of age; and, having regard to the circumstances of the case and the position of this woman, will instructions be given to the pension officer to have her pension continued, and all back money allowed, seeing that the local pension committee have on three different occasions passed this woman's claim?

It does not appear to be the case that Mrs. Fleming's claim was passed three times by the Local Pension Committee, as it was the committee that discontinued her pension on a question raised by the pension officer on the ground that she had not reached the statutory age. Her appeal to the Local Government Board against the committee's decision was late, and could not, therefore, be entertained. The Board have no information as to what evidence was before the committee when they decided to disallow the pension.

asked the Chief Secretary, whether he would state the names of urban districts in Ireland which were provided with public slaughterhouses, and those (if any) where such slaughter-houses were in course of construction, whether each of those already in use was provided with a qualified meat inspector; what had been the average cost of erecting and equipping these slaughterhouses; and which of them were considered to have been built on the most up-to-date lines and best to fulfil modern requirements?

The Local Government Board do not possess, in a complete form, the information requested in the first paragraph of the question; and the particulars could only be ascertained by communicating with the several urban district councils throughout Ireland. The Board do not consider it advisable to express any opinion such as that requested in the last paragraph of the question.

asked whether a small number of the tenants on the estate of Robert White, of Dromahair, county Leitrim, who had together with all the other tenants agreed to the terms of purchase and signed purchase agreements two years ago, have been deprived of the benefits of the Land Act through their agreements not being lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and whether, before taking over this estate, the Commissioners will inquire into the facts of the case?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that purchase agreements have been lodged in respect of fifty-eight holdings on the estate referred to. When the estate is being inspected due inquiry will be made as regards the eight holdings in respect of which no purchase agreements have been lodged.

asked whether the tenants on the Cloonaquin, Carrigeen-cur, Gortinar, and Cloonlougher portion of the Wynne estate, county Leitrim, have forwarded a memorial to the Congested Districts Board requesting their intervention to purchase the estate; and whether, having regard to the fact that there are thousands of acres of the best land on the estate rendered useless annually through the overflowing of the River Bonett, the drainage of which would cost very little and be a reproductive work, the Board will take steps to relieve the tenants and congestion in the district?

The Congested Districts Board have received memorials from the tenants of some town-lands on the Wynne estate, county Leitrim, including Cloonlougher only of those mentioned in the question, asking the Board to purchase the estate and to carry out the drainage works referred to. The estate is not one which has yet been offered to the Board, but the representations that have been made are receiving attention. Drainage operations would not be undertaken by the Board in such a case until they become owners of the lands affected.

asked what was the total amount of money applied for under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts for schemes at present pending before the Local Government Board, and the total amounts of any other similar schemes of which the Local Government Board had any cognisance?

About fifty thousand pounds of the proposed million will be required to finance schemes regarding which authorising orders have been actually made or are pending. The total amount applied for by rural district councils in respect of the other schemes which have been lodged with the Local Government Board is £254,757. The Board are not in possession of particulars of the estimated cost of other schemes which are being formulated.

asked whether, in view of the numerous questions and requests by the hon. Member for West Cavan, the Estates Commissioners even now are about to deal with the case of Charle? Lynch, a county Cavan evicted tenant; and how many other evicted tenants in Cavan are still awaiting reinstatement?

As regards the first paragraph of the question I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the similar question of the hon. Member on the 23rd June last. The information requested in the final paragraph will be found in Table XXVII. of the last Annual Report of the Estates Commissioners.

asked what is the cause of the delay in having the sale of Earl Kenmare's property completed, having regard to the fact that purchase agreements have been signed since 1905; can the Estates Commissioners say how soon the property may be vested; and whether such will be done this year?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that if the hon. Member refers to the Earl of Kenmare's estate situate in county Limerick, the majority of the purchase agreements are dated 1st May, 1908, and were lodged in the Land Commission on 21st October, 1908, from which date it takes priority. Having regard to its place in the principal register of direct sales and to the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Commissioners cannot at present say when its turn will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked whether the Wallis estate, situate at Green Hills, county Meath, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and what is the result?

This estate has not been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners. The Commissioners informed the owner's solicitor that if he so desired they would have a preliminary inspection made of the lands with a view to estimating the price they would be prepared to offer if formal proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts were instituted by the owner. No such proceedings have been instituted up to the present.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the Barlow estate, situate in the parish of Nobber, county Meath; and if it is at present available for distribution?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner is willing to sell the lands referred to at their estimated price, and he instituted formal proceedings for their sale in July last. The estate will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners will approach the owner of the Rotherham estate, situate at Ballinrink, Oldcastle, county Meath, with the view of acquiring it for the relief of uneconomic holders in the district?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the suggestion of the hon. Member will be duly considered by them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been called to the want of a fishery pier at Gerhies, Bantry; whether inspectors from the Congested Districts Board for Ireland have reported as to the necessity and the advantage to the fishing industry of such a pier; and, in view of the fact that very little has been done for the South of Ireland by the Congested Districts Board, will he call the said Board's immediate attention to this work?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that attention has been called to the want of a pier at Gerhies, Bantry. Reports have been received as to the advantages that might be hoped for by the erection of a pier as suggested, but there are many other places where a greater necessity is considered to exist. Far more money in proportion to the population has been spent in the South than in the North or West of Ireland, but the Board will be glad to consider the application for a pier at Gerhies as soon as they can fairly do so.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he could state the date upon which he will bring in his Bill to provide additional money for the building of labourers' cottages in Ireland; whether he was aware that several rural district councils have started to make schemes on the strength of his promise to the House of Commons; and whether, in view of this and in order to enable the councils to complete their schemes next summer, so that the houses may be available for occupation by the labourers before next winter, he will advise the Local Government Board to arrange to hold the local inquiries immediately?

As regards the first paragraph of the question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Mid-Cork on the 8th instant. It is a fact that several rural district councils are formulating improvement schemes, but the Local Government Board consider that, pending the passage of the proposed legislation, it is inexpedient to hold inquiries at present into the schemes which have been forwarded to them.

asked how many Fancy names for margarine and how many for milk-blended butter have been approved and registered by the Department of Agriculture under The Butter and Margarine Act, 1907; and will he state what these name are?

The Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland have approved of 411 names for use in connection with margarine, and a provisional approval has been given of one name, "Bondone," under which milk-blended butter may, subject to certain conditions, be dealt with. A list of the names approved of for margarine will be sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state how many fancy names for margarine and how many for milk-blended butter have been approved and registered by his Department under the Butter and Margarine Act, 1907; and will he state what those names are?

The Board have approved 1,831 names for margarine and forty-four for mixtures of butter with milk. In view of these numbers perhaps the hon. Member will excuse me from stating what the names are.

asked the Chief Secretary the cause of delay in issuing vesting orders to the tenants on the Anne O'Keefe estate, situate at Copsefield, Newmarket, county Cork, agreements to purchase having been signed in April, 1906, and the other portions of this lady's estate having been vested in the tenants?

The estate referred to is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash), and, having regard to its position and the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Estates Commissioners cannot at present say when its turn will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible. The Commissioners are not aware that any portion of the estate is vested in the purchasing tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners the number of holdings in Cork county for which agreements to purchase have been lodged, but not inspected, previous to the passing of the Land Act of 1909; how many estates in county Cork, purchased under the Act of 1903, have been inspected since the Land Act of 1909 became operative; and on how many estates in the same county have agreements to purchase been lodged under the Act of 1909, and the number inspected and vested?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that direct sale agreements under the Irish Land Act, 1903, to purchase 18,196 holdings in county Cork were lodged in the Land Commission on or before the 15th September, 1909 (the date mentioned in Section 13 of the Irish Land Act, 1909), and of this number 6,624 were vested in the purchasing tenants before and 408 since the passing of the Act. Direct sale agreements under the Act of 1909 for the purchase of 492 holdings in county Cork have been lodged, and of this number 40 have been vested to date. These 492 holdings include 242 situate on 17 estates, for the sale of which proceedings were instituted since the passing of the Act of 1909. The records of the Land Commission are not kept in such a form as to give by counties the other information asked for in the question.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners had yet considered the claim of Michael McGloin, of Largydonnell, county Leitrim, an evicted tenant on the Johnston estate since 1897, for reinstatement and a free grant; and, if not, will they now consider it?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that they do not appear to have received any application for reinstatement from the Michael McGloin referred to in the question?

asked what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire the farm from which Richard Cambie was evicted on the Trant estate at Loughmore, county Tipperary, with a view to reinstate the representative of the late tenant; and whether he can state the cause of the delay in this case, seeing the farm is on the landlord's hands?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the owner of the estate referred to has declined to reinstate Cambie. He states Cambie's father was never evicted, but surrendered the farm occupied by him. The Commissioners will have further inquiries made in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received a memorial from some tenants on the Langley estate, at Lickfin, county Tipperary, stating that they signed their agreements to purchase on condition that they would receive enlargements of their present holdings; and whether he can state when this estate will be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that from the particulars given in the question they are unable to trace the receipt of the memorial referred to. The estate is on the principal register of direct sales, and, having regard to its position and the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Commissioners cannot at present say when its turn will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked whether Mr Richard W. Cooper has expressed his readiness to sell his estate at Ballinrea, Douglas, county Cork, to the Estates Commissioners, including untenanted lands for the provision of holdings for the evicted tenants on the estate; and, if so, what prospect is there of the Estates Commissioners accepting his offer and arranging for the reinstatement of the evicted tenants?

The Estates Commissioners have had a preliminary inspection made of the lands referred to, and have communicated to the owner their estimated price. If he institutes proceedings for sale the question of the reinstatement of the evicted tenants will be dealt with by the Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for War, with reference to his letter dated 7th November, 1906, addressed to Sir Claude C. de Crespigny, Baronet, whether he can furnish the names of those to whom he refers to as his expert advisers?

The expert advisers mentioned were the four military members of the Army Council.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Alexander Burger, who was sentenced for felony at the last Southampton Quarter Sessions, having returned to England within two months of having been deported for another offence; and what steps the Government propose taking to put an end to such violations of the law?

The facts of this case are not correctly stated in the question; but it is true that an alien named Alexander Burger came before the Recorder of Southampton at the last Sessions and that he had been previously expelled from this country. He had, indeed, been expelled three times, and was liable to a sentence of imprisonment for twelve months for his repeated contraventions of the Expulsion Order. The Recorder imposed a sentence of one month's imprisonment, and I thought it right to represent to him that such a sentence was calculated to encourage this alien, and others, to return to the United Kingdom after expulsion rather than to deter them. The Recorder courteously put before me the reasons which led him to pass such a light sentence, but I remain of opinion that the imposition of the full penalty provided by the statutes in this behalf is the right way to prevent these violations of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any truth in the statement published by the "Frankfurter Zeitung" that the rebels in the Yemen derive weapons from English sources?

His Majesty's Government do not know from what sources the rebels in the Yemen derive their weapons, but they have no reason to suppose that there is any truth in the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a translation of the Report of the Dutch Royal Commission on the defences of Holland, or such part of it as may have been published?

The full report has not been published, but only a memorandum, based on those portions of it which are not of a secret character. A translation of the memorandum has been received at the Foreign Office, and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the fortress of Terneuzen on the Scheldt is a modern one?

The fortress is, I understand, not a modern one.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, in vew of the size and importance of the fishery industry of the North of Scotland, he would consider the desirability of strengthening the Fishery Board for Scotland by appointing thereto a gentleman with practical experience of the fishery questions affecting this region?

In the reconstitution of the Fishery Board due attention has been given to the matter to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked how many applications have been made in Lancashire for land for small holdings and allotments under the Act of 1908; how much land has been acquired; and how many of the applicants have been supplied with land?

369 applications have been received, of which 256 have been provisionally approved by the County Council of Lancashire up to the end of last year. Of these, 34 have been satisfied by the council, and 23 have been supplied with holdings by private landowners direct. The council have acquired 453 acres of land.