asked whether Mr. Bryce, our Ambassador in America, assisted in any way to bring about the proposed preferential trading arrangements between the United States and Canada?

I have nothing to add to the reply returned to the question asked by the hon. Member for Hammersmith on the 16th inst.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Prime Minister stated that the British Ambassador was in constant communication with the Canadian negotiations? Is that true?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on the 16th inst.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he would lay upon the Table of the House the text of all instructions that may have been given to His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington with regard to the reciprocity negotiations between Canada and the United States, and the text of all reports from the Ambassador relating thereto?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply returned by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the question of the hon. Member for the Chertsey Division of Surrey on the 8th inst.

asked whether His Majesty's Government have had any communications with the Canadian Government on the application of the Reciprocity Agreement to most-favoured-nation countries; and whether the concessions included in the Canada-United States reciprocity agreement must, when the agreement is in operation, be extended to all foreign countries to whom Canada extends most-favoured-nation treatment?

The Canadian Government have announced that the advantages of the agreement will extend to such countries.

In view of the right hon. Gentleman's reply, will he communicate with the President of the Board of Trade and ask him to obtain from the Commercial Intelligence Branch a report of the effect on British trade by the extension of the Canadian tariff concessions to the United States to such a large number of other British competitors in the Canadian market?

I have no doubt that will be carefully considered by my right hon. Friend when full information has been received.

asked on how many of the 102 items in the Reciprocity Agreement between the United States and Canada the preference with the United Kingdom is diminished; and on how many the preference is completely wiped out?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that of the 102 items on which the duties would be lowered for goods entering Canada from the United States under the proposed Reciprocal Agreement, seventy-two are items in which British preference is lowered, and thirty are items in which British preference is wiped out; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return Cd. 5537, issued on Thursday last, which gives full particulars of the changes of duty which would result from the adoption of the proposed agreement.

Is it the fact, as asked in the second part of my question, that on some of these items the preference would be entirely wiped out?

I explained the other day in a speech which I made to the House the nature of the result. The hon. Gentleman will find in this paper the information that he requires.

Will the Government take no steps to prevent the gradual wiping out; of British trade?

Is it not a fact that the Canadian Government's hands are in no way bound with regard to Preference, and that they have promised to give the most favourable consideration to this country?

So I understand.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether wheat conveyed from Canada in bond for shipment from United States ports and shipped to this country from United States ports during the winter season is reckoned in the Board of Trade returns under the heading of exports from Canada or exports from the United States?

The records of imports into this country are based upon the countries from which the goods were consigned and not on the countries from which they were shipped. Consequently, if Canadian wheat shipped from United States ports is consigned to the United Kingdom from Canada it appears in the Trade Returns as imported from that Dominion.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will lay upon the Table of the House the instructions given to His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, in connection with the reciprocity negotiations between Canada and the United States, in which His Majesty's Ambassador assisted, and the communications on the subject between His Majesty's Ambassador and His Majesty's Government; and whether he will give His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington instructions to make inquiries as to whether Mr. Champ Clark, leader of the Democratic party in the United States and the Speaker-Elect of the new House of Representatives, has stated that the British Government would willingly and joyfully assent to the Dominion of Canada becoming part of the Republic, so that the American flag could fly over the whole of British North America right up to the Pole?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Member for the Central Division of Sheffield to-day, and to the answer which he returned to the hon. Member for Hammersmith on the 16th instant. As regards the second part of the question I do not consider it necessary to give fictitious importance to the alleged statement by sending official instructions about it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have received no answer from the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs except to refer me to somebody else?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the statement alluded to in the latter part of his reply appears in the Official Report of the United States House of Representatives?

That makes no difference to my answer.

It shows it is not fictitious?

I did not say it was fictitious. I will repeat my answer:—

"I do not consider it necessary to give fictitious importance …."

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he considers a statement made by the Leader of a great party in the United States a fictitious statement?

The hon. Gentleman does not appear to appreciate the effect of the answer that I do not "give fictitious importance to the statement."

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will say it is an alleged statement when it appears in he Official Report of the House of Representatives?

I am quite ready to believe that the statement was made, but I have no official knowledge of it.

I think we have heard enough of the matter.

asked whether Mr. Bryce, the British Ambassador at Washington, watched the conclusions of the various stages of the reciprocity negotiations between Canada and the United States; was he in constant communication with the Canadian negotiators; and did he keep his eye on the special interests of British trade; and (2) whether Mr. Bryce was successful in preventing any minimising of the British preference during the negotiations?

During the negotiations at Washington between the Canadian and United States representatives the discussion ranged over man details of a complicated nature, and it was not possible for His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington to follow the various stages closely. His Excellency was, however, furnished with accounts by the Canadian Delegates from time to time. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative. The extent to which the British preference has been minimised is one on which the hon. Member will be able to form his own opinion.

Is it a fact that our Ambassador at Washington agreed to the diminution of the British preference, and to the doing away with the most-favoured-nation clause?

It was not a question for the agreement of the British Ambassador. These were negotiations for agreements to be submitted to the Canadian and United States Legislatures respectively.

Did he not make any protest?

Are we to understand that the Ambassador did not keep his eye on the special interests of the trade of this country?

I have already said that he did.

asked when the report of Consul-General Casement, on the treat- ment of natives in the Putumayo region of the Amazon was received; when would it be laid before the House; whether it had been the subject of communications addressed to the Peruvian Government; and whether, if so, any reply had been received?

The report from Mr. Casement was received on February 6th. Since then I have heard that the Peruvian Government, to whom certain points which appeared urgent were communicated at once, have ordered a judicial commission to proceed to the Putumayo. I cannot at present reply to the second part of the hon. Member's question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he was aware that Mary Lahiff, of Carron, county Clare, applied for a pension in 1910, and was refused on the ground that she was not seventy years of age, that the claim was subsequently made good and the woman proved to be seventy-six, and the pension allowed; and whether he would consider the possibility of allowing the pension from the date when the claim was first lodged?

I am informed that, in connection with her first claim, Mrs. Lahiff did not give correctly the particulars requisite for establishing her age by reference to the Census Records. The result was that she could not be traced in these records, and that in the absence of any evidence of age the claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal. As the Pension Officer was not at fault, I regret I cannot sanction a grant to Mrs. Lahiff for any period prior to the date when her second claim was allowed.

Can arrangements be made that in all cases in which a claimant for an old age pension has been unable to produce the required evidence of old age on the first occasion, but subsequently does so, the pension shall be paid from the date of the original claim?

I am afraid I cannot do that. There are certain cases in which the fault is attributable to the pension officer. In this case, unfortunately, the fault was due to this lady not merely not giving the particulars required, but giving an incorrect report. It was, therefore, entirely owing to her own action that she was unsuccessful on the first occasion. Under these circumstances, I fear I could not agree to act as suggested.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman make a difference in a case where the Pension Committee are satisfied and grant the claim, and where it was satisfactorily proved that the claimant was of the proper age, so that the Government might reconsider this matter, and obviate the injustice of depriving this woman of the money?

The hon. Member had better put down a question. We have had only five questions, and six supplementaries.

I beg to give notice that I will call the attention of the House to this monstrous injustice.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Luke Torsney, residing in the pension district of Ballymote, was in receipt of a pension of 2s. during the year 1909; whether, at the beginning of 1910, Torsney appealed to the Local Government Board (Appeal No. 7, 1575), demanding 5s. per week, which appeal was refused; whether he was aware that this man voluntarily gave up his pension book, with the result that during 1910 and up to the present he has received no pension; whether, at the end of 1910, Torsney applied for his pension book, with the view of drawing his back pensions at the rate of 2s. per week for 1910, and that his application was refused; and, if so, whether the amounts due to this man for the whole of this year will now be paid him?

The facts are as stated in the first three parts of the question. As regards the fourth part, Luke Torsney's application for the pension, which he might have drawn during 1910, has not been refused; and the pension of 2s. a week has been restored to him with arrears.

Do I understand that the pension which accrued during last year will now be given to him?

Yes.

asked if the Government would issue to Members the inventory of the monuments referred to in the first interim Report of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of England?

The inventory is an appendix of the Report quoted, and relates to Hertfordshire. The Report was duly presented to Parliament and a copy is available for every hon. Member. But the inventory, a work of unique character, appeared to fall within the category of publications that in the judgment of the Select Committee on Publications should not be distributed gratuitously to Members, and the Treasury acted upon this view. A copy of the inventory will be found in the library of the House. The book may be purchased from any book-seller at 11s. 6d.

Is not the possession of this document by Members of this House essential if the House is to consider either local or national schemes for the preservation of these monuments?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention had been called to the periodical flooding of lands around Upper Lough Erne, county Fermanagh, and to the damage done to the crops of farmers who cannot afford to sustain such losses; and whether the Board of Works would confer with the Lough Erne Drainage Board with a view to taking action in the interests of the inhabitants of the district?

No complaints have been received by the Board of Works since the year 1906, of damage caused by floods on Upper Lough Erne. Should any be received the Board would inquire into them; and one of the first steps in all such cases is to communicate with the Drainage Board.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention had been drawn to the case of Mrs. M. Slyfield, the widow of Sergeant Slyfield, who, although seventy-four years of age and not able to support herself, has been refused an old age pension on the ground that, having resided with her husband in India, she has not fulfilled the conditions of residence in the United Kingdom; and whether he would take steps to ensure that the widow of a soldier who had served with her husband abroad should not thereby be debarred from the benefits of the Old Age Pension Act?

My attention has been drawn to the case referred to, and I agree that it is one in which hardship is created by the definition of "residence" as it at present stands under the Regulations pursuant to Section 2 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act. The question of revising that Regulation is being carefully considered, and I hope to be able at a very early date to introduce an amending Regulation to meet such cases.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Return showing certain details as regards licensed premises in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland (in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 408, of Session 1902), ordered by the House of Commons, on the 19th October, 1909, on the motion of the hon. Member for Newry, has not yet been printed; whether he is aware that Parliamentary Paper, No. 408, of Session 1902, was ordered by the House of Commons on the 18th March, 1902, and was printed on the 18th December, 1902; and whether, in view of the fact that the Return ordered on the 19th October, 1909, was for particulars identical with those contained in the Return ordered in March, 1902, he will explain why this Return has not been made, though a period of a year and five months has elapsed since it was ordered by the House of Commons?

The facts are as stated in the question. The preparation of the Return has been delayed by the large amount of extra work which has been thrown upon the Customs and Excise Department in connection with recent financial legislation during the last year and a half, and which still continues. I can only express my regret for the delay—which has in the circumstances been unavoidable—and assure the hon. Member that the issue of the Return will be expedited as far as possible.

Can the right, hon. Gentleman give us any date as to when these Returns are likely to be issued? It is most desirable to have them before the Budget.

No; I do not think so. It is a very expensive Return. Although there is some material available from previous Returns, yet the expenditure of a great deal of time and labour is entailed in collecting the information, and I cannot promise it at any definite date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will, when calling upon railway companies to make future returns, in pursuance of Section 4 of The Railway Regulation Act, 1889, request that a statement be made of all cases where servants now included in the schedules are on duty more than eight hours, nine hours, ten hours, and eleven hours, respectively, in any one turn of duty, in addition to the longer periods given showing the overtime worked in certain grades but not in others?

The periodical Returns in their present form appear to meet the object of the Section referred to, and are well adapted to test how far the railway companies give effect to the recommendation of the Committee of 1892 that "the arrangements of the companies should be so framed as to prevent the booked time of drivers, firemen, and guards from exceeding 66 hours per week or 12 hours on any one day."

asked how many patent specifications were deposited during the twelve months from 1st February, 1910, to 1st February, 1911, and what is the total number which remained to be dealt with on 1st February, 1911?

The total number of provisional and complete specifications deposited in the twelve months to Saturday, 4th February, 1911, was 39,896; and the number awaiting examination at that date 2,857.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much sugar beet was exported from the ports of East Anglia to Holland and Belgium during last year; how much it was valued at; and if he has any evidence that the sugar manufactured from this beet came back to this country and paid duty to the Government?

The registered exports of sugar beet to the Netherlands from East Anglian ports in 1910 amounted to 3,909 tons of a declared value of £4,133. There were no exports to Belgium. It is not possible to say whether any, and if so how much, of the sugar manufactured from such beets was exported from the Netherlands to this country.

asked the value during the years 1908 and 1909 of the exports of goods wholly or mainly manufactured from the United Kingdom to Canada and the Argentine, respectively; what duties are levied by Canada and the Argentine on agricultural implements and locomotive engines imported from the United Kingdom; and what has been the value of the imports of food and drink during the same two years from Canada and the Argentine?

The value of articles wholly or mainly manufactured of United Kingdom production exported from this country to Canada in 1908 amounted to £10,527,000, and in 1909 to £13,516,000. The exports of such articles to Argentina amounted to £13,867,000 in 1908, and to £16,325,000 in 1909. The value of articles of food and drink (including tobacco) imported into the United Kingdom from Canada in 1908 amounted to £18,806,000, and in 1909 to £19,354,000, and the value of the imports of such articles from Argentina to £30,299,000 in 1908, and £27,701,000 in 1909. The details as to duties which my hon. Friend requires are too lengthy to be given in a verbal answer, and I am having a statement of the particulars printed in the Votes.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he can state whether there will be any additional inspectors appointed under the Board of Agriculture in Great Britain for the protection of Irish agricultural produce; and, if so, when will the appointments be made, and how many vacancies are there likely to be?

The answer is in the negative.

asked when it is proposed officially to make known to the Government the scheme of horse-breeding for national requirements to the leading agricultural societies, farmers' clubs, and chambers of agriculture in Great Britain; and whether details of the scheme will be made known by the Board for the information of prospective breeders before this year's breeding season begins?

Details of the scheme are being elaborated as speedily as possible, and, as they are settled, they will be announced in the newspapers. But I will consider whether, as suggested by the hon. Member, leading agricultural bodies cannot be directly informed. As much as possible will be done to make the scheme operative during this year's breeding season.

Is the hon. Baronet satisfied that the announcement in the newspapers will be sufficient to reach the tenant farmers and small holders mainly concerned in this matter?

That matter is being considered.

Do the Government intend to advertise in the Press, or simply make communications to the Press?

We intend to send communications to the Press. Of course, the Board will have to consider whether or not it is desirable to advertise.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether for some years past the Corporation of Birmingham, in carrying on their gas undertaking, instead of dealing with the moneys forming the sinking fund as directed by their Gas Acts, have used the same for other purposes; whether his Board has required the corporation to replace such moneys in the sinking fund; whether such moneys have been so replaced, and at what rates and to what extent; and whether such sinking fund is now in order and invested as required by law?

Twelve years ago the Local Government Board drew the attention of the Corporation of Birmingham to the fact that certain moneys belonging to the Gas Sinking Fund were not invested, but were being used in an unauthorised manner. As a result, the matter was put right, and I am not aware of any repetition of the irregularity.

asked the number of children at present maintained in the workhouses of the Metropolis and the workhouse infirmaries of the Metropolis respectively, differentiating between those over and under three years of age?

According to the latest returns available there were on the 1st July last 21,043 children of all ages in Metropolitan Poor Law institutions, of whom 1,226 were in workhouses. The number of these children under and over three years of age in infirm wards of workhouses and in other workhouse wards, the latter term including receiving wards, were:—

Do the figures include orphans and deserted children?

All the orphans and deserted children under the Poor Law Act are included.

Children in the workhouses?

Yes.

asked whether his attention had been called to an inquest held at Chelsea, on 15th December, 1910, on the body of a child named William Clark, who was born in the Wandsworth workhouse infirmary, and vaccinated there at the age of eighteen days; whether he was aware that its mother asserts that no intimation was conveyed to her of the option to exercise conscientious objection under the Vaccination Act, 1907; and whether he will direct that the mothers of children born in such institutions shall be informed of their rights and privileges under such Act?

My attention has been drawn to the case referred to, and it has been investigated by one of my medical inspectors, who confirms the verdict of the jury that the death was due to erysipelas, unconnected with the vaccination. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that the child was vaccinated at the request of the mother. It does not appear to me to be necessary to take the steps indicated in the third part of the question.

asked what steps he proposed to take as a result of the recommendation of the Joint Select Committee on the Water Supplies (Protection) Bill, 18th July, 1910, which agreed with the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal and of the Royal Commissions on Water Supply of 1869 and on Metropolitan Water Supply of 1893, all of which asserted the principle that there is urgent need for a survey, at once comprehensive and in detail, of the water supplies and water needs of the country and for the adoption of measures for conserving the supply and disposing of it to the best advantage?

In pursuance of an Order of the House, a Return is being prepared relating to the water supply of every district in England and Wales. This will include information as to the quantities of water now being supplied in each district, and as to what further quantities could be supplied from sources at present in use, together with information as to the character and situation of these sources. I have also obtained the authority of the Treasury to the appointment of a geologist on the staff of the Department. I am not without hope of introducing a Bill giving effect to the recommendations of the Commissions referred to.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the inquiry of the Royal Commission on Canals and Waterworks will shortly be terminated, and can he say whether the information obtained by the Commission will be utilised in this matter?

What information the Commission have available will certainly be used.

asked if, with reference to the grants made to highway authorities by the Road Board, he will, with a view to the regularisation of employment, endeavour to secure that the work in this connection is carried on chiefly in the winter months; and if he will represent to the Road Board that the work initiated by them is peculiarly of a character to be spread with advantage over the lean years of a trade cycle in mitigation of unemployment?

I may refer my hon. Friend to the Written Answer I gave him to this question last week.

Have any stipulations been made with regard to grants that have just been made by the Road Board?

I think it may be assumed that Sir George Gibb and the Road Board are in communication with the local authorities in this matter, and that they keep Clause 18 before all parties.

asked whether any measures have been taken by his Department to insure that the various forms of virus sold for the destruction of rats and other vermin are harmless to human beings?

In April, 1909, I addressed a letter to the manufacturers of these preparations suggesting the adoption of certain precautions to prevent harm arising to human beings, and I am not aware of any recent case of illness attributed to one of these preparations.

asked whether he proposes to issue a circular informing local authorities that, in the case of reasonable expenditure out of the rates on festivities in connection with the forthcoming Coronation, any surcharge by the Local Government auditors would be remitted by him under the powers conferred upon him?

I propose to issue an Order in accordance with the precedent of the year 1902 sanctioning reasonable expenditure by local authorities in connection with the public local celebration of the Coronation of His Majesty the King.

asked whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Woolmore, who was convicted at Epping on Friday, the 10th instant, for neglect of her children; whether he is aware of the fact that the cottage in which the woman lived was without a proper water supply; and whether the local authority did anything to compel the landlord to provide a proper water supply for the cottage?

My attention has not been drawn to the case; but if the hon. Member will furnish me with the address of the cottage I will bring the question to the notice of the sanitary authority?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state why Inspector Dew resigned his position; and whether he retires with a pension?

Chief Inspector Dew retired voluntarily after twenty-eight years' service on full pension.

asked what was the percentage of aliens landing in this country, excluding transmigrants, during each of the five years 1906–1910 who were inspected under the Aliens Act; and what was the percentage of aliens landing, who under the Act could be made liable to inspection, who were actually inspected?

Assuming that the hon. Member's inquiry relates only to alien passengers from European ports, the figures in answer to the first paragraph are 15 per cent. in 1906, 13 per cent. in 1907 and 1908, 12 per cent. in 1909, and 11 per cent. in 1910. The figures in answer to the second paragraph are 28 per cent. in 1906, 26 per cent. in 1907, 25 per cent. in 1908, and 23 per cent. in 1909 and 1910.

asked in how many cases orders of expulsion under the Aliens Act have been issued in the cases of aliens found wandering without ostensible means of subsistence, or living under insanitary conditions due to overcrowding (Aliens Act, Section 3 (1) (b); and how many orders have been issued under Section 3 (1) (b) (ii).

Four expulsion orders (three in 1906 and one in 1908) have been issued in the case of aliens found wandering without ostensible means of subsistence: no orders have been issued on the ground of insanitary conditions of living; and one order has been made (in 1906) against an alien who had been sentenced in a foreign country for an extradition crime.

Has not the right hon. Gentleman power to draw attention to these insanitary conditions in connection with Administrative Orders?

asked whether, as a result of a recent visit by the right hon. Gentleman to Pentonville Prison, a number of sentences have been reduced and prison punishments remitted?

In the course of a visit to Pentonville in the autumn of last year certain cases of youthful offenders came under my notice, in respect of which I felt myself justified in recommending some small reductions of sentence.

Will the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the authorities by whom the sentences were imposed?

No, I think not.

Were the sentences reduced of those convicts with whom the right hon. Gentleman had interviews?

Certain cases were brought under my notice. I looked into them, and examined the facts, and from the inquiries I made I felt justified in reducing the sentences, which specifically called attention to the fact of sending to prison boys of sixteen or seventeen for offences which are not offences calling for such punishments.

Were the names given to the right hon. Gentleman by the prison authorities?

I saw a large number of the prisoners, and I collected certain particulars which justified the course I took.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman, when he remits cases of the kind, communicate with the authorities who imposed the sentences?

Were these cases of Peers or of Commoners?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the prisoners whose sentences were remitted as a result of his recent official visit to Pentonville had been previously interviewed by him; and whether the remission of their sentences was recommended by the governor of the goal?

It is contrary to general practice to enter into any discussion of the grounds on which I have felt it my duty to advise an exercise of the prerogative of mercy or to state whether such advice was tendered in pursuance of the recommendation of a prison officer.

In order to avoid taking up the time of the House with supplementary questions, I will call attention to this matter on the adjournment of the House to-morrow.

asked the Home Secretary if he will give a Return showing how many appointments have been made in his Department from the dissolution of the late Parliament to the meeting of the new Parliament; and whether he will give the names and qualifications of those appointed?

During the period referred to only two appointments were made in my Department. Both these appointments were to Class I. Clerkships, and the gentlemen appointed were allotted to the Home Office by the Civil Service Commissioners from the list of the successful candidates at the last Open Competitive examination. In these circumstances, the hon. and gallant Member will agree with me that no Return is necessary.

asked the Home Secretary whether the police have succeeded in tracing David Davies?

The answer is in the negative.

May I ask whether adequate steps have been taken to discover whether any misfortune may have befallen this man?

Apart from the inquiries of the local police I sent a special detective from Scotland Yard with a Welsh-speaking detective, to make inquiries with no result apart from the fact that in certain quarters of the district a strong suspicion is entertained that the man has been enticed away for some political purposes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to bring the enticer, whoever he may be, to justice?

I can assure the Noble Lord that I will certainly not fail in that respect, whoever the party may be.

Arising out of the disappearance of this man may I ask whether he is aware that there is really no mystery at all, and that this man has been engaged to lecture for Tariff Reform?

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been directed to the report of the Chief Inspector of Mines on the Whitehaven colliery disaster, in which inter alia he characterises the precautions taken against the accumulation of coal-dust as of a haphazard and unsystematic character, calls attention to the absence of a second main intake road into the mine, and severely criticises the conduct of the rescue operations; if he is aware that recently a terrible disaster was narrowly averted at this same colliery, and that its management was then also the subject of grave official criticism; and if he will state whether he agrees with Mr. Redmayne that there is no case for criminal proceedings?

I have had under my consideration the report in question, which was submitted to me by the Chief Inspector. It is true that the Chief Inspector finds as a result of his investigation that the management of the mine was defective in certain respects, and that certain of the requirements of the Acts had not been observed. I am informed that any prosecution with regard to these matters is excluded by the time limit; and I agree with the conclusions of Mr. Redmayne and the Home Office Counsel that there is no evidence to show that the disaster was due to any breach of statutory duty or any negligence of such a character as would justify a charge of manslaughter. It is not correct to say that the Chief Inspector severely criticises the conduct of the rescue operations. He thinks that had more helpers been available at the start, the delay in reaching the fire caused by the efforts to restore the two men who were found unconscious on the road would have been avoided; and the circumstance forms a strong argument for the constitution of regular rescue brigades such as I am proposing to require by order under the Act of last Session. But he is satisfied that, once the fire was reached, the right course was taken, and nothing more could have been done. I presume the other occurrence to which my hon. Friend refers is the accident which occurred at the neighbouring William pit in 1907. In that case proceedings were taken against the management, but the charge was dismissed.

Having regard to the very serious nature of Mr. Redmayne's report, may I ask whether there will be any opportunity afforded to the House to consider that report, other than that which arises on the Vote for the Home Office?

As the House knows, I hope to bring shortly to the notice of the House a Coal Mines Regulations Act Amendment Bill; and I should have thought it would be much better to apply the many grave lessons which arise from the consideration of those two terrible explosions to the practical business of introducing effectual safeguards, so far as it may be desirable to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of appointing a special committee representing every section of this House for the purpose of collecting evidence as to the manner in which we can improve and strengthen our relations with the self-governing dominions; and whether Imperial representation, either by the creation of a permanent Imperial council or some other means, may be possible and provide for Imperial representation in Imperial affairs?

I see no sufficient reason for the appointment of such a committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether any communications have passed between the British Government and the South African Government, either directly or through the agency of His Majesty's High Commissioner in South Africa, in regard to the substitution of a direct contribution for naval defence, or for any other purpose for the present tariff preference on British goods entering the South African Dominion?

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the telegrams printed in the Parliamentary Papers published on Friday last, which are the only communications which passed between the two Governments.

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposed changes in the Constitution, as outlined in the Parliament Bill, have been submitted to the Governments of the self-governing Dominions for their approval, or will be submitted for discussion at the forthcoming Imperial Conference?

The answer is in the negative.

I desire to ask whether the great changes proposed in the powers and relations of the Imperial Parliament is not a matter that concerns the Imperial Dominions?

Is the right hon. Gentleman of opinion that His Majesty's Government have nothing to learn from Colonial opinion and example?

May I ask if the right hon. Gentleman is going to take the opinion of the Colonies on the question of the Veto he will take it also on the question of Home Rule?

asked the Prime Minister whether (1) upon the setting up in Ireland of the proposed parliament and executive, the control of the police and judiciary will also be immediately handed over; and, (2) whether the Government's scheme for Scots devolution will be introduced at the same time as the Irish one?

It would be premature at present to make any statement on this subject.

As the reply the right hon. Gentleman has given me is exactly similar to the reply the right hon. Gentleman gave to the electors in Scotland, may I ask whether he still considers that the details of the scheme have been sufficiently before the electors?

I have nothing to add to the reply I have already given.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is determined to give no indication whatever of the nature of the Home Rule Bill before the Veto Bill comes up?

I have nothing to add to the reply I have already given.

asked the Prime Minister whether the export to Canada of cutlery from the United Kingdom in 1909 was £87,000, as given in the Board of Trade Returns (Annual Statement of Trade); and whether he will consider the possibility and the importance of arranging the Board of Trade Returns of British trade with the Dominions, so as to call attention to the potentialities of trade as well as to the present dimensions of the trade?

The figure given in the first part of the question is correctly quoted from the Trade Returns. As regards the second part of the question, I am afraid it would hardly be wise to include prophecy among the multifarious duties of the Board of Trade.

asked the Prime Minister whether it was his intention to introduce the Parliament Bill as it was introduced into the House of Commons last year without any alteration either in any clause or in the Preamble?

I hope to introduce the Parliament Bill to-morrow, when I shall make a full explanation of its provisions.

asked whether it was the intention of the Royal Commission on the University of London to issue shortly a special Report dealing with the future position of the London Institution as a place of higher education; and, if so, whether it was proposed that a Bill be introduced into Parliament dealing only with that part of the Commissioners' inquiry?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention had been called to the fact that the Oakeley Quarry Company, Festiniog, was recently fined for not fencing dangerous machinery, the prosecution following an accident which has permanently and totally disabled a workman; and whether, as the particular machinery had been in the quarry for several years, the quarries inspector had or had not called the attention of the company to their neglect to comply with the statutory regulations?

The prosecution was instituted by my direction on the recommendation of the inspector. No instructions in regard to the fencing of the saw which caused the accident had previously been given to the company by the inspector, who did not know that any such saw was in use, but the obligation on the company to comply with the requirement of the statute was not of course dependent on notice being given to them by the inspector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that it was possible to send from 750 to 1,000 members of the Metropolitan police force to South Wales without throwing any undue strain on those remaining, and in view of the fact that the original estimate of the Home Office was that 1,500 more men would be required to give one day's rest in seven to the whole force and that more than 400 of that number had since then been enlisted, he would take steps to ensure that every man of the force should be in receipt of one day's rest in seven not later than the Coronation day?

Progressive instalments of the one day's rest in seven are being regularly given, and recruiting is being pressed forward. But until the additional numbers of men required have been recruited, I cannot hold out hopes that the full concession of one day's rest in seven will be made. Men of the Metropolitan police were sent to South Wales at a time when the force is numerically most effective, as practically no annual leave is taken during November and December; and there was fortunately relatively little sickness. At other periods of the year it might have been much more difficult to spare men for duty outside the Metropolitan police district. At the same time it must be remembered that it is part of our police system that in times of emergency each police force should be able to count on assistance from other police forces, and such assistance is frequently given even though it involves for a time a reduction of the amount of police protection in the district from which the assistance is supplied. In this respect the demands made on the Metropolis have been much smaller in proportion to the strength of its force than those made on many provincial forces.

Has not experience shown the desirability of granting this favour in a relatively shorter time than four years?

I am as anxious as the hon. Gentleman that this very desirable measure should come into operation as soon as possible. It shall be pushed on with the utmost expedition.

asked the Prime Minister, whether his attention had been called to a statement in a letter dated the 4th November, 1910, from the Foreign Office to the Leith Shipowners Society (No. 6 in Cd. 5,418), stating that a number of Naval Powers had up till now claimed the right, under certain circumstances, to declare food-stuffs to be absolute contraband; whether he would state what Naval Powers had within the last twenty-five years claimed such right, and under what circumstances; whether protests were made in each such case by this Country and other countries against the exercise of any such alleged right; and what in each case was the result of such protest?

I would point out that the statement in question is not confined to the last twenty-five years, during which naval wars have happily been of rare occurrence. Twenty-six years ago, namely, in 1885, France announced her intention of treating rice as contraband of war, as far as concerned Chinese ports north of Canton; Germany then acquiesced in the French view. Russia declined to do so in principle, and Great Britain protested unsuccessfully. At the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war, Russia, making no distinction between absolute and conditional contraband, included as contraband various kinds of foodstuffs; but on the protests of Great Britain and the United States of America, this decision was modified, and the foodstuffs in question were declared to be conditional contraband only. I would draw the attention of the hon. Member to paragraph 3 on page 29 of Blue Book Cd. 4,555, which is an official statement of the view of the French Government upon this point, prepared for the Naval Conference as recently as August, 1908. The following is a translation of the paragraph:—

"Foodstuffs and raw materials intended for non-combatants are not in principle considered as contraband of war, but may be declared such according to circumstances of which the Government is the judge, and by virtue of an order issued by it."

The plain fact is that there has hitherto been no general agreement to prevent any Power from declaring all food contraband of war when it suited its interest to do so; and until the Declaration of London is ratified we must be prepared, either as neutrals or belligerents, to see food so treated. After the Declaration of London is ratified, this will be impossible without a breach of the Declaration.

Would the hon. Gentleman be willing to lay on the Table of the House any correspondence which passed between our Government and the French Government in 1885, to show on what grounds the French Government justified their special action with regard to rice at that time, and the limitation which they themselves then put upon the provision?

I will consider the request of the right hon. Gentleman.

Was there any instance in 1885 when France established her right to treat food as absolute contraband?

I do not quite appreciate the meaning of the question, perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put it on the Paper.

Will the hon. Gentleman circulate the answer he has given?

The answer will appear; I will circulate it if the hon. Gentleman so desires.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he could see his way to make such arrangements as would accelerate the promotion in the shipwright ratings so as to make promotion in these ratings proportionate to their complements; whether the practice now prevailing of shipwrights being required to scrub decks and their liability to be transferred from one ship to another for the purpose of coaling ships came within the ordinary duties of shipwrights; and, if so, would he consider the question of relieving them of these duties; whether his attention had been called to the nature of the messing accommodation provided for shipwrights; and would he cause inquiries to be made with a view to reform; would he consider the advisability of discontinuing the regulations imposing the degradation of being marched out of the dockyard gates, and of the possibility of removing the financial burden under which they laboured by having to furnish and keep up at their own expense a complete kit of tools for all grades of their trade?

The question of accelerating the advancement of shipwright ratings is now under the consideration of the Board of Admiralty. So far as is known, shipwrights are not called upon to clean any decks, except their mess deck, in the cleaning of which all hands are required to take part. It is not often the case that a man is required to coal other ships than his own, and whenever this is necessary he is granted extra pay. The possibility of such a duty must, however, be recognised. As regards messing accommodation, it is not clear in what direction reform is desired, the messing arrangements being quite satisfactory so far as the Admiralty are aware. The custom of marching men out of the dockyard gates cannot be regarded as a "degradation." Shipwrights were originally given tool money of 3d. a day in addition to their pay. In 1877, however, tool money was abolished as a separate allowance and merged in their pay, which was increased accordingly. Shipwrights, therefore, actually receive compensation for finding their own tools.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention had been drawn to the difficulty experienced in the advancement of cooper's crew to second cooper; whether he was aware that of thirty-six coopers' crews (Victualling Yard apprentices) now serving in the Devonport Division, only two had been advanced to the rating of cooper since 1902, although several had passed the necessary examination five, six, and seven years ago; whether he would consider the possibility of advancing cooper's crew to second cooper after a stated number of years instead of continuing the present system; whether he was aware that the coopers had had no rise in pay since 1877, that since that time the cost of living and maintaining a home had greatly increased, and that it was almost impossible with the present low standard rate of wages prevailing amongst the coopers to keep up any decent position; whether he was aware that the cooper was the lowest paid artisan first-class petty officer in His Majesty's service, that in addition to providing his own tools he had also to provide carpenter's tools, that he was constantly employed after working hours with the ship's stewards issuing provisions after working during the day at his ordinary duties; and whether, in these circumstances, he could see his way to place the coopers on the same basis as other lower-deck ratings and grant them progressive pay every three years?

Cooper ratings are entered as boy coopers and trained in the victualling yards. At the age of eighteen they are rated cooper's crew, and drafted into the service afloat. Cooper's crew are advanced to second cooper as vacancies occur, but second coopers are advanced automatically to cooper after four years' service as second cooper. Cooper's crew are not advanced direct to cooper. The state of the lists of cooper ratings has recently been examined, and it is found that almost all the cooper's crew have less than six years' service as such; and it is not considered, therefore, that any special or other measures are necessary to accelerate advancement in this class at present. The pay of cooper ratings is at present as follows:—Cooper's crew, 2s. 6d. a day; second cooper, 2s. 10d. a day; cooper, 3s. 2d. a day. In 1877 the pay of a cooper was 3s. a day, plus 2d a day tool money. In 1891 the tool money was abolished as a separate allowance and the pay increased to 3s. 2d. a day. This rate has so far been found sufficient to attract suitable men, and no increase is considered to be necessary.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the report of the Fair Wages Advisory Committee in the matter of the minimum rate of wages paid to labourers in the employ of the War Office, and the intention of the War Office to increase the minimum as from 1st April next, he will consider the question of a corresponding increase being made in the minimum rate of wages paid to labourers in the Royal Dockyards?

The report referred to by the hon. Gentleman is at present engaging the attention of His Majesty's Government. It has been the practice in the past for the Admiralty and War Office to consult together before any alteration in rates of wages is made, in order that, so far as the varying conditions admit, the men employed by both Departments may receive similar treatment, and to this practice my right hon. Friend and I propose to adhere.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Intelligence Department of the Admiralty first discovered that the figures of German construction, on which he relied last year or the year before, were inaccurate?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on Thursday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain to the House what justification there was for proceeding with expenditure that was apparently authorised by the House on the forecast made by him, and which he subsequently admitted——

That does not arise out of the answer.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty would he inform the House upon which of his advisers at the Admiralty he relied for the information on which he based his erroneous forecast in 1909 as to the probable strength of the German Navy in 1910–13; and what punishment, if any, had been administered to those who are responsible for this costly blunder?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on Thursday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Tyneside, from which he will see that the question is based on a misapprehension. My hon. Friend does not appear to have drawn the necessary distinction between a statement of fact and an inference drawn therefrom. The statements of fact made by me were strictly accurate, and I take full responsibility for such inference as I drew from them.

Has the erroneous inference drawn not cost the country a great many millions of money?

No; as I shall hope to explain in the course of the Debate on the Navy Estimates. I do not think the inference has cost us any extra millions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is giving grave consideration to the navy debates now proceeding in the German Reichstag, and in particular to the assurances of the Secretary of State, Admiral von Tirpitz, disclaiming any idea of supremacy or aggressive intent or of any hostile feeling towards this country; and whether these assurances and the diminished rate of shipbuilding in the German navy will suffice to modify in some degree the Naval Estimates shortly to be presented to this House?

The hon. Member may rest assured that all available information with reference to all countries is carefully taken into consideration when the Naval Estimates are being prepared, in order that they may be framed with due regard to economy whilst at the same time ensuring the provision of a sufficient force for the defence of this country. With regard to the allegation contained in the last part of the question, as to the diminished rate of shipbuilding in Germany, the published Estimates of the German Navy for 1911–12 show that the same rate of shipbuilding is to be maintained as in the last two years.

Will the inference be right this time?

asked what is the greatest length of time that any battleship now in commission has been out of dry dock; what is the name of that battleship; what is the period of time beyond which it is not considered advisable for a battleship to remain with her bottom uncleaned; and what is the greatest length of time that any battleship docked since the beginning of last year has had to wait?

The reply to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is fifteen and a half months; to the second part, H.M.S. "London"; and to the third part, about twelve months. With regard to the last part of the question, excluding ships of the Fourth Division of the Home Fleet, which remain out of dock for about two years, no ship has had to wait for docking.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether first-class men of the Royal Naval Reserve receive a £50 bonus on completing twenty years' service; whether second-class men, after completing twenty years' service, receive nothing; and whether second-class men are liable to be called upon for active service in the same manner as first-class men?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. First-class men, on discharge from the Royal Naval Reserve after at least twenty years' continuous service, are given a deferred pension certificate entitling them to a pension of £12 per annum from the age of sixty. All such men who have been discharged since 1st April, 1906, have been given the option of surrenderng all claim to pension and receiving a gratuity of £50 in lieu. With regard to the second part of the question, second-class men were never entitled to a pension, and consequently they cannot receive the gratuity of £50. The answer to the last part is in the affirmative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman see his way to recommend an alteration in the rules in order that second-class men may receive some consideration?

I have given my hon. and gallant Friend all the information on the subject that I have.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the date of the last survey of the approaches to Ferrol Harbour?

The date of the last survey of Ferrol Harbour and its approaches, which is a Spanish Government survey, is 1893.

May I ask whether it is a fact that the rocks upon which H.M.S. "Collingwood" struck the other day are more than 30 feet below the surface of the water; that the surveys in 1893 took no account of the danger at such a depth; and, if so, what steps does the right hon. Gentleman propose to take for a fresh survey to be made?

Will the hon. Gentleman give me notice of that question?

May I ask a question of which I have given private notice: whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the derelict war- ship "Richelieu" was sighted yesterday 160 miles south-west of Queenstown, still afloat; and, if so, whether he will ask the Admiralty in view of the grave danger to navigation to take immediate steps to have this derelict located and sunk?

I have no official information, and will be glad if the hon. Member will communicate to me any which he has. I shall certainly make immediate inquiry.