asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if instructions have been issued to pension officers, in calculating the income of small holders in Ireland who are applicants for old age pensions, to exclude from the outgoings the amounts paid in cash for feeding stuffs, such as hay, oats, meal, etc., these articles being necessary for the upkeep of animals on these small and uneconomic holdings, the applicants being able to produce receipts for payment of any such goods so purchased?

No such instructions have been issued. In framing an estimate of a small holder's profits for the consideration of the Pension Committee the Officer would make due allowance for any outgoings necessary for securing the profits.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he was aware that a change was contemplated in respect to the office premises of the pension officer at Moville, county Donegal, which would mean a distance of two miles to and fro; whether he was aware that such a change and distance would be inconvenient to old age pensioners and to traders having business with the officer, and to all concerned; whether he was aware that there were numerous places of ample and suitable accommodation in the town of Moville, including the house where the office now is; and whether, with a view to the public convenience, in preference to the personal convenience of the pension officer, he will take steps to prevent such attempted change?

The room at present occupied by the Excise officer at Moville as an office was hired temporarily until he could secure suitable lodgings in which he could provide the necessary office accommodation. He reports that such lodgings are not obtainable and it therefore becomes necessary for the Crown to provide an office. A room is available in the Custom House, and there does not appear to be any justification for providing two Revenue offices. The Custom House is considerably less than a mile from the room at present used as an office. There is no question of the personal convenience of the officer, and as no Excise officer was stationed at Moville until February, 1910, the public are much better off than they were before.

asked whether in the case of Catherine McMahon, of Corry's Lane, Kilkee, West Clare, Ireland, the grounds for disallowing her claim to an old age pension were that her name was not to be found in any Census return; and whether, in place of this documentary evidence, the Local Government Board will accept the testimony of reputable citizens of Kilkee, who have known her for over fifty years, as, for instance, Mr. Patrick Hickey, of Erin Street, Kilkee, and Mr. Richard H. O'Donnell, Erin Arms, Kilkee?

Although Catherine McMahon's name was not found in the Census return of 1841, her parents' family was traced and the absence of her name would go to show that she was not then born, and is consequently still under seventy years of age. The Local Government Board cannot reconsider a decision they have given disallowing a pension, but, if a fresh claim is made by Mrs. McMahon, they would be prepared to consider any testimony furnisbed on her behalf. They could not, however, bind themselves beforehand to accept such testimony as necessarily proving that she had attained the statutory age.

asked whether attention has been directed to the case of Margaret Ryan, of Cranny, West Clare, Ireland, who was an applicant for an old age pension, but whose name was not found in any Census return or in the parochial registry, but who supported her claim by the testimony of Father Courtney, P.P., Father Lynch, P.P., and Father Hayes, C.C., who are all resident in the district and well acquainted with local affairs; and whether, in view of the fact that no matter what age she may attain she will be still in the same position with regard to documentary evidence, the Local Government Board will again consider her case?

By the terms of Section 2 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, a claimant for a pension must have attained the age of seventy years, and until satisfactory proof is forthcoming of compliance with this condition no pension can properly be allowed. It is not open to the Local Government Board to reconsider their decision, but the applicant can make a fresh claim if she can obtain any evidence that she has attained the statutory age.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that the Garve and Ullapool Road is used for the conveyance of the mails from the South to Ullapool and the Loch-room district of Ross-shire and constitutes the only means of communication by road with the north-west of Ross-shire, the Road Board will consider the expediency of making a special grant towards the improvement of this road, which has become much deteriorated in consequence of the heavy tourist motor traffic during the summer months?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to his question of the 20th inst. on this subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the amount received from the taxation of mining royalties, the Increment and Revision Duties on Land respectively for the year ended 31st March, 1910; what he estimates to receive from the same sources in the present financial year, and how much was, or will, be paid by the County of London under each head in each of the two years?

I regret that I cannot anticipate the statement to be made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he introduces his Budget for next year by giving details of the yield of particular taxes. As I stated in this House on Monday last, the total estimated receipts from the various Land Values Duties for the year 1909–10 was £490,000, and this estimate is likely to be very close to the actual results. I regret that I have no estimate at present as to London's contribution to the taxes.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the difficulties now experienced by employees in the public services desiring to appeal against accusations made under the cover of secret or confidential reports, he will consider the expediency of amending the present procedure by allowing appeals to a committee of His Majesty's Privy Council, or to a special board appointed by the Lords of the Treasury, consisting of King's Counsel familiar with the practice of criminal tribunals and of the rules of evidence?

I must refer the hon. Member to a reply which I gave to a similar question put by him oh the 25th April last, in which I said that I was not aware that any substantial difficulty was experienced by Civil servants in obtaining full consideration from the heads of their Departments for any representations which they desired to make and that the procedure suggested by the hon. Member did not commend itself to my judgment as either desirable or practicable. I see no grounds for modifying the opinion then expressed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now state the amount of revenue which was lost in irrecoverable arrears through the delay in the passing of the Budget of 1909–10?

The amount is estimated at £8,000.

asked what is the amount of the repayments to the Sinking Fund under the Irish Purchase Acts from 1870 to 1909: how much of these refunds has been applied to the redemption of the National Debt, and at what profit to the Treasury; and will these profits be made available for increased advances for land purchase in Ireland?

The Sinking Fund repayments under the Irish Land Purchase Acts 1870 to 1909 amounted at 31st March, 1910, to £5,483,974. No part of this money has been applied to the redemption of the National Debt, nor has any profit accrued to the Treasury there-from. Prior to 1891 the advances for land purchase were made from the Local Loans Fund at a fixed rate of interest of about 3 1–8th per cent., which was not more than sufficient to pay the interest and expenses of the Local Loans Stock issued to raise the money. The advances under the Acts of 1891 and 1896 were made in 2¾ per cent. Guaranteed Land Stock, and the tenant purchasers' Sinking Fund has to redeem this stock. Under the Acts of 1903 and 1909 the Sinking Fund has to redeem a nominal amount of Guaranteed Three-and-Three-Quarter per Cent. Stock or Guaranteed Three-per-Cent. Stock equal to the amount of the advances, any stock issued in excess of this sum being otherwise provided for. Where possible the Sinking Fund is used for further advances.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners propose to take any action in response to the prayer of the memorial addressed to them by the people of Kells, county Meath, concerning the acquisition and distribution of the Nicholson estate, situate at Babrath, county Meath?

The Estates Commissioners are making inquiries with reference to the matter.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the estate of Dr. Kelly Paterson, situate at Mullaha, county Meath; and, if not, whether he will state how far the negotiations have proceeded?

The Estates Commissioners have not acquired the estate referred to. They have had a preliminary inspection made of the land and communicated their estimated price to the owner, but up to the present he has not instituted proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked what action the Estates Commissioners have taken to acquire an equivalent holding for Mr. Hopkins, Nobber, county Meath, whose claim as an evicted tenant has been admitted?

Mr. Hopkins' application has been noted for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted land as the Estates Commissioners may acquire. They are not at present in a position to allot him a holding.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired any untenanted land in county Meath; and, if so, whether they will satisfy the claim of Mrs. Norah Kieran, Leggah House, Navan, for an equivalent holding to that from which she was evicted?

The untenanted land purchased and in course of purchase in County Meath is shown in Table XXVIII. of the Appendix to the Report of the Estates Commissioners for the year to 31st March last. The Commissioners have received an application from Miss Norah Kieran for reinstatement in a holding on the estate of Lord Howth, formerly occupied by her and now in the occupation of another tenant. Her name has been provisionally noted for consideration in the allotment of any untenanted land, but the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it may be possible to provide her with a holding.

asked how many acres of land have been actually acquired by the Estates Commissioners and by the Congested Districts Board, under the compulsory powers of the Irish Land Act of 1909?

None, so far.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners refused to receive a representative deputation of the people of the town of Kilfinane regarding a sale of this town to the occupying tenants; is the estate on which the town is situate already sold, and, if so, why was the town of Kilfinane not included in the sale; how is it that the purchase money has been advanced by the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of other towns in Ireland, and why has the purchase money been refused for the purpose of buying the town of Kilfinane; and will the Estates Commissioners even now receive a deputation concerning the sale?

The Estates Commissioners did not refuse to receive the deputation from the town of Kilfinane, but owing to the illness of the late Mr. Commissioner Finucane they were not able to fix a date for its reception. The agricultural portion of the estate was sold by the owner to the tenants who signed agreements for the purchase of their holdings which have been vested in them, and the purchase money advanced to the owner. No purchase agreements were lodged in respect of the holdings in the town of Kilfinane. The Commissioners still consider the suggestion contained in the concluding paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of arranging free travelling for Irish Members to facilitate their attendance in the House of Commons?

The suggestion of the hon. Member could hardly be adopted unless steps were taken at the same time to facilitate the attendance of English, Scotch, and Welsh Members.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a copy of the Report of the Dublin Industrial Development Association, containing a detailed statement of a complaint concerning transit charges on Irish goods; whether he is aware that all the Irish companies, with the exception of the Great Southern and Western, have, through the agency of the Department of Agriculture, practically agreed to modify their rates; and whether he will use his influence on the Great Southern and Western Railway Company to follow the example of the other Irish companies?

I have received a copy of the Report referred to. The Department of Agriculture have been in communication with certain Irish railway companies in regard to a complaint as to the conveyance of straw palliasses. Four companies agreed to reduce the rates, but the Great Southern and Western Company have not seen their way to do so. It is open to the complainants to make application to the Board of Trade with a view to having these goods placed in a lower scale than that in which they are at present.

asked what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners have taken with a view to the reinstatement of Jeremiah Harrington, jun., an evicted tenant on the Drummond estate, county Kerry, his father having been evicted from a holding on this estate, and the holding now derelict?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Harrington's application was received after 1st May, 1907, the date mentioned in the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and his eviction took place in 1909. He cannot, therefore, be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the son of Mrs. Galvin, an evicted tenant, has been allocated sixty acres of land on the Moorestown estate, county Limerick; and, if so, having regard to the fact that this young man is now restored to his parents' original holding, the Estates Commissioners will take all necessary steps to have the aforesaid 60 acres divided between the deserving labourers and landless householders living in the town of Kilfinane?

Mrs. Galvin's son has not been allotted any land on the Moorestown (Little) Estate, county Limerick, but Mrs. Galvin, who is the widow and representative of an evicted tenant, has been allotted a holding on this estate. The Estates Commissioners are not aware that her son has been restored to his parents' original holding.

asked whether any, and, if so, how many, licensed publicans have been appointed to the Commission of the Peace for Mayo county within the past three years; whether he will give their names; if any of them were on appointment required to undertake to give up their licencas; how many have since done so; did they in each or any case do so by assigning the licence to a wife, son, or other relation; and whether they are authorised to act at petty sessions in the districts where their public-houses are respectively situated?

I understand that five persons who held a licence were appointed by the Lord Chancellor to the Commission of the Peace for county Mayo within the period mentioned. No useful object would be served by giving their names. In each case the Lord Chancellor required as a condition of the appointment that there should be a transfer of the licence. One of the magistrates has since transferred his licence to his son. These Justices have not been restricted from acting at petty Sessions in the districts in which the licensed premises are situated.

asked whether, in July, 1907, the Estates Commissioners received an application for reinstatement from Bartholomew Kearns, son of an evicted tenant on the estate of Captain Armstrong, Chaffpool, Ballymote, county Sligo; and, if so, whether such application has yet been considered and a decision arrived at?

The Estates Commissioners have received the application referred to, but have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary (1) whether, as the proceedings of the Commissioners of National Education are conducted within closed doors and as no reference is made in any of their published reports to their sanction of pictures of sacred subjects or their permission of statues in the schoolroom during the hours of united instruction, he will ask the Commissioners to furnish a list of the names of such pictures and statues, together with the minutes of the Board that relate to them, to be laid upon the Table of the House; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent the further violation of the fundamental principles and rules of the system of national education; (2) whether the Commissioners of National Education have sanctioned the exhibition of a picture of the Sacred Heart and similar pictures in national schools during the hours of united instruction; if, so, whether, as the picture of the Sacred Heart is specially identified with the worship of the Roman Catholic Church, he would explain why the Commissioners have sanctioned a violation of their own rule, which states that no emblems or symbols of a denominational nature can be exhibited in the schoolroom during the hours of united instruction; whether, acting on the sanction given by the Commissioners of National Education to the exhibition of the picture of the Sacred Heart and similar pictures in schools during the hours of united instruction, a number of managers have introduced statues without the permission of the board; and, if so, would he explain why, whilst the Commissioners have expressly forbidden the introduction of any further statues of a religious character during the time of secular instruction, they have allowed those already introduced without their permission to remain?

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to his similar questions on the 28th April and 16th June last.

asked the Secretary for War whether, within the last four months, the garrison in Egypt has been separately inspected by Field-Marshal Lord Kitchener, General Sir Ian Hamilton, and also by Generals Miles and Haddon, members of the Army Council; and, if so, whether he will state the cost to the Government incurred by the inspection by Sir Ian Hamilton and the members of the Army Council alluded to; and why, in view of the fact that Sir Ian Hamilton occupies the post of Inspector-General, supplementary inspections were considered necessary?

The only official inspection of the garrison was that of Sir Ian Hamilton as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief in the Mediterranean. The Quartermaster-General and the Master-General of Ordnance have proceeded to Egypt to settle various questions in connection with the new barracks and buildings in progress and local defences. Lord Kitchener's visit to Egypt was purely in his private capacity.

asked the Secretary for War whether foreign meat is supplied for five days in the week to the troops stationed on the Curragh; whether mainly imported forage is supplied for the horses; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of utilising home produce to a greater extent in the immediate future?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The troops at the Curragh are supplied with:—(a) Fresh home-bred beef, killed at the W.D. abattoir, on four days a week; (b) frozen beef, imported, on two days a week; (c) frozen mutton, imported, on one day a week. As regards forage, the G.O.C. reports that all supplied at the Curragh under the existing contract has been grown in Ireland. It must be pointed out, however, that the contract specification does not exclude imported forage, except oats grown in certain climates, and that quality and price alone govern the supply.

asked the Secretary for War whether there is any foundation for the anxiety caused among small landholders in the district of Araglen, near Kilworth, by rumours that their land is about to be taken over by the War Department?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, with reference to the tenders which have just been invited by the War Office for 50,000 pairs of canvas shoes which are wanted to meet the immediate wants of the service, so that early delivery is therefore essential, he will explain why the contracts department did not give such sufficient and early attention to the needs of the service as to ensure the placing of this contract in good time and the avoidance of haste and overtime working to secure urgent delivery; if he is aware that firms undertaking this particular kind of work have been anxiously waiting for work for some time and that trade unionists have been out of work and thrown upon the funds of their union while waiting for an order which the War Office now states to be urgent; and if he will take such measures as will in future prevent the unfortunate want of regularisation referred to?

A new pattern shoe is under trial and pending a decision based on the final results of the trials orders for the present pattern have been restricted to the quantities required to meet the wants of the moment. The advantages of a regular course of ordering have not been lost sight of, but it is manifestly desirable to avoid the further accumulation of a stock of stores of moribund pattern shoes. The period of three months named for delivery seems a reasonable time for the comparatively small order contemplated, but if more time is desired there will be no objection to allow another month and extend deliveries to include June.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will inform the House of the precise terms of any official communications which have been received at the War Office from county associations as to the reasons they assign for the continuance of the shortage both of officers and men in the Territorial Force?

also asked the Secretary for War whether his attention had been called to the fact that county associations have already expressed their convictions that no adequate increase of officers and men to complete the establishment is likely to be forthcoming unless the funds at their disposal are sufficiently augmented to meet the separation allowances and other charges which have been so strongly recommended by the associations; and whether he will state what material encouragement he is prepared to give to the associations to enable them to carry out his instructions as to recruiting?

likewise asked whether the Army Council are willing to consent to the request of the county associations for the grant of separation allowances, or some satisfactory form of bounty to the rank and file as well as to non-commissioned officers of the Territorial Army, the non-granting of which not only frustrates the efforts of recruiting committees, but means that numbers of married men are thus debarred from joining owing to the lack of financial assistance?

I cannot undertake to deal properly with the points raised in Questions No. 92^* to 94^* within the limits of a reply to a question. I would therefore ask him to wait until Army Estimates are under discussion when I shall have an opportunity of making a full statement in regard generally to the Tentorial Force and in particular to the matter now mentioned.

asked the Home Secretary how the 2,271 alien prisoners in 1910 compare with the total prisoners; what was the number and nationality of the aliens in prisons on 31st December last; and what were the nationalities of those against whom expulsion orders were made last year?

The 2,271 alien prisoners represent rather less than 1 per cent. of the total number of prisoners. The number of convicted aliens in prison on 31st December last was 370. I am unable at the present moment to give the nationalities asked for. Complete information on this and other points relating to the expulsion of aliens will be published as soon as possible. The work of compilation is not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received a proposal from the Government of the United States of America for the appointment of a peace commission, on similar lines to the one authorised by the United States Congress, with the object of furthering the principles of arbitration, mediation, and international concord; if so, whether he has replied to this invitation as well as to a similar communication from the council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in accordance with a resolution passed by that body at its annual conference at Brussels last year urging on all governments the appointment of similar commissions, with a view to the reports of such commissions being presented to the third Hague Conference; and whether he can now state the nature of his reply?

In December last the United States Ambassador brought to my notice the joint Resolution passed by the Senate and House of Representatives on the subject. His Excellency inquired whether there was a prospect of co-operation on the part of His Majesty's Government, and if so to what extent; and my reply was to the effect that His Majesty's Government had always taken the keenest interest in the plan of an international agreement for this purpose, and would therefore most readily enter into a full and frank interchange of views with the United States Government upon the subject, and would lend their support to any well-considered and practical scheme which might be brought forward by the United States Government. His Majesty's Government welcomed the joint resolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, and would look forward with sympathetic interest to the conclusions at which the proposed Commission might arrive. Should the Commission be able to formulate a scheme on definite lines, it would receive the most friendly consideration at the hands of His Majesty's Govern- ment. I have also received the communication referred to from the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for North Salford on 16th February.

asked the President of the Beard of Trade, whether any of the official members or those appointed by his Department on the four trade boards now instituted represents the case for Scotland before these bodies; and, if not, will he say how the grievances of the workers of that country are to be brought to the knowledge of these boards?

Trade Boards consist of two classes of persons, namely, appointed members and representative members. The appointed members are impartial persons unconnected with the trade, and it is not their function to represent any interest on the boards. The representative members represent employers and workers in equal numbers, and on all Trade Boards in which Scottish interests are involved every effort is made to ensure that they should be adequately represented on both the employers' and the workers' sides. I understand that the two such Trade Boards already formed (namely, those for the paper box and tailoring trades) include five persons chosen to represent Scottish employers and four to represent Scottish workers. In addition, there will be separate District Trade Committees for Scotland in connection with both these boards.

asked whether any regulation exists obliging railway companies to provide platforms raised so as to secure the safety of passengers; and, if so, will he say whether the platform at Portarlington, Great Southern and Western Railway, Ireland, meets those requirements, seeing that the level of the platform is over two feet and a-half below the floor of the carriages?

I am informed by the railway company that the platform in question is about one foot six inches above the rail level, which would leave it about two feet six inches below the level of the carriage floors. The Board of Trade have no statutory authority to require the railway company to raise the platform, but I am asking them whether they propose to take any steps in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, in tabular form, the value of goods from the United Kingdom imported into each of the self-governing dominions in the last three years available; the amount of duty levied on those goods in each of these years by each of the dominions; and the value of goods imported from these dominions into the United Kingdom, with the amount of the duties levied on them by the United Kingdom in each of those years?

The following statement shows the value of merchandise imported from the United Kingdom into each of the self-governing Dominions in each of the years 1907–9 and the value of the merchandise imported into the United Kingdom from those Dominions in the same years:—

Self-governing Dominions.	Value of Merchandise Imported from the United Kingdom into the Dominions.			Value of Merchandise Imported into the United Kingdom from the Dominions.
	1907.	1908.	1909.	1907.	1908.	1909.
	£	£	£	£	£	£
Commonwealth of Australia	31,509,000	29,703,000	31,130,000	33,832,000	29,070,000	32,646,000
Dominion of New Zealand.	10,278,000	10,442,000	9,181,000	17,788,000	14,664,000	17,731,000
British South Africa	16,094,000*	14,410,000*	16,705,000*	8,656,000§	7,464,000§	9,940,000§
Newfoundland	548,000†	538,000†	492,000†	330,000	330,000	325,000
Dominion of Canada	19,592,000‡	14,503,000‡	19,665,000‡	25,467,000	24,463,000	25,223,000
* Imports of United Kingdom produce into British South Africa, including imports into those parts of British South Africa which are not within the "Union of South Africa."
† For the twelve months ended 30th June of the year" stated.
‡ For the twelve months ended 31st March of the years following those stated.
§ Exclusive of the value of Diamonds, which is not recorded on importation into the United Kingdom. The value of the exports of Diamonds from South-Africa to the United Kingdom in 1909 was about £600,000.

The amount of duty levied on goods imported from a particular source cannot be stated either for the United Kingdom or the Dominions, except in the case of the Dominion of Canada. The amount of duty levied in Canada on imports from the United Kingdom was as follows:—

Year beginning 1st April, 1907	…	£3,549,000
Year beginning 1st April, 1908	…	£2,765,000
Year beginning 1st April, 1909	…	£3,707,000

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he would state, in tabular form, what are the duties per ton levied in each European country on British coal; and what are the duties levied in each of the self-governing Dominions?

My hon. Friend will find the information he desires in the Returns entitled "Foreign Import Duties, 1910,"

asked whether the clerical assistants in the telephone branch of the post office at Glasgow and taken over from the corporation in 1906, are being paid their annual increment, called corporation increment, when it becomes due, or whether it is being allowed to drop into arrears of six to eight months; and, if the latter, why is it not paid when due?

I will make inquiry and communicate with the hon. Member on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether assistants of the telephone branchof the Post Office in Glasgow, and taken over from the corporation in 1906, are being rejected for the establishment by the Civil Service Commissioners on medical grounds, even though their medical record for years is good, showing few absences; and if he will say whether the same principle is being adopted with those assistants to be taken over from the National Telephone Company?

It is the fact that certain members of the telephone staff of the Glasgow Corporation who were taken over by the Post Office in 1906 have been rejected by the Civil Service Commissioners on medical grounds for appointment as established officers. They are, however, being retained in the service of the Post Office under conditions distinctly superior to those under which they served while employed by the Coroporation. The proposals in regard to the staff to be taken over from the National Telephone Company will be embodied in a Bill which I hope soon to be able to introduce.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in the East Central section of the General Post Office thousands of letters fail the final evening despatches to the London district and sub district offices that are entitled to be delivered the same day, owing to the inadequacy of the staff at that office; if so, what steps he intends to take to prevent this delay to public correspondence; and, seeing that he has stated that upwards of 10,000 hours extra duty are now performed by sorters and postmen weekly in this section, and, in view of the fact that on 1st March sixty sorter's and ninety postmen will be absent on annual leave, which will mean upwards of 7,000 additional hours weekly to be filled up by extra duty, whether, in the circumstances, he will consider the advisability of deferring the commencement of the annual leave periods until the increase of force asked for is granted by the Treasury?

The failures which have occurred have not been due to inadequacy of staff, but to the shortness of the time available for correcting mistakes, such as the posting of London correspondence in the country letter-boxes. The force of the Eastern Central District Office is to be increased, and there will be no need to postpone the annual leave of the staff.

asked the Postmaster General, whether the testing duties in connection with the telegraph service have up to the present time been performed by the telegraph establishment; whether it is now proposed to place these duties under the control of the engineer-in-chief; whether this change is being recommended on the grounds of efficiency or economy; and whether, in view of the fact that these duties are being performed efficiently by a staff whose chances of promotion are already limited, he will take steps to prevent any further reduction in their prospects?

The testing duties in connection with the telegraph service are still being performed by the telegraph establishment. The whole system of testing has recently been under consideration, but no decision has yet been arrived at on the subject.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to applications for old age pensions at Cumnock, Ayrshire, and elsewhere, in which the applicants are unable to prove their age by reason of the absence of proper records of baptism during the disturbed period preceding the disruption of the Church of Scotland, and in which applicants desiring to supplement their available evidence by the help of Census Returns, were informed by the Local Government Board for Scotland that the Census Returns were not available for consultation by the applicants; and whether the Local Government Board can, and will themselves, consult the Census Returns in such cases, or procure access thereto for the applicants, or can and will otherwise facilitate proof of age where neglect in the keeping of public records puts the applicants to disadvantage?

The Census Returns of 1841 and 1851 are in the custody of the Registrar-General for Scotland and are already made available under the supervision of the Registrar-General and his staff to the Local Government Board in eases of appeal and where other sources of information have failed. There are difficulties in the way of granting additional facilities of inspecting Census documents, but the question will receive further consideration.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Committee on Minor Legal Appointments in Scotland had yet presented its Report; if not, could he say when the Report would be issued; and what was the cause of the delay, in view of the facts that the Committee was appointed twelve months ago and finished the taking of evidence in June of last year?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. I understand the Report referred to will be issued on an early day. The delay is due to the prolonged consideration which the members of the Committee have given to the important questions raised by the evidence.