asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a provisional arrangement was come to between Germany and Canada last year providing for the renewal of negotiations with a view to an extended trade treaty; if so, whether any steps had been taken in that direction by the Governments of Germany or Canada; would the lower duties in both the Canadian and United States tariffs which are proposed by the reciprocity agreement also be extended to Germany; and, if not, to what extent would the position of Germany be affected in the markets of those two countries?

The Agreement concluded in February, 1910, between Canada and Germany was a provisional one, and the question of a general Convention for the regulation of commercial relations between Canada and Germany was deferred for consideration at a time that might be found mutually convenient. I am not aware that any further steps have been taken in that direction by the Government of Canada or Germany; or whether the lower duties proposed in the Agreement between Canada and the United States will be extended to Germany either by the one or by the other.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the authoritative announcement in America that, if the Canadian Reciprocity Hill passes into law, the American State Department will be obliged to decline to extend to the United Kingdom and the rest of the Empire the same tariff concessions as those given to Canada; and whether we can now any longer, as regards America, rely on the most-favoured-nation clause?

My attention has not been drawn to any announcement of this kind. The interpretation which has sometimes been placed by the United States upon the most-favoured-nation article in commercial treaties has already been a matter of controversy on previous occasions, and may become so again.

Does that long answer mean that we no longer have a favoured-nation-clause with America?

No; but the United States and the British Government differ in their interpretation of it.

asked whether, in the event of the United States-Canada reciprocity agreement becoming law, portable engines and traction engines for farm purposes manufactured in this country will, under the rights of most-favoured-nations, be admitted into the United States at the reduced tariff of 20 per cent. ad. valorem, to which such engines will be entitled if manufactured in Canada; and, if not, what duty will be payable on such engines if of English manufacture?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement with regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question. At present all steam engines, including portable engines and traction engines, are dutiable on importation into the United States at the rate of 30 per cent. ad valorem.

Is not the percentage stated in the first part of the question the correct I percentage which, if the Bill passes into law, these engines entering the United States from Canada will pay?

I do not think that is the question. I was asked as to goods entering the United States from Great Britain. I am not confirming or denying the accuracy of the figure.

asked the Secretary of State whether his attention had been officially called to the recent expulsion of a British steamship owner from Holland; what were the circumstances attending such action on the part of the Dutch Government; and whether any representations have been, or will be, made by His Majesty's Government on the subject?

My attention has been called to this matter, but I would point out that the expulsion order has not yet taken effect, and that it is the agent of the British company, and not the owner of the steamship, who is to be expelled. As regards the second part, the agent in question is alleged to have committed a breach of the Netherlands police regulations in attempting to land return emigrants after this had been expressly prohibited by the police commissioner. I am making inquiries into all the facts before deciding what action should be taken.

asked whether, if the Declaration of London is not ratified, and Great Britain were at war with a great naval Power, wool, now on the free list, might be declared contraband of war, and, consequently, be liable to be seized by the enemy in neutral bottoms, to the detriment of the wool industry of Bradford, the West Riding, and the country generally?

The acceptance of the Declaration, which places wool on the free list, will obviate the risk which the hon. Member suggests, and which exists at present.

Is it not the fact that we have normally a sufficient quantity of wool in this country to render that danger negligible?

I do not think that question arises out of the previous question, but it should be put to the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the recent collision at Darlington the engine involved in the accident had been in two previous collisions owing, it is alleged, to the break power being insufficient; whether he will cause an inquiry to be held into the brake power of all engines on this particular section of the North Eastern Railway; whether he is aware that no independent investigation was made of the engine in question; and whether he will take steps to have such independent inspections made following railway accidents?

The Inspecting Officer who held the inquiry in this case informs me that the question as to whether the engine in question had been involved in any previous collision was not raised at the inquiry either by representatives of the Railway Company or by the representative of the men concerned. I have, however, asked the Company for information on the point and they state that the engine had been in collision on one previous occasion owing entirely to the driver mistaking his signals. I am forwarding my hon. Friend a copy of their letter which also deals with the question of brake power on engines of this type. The Inspecting Officer made a personal inspection of the engine before the inquiry, as is usual in such cases; but the brake gear had been entirely broken away by the collision. The brakes had, however, acted efficiently during the journey from Newcastle to Darlington, and the Inspecting Officer considers that the fact that the wheels were skidding at the time of the collision proves that the brakes were then acting efficiently.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had received any representation from the committee of creditors or shareholders in the Law Guarantee Trust and Accident Society urging the importance of a public inquiry into the affairs of the society; and, if so, what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?

I have not received any representations from creditors of the Law Guarantee Trust and Accident Society urging the importance of a public inquiry into the affairs of the Society, but I have received several representations to this effect from shareholders. In consquence of the representations received from shareholders I carefully considered the matter and consulted the Law Officers of the Crown. I also laid before the Law Officers the statements and documents submitted by the shareholders who had made representations to me. As a result, the Law Officers advised that in the circumstances there were no steps open to the Board of Trade.

Could not the right hon. Gentleman have asked the liquidator whether he has received a report from the Committee in favour of a public inquiry since he took the advice of the Law Officers?

No further facts have come to my knowledge which have a material bearing on the matter. If any do I will carefully consider them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether of the twelve members of the four Trade Boards set up to deal with sweated wages who have been nominated by his Department not one has been chosen to represent Scotland on these Boards; and, if so, can he say why his Department should thus fail to recognise the claims of the workers everywhere?

I have already informed my hon. Friend that it is not the function of the appointed members on Trade Boards to represent any particular interest or locality, and that this function is performed by the representative members. I am sending my hon. Friend a short printed memorandum on the Trade Boards Act which I hope will make the matter quite clear.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had yet replied to the complaint of the Maidstone Town Council made under Section 27 of The Port of London Act, 1908; and, if not, when he will be in a position to reply?

A reply has been sent to the Maidstone Town Council, and I have directed that a copy should be sent to the noble Lord.

What redress will the Town Council have in the matter?

Will the Noble Lord kindly put a question down?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is awere that the Port of London Authority have introduced into their tariff differential rates upon sugar according as it is raw or refined, and that it is sought to bring under the latter category yellow crystals and molasses sugars on the ground that these classes go largely into direct consumption; and whether he will draw the attention of the Port of London Authority to the fact that the Customs in this country and other countries have long ago discarded such classification in favour of duties based on polarisation?

The matter is not one in regard to which the Board of Trade have any jurisdiction. But the Port of London Authority inform me that the classification of sugar, and the maximum rates thereon, which are contained in the Port of London (Port Rates on Goods) Order, 1910, were agreed upon between the traders and the Port Authority before the Provisional Order was made by the Board of Trade.

Are the facts as stated in the last part of the question accurate?

It is rather an intricate question. I think those interested, on the one hand, and the Port Authority on the other, agreed to the arrangement which is now being carried out for the introduction of the Provisional Order and of the Act. In the first place I cannot interfere, and in the second place I do not propose to interfere.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, failing any satisfactory scheme being submitted to the Scottish Local Government Board for erecting a garden city within the Rosyth area, the Local Government Board will themselves undertake the planning and erection of the residential portion of the naval base; and whether, in view of the fact that the Admiralty works are already far advanced, he will take steps to ensure a housing scheme for the future residents at Rosyth being undertaken forthwith?

The answer to the first portion of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. So far as the Local Government Board for Scotland are concerned every endeavour is being made to secure the object mentioned by my hon. Friend.

Is the land being held up with a view to getting higher feu duties?

I am not aware of it.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think the time has come when some steps should be taken to establish a housing scheme, and does he not think the housing of human beings is after all more important than the housing of "Dreadnoughts," for which such large sums are so easily voted?

Did the landowner, Lord Elgin, encourage or discourage this garden city scheme?

I am not aware. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a question.

asked whether committees to assist the Lord Chancellor in his appointments of justices of the peace were to be instituted in Scotland; and, if so, when and where would the first of these be set up.

The answer to my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. Several of these committees have already been appointed.

What is the constitution of those committees. Are they nominated?

I cannot say. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the fact that reformatory schools are schools rather than prisons, he will make it a reference to the departmental committee upon the subject to consider whether they should be transferred from the Home Office to the Board of Education?

I think there are strong reasons against dividing between two Government Departments the work and responsibility now laid upon the Home Office for children and youths who are criminal or in danger of falling into crime, and the Committee of 1895 refused to recommend the transfer of these schools. But I will not exclude the point from the consideration of the present Committee.

In order that the question should be discussed from the point of view of the Board of Education as well as the Home Office, will any representative of the Board of Education be on the Committee?

I have been considering that point.

asked what is the amount voted for secondary education in Scotland in the year ended March, 1910; what is the amount voted for higher elementary schools; what is the cost of inspection, examination, and administration of those two branches; and how is this expense borne?

The amount voted for secondary schools in Scotland was included in the vote for "Grants for Continuation Classes and Secondary Schools." The amount spent in grants to secondary schools in the year ended 31st March, 1910, was £35,900. There are no schools in Scotland known as higher elementary schools. The grant for the higher grade schools, which are probably intended, is not separately voted, but is included under the general heads "Annual Grants for Day Scholars," and "Fee Grants for Day Scholars." For the amount expended in State Grants to these higher grade schools I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on the point on the 1st instant. The cost of inspection, examination, and administration forms part of the general cost of the inspection and administrative work of the Department, the cost of which is borne by the Vote for Public Education, Scotland. It is impossible to make any allocation of the cost between different branches of the Department's work.

asked how the Scottish Office proposes to ascertain the views of all the teachers interested in the superannuation scheme which has been in existence since 1898, but which is now to be closed; and what the Department proposes to do regarding the protests against its present proposals which teachers are sending in?

In accordance with the provisions of Sub-section (10) of Section 14 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, the Scotch Education Department have made the draft superannuation scheme public, through the medium of school authorities and the Press, so that all teachers interested will have an opportunity of considering it and expressing their views. Due consideration will be given, in accordance with Sub-section (11), to representations received from teachers and others, but so far no protest from teachers has reached the Department.

asked, in view of the fact that the net cost to the Education (Scotland) Fund of the draft scheme of superannuation for teachers must ultimately be borne by school managers in the form of a reduced allocation under Section 17 (2) of The Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, in addition to the extra burdens recently imposed, what proportion the Treasury Grant may be expected to bear to the total cost of the scheme or otherwise, and what slump contribution the Treasury may have in contemplation to make?

The contribution by the Treasury under the conditions on which sanction was given to the proposals contained in Section 14 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, will be the equivalent of the existing liability of the Exchequer under the terms of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898. The precise amount (which will be an annual contribution), has not yet been determined.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the attention of the Government has been called to the growing activity in this country of Mormon missionaries from the United States; whether he has any official information showing that young English girls are being induced to emigrate to Utah; and, if so, whether the Government propose to take any steps to safeguard English homes from this danger?

My attention has been called to the matter, and I am making inquiries. I have at present no official information showing that young girls are being induced to emigrate to Utah.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any information that polygamy is still practised in Utah, and whether there is any objection to the girls going there?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has official information that the United States Senate has reported that the leaders of the Mormon church have practised and encouraged polygamy?

I am aware that the matter is causing a great deal of concern in certain quarters in this country. I am treating it in a serious spirit, and looking into it very thoroughly.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has had his attention called to the action of the Birkenhead Corporation, which has set apart an unconsecrated portion of a public cemetery and has called it the Nonconformist ground; whether he is aware of the feeling evoked in Birkenhead by the application of the term Nonconformist; and whether he proposes to take any action to prevent the use of this term?

As I indicated, in answer to a question put by my hon. Friend on a similar subject, last Thursday, this is not a matter as to which I have any power to take action. I may, however, say that I understand that any action taken by the Birkenhead Corporation in regard to applying the term Nonconformist to the unconsecrated portion of their cemetery was taken with the view of meeting the wishes of persons burying in that portion.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the unconsecrated portions of cemeteries have been largely used in all parts of this land not only by Nonconformists of the Free Churches, but by Churchmen, Jews, and members of all churches, and of no church, and if under these circumstances the term Nonconformist when applied to one portion of a cemetery does not raise very difficult questions?

I understand that the Birkenhead Corporation, in proposing to use the word "Nonconformist" in place of "unconsecrated," believed it to be acceptable to Nonconformists."

asked the Home Secretary if he has had brought to his notice the circumstances of the present dispute between a number of women dressmakers and Messrs. Ben Evans and Company, Limited, Swansea; if he is aware that it has been the practice of this firm to work illegal overtime, the women being employed in some cases as late as 11.30 on Saturday night and in other cases from 9. a.m. to 4 p.m. without a break for meals; whether the Factory Department is cognisant of this evasion of the law; and what action it is proposed to take in the matter?

I have made inquiries into this matter. The Factory Department have no reason to believe that the firm in question make a practice of working illegal overtime. They were proceeded against in July, 1909, in consequence of a complaint made to the inspector for illegal employment of women on the weekly half-holiday, but no complaint has been made to the inspector since, and the number of days on which overtime employment was reported by the firm in 1910 was much below the number to which they were entitled. The whole of the premises were inspected in January last, and no serious irregularities were discovered. Any complaints that may be sent to the district inspector will be carefully investigated in the ordinary course, but no special action on the part of the Department appears to be called for.

had given notice of the following question: "To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the responsibility of the husband of Mrs. Woolmore, the woman recently convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for neglecting her five children, was considered by the Bench; whether at the hearing of the case anything was stated showing that the woman pleaded guilty at the husband's request; and, if so, whether, in consideration of that and also that the neglect for which Mrs. Woolmore is imprisoned arose because the husband frequently earned no more than 8s. per week, which together with the condition and situation of the cottage contributed to make the woman mentally defective, he will order her release, and place her in charge of one, among the number of persons, who have offered to care for and nurse her back to health."

It is not necessary to ask the question, as the right hon. Gentleman has already taken action in the way of releasing Mrs. Woolmore.

As the question has been put on the Paper, I think it is desirable to answer it. The husband as well as the wife were charged with the offence of cruelty to their children, and the Bench, I understand, fully considered the question of their individual responsibility. The husband was at work all day and brought home regularly his weekly wages of 16s., and the Justices thought that in these circumstances the wife—rather than the husband—was responsible for the deplorable condition of filth in which the family lived. I have no information to show that the husband advised the wife to plead guilty, but it is quite clear from the evidence that she really had no alternative. The only thing that can excuse her offence in any degree is the fact, now clearly established, that she is of weak mind. I am glad to be able to say that a lady who has interested herself in the case very kindly offered to receive Mrs. Woolmore into her home and to do her best for her; and I therefore felt justified in recommending the remission of what remained of the sentence. Mrs. Woolmore was released on Friday last to the care of this lady, who will, I trust, be able, with the help of others, to prevent the family again falling into the terrible condition in which they were found.

As I understand that the mental condition of the woman has been put down to the insanitary condition of the cottage, can the right hon. Gentleman inform us of the name of the landlord?

Formal notice should be given of that question by the hon. Member.

asked when the Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection will be published?

As I stated in reply to a question on the 16th February, I am informed that the Report is under consideration, and that it is hoped that it may be submitted shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a petition from the Spiritualists' National Union praying for an amendment of the burial laws, so as to enable that association to bury their deceased members according to their own funeral rites; and, if so, whether the prayer of the petitioners can be acceded to?

I have received the petition referred to, but as at present advised, I do not think that any legislation is called for. Section 1 of the Burial Laws Amendment Act, 1880, authorises in certain circumstances the burial of persons in consecrated ground without the performance of the Church of England service. Under Section 6 of the same Act, the burial may be either without any religious service or with such Christian and orderly religious service as the person in charge of the burial thinks fit, and "Christian service" is defined as including "every religious service used by any church, denomination or person professing to be Christian." If, therefore, as I understand, the members of the Spiritualists' National union profess to be Christian, they are entitled to the full benefit of the Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the uniforms for the naval cadets at Dartmouth and Osborne are made to a very great extent by home-work in the district of Portsmouth; whether he is aware that there have been in that district over 200 cases of children being absent from the schools this year on account of measles; and whether, in view of the recent outbreaks of measles in the Dartmouth and Osborne naval colleges, he will have a searching inquiry made as to whether the uniforms referred to are made under proper healthy and sanitary conditions?

I have received the following information from the Factory Inspector for the district. About 85 per cent of this work is done by a single firm, which employs thirty-five out-workers. Twenty-seven of these are occupiers of workshops which are periodically visited by the factory inspectors and officers of a local authority and the sanitary conditions of which are satisfactory. Eight are outworkers in the ordinary sense; their premises, which are subject to inspection by the local authority, are frequently visited and the medical officer of health considers them to be satisfactory from the point of view of health. No cases of school children suffering from measles have been reported in connection with any of these premises.

May I ask whether the parents of the children will be called upon to notify the disease, although it does not happen to be in the schedule?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention had been called to the loss of wages incurred by working men called upon to attend as jurymen; and whether he proposed to take any steps, by legislation or otherwise, to compensate them for their reduced earnings?

The subject to which the Noble Lord calls attention is one of undoubted importance, and it is certainly very anomalous that while well-to-do special jurors should receive a guinea a day, common jurors should be unpaid. There is reason to believe that the class from which both special and common jurors are summoned is unduly restricted, and that the mass of the wage-earning population is in fact, excluded, the duties being mainly discharged by shopkeepers and publicans. I hope the day will come when the actual practice will be reconciled with the theory of our jury system, and I shall welcome the assistance of the Noble Lord when the opportunity offers to improve and widen the basis of jury service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that wage-earners also are called upon to discharge these duties and can he not hold out some little hope that consideration will be given shortly to this matter?

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the outbreak of trachoma at the Dover Gordon Boys' Home; whether he is aware that boys were returned to the home by the emigration authorities as not passable by them as emigrants owing to their suffering from this disease; whether he is aware that attempts were made to draft boys under observation into the Navy and Army unknown to the doctors in charge of the cases; whether he is aware that the segregation ordered by the oculist first called in was stopped and that since that date a new outbreak has occurred; whether he is aware that it is now proposed to dismiss all the boys to their homes without guarantee that they are free from infection of this most cantagious disease; and what steps he proposes to take to deal with this situation?

I had not heard of this matter until my hon. Friend's question appeared on the Paper on Saturday. The school is not under inspection by my Department, but I will at once see that inquiry is made. I may say that the Home is not connected with the National Memorial Gordon Boys' Home at Woking.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the committee appointed to inquire into the working of the Royal College of Art has yet made a report; and, if so, can it be made public?

The Committee have not yet reported to the Board. I think they may be expected to do so shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has sanctioned the suppression of the statement of prices paid by the Board for the acquisition of objects of art for the Victoria and Albert Museum from the descriptive labels attached to such objects; and, if so, whether he will state the reason for giving up a practice which has been in force since 1853 and supplied the public with interesting and useful information?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The former practice, which had been condemned by a very considerable consensus of opinion for some time past, was finally given up on the recommendation of the Committee of Rearrangement. The prices of objects of art are so frequently affected by circumstances unconnected with their intrinsic value that the statement of prices on the labels is liable to mislead the great majority of the public who are not experts in these matters. It is also impossible to price many of the individual objects which have been bought in collections.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not reconsider his decision?

No. I have fully considered the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he will state the reason of the delay in relieving the Court of Reproduction at the Victoria and Albert Museum of its present inconvenient and congested condition, seeing that ample space is suitably available for such reproductions in the main northern corridor of the building?

The rearrangement of the art collections as a whole is not yet complete. The work is not of such a character that it can be hurried, and it appears to be desirable that the many valuable originals in the museum should first be dealt with. I am not sure what space the hon. Member refers to as being available for the reproductions in the main northern corridor; but I can assure him that, as soon as the originals have been dealt with, the reorganisation of the reproductions will be proceeded with without unnecessary delay, so far as the available space permits.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the North Court of the Victoria and Albert Museum was not allocated in the official plan of 1909 to the annual exhibition of works from schools of art; and, if so, will he explain why was not the exhibition of 1910 held there?

I do not understand what plan the hon. Member refers to as "the official plan of 1909." I am not aware that any decision to the effect referred to in the question has ever been authoritatively taken, nor that the matter has ever gone beyond the existence of an understanding that, if the National Competition Exhibition were to be accommodated in the museum premises at all, the North Court should be reserved for this purpose in place of the Octagon Court and West Court, as had previously been suggested. Owing to the rearrangement of the collections and work incidental thereto, the North Court was in any case not available for the purpose in 1910.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there are several schools and institutions whose grants for their technological instruction for the year ending 31st July, 1910, have not been paid; and, if so, what is the reason?

I am aware that there are some Grants yet to be paid for work done under the Regulations for Technical Schools, etc., in the year in question. I hope that practically all outstanding claims may be settled before the close of the current financial year. A great number of forms of claim for grants are received by the Board of Education at one time. Each form has to be carefully scrutinised by the Board's officers. It is, therefore, impossible to pay out all grants immediately.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the stigma attaching to a man who has been educated in a reformatory or industrial school under the penal control of the Home Office, the excellence of the practical instruction given to boys in such schools, particularly where agricultural land cultivated by the boys forms part of the premises, the openings afforded by such instruction for the profitable employment of such boys, the comparative disadvantage suffered by those for whom, owing to more orderly conduct in early youth, the less practical curriculum of the elementary school is alone available, and the desire, with the approval of the Board, of many local education authorities to maks such curriculum more practical, he will negotiate with the Home Office with the object either of placing such institutions entirely under the control of the local education authorities whose areas they serve or of securing that a due proportion of those serving upon their committees of management shall be members of such authorities?

The President of the Board of Education has asked me to reply to this question. The subject of the relations of these schools with local education authorities will be one of the matters referred to the Departmental Committee which I propose to appoint.

Have the inspectors of the Board of Education had access with the approval of the right hon. Gentleman's Department to these institutions?

No. They have nothing to do with them.

Is it a fact that local education authorities have the right to inspect reformatory and industrial schools?

asked what are the amounts voted for secondary education in England and Wales in the year ended March, 1910, the amounts voted for higher elementary schools in the same period; what is the cost of inspection, examination, and administration of those two branches; and how is this cost borne?

The total Vote for Secondary Education in England and Wales, including the preliminary education of Intending teachers, was, for the financial year 1909–10, £791,800. The Vote for higher elementary schools is included in the total Vote for Grants in respect of public elementary schools which was, for the financial year 1909–10, £11,162,405. The Board are unable to allocate their expenditure on inspection, examination, and administration as between the different branches of their service. I am doubtful whether I understand the last part of the question. Assuming that the cost referred to is the cost of inspection, examination, and administration by the Board of Education, it is met out of the total Votes for those purposes as set out in the Annual Estimates.

How much is actually paid for higher elementary education as apart from primary education?

I am afraid it is quite impossible to divide the cost into two separate portions, and to say how much is due to one and how much is due to the other.

Do the figures given in respect of so-called secondary education include technical education and all education other than elementary?

No. They include secondary education. Secondary education does not refer to technical education at all.

asked whether any inspection of school children attending London County Council schools to ascertain the vaccinal condition of such children has taken, or will take, place; whether it is proposed to exclude unvaccinated children from such schools; whether such action is in accordance with the regulations of the Board of Education; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have no definite information as to any action which the London County Council have taken, or are about to take, to ascertain whether children in public elementary schools have or have not been vaccinated. I have several times expressed my view on the matter, and may refer the hon. Member to an answer which I gave in this House on 14th October, 1908, when I said that:—"I strongly deprecate any attempt on the part of local authorities to use the machinery of medical inspection for the purpose of enforcing vaccination. Such action is likely to discredit medical inspection in the eyes of many parents who would otherwise be glad to take advantage of it." With regard to the second part of the question, I have no information as to any proposal to exclude unvaccinated children from the schools. In the circumstances the third and fourth questions do not arise.

Seeing that recently there has been an outbreak of small-pox will not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his advice to the local authorities, in reference to medical inspection, seeing that that advice may render parents unwilling to go in for vaccination for their children?

No. I have no intention whatever of altering my advice. The case of epidemics is fully dealt with in the code.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many cases of small-pox there are at present reported in London; and whether he has requested medical officers of health to use every legitimate means to induce all those who have been brought in contact with these cases to be vaccinated?

Up to last night the number of cases of small-pox which have been reported was forty-seven. A medical inspector of the Board has conferred with the medical officers of health and with the officers of the guardians in regard to the steps to be taken for dealing with the outbreak.

May I ask if the medical inspector is urging the vaccination of contacts?

The medical inspector of the Board and the local medical inspectors are, I am glad to say, doing everything that reasonably can be expected in battling with this outbreak.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give definite instructions to the medical officers to urge vaccination wherever they can?

I shall deem it my duty to leave it to the medical officer of the Board and to the local medical officers of health.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman can state how many sanitary authorities in the country are proposing the expenditure of ratepayers' money to provide additional hospital accommodation for small-pox on the alleged ground of the danger to the community consequent on the slackening of compulsory vaccination?

I have no information that any sanitary authorities are proposing to provide additional hospital accommodation on the ground mentioned.

Is it not the fact that the Sanitary authorities of Leith and Edinburgh are being urged by the Local Government Board of Scotland to provide further accommodation for small-pox cases on the ground of the slackening of vaccination?

Leith and Edinburgh are not within my jurisdiction. I would advise my hon. Friend to put that question to the President of the Local Government Board for Scotland.

asked what was the proportion during last year, relatively to the children born, of those children who were exempted from vaccination under exemption certificates?

I am not at present able to supply figures for the whole year. During the first half of the year, however, 456,533 births were registered and 110,851 exemption certificates were received.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Board will refer the question of the wages of the employés at the Royal Gardens, Kew, to the Fair Wages Advisory Committee for consideration?

The Board will be glad to submit this suggestion for the consideration of the Treasury.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state how many agricultural colleges will be asked to experiment on sugar-beet growing this year; and what sum of money will be available for the experiments?

The number and money required is under consideration.

The time is very short for enabling these experiments to be undertaken.

The matter is proceeding very quickly.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the intention of the Government to adopt the entire recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission to inquire into the method of selecting justices of the peace; and whether it is his intention to introduce legislation to enact the course that will be pursued in the appointment of justices in the future?

The Lord Chancellor stated in the House of Lords last July that it was his intention to act in substance on the Report of the Royal Commission. It is not practicable to see, until after the result of experience, whether the recommendations in every minor particular case be carried out in all the numerous counties and boroughs. The Royal Commission expressed the opinion, which the Lord Chancellor shares, that the duty of appointing justices should be regarded as belonging to him in his judicial capacity, and it is from that point of view that he is carrying it into effect. There is no necessity for any legislation.

asked the Prime Minister if he intends during this Parliament to introduce a Bill to take away pensions from members of the Government after leaving office?

No, Sir, His Majesty's Government have no present intention of introducing such a Bill.

Are these preserves to be left to the Tory party, as in the past?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to obtain full information with regard to the Referendum and its working in Australia, the United States, and Switzerland?

Reports on the working of the Referendum in foreign countries will shortly be laid, and I am in communication with the Colonial Office as regards the hon. Member's request for information from Australia.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to suggestions made in the Report of the Poor Law Commission, and its endorsement in Ministerial declarations, that it is desirable to use the ordinary demands of public departments for works and services with a view to minimising unemployment fluctuations and regularising the demand as between the different seasons of the year, and as between the good and bad years of a trade cycle, he will appoint an inter-departmental committee to devise a systematic and coordinated policy whose report should be presented to Parliament?

I will consider, in concert with the various Departments concerned, how far the suggestion of my hon. Friend can be usefully adopted.

asked the Prime Minister, whether, in the event of a Bill being introduced in the House of Lords for the reform of that Chamber, he will so arrange the business of this House that the discussion in Committee of this House of the Preamble of the Parliament Bill shall not take place until the first-mentioned Bill has been introduced into this House?

On a point of Order. Before that question is answered I wish to ask whether, having regard to the fact that any measure necessarily affecting the Prerogative of the Crown or altering the composition of the House of Lords must have as a condition precedent to its passage through either Houses of Parliament the consent of the Crown—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]

I must ask hon. Members to allow the hon. Member to proceed with his question.

On a point of Order.

This is a point of Order.

Owing to the interruption, I must repeat the first part of my question: Whether, having regard to the fact that any measure necessarily affecting the Prerogative of the Crown, or altering the composition of the House of Lords, must have as a condition precedent to its passage through either House of Parliament, the consent of the Crown formally communicated to that House by a Minister of the Crown responsible to the House of Commons, or through the House of Commons to the people, and acting presumably on behalf of the Cabinet, this question relating to the probable action of this House in the event of the introduction of a House of Lords Reform Bill in the House of Lords by Members unauthorised by the Crown for that purpose comes under the category of hypothetical questions which are beyond the limits of Parliamentary interrogation; and whether the arrangements suggested by the question that the course of business in this House should be affected by the action of the House of Lords in relation to its own business is without precedent, contrary to the claim repeatedly asserted or maintained by this House to be an independent Estate of the Realm, and an infraction or surrender of its privileges?

On the point of Order. Without going into the correctness of the argument of the hon. and learned Member, I must say I see no reason why the question should not be put and answered.

The answer to the question is that I cannot give any such undertaking.

asked, in view of the fact that many Members were prevented through lack of time from expressing their views on the Second Reading of the Parliament Bill, whether the Prime Minister will grant at least as long for the discussion of the Third Reading as for the Second?

No, Sir; I cannot, at the moment, say anything as to the arrangements for the Third Reading of this Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that if the fourteen Front Bench speakers had contented themselves last week with thirty minutes each, and the forty-five private Members with twenty minutes each, there would have been opportunity for fifteen additional Members to take part in the discussion?

It is a difficult sum in arithmetic.

In the allocation of time for the discussion of this Bill in Committee, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that so far as we on this side of the House are concerned we do not consider that the pledge of the Prime Minister that ample time would be given is being adhered to.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, whether the assistant inspector under the Animal Department of the Board, Mr. J. R. Roberts', Reports for the six months ending 1st January, 1911, are available for Members' of the House of Commons to read; and whether this gentleman is now in charge of any district, and, if so, where?

The reports of the Board's Inspectors are made for the information of the Board and it would not be in the public interest that they should be made available in the manner suggested. Mr. I. M. Roberts, who is the only assistant inspector of that name in the Animals Division and to whom I think the hon. Member must refer, is not and never has been in charge of a district.

asked what was the last occasion on which a representative of the Board made an investigation into an actual outbreak of the Isle of Wight bee disease; and whether any recommendation has followed by leaflet or otherwise?

An investigation by one of the foremost English pathologists was made into this disease last autumn. The result was negative, and no recommendations could therefore be issued.

Is the hon. Gentleman prepared to make further investigation into this disease, which is rampant in my district?

If the hon. Gentleman thinks it will have any good effect, I will consider the matter.

Is there any scientific knowledge at the Board of Agriculture with regard to this disease?

I have just informed the hon. Member that we have made inquiries.

Is there any reason why the Isle of Wight should be mentioned?

Reference was made to the Isle of Wight because the disease originated there.

Has the hon. Gentleman found authority for that?

asked whether there are any circumstances which delay the publication of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Swine Fever Regulations; and, if not, when it will be published?

A draft Report has been circulated to the members of the Committee, who will meet shortly to consider it. There are no special circumstances to cause any delay in its issue.

Will the Government defer the taking of the Votes for the Board of Agriculture until the publication of this important Report?

The hon. Member must put that question to the Prime Minister.

asked what, if any, steps are being taken by the Board to promote scientific research with the object of finding a preventative and cure for the fell and devastating disease of abortion in cattle?

A committee was appointed in April, 1905, for the experimental investigation of epizootic abortion, and in May, 1909, its reference was extended so as to permit of inquiry as to the administrative measures to be taken to deal with the disease. The committee is still sitting, but Reports containing valuable information and suggestions on the subject have already been presented to Parliament [Cd. 4742, 4863, and 5279]. The Board fully concur with the hon. Member as to the serious importance of this matter.

When is it likely that the committee will report?

I am unable to say.

Is it the fact that there is only £10,000 on which to draw for the promotion of scientific research of all descriptions in this country?

I do not think that is so.

Is there more than £10,000?

It is not fair to other Members with questions on the Paper to ask so many supplementary questions.

Give the Noble Lord a day to himself.

asked whether a communication has been made to the Fife Agricultural Society by the Board to the effect that no money is available in the meantime for the encouragement of the breeding of heavy horses, and that applications in connection with the improvement of cattle, dairying, and pig-breeding are to be dealt with by the Scottish Office and not by the Board of Agriculture?

Such a communication was made on 21st January, but in view of a subsequent communication from the Treasury the whole question is being reconsidered.

asked the Postmaster-General if the carriage of the mails from Fort William to Fort Augustus has lately been taken from the Invergarry and Fort Augustus Railway Company and handed over to a motor-car service at a considerably higher rate; if he is aware that the service given by the motorcar is very much inferior to that rendered by the railway company, and has caused great dissatisfaction in the district; and that the mails were on five occasions in February from one hour to three hours and five minutes late at Fort Augustus; and if he will, under these circumstances, revert to the conveyance of the mails by train as formerly?

The Post Office was compelled to arrange for the conveyance of these mails by a road motor service as from the 1st ultimo, at greater cost to the taxpayer, owing to the railway company having given notice that the line would be closed at the end of January. The decision of the Directors to keep the railway open for the present was only arrived at on the 26th January, too late to admit of the arrangements for the motor service being cancelled. As I have already intimated to the hon. Member and to the local committee who have approached me on the subject, I am quite willing to give favourable consideration to the question of again using the railway for the conveyance of mails, if the company can guarantee a reliable service for an adequate period. The delays to which the Hon. Member refers were due either to accidents or to the impassable condition of part of the road caused by excessive rainfall, but I am assured that the motorcar proprietors are doing their best to maintain an efficient service.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the roads in this district are quite unsuitable for mail carts, and that for many weeks in winter they are closed?

I know the roads are difficult, and I would much prefer to send the mails by rail. We did not withdraw the contract from the railway company, but the railway company gave us notice that they were about to close the line. If the railway company will give an assurance to keep the line open for some reasonable period I should be happy to renew the contract with them.

asked whether contracts for telephone work are still being placed with the Peel Connor Company, of Manchester; whether he is aware that the firm have continually violated the fair-wage clause of Government contracts; if any inquiries have been made in the matter; and what steps will be taken to ensure the due observance by this firm of the terms of the fair-wage clause?

I have made inquiry into the allegations made against this firm, but the point in dispute raises a question of some difficulty and a further investigation is necessary and is about to be made. I will communicate shortly with the hon. Member with regard to the matter.

asked if an ordinary letter takes 6½ hours and a registered letter 5¼ hours in transmission between the City and Crouch End, a distance of about five miles; and, if so, will he, in view of the inconvenience caused to the business community by the length of time occupied, take steps to have the transmission of letters between these two localities expedited?

The Noble Lord has not been correctly informed. Ordinary letters posted in the City at the time of a collection would be delivered in Crouch End after an average interval of just under 3½ hours. Registered letters take about half an hour longer. As there are already seven deliveries a day in Crouch End, I do not think that the service can be regarded as unsatisfactory.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty (1) whether he can give the approximate dates when the petitions from His Majesty's Dockyards were received at the Admiralty in the years 1909 and 1910, respectively; (2) if he can say at what date the 1909 petitions were answered; (3) whether it is intended to hold over the petitions received in 1910 for the same period as was done in the case of the 1909 petitions; (4) what time was allowed to elapse between the date of reply to the 1909 petitions and the date at which the Admiralty directed that the 1910 petitions should be sent in; (5) and whether, in the event of a long delay in answering these petitions, he will consider the advisability of granting a longer period of time before the next years' petitions are required to be sent in?

The replies to the several' parts of the hon. Member's question are as follows:—(1) At various dates about the middle of June, 1909, and 13th August, 1910, respectively; (2) 13th July, 1910; (3) the petitions received in 1910 are now under consideration, and will be replied to as early as possible; (4) one month; (5) the desirability of granting a longer period of time will be considered when, the replies to the 1910 petitions are promulgated.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in one case the interval was only three or four days?

No, Sir.

asked whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman has been called to the personal inconvenience and, in many cases, financial loss occasioned to the employees in the Royal dockyards owing to the order to close the yards on 3rd June last being, in certain instances, despatched from the Admiralty as late as the afternoon of the day preceding the official holiday; whether he is aware that at some yards the holiday was observed on 3rd June and at others on 24th June; whether he will consider the advisability of fixing the holiday for the same day at all yards and of making known the date a reasonable time beforehand, so that the employés may be able to make their personal arrangements in time; and whether he will, at an early date, make some announcement on the question of the holidays which, following precedent, it is understood, will be observed at the Royal dockyards on the occasion of the forthcoming Coronation?

With regard to the first three parts of the question, I would remind the hon. Member of his question on this subject of the 13th June last, and of the answer then given. The circmstances of the holiday given last June were, as the hon. Gentleman is aware, quite exceptional; and I can assure him that there is no intention of departing from the general practice of giving full notice of official holidays to the Royal yards.

asked whether the lifebuoys on H.M.S. "Fox" are foreign made; and, if so, could the same article have been made in Great Britain?

Two types of lifebuoys including those specially adapted for night use, are supplied to His Majesty's ship "Fox" and others of His Majesty's ships. One of these types, namely the night buoy, is manufactured in the United Kingdom; the second type is made of reindeer hair, and supplies are obtained from Norway. British firms, however, are also invited to tender for the reindeer hair type, but hitherto samples and prices submitted by British firms have not admitted of an order being placed with them.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that those buoys bear a German name and a German address on them?

I will inquire further into the point, but my information is that those buoys are supplied from a Norway firm.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that from 1870 to 1892 the Seamen Pensioners' Reserve was paid out of Greenwich Hospital funds; whether he can state the total sum thus allocated to the Seamen Pensioners' Reserve; and whether, in view of the fact that so large a number of men of sixty years of age and upwards, many of whom are in necessitous circumstances, are eligible for a Greenwich Hospital pension but are unable to obtain one owing to lack of funds, he will consider the advisability of placing a sum on the Navy Estimates, to be used for the purpose of defraying Greenwich Hospital pensions, equal to the amount taken out of that fund from 1870 to 1892 and applied to the Seamen Pensioners' Reserve?

I am aware that between the dates stated the age pensions granted to members of the Seaman Pensioner Reserve were awarded from Greenwich Hospital funds. The sum thus charged to those funds was approximately £30,000. Since 1894 inclusive, however, a substantial Grant has been made annually from naval funds towards the cost of Greenwich Hospital pensions, and I am not prepared to recommend any further contribution.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there must be something like a thousand men over sixty years who are suffering from physical infirmities and necessitous circumstances, and who have served their country under promise of pensions?

If the hon. Member will put down a question as to the particulars I shall be happy to answer him.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that, according to American statistics, hundreds of thousands of carcases of animals are marked as fit and wholesome for human food by the American Government from which malignant tumours and abscesses, and parts affected by other diseases, have been cut out; and will he say what steps are taken by his Department to secure the detection in this country of imported tinned or preserved meat derived from such carcases?

I am aware of the American statistics. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to answers which I have previously given on this subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether or not this meat from diseased animals can be detected in a preserved or tinned state? That has not been answered.

Each case is dealt with on its merits or its demerits, and all I can say, as a general answer to my hon. Friend, is that the Liverpool Shipowners, representing 33 per cent. of the shipping of the United Kingdom, are complaining of what they term the excessive stringency and zeal with which we are administering the Food Regulations Act of 1908.

The question I asked is not answered.

In certain cases no objection can be raised on health grounds to using as food the carcase of cattle from which some parts have been removed.

Is it not the fact that several of the local authorities in England prevent the apparently sound portion of the carcase to be used for human food if any portion of the animal is diseased.

That may be so.

It is so.

I beg to ask the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he has anything further to report in the case of James Gardiner, of Carnforth, in Lancashire, who is to be evicted to-morrow in consequence of his having applied for land under the Small Holdings Act?

I only got notice of the question as I was coming to the House, and all I can say is that I will inquire into it. Of course, if the facts are as stated in the question, the action taken by the landlord is strongly to be deprecated.

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman accepts the report of his own Special Commissioner that the action of the landlord is in consequence of the application for land under the Small Holdings Act?

I have nothing to add to the answer I have already given to the hon. Member.

May I ask whether the Government will consider the question of giving compensation to a man who has suffered loss and hardship in consequence of having availed himself of the provisions of their own Act?

I think my hon. Friend will see that I cannot answer that question straight off. As I have already informed him, this action, if as stated in the question, ought to be very strongly condemned.