asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the amounts paid into Local Taxation Account during each of the years 1900 to 1907, respectively, as the proceeds of the Local Taxation (Customs and Excise) Duties and of the duties on local taxation licences, including any duty charged under Sub-section (1) of Section 8 of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1876; what were the amounts paid out of the Consolidated Fund into the Local Taxation Account under Sub-section (2) of Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1907 in the years 1908 and 1909; and what were the respective shares of England, Scotland, and Ireland in each of those years?

The information asked for is given on pages 34 and 35 of the Statistical Abstract for the United Kingdom (Cd. 5296), 1910.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his next Finance Bill, he can insert such provisions as will place Land Tax on the same basis as Income Tax in respect of re-payment in cases of exemption?

I beg to refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him in the House of Commons on 25th July last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the several species of property included in the description lands in the statistics of the Income Tax contained in the Annual Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue; and whether, in order to avoid the misapprehension consequent upon the association for the purpose of these statistics of classes of property of entirely different character and user, he will secure the separation in the Commissioners' future annual reports of lands in agricultural occupation from all other hereditaments?

Under the heading "Lands," appears mainly the annual value of farm lands, farm buildings, and tithe rent-charge. The statistics follow the administrative machinery of assessment, and I see no reason for any alteration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the total income coming under review for the purposes of Income Tax in England and Wales is derived from the ownership of lands; also what proportion of the aggregate revenue produced within the same area by the imposition upon the basis of income and rateable value of Income Tax and rates combined was derived from property of this description during the last financial year for which corresponding figures are available?

I regret that the information necessary to enable me to reply to the hon. Member's question is not available.

asked the Chancelor of the Exchequer whether an owner claiming repayment of Income Tax under Schedule A, by virtue of Section 69 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, must show separately the cost to him of maintenance, repairs, insurance, and management, according to the average of the preceding five years, in respect of land (including farmhouses and other buildings, if any) and houses the annual value of which, as adopted for the purposes of Income Tax under Schedule A, does not exceed £8; and, if so, whether, having regard to the fact that on few estates only can the cost of maintenance, etc., under these two headings during the past five years be shown separately, he will give instructions that, in cases where the estate accounts only show the total cost of maintenance, repairs, insurance, and management on the whole estate, this total cost shall, for the purposes of Section 69 of the Act, be divided as fairly as possible, and to the satisfaction of the surveyor, between land, houses of annual value not exceeding £8, and other hereditaments comprised in the estate to which Section 69 of the Act does not apply?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for the Ross Division of Herefordshire on the 15th ultimo. I may add that, when a question arises as to the apportionment of expenditure (not distinguished in the owner's accounts) between properties falling within the scope of the claim and outside of it respectively, instructions have been issued to the Surveyors to endeavour to agree with the owner as to the proportion allowable. Failing such agreement, the amount is a matter for the decision of the District Commissioners of Taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that persons who are, or have been, employed in the service of the Crown, and are resident abroad, are entitled to the statutory allowances for Income Tax, he will consider the propriety of extending the same treatment to widows of persons who have been employed in the service of the Crown resident abroad?

I should be very glad to consider an amendment of the law to this end if I can be assured that it would be treated as non-controversial.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that within the last three years the Special Commissioner appointed for assessing and hearing appeals on Income Tax have in most cases been ex-surveyors of taxes; whether it is intended to appoint an ex-surveyor of taxes to the post of presiding Special Commissioner on the retirement of the present holder of that office; and whether, having regard to the fair treatment of the taxpayer, he will take care in future that men whose business it has been for years to view disputes about Income Tax from the standpoint of the Revenue should not be placed in the position of arbiters in such matters?

Of the three Special Commissioners appointed within the last three years only one had previously been a surveyor of taxes. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative, the selection being made by merit; while, as regards the concluding suggestion, fair treatment of the taxpayer has been, and will continue to be, afforded by all Special Commissioners appointed by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he could state the total amount due in royalty tax from the county of Durham on coal and other minerals, the average royalty-rent paid in the county on coal and other minerals, the highest and lowest royalty-rent paid in the county on coal and other minerals, and the highest royalty-rent paid for coal in the United Kingdom?

The information desired by the hon. Member is not at present available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are claiming to charge the Mineral Rights Duty on lands used in connection with the right to work minerals; whether it is proposed to charge the duty on all agricultural land leased to colliery companies or in any way used for purposes connected with the working of minerals; and, if so, will he state under which Section of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, this decision is based?

Mineral Rights Duty is chargeable on rent paid in respect of the right to work minerals, as provided by Section 20 (2) (a) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. The question whether in any particular instance a given rent is or is not paid in respect of a right to work minerals is one to be decided by reference to the circumstances of the case, subject to an appeal to a Referee under Section 33 of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the difficulties which have developed, the trouble occasioned, and the expense incurred in endeavouring to ascertain the licence value of hotels, and seeing that the rateable value of modem hotels has no certain relation to the amount of exciseable liquors sold in the establishment, he will reconsider the propriety of assessing hotels for licensing purposes on the same principle as he adopted for clubs, that is, on the actual sales or purchases of liquors in the establishment?

I must refer the hon. Member to an answer which my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury gave to the hon. Member for Norwich on my behalf on the 21st February, to the effect that I could not propose any alteration of the principles on which the Liquor Licence Duties are based, until the process of ascertaining Annual Licence Values in pursuance of Section 44 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, is completed. That system was strongly urged upon me, and I adopted it, after full consideration and discussion, in preference to the alternative system suggested in the question. The determination of these "Annual Licence Values" in the case of hotels is being completed with all possible despatch, and I hope that the final liability in respect of all licences will very shortly be determined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, notwithstanding that the basis for the purpose of assessment for Mineral Rights Duty for the financial year ending 31st March, 1910, is the amount of rent paid by the working lessees in the last working year ending 30th September, 1909, no claim is in fact made for duty on minerals worked prior to 1st April, 1910, and whether payment of Mineral Rights Duty under Section 20 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, made on this basis would be accepted by the Commissioners as payment of all Mineral Rights Duty for the financial year ending 31st March, 1910, and release the lessor and his estate in case of his death from any claim for Mineral Rights Duty on the rental value of minerals worked up to 31st March, 1910?

The reply to both parts of the hon. Member's question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the confidential information given to a representative of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows related to questions concerning only the friendly orders, and did not affect in any way the employers of labour in the country or the working classes generally; (2) if confidential information was given to a representative of the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows upon the scheme of unemployment insurance as well as the scheme for sickness and invalidity insurance; and (3) if he can see his way to restore liberty of speech to the representative of the Manchester Unity upon the question of unemployment insurance whilst still binding him to secrecy upon the sickness and invalidity insurance scheme?

As the information to which my hon. Friend refers was confidential it is not possible to make any statement regarding it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in estimating the annual licence value of a hotel, the amount of the Licence Duty will be deducted?

Licence Duty, in common with other necessary outgoings, is taken into account in arriving at the annual licence value of hotels.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that property owners in Scotland generally receive their rents in the month of May; and whether he can see his way to issue instructions to his Department not to insist on costs on Income Tax, Schedule D, until that month, in view of the depressed condition of the property market?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the second part in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any grant made by the Development Commission for the purposes of forestry will be administered by a competent department set up for that purpose?

The only grant for forestry recommended up to the present time by the Development Commission is in respect of afforestation in Ireland, in which case the administering department will be the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction. I do not think it advisable to anticipate any recommendation which may be made by the Development Commission in the future for further advances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the responsible and confidential duties discharged by clerks to surveyors of taxes, he will consider whether it would be in the public interest to place them upon the establishment of the Civil Service; and whether he is aware that the London Chamber of Commerce have passed resolutions to that effect?

I beg to refer to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the Noble Lord the Member for the Newton Division of Lancashire on the 27th ult. My attention has not, so far as I am aware, been called to the resolutions referred to in the second part of the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in many cases there is no difference between the duties discharged by clerks to surveyors of taxes who are on the establishment of the Civil Service and clerks to surveyors of taxes who are engaged on terms of being liable to dismissal at a week's notice; and, if so, will he explain the justification for this distinction?

The duties performed by clerks to surveyors of taxes vary in quantity and importance from time to time. While, as a general rule, the nature of the work performed by established clerks is of a more responsible character than that of unestablished clerks, it is necessarily impossible in all cases to draw a hard and fast line clearly distinguishing the spheres of activity of the two classes.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the names of clerks to surveyors of taxes are upon the books of the Treasury; and whether the clerks are or have been paid by the Treasury through the surveyor of taxes?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Government are now prepared to accede to the request of the clerks to surveyors of taxes for better conditions of work and remuneration?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 20th ultimo to the hon. Member for Hawick Burghs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the removal of the pauper disqualification for old age pensions will not diminish the expenditure of either the London County Council or the metropolitan borough councils; and, if so, will he explain why they are to be deprived of their share of the Land Values Duties?

The expenditure incurred by London ratepayers will be perceptibly diminished by the proposals of the Government in reference to local taxation, and no further explanation would therefore appear to be necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what evidence the Local Government Board have decided to withdraw from Edward Rielly, of Lisannedden, parish of Ardagh, county Longford, his pension, or had the Board no better evidence than that Rielly's mother was married in 1837; and will he see that this man has his pension restored, as he has two gentlemen, one a deputy-lieutenant of the county, to assert that Rielly is over the statutory age?

The Local Government Board allowed the pension officer's question on the ground that Edward Rielly was under the statutory age. The claimant would appear to be now about sixty-nine, and will not therefore be eligible for a pension for another year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will say what was the amount paid in respect of old age pensions in the county of Carnarvon during the year 1910?

I hope to issue an Annual Return as part of the Annual Report of the Customs and Excise Departments, of the number of old age pensioners in each county and county borough area of the United Kingdom. I fear I cannot anticipate this Return by giving special figures for particular counties.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board has any record of the pension claim of Robert Watson, of Cam Ederny, county Fermanagh; and, if so, can he state from such record why this man, who has neither land nor other means, is only allowed 28. a week?

Two shillings was the rate of pension allowed by the local pension committee who adjudicated on Watson's claim. There was no appeal to the Local Government Board, and I have no authority to interfere in the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a demand to pay Income Tax was made on William Jones, of Boleylug, county Wicklow; that William Jones is an old age pensioner, receiving as such 2s. a week; and that demands are being made on many people of scant means in portions of the counties of Wicklow, Carlow, and Kildare, in Baltinglass union, and presumably all throughout Ireland; and if he will give instructions to the collectors of Income Tax in such cases to inform their superior officers of the circumstances of the claims, and arrange that rebates, in cases where the claims have been paid, shall be made without delay?

I am making inquiry into this case, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the pensions officer, at Rathdrum, county Wicklow, has complained to his official superiors of the heavy work put before him, and of the size of the district assigned to him; whether his recent illness was certified to be due to overwork; and whether some rearrangement will be made in this case?

The officer in question has complained of heavy work from time to time, but adequate assistance has been given him on each occasion, and there is no substantial ground for complaint. The medical certificate furnished by him in connection with his recent illness did not state that the illness was due to overwork. The question of rearranging the area of the station is being considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the grounds on which James Sheridan, of Drumhaldry, county Longford, who was granted, by the Ballinamuck Sub-committee, a pension of 5s. weekly on 2nd November, 1909, was deprived of the same; whether he is aware that by purchase agreement, dated 27th April, 1910, the farm of which he was alleged to be the tenant passed to his son, Eugene Sheridan; and will he now direct that the matter be re-opened and the pension paid to James Sheridan, as originally passed by the pension committee?

In September last the Local Government Board upheld an appeal of the pension officer against a decision of the Ballinamuck Pension Sub-Committee awarding James Sheridan a pension of 5s. a week, on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. The claim on which this decision was given was made in February, 1910, prior to the signing of the purchase agreement by the son in April; and no reason was given for the transfer of the farm by James Sheridan. A fresh claim is at present being investigated by the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that John Devaney, of Mulcan, Glencar, Bundoran district, No. 3109, who is over eighty years of age has been deprived of an old age pension on the ground of means, and whether, having regard to the fact that he assigned his farm to his son in June, 1909, in a marriage settlement, and at present has no personal means of support, he will be granted a pension with all arrears?

The case of John Devaney has come before the Local Government Board on appeal and has been referred to one of their inspectors for a report.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Thomas Mawn, East Bars, Manorhamilton district. No. 775, who was in receipt of an old age pension from the 26th December, 1908, to the 10th of September, 1909, was, in pursuance of the decision of the Local Government Board, deprived of the same on the ground that his age could not be found in the Census of 1841 or 1851; and whether Mawn, having since produced a baptismal certificate from the parish registry showing that he is over 70 years of age, is now entitled to the full pension?

In September, 1909, and March, 1910, the Local Government Board upheld the appeals of the pension officer in this case, as they were not satisfied that Thomas Mawn had attained the statutory-age. A third claim, supported by a certificate that Mawn was baptised on the 11th October, 1840, is now being investigated by the Board on appeal. If the certificate prove to be in order and the claimant otherwise eligible, he will be duly awarded a pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a clergyman's manse or parochial residence is now liable to be assessed for Income Tax and its valuation added to the clergyman's gross income, and whether there are any exceptions to this rule; whether the taxes paid on the manse are deducted from the total income; whether a deduction can be made from the valuation of the manse in respect of those parts which are used for professional duties; whether a payment made-compulsory upon a clergyman by the ecclesiastical law of his church may be deducted from his total income; whether a clergyman is allowed to deduct a certain sum for the purchase of books; and whether glebe land around a manse is now liable for Income Tax?

As regards the first part of the question, the annual value of a clergyman's manse or parochial residence is liable to be assessed to Income Tax; but the question whether such annual value forms part of the income of the clergyman for Income Tax purposes depends on the particular circumstances of each case. With regard to the second part no deduction in this respect is made from statutory income. As regards the third and fourth parts, I beg to refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 28 of the Finance Act, 1907, and of Section 60 (Schedule A. No. V.) of the Income Tax Act, 1842, respectively. The reply to the fifth part of the question is in the negative, and to the sixth part in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the advisability of amending the present regulatons as to Increment Value Duty, under which no allowance is made for interest on capital up to the time that a property is marketable in the case of estate development?

I am unable to give the assurance required by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether valuations made under the Land Clauses of The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, will be considered as confidential; and, if not, to what persons or public bodies information on the subject will be communicated?

The valuations referred to by the hon. Member would be communicated by the Inland Revenue only to the extent authorised by Section 30, Sub-section 2, of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will refund to county councils any extraordinary expenditure actually incurred by them in filling up the forms sent to them under the Land Clauses of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can take the necessary steps to expedite the Treasury decision upon the recommendations of the Admiralty based on the Report of the Staffing Committee on the clerical staffs of His Majesty's naval establishments; and whether he is aware of the hardship experienced by over 1,000 men employed in these staffs through this delay?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given him on 1st March by my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount collected in duty on Irish-grown tobacco in each of the last six years?

The net receipt of duty on Irish home-grown tobacco in the last six years was:—

Year.	…	…	…	…	£
1905	…	…	…	…	736
1906	…	…	…	…	2,155
1907	…	…	…	…	5,920
1908	…	…	…	…	5,168
1909	…	…	…	…	6,232
1910	…	…	…	…	11,785

In comparing these figures it should be borne in mind that on all tobacco grown in Ireland up to the end of 1909 a rebate of one-third the duty was allowed, while since that date a fixed grant of £5,000 a year has been allowed for the encouragement of the industry; also that on 30th April, 1909, the duties on Irish and other home-grown tobacco were increased.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether school buildings, even if in communication with a master's house, are liable to inhabited house duty; and, if so, whether he will take steps to exempt school buildings from such duty?

The liability of school buildings to Inhabited House Duty depends upon the particular circumstances affecting each case, as determined by the District Commissioners of Taxes, and I beg to refer the hon. Member to the decided cases on this point.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when it is intended to hold an inquiry into the Water-guard Department of the Customs and Excise?

When the Committee on the Amalgamation of the Customs and Excise Departments has reported, the position of the Waterguard Department will form the subject of inquiry by the Department.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will state the number of applications received by the Department of Woods and Forests for small holdings upon their recently acquired estate of Scotscalder, Caithness; the area of the land on the estate suitable for such small holdings; broadly, the proposed acreage of each small holding; and when the Department will be in a position to proceed with the creation of small holdings?

The number of applications received was 154, of which three were subsequently withdrawn. Provided that satisfactory financial arrangements can be made, it is proposed to take in hand and divide into small holdings at Whitsuntide next (the earliest date at which possession can be obtained) about 582 acres of arable and 836 acres of pasture, etc., comprising practically all the land suitable for the purpose. The size of each holding will probably be from 40 to 50 acres of arable land with a suitable area of hill pasture. The preparation of the necessary preliminary surveys and report for the division of the farms is already in progress.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that quantities of valuable crops are lost every year on the lands forming the shores of Lough Erne owing to the floods caused by obstructions at the mouth of the rivers and streams discharging into the lake and by the lake at Corry Bridge, all which obstructions could be removed by suitable dredging operations and thus relieve the occupiers of the flooded lands from the loss they now sustain; whether this dredging is a duty imposed upon the drainage board which it does not perform; and what steps, if any, he will take to compel the board to undertake the work without delay?

The Board of Works will be happy to inquire into any definite statement as to injury to land or the existence of obstruction at any definite place, if such statement is put before them by any person having an interest in the lands alleged to be injured. The works which the Drainage Board have to maintain are shown in Schedule B of the Award of the 4th April, 1891, a copy of which I will send to the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners received a claim for reinstatement under the Evicted Tenants Act from the late Pat Coss, Curraun, Ballacolla, Queen's County, Hamilton Stubber estate; and, in view of the fact that Pat Coss has lately died, and that his nephew John Coss claims as his representative, can he say what action the Commissioners propose taking in this case?

The Estates Commissioners received application from Patrick Coss for reinstatement in a holding on the estate referred to formerly occupied by him, but, as his application was not received before the 1st May, 1907, the date mentioned in the Evicted Tenants Act, it cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked how many applications for reinstatement by evicted tenants in each of the six unions of Kerry were received by the Estates Commissioners; how many in each union were rejected, how many were reinstated, and how many who were declared entitled to holdings have not yet been reinstated?

The records of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by Poor Law Unions. I would refer the hon. Member to Table XXVII. of the Appendix to the Commissioners' Report for the year ended 31st March last which contains information as to the applications of evicted tenants in county Kerry, and as to how they have been dealt with.

asked upon what grounds the Estates Commissioners have refused to reinstate Thomas Golden in the holding from which he was evicted on the estate of Mr. D. G. Fitzgerald, Turlough, county Mayo, or to provide him with a holding elsewhere; upon whose evidence they came to this decision; and whether he is aware that Golden was evicted for nonpayment of two years' rent at £7 per year, and that immediately after the eviction the holding was let to another person at £4 a year?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Thomas Golden for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him and now in the possession of another tenant, and after inquiry and consideration decided to take no action in the matter. It would be contrary to the established practice to give the reasons upon which the Commissioners acted. In Golden's original application he gave his rent as £4 10s. per annum. He appears to have owed six years rent at the time of his eviction.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the number of hands employed in the fishing industry in Dingle, Brandon, Ventry, and Ballydavid; whether he can state, approximately, the value of the fish exported annually from Dingle by train and steamer; and whether, seeing the importance of this the only industry in the district, the request of the harbour authorities for increased accommodation will be immediately granted?

I understand that about 1,000 hands are employed in the fishing industry in the places named. The approximate value of the fish sent from Dingle by train in 1909 was £15,000. The figures for 1910 are not yet available. The approximate value of fish despatched by sea from that place in 1910 was £30,000. The Congested Districts Board recognise the necessity for improvements to the pier and harbour at Dingle, and have the wants of the locality under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the language used by Captain the Hon. De Vere Pery, R. M., at the last Enniskerry Petty Sessions, when he lectured a poor widow, in receipt of 6s. a week for herself and six children, for not sending her children to school, saying it was healthy for them to go barefooted; and whether he intends to take any steps in the matter?

My attention has been called to the matter referred to. I understand that the School Attendance Committee investigated the case, and gave this woman every opportunity of explaining her reason for keeping her children from school. This she neglected to do, and there was no other course open to the committee but to apply to the magistrates for an attendance order. On her refusal to obey the order made by the magistrates she was again summoned by the committee, leaving the magistrates no other course but to convict. The widow is in receipt of 6s. a week outdoor relief. She resides in a labourer's cottage, the rent of which is paid for her. Two brothers reside in the house with her, one of whom earns at least 17s. a week. She earns a little herself, and has a son also in employment getting fair wages. Captain Pery's language on the occasion calls for no action on the part of the Government.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the claim of Thomas Kenny, of Derrynagrane, county Longford, to be included in the sale of the farm held by John Casey, Lanes-borough, county Longford, of which he is in occupation of ten acres, will be considered before this farm is vested in Casey?

The claim of Thomas Kenny, sub-tenant on the holding of John Casey, to be declared a direct tenant to the vendor under Section 15 of Irish Land Act, 1903, was fully considered by the Estates Commissioners, but as Kenny was unwilling to comply with the Commissioners' requirements in the matter the entire holding was vested in John Casey subject to the sub-tenancy.

asked whether any progress has been made with vesting the estate of Mrs. Eliza B. Roberts, of Elfeete, county Longford, in the tenants; and in what stage this estate now stands in the order of priority to be dealt with?

The estate referred to is pending before the Estates Commissioners for sale to them under the Irish Land Act, 1903. It has not yet been reached in order of priority, and, having regard to the prior claims of other estates, the Commissioners are unable to say when it will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state if the Congested Districts Board purpose any action to complete the purchase of the Corscadden and George S. Clement's estates, county Leitrim, on which, owing to a series of complications, the majority of the tenants are still compelled to pay the old rack rents?

The Congested Districts Board were informed that Mr. Thomas Corscadden was willing to sell his estate in County Leitrim through them, and he was asked to lodge the necessary maps and forms, but so far no reply has been received. A further communication will now be sent him. Proceedings for the sale of the greater portion of the estate of George S. Clements in the same county are pending before the Land Commission, and, in the circumstances, the Board do not propose to take any action in respect to any portion of this estate at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received the report of their inspector in reference to the scheme for the distribution of the untenanted lands on the Gould-Verschoyle estate, Athea, county Limerick; can he state the class of persons and give the names of the parties who are scheduled for parcels of this untenanted land; have other than evicted tenants, small holders, and labourers been recommended by outside parties for portions of this land; and will he see that it is only distributed amongst the deserving classes mentioned?

The Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made to estimate the price which they would be prepared to advance for the lands referred to, but no scheme of distribution has been prepared as the lands have not yet been acquired.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will arrange for the Fleet to carry out their heavy gun firing practice round the coast at some other period of the year than in the middle of harvest time, when the resultant heavy rain may cause serious loss to the farming community?

There is no evidence that the firing causes heavy rain. The winter months are unsuited for target practice owing to bad weather, and the summer is generally devoted to manœuvres, so that the spring and autumn are the more suitable periods for target practice.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a hired labourer, named Bates, usually employed in the West India Docks naval stores department, but at present engaged in the Deptford naval stores, has been informed that upon reaching the age of sixty years he will be discharged; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the labourer in question shall be retained in the service until he reaches the age of sixty-five years, in agreement with the general undertaking given in a similar case last year.

I am informed that no such statement as that alleged in the first part of my hon. Friend's question has been made. The present regulation permit of men being retained until sixty-five years of age when their services are required and they are fit to perform the duties, but both these conditions must exist in any case in which a man is retained beyond the age of sixty.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of James West, until recently employed at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield; whether, in view of the fact that while in the Government service the man received the following injuries: accident to arm, 1885; severe accident to leg (from which he still suffers), 1886; total loss of eye, 1887; rupture, 1895; and a subsequent accident to hand destroying the use of two fingers; and whether, in view of the fact that the only compensation he has received is £73, and £35 by way of repayment for wages deducted, and the fact that West is now in total want, he can see his way to give this man a pension or small gratuity?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. This case is one which has been repeatedly considered by the Treasury, and formed the subject of numerous questions addressed to my predecessor and to myself in 1908. I can add nothing to the answers then given, with copies of which I am furnishing the hon. Member, except to say that the grant of £35 to which he refers, though calculated with reference to the loss of wages temporarily incurred by West, was not a repayment of wages deducted, but a purely compassionate grant in addition to the compensation to which he was entitled under the Acts applicable to his case.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that Frank M'Morrow, of Manorhamilton, county Leitrim, who had served eighteen years in the service of the Government, eleven years of which he served in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, 2nd battalion, was, through illness and a short absence in America, deprived of his reserve pay and pension, and that on his applying to the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, S. W., in January last, he was refused any further consideration; and whether, having regard to the fact that M'Morrow is now disabled and destitute of all means of living, he will recommend that he be at least allowed his reserve pay?

This man was never entitled to a pension, and, therefore, was never deprived of any pension. He forfeited his reserve pay for absence, and as reserve pay is only given for actual service in the Reserve he is not in any way entitled to draw such pay.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the recent marked increase in burglary, hand-bag snatching, and other forms of petty thieving in the Palmer's Green and Winchmore Hill districts of Middlesex; whether he is aware that the nearest police station is situated at Old Southgate, some miles away; whether he has already received representations as to the impossibility of sufficient police supervision being exercised in this growing neighbourhood without erecting a police barracks on the land in Green Lanes, N., which was acquired some years ago for the purpose; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that there has been only the normal amount of crime in the district in question, and that the police are able to deal satisfactorily with such crime as occurs. The question of building an additional police station to supplement that at Southgate does not yet arise, but will be considered when the development of the district is such as to justify it.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state how many residential training colleges in connection with the Established Church of England and Wales are in receipt of grants, the total amount of such grants, and the amount contributed in voluntary subscriptions for the maintenance of such colleges?

The number of colleges is thirty-one; the total grant for the year ended 31st July, 1910, was £150,053. The amount contributed in voluntary subscriptions for the maintenance of residential Church of England training colleges was £8,506 7s. This sum does not include some £860 specially contributed for new buildings and the like. Sixteen of these colleges also received income during the same year from endowments, the aggregate value of which was about £785.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state the amount of the grant given to the training college at Truro, and the amount contributed in voluntary subscriptions for the maintenance of the said college?

The Grant for the year ended 31st July, 1910, was £2,354. The voluntary subscriptions during the same period were £107 2s.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state to what extent per cent. the number of workmen employed in the building trade and slate quarrying, respectively, fluctuated during the last ten years?

According to the mineral statistics published by the Home Office, the number of persons employed in slate mines and quarries declined from 17,793 in 1900 to 13,168 in 1909, or by 26 per cent. The figures for 1910 are not yet ready. No annual returns of the numbers employed in the building trades are collected, and we must await the results of the approaching census of population to obtain a figure comparable with that for ten years ago.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has received a request from the Quarrymen's Union asking to be included in a scheme of unemployment insurance involving a compulsory levy upon the workmen?

A request was received in May, 1910, from the North Wales Quarrymen's Union to be included in the Government Scheme of Insurance Against Unemployment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if his proposed Bill for unemployment Insurance will provide for payments to workmen in the trades specified who may be on strike against a reduction of wages, or are locked out by the employers at the dictation of a capitalistic organisation or trade combination; and (2) whether, in making his statement with reference to his proposed Bill for State insurance of shipbuilders, he meant to include in its scope the workmen engaged in executing Government orders; and whether the scale of benefits will provide for the intervals of unemployment caused by the uncertain patronage of the Admiralty?

I am afraid that I cannot enter into details with regard to the provisions of the Government measure for insurance against unemployment. I shall, however, be prepared to receive and consider any suggestions or representations which my hon. Friend may make to me on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will in future give wider publicity to the reports of the trade Commissioners in our self-governing dominions, either by publishing them in the Board of Trade Journal or in the form of special White Papers?

Information reported by His Majesty's Trade Commissioners is already published in the "Board of Trade Journal," except in those cases where it is considered desirable to circulate it confidentially to Chambers of Commerce and firms especially concerned. It is the intention of the Board of Trade to procure from the Commissioners annual reports relating to the particular dominions to which they are accredited, and to publish these in Parliamentary Papers in the usual way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many fifth officers were employed on the P. and O. Company's steamships in the year 1904; what steamships now carry fifth officers; what was the complement of executive officers on the mail steamship "Macedonia" on the voyage terminating last December and during the present voyage, exclusive of quartermasters; what is the establishment of British and native seamen maintained on the P. and O. steamships and the rates of pay by ratings; and do the mail steamers as at present manned meet the requirements of the Board of Trade?

The number of deck officers carried by the s.s. "Macedonia" on the voyage terminated in December last was seven, and on the voyage now in progress six, inclusive of the master but ex- clusive of the quartermasters in each case. The information available does not enable me to give all the particulars asked for by my hon. Friend, nor could I easily give them within the compass of an oral answer to a question in this House, but I can assure him that the manning of these vessels fully complies with the requirements of the Board of Trade, and these requirements do not include the carrying of a fifth officer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the premises now occupied by the staff of the mercantile marine office,. Mariners Parade, Liverpool, are totally inadequate for the work to be performed there in connection with the engagement and discharge of crews of British ships; whether he is aware that immediately opposite to the mercantile marine office there is a large Government building, known as the old post office, at present only partially occupied; and whether he will take into consideration the advisability of utilising some portion of the old post office for the purpose of furnishing adequate accommodation for transacting the business in connection with the engagement and discharge of crews?

I am aware that the premises now occupied by the staff of the Central Mercantile Marine Office at Liverpool provide a somewhat limited accommodation, but under the present arrangements for transacting the business of the Mercantile Marine Office, no serious inconvenience has arisen as yet on that account. I will, however, take into consideration, in conjunction with the First Commissioner of Works, the advisability of utilising some portion of the old post office as additional accommodation for the staff of the Mercantile Marine Office.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can say what is the average price of pig-iron per ton in the United States of America?

It is not possible to state an average price for all descriptions of pig-iron for the United States as a whole. According to the information in possession of the Board of Trade, however, it appears that at the beginning of March, 1011, the price of Bessemer pig-iron at Pittsburg was 15 dollars 90 cents, equivalent to 66s. 3d. per ton.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the total value of exports, amounting to £343,000,000 last year, includes export of ships and new ships with their machinery?

The figures quoted, which does not, as stated in the question, represent the total value of the exports from the United Kingdom, but only that of exports of articles wholly or mainly manufactured, includes new ships and their machinery, which were valued at £8,770,000.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if he will state what was the acreage of agricultural land in Wales and Monmouth liable to rates in 1900 and 1910?

The acreage of agricultural land within the meaning of the Agricultural Bates Act, 1896, cannot be stated. I am informed, however, by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries that the acreage of land under crops and grass in Wales and Monmouth was:—3,066,865 acres in 1900.3,016,584 acres in 1910.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, what steps have been taken at the Channel ports to medically examine persons arriving from districts in Eastern Europe where cholera exists?

The steps to be taken in regard to cholera are governed by the Order of the Local Government Board of 1907, and are similar to those which are to be taken in regard to plague. These I explained in my answer to the Noble Lord's question on Tuesday last. With a view to reassuring the Noble Lord, I may say that I am advised by my medical department that the danger of importation of cholera infection by way of the Channel ports is extremely remote.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received a copy of the report of the medical officer of health at Aberdare, Glamorgan, in which he draws the attention of the district council to the continued exportation of tuberculous cattle from High-bridge, Somerset; and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Local Government Board or the local authority of Highbridge to prevent such a traffic?

I do not find that I have received a copy of the report referred to, but I am communicating with the Urban District Council of Aberdare on the subject.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he has received a copy of the report of the medical officer of health at Aberdare, Glamorgan, in which he draws the attention of the district council to the continued exportation of tuberculous cattle from Highbridge, Somerset; and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Board of Agriculture or the local authority of High-bridge to prevent such a traffic?

The Board have not received the report to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Scottish Education Department will consider the expediency of arranging for the teaching staff at the Grimshader public school, island of Lewis, to be strengthened, there being at present only one teacher to meet the requirements of fifty-five pupils?

From the latest figures available as to average attendance of pupils at this school, it would appear that the requirements of the Code are satisfied, and it is understood that the School Board do not feel justified in going further at present.

asked the Lord Advocate whether any cases of small-pox have occurred in Scotland among children born since the passing of the Vaccination (Scotland) Act, 1907; and, if so, whether any of those patients had been exempted from vaccination under the conscience clause of that Act?

I am informed that no cases of small-pox have occurred in Scotland among children born since the passing of the Vaccination (Scotland) Act, 1907.