asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would state what ships, if any, the Admiralty contemplate sending to the West Coast of South America; and if he would take the necessary steps to uphold the prestige of the British Navy and see that the ships sent out by the British Government were not inferior in size or power to those sent by the United States of America, Germany, or any other Power?

The "Kent" and "Challenger" are now on their way to the West Coast of South America. I cannot admit that the prestige of the British Navy depends on the size or power of the ships that may be sent to any particular place on friendly visits.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the United States of America contemplate sending another squadron to South America, and that Germany contemplates sending one of its largest cruisers of 19,250 tons register tonnage on a visit, and if he fully realises the importance to the trade and commerce of this country that our ships should be on a par with, if not better, than those of foreign countries?

Yes. I have borne in mind all the points mentioned by the hon Gentleman.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any decision had yet been arrived at as to the recommendation of the committee appointed to inquire into the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy on 2nd January, 1909; whether he was aware that the recommendations of that committee were laid before his Board on 9th November, 1909, and that as a result of the delay in settling the question the entire staff of the Department is in a state of unrest; and whether, in view of the effect of such a state of affairs upon the efficiency of the Department concerned, he can make any statement which would tend to allay the anxiety amongst the staff as to the probable date on which any changes that may take place in the organisation of the Department will be instituted?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the inquiry into the organisation of the Accountant-General's Department of the Admiralty, which was commenced in May, 1909, has yet been completed; and whether he is yet in a position to make any communication to the House on the subject?

I regret that I am not yet in a position to make any statement on this subject, but I hope to be able to do so before long.

asked on what date the recommendations of the committee appointed to inquire into the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy in January, 1909, had been laid before their Lordships of the Treasury; whether any decision had yet been arrived at with regard to such recommendations; and, if not, whether he can furnish any information as to the reasons for the delay in coming to a decision, and the probable date on which the question will be decided?

Correspondence on the subject of the Department of the Accountant-General of the Navy has been going on since May last, and is not yet concluded. I am unable to say when a final decision will be arrived at.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the total tonnage of war vessels constructed at, or ordered from, Pembroke Dockyard since 1st April, 1906, till the close of the present financial year; and the total tonnage for a similar period prior to 1st April, 1906?

The vessels laid down at Pembroke Dockyard between the 1st April, 1906, and the 31st March, 1911, were of a total tonnage of 20,050. Those laid down between the 1st April, 1901, and the 31st March, 1906, amounted to 41,700 tons. I would observe that the figures in this form would convey an entirely false impression as the four ships of the earlier period, amounting to 41,700 tons, were not completed at Pembroke, whereas the ships of the later period have been or will be completed at that yard.

asked how many men are now employed in Pembroke Dockyard; and how many were employed there this time last year?

The number of men now employed at Pembroke Dockyard is 2,203. The number employed at this time last year was 2,057.

asked how many armoured ships have been built in the last five, ten, and fifteen years, respectively?

The armoured ships completed during the last five, ten, and fifteen years, respectively, are as follows:

• During the five years from the 1st April, 1906, to the 31st March, 1911–24.
• During the ten years from the 1st April, 1901, to the 31st March, 1911–75.
• During the fifteen years from the 1st April, 1896, to the 31st March, 1911–87.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any hospital accommodation has been provided by either his Department or the contractors for the use of the workmen employed upon the new dock works at Rosyth; and, if not, can he give any reason for the deductions from the men's wages at stated periods of sums of money for the provision of hospital accommodation?

The Admiralty have not provided any hospital accommodation for the men employed by the contractors, who are alone responsible in this matter. I understand that the contractors have made arrangements for hospital accommodation. I am informed that it is a common arrangement for contractors on great works of this nature to make deductions of the kind referred to in my hon. Friend's question, to cover the charges for general medical attendance.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that men who are working under his Department have had deductions made from their wages for hospital accommodation, and that only last week two of them, after paying for hospital accommodation, were admitted to the workhouse infirmary?

My hon. Friend must not suppose that we employ these men. They are engaged to do work which ultimately will be handed over to the Admiralty. At present the workmen are under the control of contractors to the Government. I was not aware of the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Gentleman.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether in the contract it was specifically laid down by the Admiralty that hospital accommodation should be provided?

I have already answered that question. The Admiralty have no responsibility for the providing of hospital accommodation.

Do I understand that the Admiralty takes no responsibility for the lives and safety of the workmen?

The Admiralty have no responsibility in respect of the conditions under which the contractors engage their men, except in so far as those conditions are stipulated in the contract. The only conditions we have entered in the contract are the conditions contained in the fair wages clause.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the fair wages conditions under which the men are employed do not imply that the contractors should provide suitable hospital accommodation?

I understand that the contractors have provided hospital accommodation. Upon the point of responsibility, I have to state that the responsibility rests on the contractors and not on the Admiralty.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will give facilities to the contractors, if such are required, in order that proper hospital accommodation should be provided near the works for the 2,000 men employed there?

We have always worked on the most friendly terms with our contractors.

Yes, but you do nothing.

My hon. Friend is not entitled to say that. Any fair request made to us by the contractors we have complied with. The contractors have not asked for any particular site for this purpose.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the increased work at Rosyth has entailed or will entail any further con- tracts for the supply of granite; if so, have these contracts been let; and, if not, will they be offered to the principal granite quarries in the United Kingdom?

Under the terms of the Admiralty contracts for the works at Rosyth, the contractors have exclusive discretion in selecting their source of supply of granite.

As we have already been informed that the contractors have gone to Norway for granite, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether further supplies will be considered as supplementary under the current contract or whether they will be open to tender?

The contractors have exclusive discretion in selecting their supplies of granite.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Admiralty will put a clause in future contracts insisting on British granite being used?

The contract is already made and the contractors have exclusive discretion in the matter.

I distinctly said in future contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Rev. F. Bullock Webster was removed from the chaplaincy to His Majesty's Embassy at Madrid in October, 1909, without any reason being assigned for his dismissal; whether he was refused any opportunity of answering any charges that might have been made against him; and whether he will now allow an impartial inquiry into the case to be held, and give Mr. Webster an opportunity of replying to any accusations that have been made against him?

Mr. Bullock Webster is fully aware of the reasons for his dismissal. He laid before me a detailed statement of his case, which has received the most careful consideration, and no useful purpose would be served by any further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, during his term of office, any undertaking, promise, or understanding had been given to France that, in certain eventualities, British troops would be sent to assist the operations of the French army?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that, during the Russo-Japanese War, flour going to Korsakof, in the island of Saghalien, where no military operations were carried on, was seized and condemned by the Russians; that similarly rice bound for Newchwang was captured by Japanese on the ground that, although intended for the Chinese, it might meet the requirements of Europeans, and also salt for Nicolaeosk because fish are preserved at that place; and was there any declaration by Russia and Japan before the outbreak of hostilities that foodstuffs were conditional or absolute contraband?

The facts are substantially as stated. The notification issued by Russia and Japan, respectively, on the outbreak of hostilities, and the modifications made by the first-named Power as a result of representations made by His Majesty's Government, are fully set out in Parliamentary Paper No. 1, 1905.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he is aware that cotton consigned to private Japanese firms and captured by the Russians during July, 1904, in the "Calchas," bound for Shanghai, Yokohama, and Kobe, was condemned as contraband of war by the Russian prize courts on the ground that near Kobe at Osaka there was a large military arsenal; and whether, if great Britain were at war with a great naval power and the Declaration of London, which places cotton on the free list, remained unratified, raw cotton consigned to Lancashire in neutral bottoms might be declared contraband of war?

The purport of the judgment of the Supreme Court at St. Petersburg in the case of the ss. "Calchas" was as indicated in the question. The contingency apprehended in the latter part of the question might certainly arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he was aware that since the recent commutation by Lord Gladstone of the death sentence passed upon a native for an offence upon a white woman at Umtali, there had been an immediate recrudescence of such cases in South Africa; that by the 8th February there had already been at least seven such cases, in one of which a white governess was pulled off her bicycle and abused in broad daylight; and whether he intended to take any, and what, steps to deal with the effect that such a state of affairs may have in the South African Dominion?

I am informed by the Governor-General and High Commissioner that as regards the Union of South Africa he is advised by his Ministers that there has been no recrudescence of the cases in question, so far as is known to them, that the cases which have occurred since the commutation of the Umtali sentence are not appreciably in excess of the ordinary average of such cases in the various provinces of the Union, and that Ministers are confident that in not a single one of the reported cases can any connection be traced with the Umtali decision. The Minister of Justice, in speaking in the House of Assembly on the 7th of February, stated that newspaper reports of such assaults on the Rand were exaggerated. As regards Rhodesia, the newspapers have referred to two cases of alleged attempts since the Umtali decision, but neither has been reported officially to the High Commissioner. No cases have occurred in the native territories during Lord Gladstone's tenure of office.

Is the right hon. Gentleman now in a position to tell the House whether Lord Gladstone before commuting the death sentence in the Umtali case first consulted any, and, if so, what Ministerial authority in Rhodesia?

I do not think that it would be right either now or at any time to give any private information which I might have or might not have as to the course Lord Gladstone took in the matter of a private consultation.

Is it the intention of the Government to lay before the House any papers in reference to the commutation of the sentence by Lord Gladstone?

I am considering that question; but there are no papers except those already published in the Press, and I do not know that it is worth while to reprint the despatch of Lord Gladstone which has been issued.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether previously to the introduction of the Parliament Bills Referendum Act, 1908 (Queensland, 8 Edw. 7, No. 16), Mr. Kidston, the then Prime Minister of Queensland, requested His Majesty's Governor, Lord Chelmsford, to nominate, in virtue of the prerogative of the Crown, such a number of persons to be members of the Legislative Council, Upper Chamber, as would be sufficient to swamp that Chamber's opposition to the measures carried by the Legislative Assembly, Lower Chamber; if so, whether Lord Chelmsford refused to remove the deadlock in 1908 which arose between the Upper and Lower Chamber of that State by nominating such a number of persons as would swamp its opposition; and, if so, can he explain why such a refusal was given?

In the exercise of his personal discretion, Lord Chelmsford declined to accept Mr. Kidston's recommendation that if absolutely necessary he would appoint additional members to the Legislative Council to secure the passing of the Bills in dispute. The Governor's action was due to the fact that he considered that a question so vitally affecting the relation of the two Houses should be submitted to the people at a General Election. As a result of the election Mr. Kidston (like some other Prime Ministers) secured a majority for his policy, and the Legislative Council (in my opinion wisely) accepted the measures in dispute.

Does His Majesty's Government approve or disapprove of Lord Chelmsford's refusal to remove the deadlock by swamping the Upper House?

I have not expressed—and do not intend to express—any opinion upon Lord Chelmsford's action.

Was the matter referred to the Home Secretary by Lord Chelmsford before he gave his decision?

That is a question of which I should like notice.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the pension officers in Durham, in assessing the income of the applicants for pensions, include the furniture which the applicants may have in their houses, and assess its value at 5 per cent. interest; whether he can say upon what principle the assessment is made—namely, whether it is upon the original cost when the furniture was purchased new, or upon the amount it would realise in the market if sold as secondhand furniture; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Pensions Act, and of the fact that 5 per cent. interest on the amount is in excess of what would be realised if placed in a bank, he proposes to take any, and, if so, what, action in the matter?

The recognised practice of pension officers in regard to furniture belonging to a claimant to an old age pension is to include in the estimate of means a sum representing 4 per cent. on the amount (if any) by which the value of the furniture exceeds £30. In this connection "value" means "market value." I am not aware that any other rule has been adopted by pension officers in Durham; but if the hon. Member will instance any specific cases in which this has occurred I will make inquiries.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention had been called to the estimate of the National Conference of Friendly Societies that it would cost only £23,150 per annum to remove the disqualification of about 90 per cent. of those at present disqualified from receiving old age pensions because they are receiving benefits; and whether he will introduce a Bill at an early date to amend the Old Age Pensions Act so as to remove the present restriction from all members of friendly societies?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer will consider the point raised in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the coming Budget, he could meet the case of married couples receiving jointly 7s. per week from the parish, where the husband was over seventy years of age, but could not receive the full pension of 5s. per week because his wife, who was under seventy, was in receipt of 3s. 6d. per week from the parish?

I must refer my hon. Friend to my answers to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme on the 8th February, and to a number of subsequent questions dealing with this and similar points.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention had been drawn to the fact that the Flixton Parish Council failed to carry out, contrary to the Local Government Act, a resolution of a parish meeting held in March, 1909, with respect to filling a vacancy on the council; whether he has received a further resolution from a parish meeting on 13th October, 1910, calling for an inquiry into the administration of local affairs; and whether, in view of the petitions of electors, he can intervene to secure that effect shall be given to the provisions of the Local Government Act, 1894?

I am advised that the resolution of the parish meeting referred to is not binding on the parish council. I received a petition asking for an inquiry into the management of the affairs of the parish, but I am not empowered to direct any such general inquiry to be held.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if, with a view to ascertaining the relative values, if any, of the various methods of dealing with outbreaks of measles, he will cause a Return to be made showing the number of deaths from measles in each of the Metropolitan boroughs during the four months, November and December, 1910, and January and February, 1911; the death rate from measles in each borough for the same period; the special methods adopted by each borough for dealing with measles, specifying boroughs in which calls are paid at the door and leaflets left, boroughs in which each known patient receives a personal visit with a view to ascertaining the conditions under which he is being nursed and the general sanitary conditions of the home, and boroughs in which disinfection is carried out; and the number of inquests held in each borough during the same period on children dying from measles and not having received medical attention?

Having regard to the statistics which are regularly issued by the Registrar-General, I doubt whether any further return of deaths from measles is required. I will send the hon. Member a table showing the deaths from measles in each Metropolitan borough as recorded weekly from November to February last. As regards the methods which are adopted for dealing with measles in London, much information will be found in the Report of the Medical Officer of Health of the county for the year 1904.

asked how many men are now registered as unemployed by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London; how many have obtained work; and what prospect there is of those now registered and eligible for employment obtaining work through the Central Body?

I am informed that the number of men registered as unemployed up to the 4th instant was 23,705, and the number provided with work 3,413. As regards the last part of the question I am in communication with the chairman of the Central (Unemployed) Body.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the presence of large numbers of workmen employed upon the Birkenhead Waterworks at Alwyn Valley, Denbighshire, with little or no house accommodation within ten miles; whether his Department has any powers under the local Act to insist upon the erection of suitable sanitary house accommodation; and, if not, how he proposes to deal with the housing question?

Under the Birkenhead Corporation Water Act, 1907, it is the duty of the Corporation to provide proper and sufficient temporary dwellings for their workmen, with all such sanitary arrangements as may reasonably be required, to the reasonable satisfaction of the Denbigh County Council. I have no information showing what arrangements have been made, but I am communicating with the county council in regard to the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if it is his intention to issue a circular to local education authorities advising them that, in the event of their feeding school children during the holidays connected with the forthcoming Coronation, he will, if the cost of such meals is surcharged, remit such surcharge by the exercise of the powers vested in him by Act of Parliament?

I am not contemplating the issue of any such circular.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Coronation will be celebrated by hundreds of thousands of school children starving during the holidays?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he had yet received a scheme of sewage disposal for the parish of Bold from the Whiston Rural District Council; and, if not, what steps had he taken to hasten the preparation of such a scheme?

I have not yet received the scheme of sewage disposal referred to, but have written to the rural district council, asking that the necessary particulars may be furnished without delay.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that during the three years and three months the Small Holdings and Allotments Act has been in operation the London County Council have not supplied any of the sixty approved applicants with land, either within or without the administrative county; and, if so, whether the Board of Agriculture now propose to exercise any of the powers vested in them to secure land?

The number of applicants for Small Holdings approved by the London County Council is only twenty-three. There is practically no land available for Small Holdings in the county of London, and the Board are quite satisfied that the County Council are doing all they can to supply the unsatisfied demand. The council have provided over 1,200 persons with allotments.

Can my hon. Friend point to any single case in which anything has been done by the London County Council to provide these men with allotments?

Perhaps the hon. Member would give notice.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Agricultural Labourers and Allotments)?

It is not possible to supply the information desired for reasons which I shall be happy to explain to the hon. Member if he will communicate with me. It will to some extent be given in the Annual Report, which is just going to press.

asked whether the President of the Board had received from the Gloucestershire Farmers' Union a memorandum pointing out the inconvenience suffered by Gloucestershire farmers in consequence of the regulations of the Board in reference to sheep scab, and asking that, with a view to the removal of the existing restrictions, all counties should be treated as a single area for the purposes of the Board's Sheep Scab Orders, and that in the event of an outbreak of the disease in any district such district should be isolated, with the place of origin as its centre, as in the case of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and, if so, what action, if any, the Board propose to take in the matter?

The Board have received a communication from the Gloucestershire Farmers' Union as to sheep scab, but its purport is not at all clear. We propose to communicate with the association on the subject.

asked who are the members of the Departmental Committee appointed to consider the effect upon farm tenants of the sale or devolution of agricultural estates; and whether the terms of reference are intended to cover such cases only as might prior to the decision in a recent county court action have been deemed to come within the provisions of Section 11 of the Agricultural Holdings Act, 1908, or whether they are intended to include the consideration of other questions relating to agricultural tenancies not raised in such action and outside the scope of the above section?

I am not in a position as yet to give the names of the members. The terms of reference which I have already announced are of a general character and are not limited to questions within the scope of the enactment to which the hon. Member refers.

Why, as the whole Committee has been appointed—and I happen to know it has been—have the names not been disclosed to this House?

I am sorry I do not happen to know. Perhaps the hon. Member will kindly put a question down.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, the collection of Motor Spirit Duty from manufacturers and dealers being the duty of the Revenue Department, by what authority does that Department, on failing to collect from those people, refuse the rebate due to a medical practitioner who is not bound to prove the payment of duty by those people; and whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer has sanctioned the refusal in such cases?

In view of the fact that large quantities of motor spirit upon which duty has not been charged, and is not chargeable, are held in stock throughout the country, rebate is refused unless the Commissioners of Customs and Excise are satisfied that duty has, in fact, been paid to the Crown in respect of the quantities used by claimants of allowance of duty. This is in accordance with the intentions of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as embodied in the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. The identification of spirit on which duty has actually been paid can only be completed by Customs and Excise officials on their being supplied with full information regarding the source from which such spirit has been derived.

Does not the Act provide that medical practitioners shall have rebate on the duty paid by them, and is not the fact that they have paid it the only question in the case?

They must prove to the Customs and Excise that the duty has been paid before rebate can be allowed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain how it is that in one case the medical practitioner is not required to show that the manufacturer and dealer have paid the duty, and now, although the medical practitioner himself has paid the duty, he does not get the rebate to which he is entitled by Statute?

asked whether it is the invariable rule of the Road Board only to allot grants to local highway authorities on condition that the local authority expends an additional sum beyond its ordinary annual expenditure in highway improvements, or whether a grant has been promised to any local highway authority without such condition being imposed?

Grants made by the Road Board to Highway Authorities are as a rule limited to sums not exceeding 75 per cent. of the cost of the improvements towards which the contributions are made, and the Board endeavour to satisfy themselves that the grants will not be used for the purpose of indirectly reducing the expenditure on renewals properly chargeable to maintenance account.

Are any grants being made out of the Exchequer without any contributions being made by the local authorities?

I would point out to the hon. Member for Shropshire that questions on this subject had better be addressed to my hon. Friend the Member for Newmarket (Sir C. D. Rose).

I cannot allow questions to be put to the hon. Member for Newmarket, who is not a Minister or responsible to the House. I cannot allow questions to be put to him simply because he is a member of the Road Board. He might or might not be a Member of this House.

Can I get an explanation of this point?

The hon. Member had better put a question down on the Paper.

Has the Road Board any authority to impose additional rates?

If the hon. Member will put a question on the Paper I will endeavour to answer it.

asked whether the only assistance proposed to be given this year by the Road Board in county Donegal is in respect of a road passing through the richest district in that county, and that no provision whatever is being made for the improvement of any roads in the Poor Law unions of Glenties or Dunfanaghy, which have an exceptionally large road mileage and population, and are among the poorest unions in the congested districts having valuations of £20,000 and £11,000 respectively; and whether, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists in county Donegal with the Road Board's present proposals, the Board are prepared to modify them so as to extend some assistance to the local authorities in respect of roads in the more necessitous portions of the county?

The Road Board have circulated a map of the Irish roads towards the improvement of which they are at the present time prepared to contribute, and this map has been approved by the Executive Committee of the Irish County Councils General Council, subject to certain additions which the Road Board are willing to adopt. If the proposed scheme is adopted the county of Donegal will receive a grant towards the cost of works which the county may be prepared to carry out and maintain, the details of which will be settled with the county authorities.

Will the work to be carried out have to be such as the County council approve, and if they indicate a preference for certain roads will the Road Board be willing to contribute?

As I have already said the scheme will be adopted subject to certain conditions which the Road Board are willing to adopt. It must be a matter for conference between the various parties.

asked (1) with regard to the nomination of the Prime Warden of the Fishmongers' Company on the advisory committee on fishing matters appointed by the Development Commissioners whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that this gentleman is a member of the Council of the Marine Biological Association, the funds of which are mainly derived from grants made by the Government and by that company; and whether he will explain why four out of the six members of the Advisory Committee should be members of the Council of the Marine Biological Association; (2) why, if the Scottish Office considered it inconsistent with their statutory position to be represented on the advisory committee on fishery matters appointed by the Development Commissioners, the Development Commissioners have appointed Professor D'Arcy Thompson, a member of that committee, seeing that he is the technical adviser of the Fishery Board for Scotland, and the delegate representing the Secretary for Scotland on the International Council for fishery investigations in the North Sea; and why, having regard to the fact that the Board of Agriculture did not accept representation on the advisory committee for the same reason, the Development Commissioners made no corresponding appointment of a member identified with English fishery interests?

The Master of Christ's College, Cambridge, is the only member of the Advisory Committee, who was appointed on account of his connection with the Marine Biological Association. The fact that Professor D'Arcy Thompson and Professor Bourne are also on the Council of the Marine Biological Association, and that Professor D'Arcy Thompson is a member of the Fishery Board for Scotland, and has special acquaintance with the International Investigations, was not regarded by the Commissioners as a disqualication, although the appointments were not made on that account. The Prime Warden of the Fishmongers' Company was nominated by the Fishmongers' Company as their representative without reference to his connection with the Marine Biological Association. The presence of Dr. Shipley and Professor Bourne on the Committee together with that of a nominee of the Fishmongers' Company secures the representation of English Fishery interests.

asked whether the Development Commissioners, or their advisory committee, have under consideration any scheme for the development and improvement of fisheries in England and Wales, other than any schemes which may have been submitted to them in accordance with Section 4 (1) of their Act of 1909?

The answer is in the negative.

asked whether any applications for Grants from the Development Fund have been received by the Treasury for the improvement and development of fisheries; whether these applications have been received by the Commissioners through the Government Department concerned in accordance with Section 4 (1) of their Act; and, if so, what is the present position in regard to such applications?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part therefore does not arise.

asked on what Vote the Development Fund will come up for discussion?

The Development Fund comes up for discussion as a whole either on the Vote for that Fund, if there is any, or on the Treasury Vote, the Treasury being the Department whose Parliamentary representatives are responsible to this House for the administration of the Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the method of endorsing seamen's discharge books is the exclusive right of the Board of Trade and its authorised officials within the meaning of the Merchant Shipping Act; if so, whether he is aware that the shipping federation are marking continuous certificates of discharges with a rubber stamp; and will he take the necessary steps to have the practice discontinued?

Endorsements in seamen's discharge books are made by the masters of ships and by the Superintendents of Mercantile Marine Offices in accordance with the provisions of Sections 128 (1) and 129 (1) of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. A continuous discharge certificate is the property of the seaman of whose service it constitutes a record. If the seaman belongs to a benefit fund, the rules of which require the stamping of his certificate, the Board have not raised any objection, provided that the stamp does not obliterate the statutory entries in the book and is made with the seaman's assent. The practice stated was sanctioned by the Board of Trade in 1900, and has been in force ever since. No information has been brought to the notice of the Board that would lead to the belief that it has resulted in any abuses which would justify me in withdrawing that sanction.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman's attention had been called to the loss in transit by Mr. Alfred Rowntree, of Field House Dairy, Kirkby Overblow, Pannal, Yorkshire, of seven quarts of cream, consigned in June last by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company to Southport, owing to the carelessness of the company's servants; whether he is aware that the company admitted that the loss was due to some luggage falling violently from a barrow and tipping the cream can over, and that, although the consignment note was in the revised form of owner's risk contract throwing upon the company the onus of proving that the loss was not due to their negligence, the company disclaimed all liability, and alleged that such disclaimer was endorsed by the Railway Companies' Joint Committee who decide upon the validity of such claims; and whether, in view of the monopoly enjoyed by railway companies, the admitted inability of milk producers to pay companies' risk rates for the carriage of milk, and the entire helplessness of consignors to protect themselves against loss under the circumstances above mentioned, he will take steps to prevent the supposed benefit to the consignor of the revised form of consignment note being nullified by the interpretation put upon it by the offending railway company or by the Railway Companies' Joint Committee?

I have asked the railway company for their observations on this case, which has not previously been brought to my notice, and I will communicate with the hon. Member when I receive their reply.

I desire to ask the hon. Gentleman whether he will consider the desirability of appointing an officer, or some Department, of the Board of Trade to whom small traders could be referred in such cases of arbitrary action on the part of a railway company.

The hon. Member has his question written out. Will he not put it on the Paper?

asked what was the average price of wheat during 1910 in London, Berlin, and Paris?

The "Gazette" average price of British wheat in London in 1910 was 32s. 7d. per imperial quarter, and the average price of wheat imported into London was 35s. 6d. In Berlin and Paris the average official prices of wheat—quoted irrespective of origin—were 45s. 4d. and 45s. 9d., respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a communication from the Bristol Pilots' Association protesting against the exclusion of pilots' representatives from the examining board which grants pilotage certificates for the port of Bristol; and whether he has taken, or proposes to take, any action to preserve the right, previously enjoyed at Bristol and most other ports of the United Kingdom, by which pilots are represented on the boards which grant pilotage certificates?

The Board of Trade have received a communication on this subject from the Bristol Pilots' Association, and are inviting the observations of the Bristol Pilotage Authority upon it. I may remark, however, that the Board have no power to interfere with a pilotage authority as regards their mode of examining candidates for pilots' licences and pilotage certificates.

May I ask whether the Board of Trade will put into force the Act which compels pilotage authorities, where pilots have representation on the Board, to have pilots present at the examination?

I will consider whether the Board does or does not do as the hon. Member suggests.

Provided they have the power.

asked the right hon. Member for the Epping Division, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, if he will consider the possibility of arranging that one of the refreshment rooms, at which refreshments may be obtained for women during the hours of six till ten, may be set apart for the sale of light refreshments and not dinners, in order that those Members and their friends who dine at midday may not be obliged to incur the extra expense of dinner or go without refreshment of any kind?

The refreshment rooms already available are frequently overcrowded of a night. Tea and light refreshments are served in the Terrace rooms until 6.30. These facilities have up till the present time met all the demands of Members and visitors here; but I will gladly see if it is possible to meet the wishes of the hon. Member and communicate with him privately later on upon the subject.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that the Small Landholders (Scotland) Bill has twice passed the House of Commons by large majorities, and that land legislation is urgently needed in Scotland, especially in the Highland crofting counties, will the Government introduce the necessary legislation as soon as the Parliament Bill has been disposed of?

I am afraid that I cannot give my hon. Friend any undertaking at the present moment.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been called to the fact that a contract for the supply of stamps was entered into between the Government and a private firm in the year 1901; that no competition was invited; that the amount paid on account of this contract was £97,000 a year; that it has now been discovered that the firm holding this contract are estimated to have made a profit of over £40,000 a year, which is now to be saved owing to competitive prices having been obtained for this work; and, in view of this loss of public money—namely, £400,000, will he cause an inquiry to be set on foot in all Government Departments, in order to ascertain if there are any other contracts either in force now, or likely to be given, without open competition; and if he will say what Minister or other public official was responsible for giving the stamp contract in 1901 to one firm without any competition whatsoever?

The contract in question was entered into in 1899 without a competition being invited, and the amount payable thereunder has been about £100,000 a year. The saving on the new contracts for stamps and postal stationery will exceed £40,000 a year, but how much exactly of this sum was actual profit to the late contractor I am unable to say. It does not follow that because this saving has been secured for the future a similar saving could have been made By a competition in 1899, and it is therefore not correct to say that there has been a loss of £400,000 of public money. The contract of 1899 was entered into by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue with the approval of the Board of Treasury of the day.

Would the right hon. Gentleman answer the second part of the question?

That is why no competition was invited. It is pointed out that there was no competition invited.

What about the other Government Departments?

I should like notice of that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into the other Departments as is asked in the question. That is the real point of the question. If we have discovered this how much more is there we have not discovered?

I may point out that it was the Treasury itself which discovered this omission. The contract, I think, might well not have been entered into at that time. I will have no objection of any sort or kind to discover any similar omissions.

How is it to be done. Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to inquire?

Yes, I certainly will.

Is not this due to the list system of public departments which prevents competition?

There was another question which I do not think can be entered into by means of question and answer. It had reference to what is called fugitive ink, and the possible reuse of stamps which had been already made use of by some fraudulent person. That complicated the question.

Is it now the invariable practice of the Treasury to insist on competition in cases of this kind?

As far as I know, but I should like notice of that question.

Is fugitive ink worth £40,000 per year?

asked the Prime Minister, whether, in view of the fact that Japan and China are now manufacturing nations and are increasing the number and size of their manufacturing industries every year, and that their people will work on the average for a few pence a day, he proposes to take steps to protect our own working people and their wages from the importation of competing goods made by this cheap yellow labour?

Before a reply is given, may I ask if these Japanese people do not consider themselves to be a brown race, and not a yellow race?

The answer is in the negative.

May I ask whether manufacturers in this country will be allowed to import these Japanese to work at low wages?

That does not arise out of my answer.

It does.

Will the Prime Minister lay papers, giving the wages under Protection in those two nations?

asked the Prime Minister, in view of the consensus of opinion as to the necessity for Poor Law legislation on the lines of the uncontroversial portion of the Report of the Poor Law Commission, and in view of the interest taken in the subject by all classes in the country, whether His Majesty's Government can see their way to bring in a Bill dealing with this question during the present Session?

I am afraid that there will be no opportunity for introducing legislation this Session.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the practice under which Bills proposing to modify or curtail the prerogative of the Crown in respect of the creation of peers belong to that class of Bills affecting the Royal prerogative to which it has been the usage to give the consent of the Crown signified by a Minister of the Crown before their passage through the House in which they originate, or for the Crown to place its interests at the disposal of Parliament in a communication which is signified in like manner by a Minister of the Crown, and in reference to which it has likewise been the usage when such consent has not been given or such communication made to drop such Bills and to declare the proceedings null and void when such Bills have been suffered through inadvertence to be read the third time and passed; whether he is aware that the consent thus given or the communication thus made is announced to Parliament by a Minister of the Crown, who is responsible to the House of Commons for advice tendered to the Crown and is acting on behalf of the Cabinet; and whether there is any intention of a departure from a practice which has been observed from the introduction of the Sunderland Peerage Bill in the House of Lords in 1719; and, if so, what are the reasons of this departure?

Without pledging myself to the accuracy or completeness of all the particulars recited in the hon. Member's question, I am well aware of the usage to which he calls my attention. The latter part of his question asks for a statement of intention in regard to a contingency which, so far as I am aware, has not yet arisen.

May I ask whether it is not competent for either House of Parliament to move an Address to the Crown praying the Crown to place its interests at their disposal, and whether, when such an Address has been moved, the Crown has ever consented?

It is undoubtedly competent to either House to do so. I am not sufficiently acquainted with the precedents on this matter to say what answers have been given.

I think the only precedent is that of 1868, in reference to the suspension of the benefits of the Irish Church. In that case there was an Address moved, and is it not the fact that the Queen gave her consent to put her Prerogative at the disposal of Parliament only on the advice afterwards given of her responsible Minister, Mr. Disraeli, at the time?

I cannot charge my memory with that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take note of it?

asked the Prime Minister if it has been brought to his notice that the Coronation holidays will inflict suffering and loss to many thousands of poor people owing to loss of wages involved, especially in closing down factories and workshops for a longer period than one day; and if, under these circumstances, he will introduce legislation to compel all employers of labour who insist upon their workpeople celebrating the Coronation by compelling them to take holidays to pay such workpeople wages for such holidays?

Before the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether he has any reason to believe that employers of labour mean to act in the way suggested, and if the reflection in this question is in any way justified?

I understand that no decision has yet been arrived at as to the duration of the Coronation holidays in London. In any event, no such legislation as is suggested will be necessary as the good feeling of employers may be relied on to show due consideration for their workpeople.

Will the right hon. Gentleman cause inquiry to be made whether the good feeling of employers is as has just been pointed out with regard to wages when holidays are forced on the workers?

I do not think any such inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will lay upon the Table any official communications which have passed between the Home Office and the Governor of the Isle of Man relative to the expressed desire of the House of Keys that the sole initiative and control of finance should reside with the elected representatives of the people and the opposition expressed to this by the Home Office?

I have already promised to lay Papers on the Table of this House. The claim of the House of Keys is that any Member of the Tynwald Court has the right to make and discuss any financial proposal, subject, in the event of the proposal being carried, to the right of the Lieutenant-Governor to exercise his veto.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when?

Very shortly, I hope.

May I point out to the Prime Minister that the Under-Secretaries and Secretaries of State cannot be heard on this back bench?

asked the Home Secretary whether David Davies, for whom, on his release from Dartmoor prison, employment was found in the neighbourhood of Wrexham, has reported himself in accordance with the requirements for those persons who are released on ticket-of-leave; and whether active steps are now being taken to ascertain the whereabouts of this man?

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

asked whether any information with regard to the conduct of police or others towards a deputation of women suffragists on 18th November last was communicated to the Home Office from Mr. Mansell-Moullin, Dr. Ede, Dr. Flora Murray, or Miss M. McGregor, soon after the event, or whether the first complaints of rough treatment which reached the Home Office were contained in the Memorandum submitted by Mr. H. N. Brailsford?

One of the persons named called at the Home Office and in reply to general complaints was told that if any specific charge were made it would be inquired into, but no further communication was received from her. A letter to a newspaper by another of these persons was sent to me; and some other vague and general complaints against the police reached me about the same time; but none of them were of such a character as to afford any ground for special inquiry. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I made to the hon. Member for Blackburn last Wednesday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention had been called to the report of an inquest held last Friday on the body of a man named Richard Richards, of Bradford, who had been employed by Messrs. Campbell and Harrison, woolcombers, of Shipley, a branch establishment of Wool-combers, Limited, at which it was found that the cause of death was anthrax, contracted in the course of his employment; whether, having regard to the fact that the particular form of attack which caused death in this and many other recent cases rarely occurred among woolsorters, although for many years prior to the enforcement of the present woolsorting regulations such cases were frequent in wool-sorting establishments, he would ascertain whether all the precautions now enforced for the protection of woolsorters when they were working with or near dangerous wool were also enforced when similar classes of wool were dealt with in woolcombing establishments; and, if not, what he intended to do in the matter?

I have received a report on this case. The circumstances were unusual, as the disease did not show itself until some time after the deceased had left his employment at these works. The Wool Regulations require that certain precautions to be observed in woolcombing establishments, and these are fully observed at the works. I am also informed that wasted wool only was dealt with in the carding-room in which the deceased worked. The case calls for further inquiry, which shall be made at once.

asked whether the Mines Regulations Acts and the Mines (Eight Hours) Act applied to the operation of coal pit sinking?

The answer is in the affirmative. Section 75 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, defines "mine" as including "every shaft in the course of being sunk."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention had been called to an accident at the new dock works, Liverpool, on 28th February last, by which one man was killed and four others seriously injured; whether he had any information relating to the occurrence; and if Ms Department proposed to hold a special inquiry into the cause and circumstances of the same?

The accident is not one that falls within the jurisdiction of the Factory Department, but on a request from the Coroner the Factory Inspector's Assistant attended the inquest, and it appears from the report made by him that the accident was due to the eye in the wire-rope of a crane giving way and letting fall a bucket that was being lifted. The lifting gear was examined twice daily, and the method of making the eye had been in use for fourteen years, and this was the first accident of the kind. As the accident does not fall within the Factory Act, I have no power to direct any special inquiry to be held.

Seeing that there are no laws applicable to these works, will the right hon. Gentleman make haste to introduce the Engineering and Public Works Bill, which will give him authority to regulate these operations?

I am as anxious as my hon. Friend that that Bill should be passed into law, and I am considering how it can best be pushed forward, having regard to the other measures in which the Home Office is interested.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether a large portion of Richmond Park had been taken for a private lawn tennis ground near the White Lodge; and, if so, whether he would state the reason for railing off a portion of a public park for the use of privileged persons?

A small space has been temporarily hurdled off in order to protect the newly-laid turf. The hurdles will be removed so soon as the condition of the turf is satisfactory, and no part of the park will be permanently withdrawn from public use. The ground will be occasionally used by the establishment at White Lodge for cricket. The cost of the improvement will not fall on public funds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a scheme would be promulgated on 1st April opening promotion of sorters to clerkships; whether such scheme would include the acceptance of the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on Post Office Servants, paragraph 107; and whether he could now give an undertaking that all the officers entitled to the benefit recommended by the Parliamentary Committee, in paragraph 107, would receive favourable consideration in any scheme that might be under consideration, more especially the officers at present suffering rustication under the scheme of partial rotation of writing duties now on trial in the London postal service?

No such scheme is under consideration.

asked what is the composition of the Committees formed with a view to advising the Lord Chancellor in regard to appointments of justices of the peace in Scotland; and by whom the members of such Committees were nominated or recommended for nomination?

There is no stereotyped composition of the Advisory Committees. The object is to obtain fair-minded and reasonable representatives of different opinions. The Lord Chancellor's ordinary course is to consult with the Lord Lieutenant and with any other persons who know the district.

Will the names of the gentlemen to be appointed to these Committees be published?

I have nothing to add to the answer just given.

Is it contemplated to have a committee for London?

I cannot say.

asked what percentage of the children leaving elementary schools during each of the last five years completed, or proposed to complete, a four year's course in a State-aided secondary school in England, Wales, and Scotland respectively?

I have no information which would enable me to answer the question with anything approaching precision.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he proposed to reverse a scheme of the Charity Commission of 1862, under which one-third of Lewis Lloyd's charity was made applicable to the maintenance of the Towyn Church School, and to submit instead a scheme depriving that school of this benefit at a time when the Government grant was being withheld, although the parents of over sixty children attending the school desired its maintenance; and, if so, what opportunity would be given to the House of Commons for discussing the matter?

A scheme has been submitted to the Board under the Welsh Intermediate Education Act, 1889, by the Joint Education Committee for the future administration of Lewis Lloyd's charity. The scheme was published on 24th November, 1909. On consideration of objections a change was made in the draft scheme slightly changing the area of benefit, and the scheme was republished, as amended, on the 18th January last. The period of publication will expire on the 18th of this month. In the meantime, the Board are open to receive and consider any objections or suggestions relating to the draft scheme. With regard to the last part of the question, the usual methods of procedure under the Endowed Schools Acts, of which the Welsh Intermediate Education Act is one, are, as usual, open to objectors to the scheme, with the necessary locus standi.

asked when the sanction of the Board was given to the enlargement of Towyn provided school; and when was that enlargement completed, and at what cost to the taxpayer and ratepayer respectively?

With regard to the first part of the question, the Board formally declared the enlargement to be necessary on the 30th July, 1910. They had, however, for some time previously, been urging the authority to provide additions to the school premises with a view to the improvement of the organisation so as to enable the school to be used as a practising school for intending teachers. In this connection I may refer the hon. Member to information which I gave him in this House on the 13th July last. With regard to the second part of the question, I understand that the enlargements may be expected to be complete in the course of a few weeks. With regard to the incidence of the cost, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire on the 18th July last.

asked the President of the Board of Education what had been the numbers on the rolls and the average attendance, respectively, at the Towyn Church School since July, 1910; and whether he proposed to restore it to the Grant list, in view of the fact that so large a number of parents desired to use the school?

I was informed last month that there were seventy-five children on the books of this school. The Board were informed by the managers that the average attendance for the quarter ended 29th October, 1910, was 57.3. With reference to the second part of the question, after having regard to the considerations set out in Section 9 of the Education Act, 1902, I have come to the conclusion that the school cannot be considered necessary, and have decided accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in 1907–8, £100,000 was appropriated to make grants for the building of provided schools where the parents of thirty children desired it, without regard to existing accommodation, in areas where only non-provided schools existed; and how much of that sum had been expended in Wales?

The sum of £100,000 was voted for the Financial Year 1907–8 to provide Building Grants for Public Elementary Schools. The grants were payable under regulations which provided, inter alia, that such grants would be payable only to local education authorities, and that the Board must be satisfied that the parents of not less than thirty children of school age desired accommodation in a public elementary school provided by the local education authority, and that the only existing public school accommodation of a permanent character available for those children was in schools not so provided. It was further declared that in no case would a Building Grant be payable in respect of school places which were needed to make good a numerical deficiency of public elementary school accommodation, and which the local education authority would, therefore (in the absence of other proposals for supplying the deficiency), be obliged in any event to provide. Sums of varying amount were taken for the same purpose in subsequent years. The total grant which has been paid under these regulations to Welsh Local Education Authorities is £32,720 16s. 6d.

Are we to consider that it is the policy of the Board of Education if the parents of thirty Nonconformist scholars desire an undenominational school that the rates and taxes shall be used to provide it, but that if the parents of seventy-five Church of England children at their own expense maintain a school they are to have no grant whatever?

No; that would not be a correct statement of the Board's policy.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what is the Board's policy?

Yes; whenever the occasion arises.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the occasion arises when the Board displays sectarian bigotry?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that, although the last Return of Deer Forests in the Highland Crofting Counties, published in 1908, showed that the deer forest acreage in these counties had risen to 2,958,490 acres, the assessment thereon was only £132,041; and, seeing that these deer forests produced high rentals, would he consider the expediency of taking such steps as might be necessary to secure assessments more approximate to the rentals which landlords obtained from sporting tenants?

The statutory provisions relative to the valuation of deer forests are not peculiar to these subjects, and appeals to the County Valuation Committees and from them to the Valuation Appeal Court are therefore available. This right of appeal is not confined to the owner of the subjects as valued, but may be taken advantage of by any person having an interest to challenge the valuation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, in view of the prospective serious shortage of timber supply for British industrial requirements, the increasing disinclination of landowners under the pressure of public burdens to continue making timber plantations with the prospect of no financial return to themselves and but little to their descendants for the initial capital outlay and maintenance expenses, and the annual payment of Income Tax and of rates based upon unimproved value in respect of property which during a long period was producing no income whatever, the Government would, in order to encourage the development of suitable land and the employment of labour in the production of British timber, consider the advisability of the entire exemption from both Income Tax and rates of all new plantations of conifers for thirty and of hard woods for sixty years, that was until after the first returns from thinnings, subject to the scheme of planting being approved by the Board of Agriculture and the plantations being maintained to the satisfaction of a Government inspector according to the most approved methods of economic forestry?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to accept the suggestion contained in the question.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the subject was raised a few years ago by the then Memberber for the Horncastle Division, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, gave a most sympathetic answer?

I know nothing of that reply.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the amount per head of population contributed by the Imperial Exchequer in the last financial year towards university education in Ireland, in England, in Wales, and in Scotland?

I have not yet been able to get the information. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will postpone the question till to-morrow. Perhaps, Mr. Speaker, the rest of the questions addressed to-day to the Chancellor of the Exchequer might also be postponed till to-morrow.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recent decisions in Domville's estate (44 I. L. T. R., 169) and Athlumney's estate (44 I. L. T. R., 261), the effect of which is that where the Land Commission refuse to advance the purchase money applied for by an agreement lodged under the Act of 1903, and a new agreement is lodged by the direction of the Land Commission, Section 12 of the Act of 1909 does not apply, and the new agreement can only be carried out as a future agreement under the Act of 1909; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to amend this defect in Section 12?

My attention has been called to the cases mentioned by the hon. Member. I do not think the decisions are to the effect conveyed by the hon. Member's question. As I understand them, the decisions plainly indicate that the new agreements referred to are not agreements entered into by the direction of the Land Commission within the meaning of Section 12 (1) of the Irish Land Act, 1909. I admit the matter involved is one of importance, and I will give it further consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been called to the decisions excluding from the benefit of Section 65, the future-tenant section, of the Irish Land Act of 1909 the assignees of reinstated tenants, even where such assignees were the sons or other relatives of the tenant succeeding to the holding not by purchase but by family arrangement; whether he is aware that the then Attorney-General stated when the section was being discussed that such assignees would not be excluded; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation to cure this defect in the section?