asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he would state the circumstances under which the application of John McLeavy, Derry Killultagh, Ballinderry, pension sub-committee district of Aghalee (Belfast and Lisburn) for an old age pension was refused?

I understand that McLeavy has made two claims to an old age pension, and that both claims have been disallowed on the ground that his means, calculated in accordance with the provisions of the Old Age Pensions Act, exceed £31 10s. per annum.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in the case of Margaret Mullins, of Lahinch, county Clare, district Ennis, station Ennistymon, No. 117 in pension officer's register, although she had reached the statutory age, as attested by her birth certificate, on 12th December, 1910, the payment of her old age pension was deferred till 6th January, 1911, under the belief that she had been in receipt of Poor Law relief: and whether, as she asserts that she has. never at any time received any Poor Law relief, some evidence will be adduced that she has received such relief or the payment of her old age pension will be considered as due from 12th December, 1910?

I am inquiring as to the facts of this case, and will communicate with the hon. Member when a decision has been arrived at.

asked the Chief Secretary how it is that the family to which Mrs. Quirke, of Kilconlea, Abbeyfeale, in the county of Limerick, belonged, could not be traced in the Census Return of 1851 from the information she supplied to the pension authorities, while from the same information supplied by her they were traced in the Census Return of 1831; and whether, under these circumstances, he will direct another search to be made to see whether she is on the 1851 Census; and, if so, what age is given for her on it?

Two searches have already been made without result in the Census Return of 1851. Mrs. Quirke states that her family was evicted about that time, and presumably that is the reason why no trace of it can be found in the 1851 Census, although her family was found in 1841.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether it is to be understood that full-time professors in the Dublin College of Science, appointed prior to the Treasury Minute of 1st July, 1910, have seven years added to their years of service in computing the amount of their superannuation allowance under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act of 1859; and whether notification of the intention of the Treasury to lower the value of the professorship by the abolition of the added years was made to the Irish Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction before putting the Minute into force?

Only a certain number of the full-time professors appointed prior to 1st July, 1910, are entitled to an addition of seven years under Section 4 of the Superannuation Act, 1859. The Minute referred to was issued with the concurrence of the Department.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state, by counties, the amounts payable to each clerk of the Crown and peace and local registering authority for allowances for clerical assistance which make up the sums of £7,600 and £2,425, respectively, mentioned at page 110 of Civil Service Estimates, Class III.; and will he give similar particulars of the payments for personal and travelling expenses to county court judges and others mentioned on the same page under Sub-head C?

The allowances of the several clerks of the Crown and peace and local registering authorities for clerical assistance are determined with reference to the volume of business in their respective countries. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by furnishing the detailed information suggested in the question, and it is not possible to give similar particulars of payments under Subhead C, inasmuch as they will depend on the amount of travelling which may require to be undertaken by the several officers during the next financial year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, with reference to Class III. of Civil Service Estimates for county court officers, Ireland, what are the special circumstances by reason of which the clerks of the Crown and peace for the counties of Antrim, Down, Londonderry, and Mayo receive salaries, as local registering authority, of £300 in the case of Antrim, and £200 in the other cases, while the clerk of the Crown and peace of the county of Tipperary received only £100; and what are the special circumstances under which the clerks of the Crown and peace for Fermanagh, Kildare, and Roscommon, receive £200 or £150, as the case may be, as the local registering authority, while the clerks of the Crown and peace for Leitrim, Westmeath, and Wicklow, receive only £75 or £50?

The salaries of the several clerks of the Crown and peace and local registering authorities are determined under Section 27 of the County Officers and Courts (Ireland) Act, 1877, and Section 7 of the Local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, 1891, with reference to the volume of business of the united office in the various counties. The salaries specified in the question are so calculated as to provide a proper total remuneration for the work to be done.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Dr. James D. Condon, J. P., of Ballyshannon, who has been receiving an Income Tax refund for several years, although he supplied vouchers exactly corresponding with those on which he received the refund of Income Tax in former years for the financial year 1909–10 has, after a correspondence extending over five months with the Controller of Income Tax, been informed that his claim for a refund of Income Tax cannot be allowed on the ground that Income Tax vouchers for Income Tax paid in respect of a property in Rathkeale, county Limerick, was a year in arrear when the other vouchers for Income Tax on this property, in respect of which Dr. Condon's claim for a refund was claimed were also a year in arrear since there is a hanging year's rent on the property ever since he came into possession of it; and whether, having regard to the effect of enforcing the payment of Income Tax in respect of income which has not in reality accrued, steps will be taken to secure an allowance to Dr. Condon in accordance with the practice of many years of the refund of Income Tax to which he is entitled?

I am causing inquiry to be made into the case referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the number of established and unestablished men clerks to surveyors of taxes, respectively) who have given the following periods of service: under five years, five years and under ten, ten years and under fifteen, fifteen years and under twenty, twenty years and under thirty, and thirty years and over?

supplied the following particulars:—

	Under 5 years	5–10	10–15	15–20	20–03	30
Established clerks	0	25	74	64	36	1
Unestablished clerks	207	98	90	93	4	3

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is intended to present any further Supplementary Estimates before the close of the financial year?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any change has been made in the conditions of service under the transfer of the staff of the Royal College of Science (Ireland) to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction; if so, the reason of the change; whether Parliamentary sanction has been given; and whether he will cause a Return to be made showing the age at which full-time professors in the Royal Colleges of Science at Dublin and London were appointed to chairs carrying the seven years' addition to the total years of service?

replied: The conditions of service of the staff of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, who were transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland have not been altered except in two cases in which members of the staff on a temporary footing at the time of transfer have since been appointed to pensionable posts. A Treasury Minute of 1st July, 1910, which was laid before Parliament on the 27th July, 1910, states the position of the Professors as regards superannuation. No useful purpose would be served by giving the Return asked for.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what publication of historical documents has been made from Irish Record Office during the past twelve months?

replied: No volume has been published during the past twelve months, but Volume 2 Justiciary Rolls, Edward I., and Volume 3 Ancient Statutes of Ireland (containing Statute Rolls Edward IV.) are being printed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, under the Income Tax circular, dated Admiralty, 31st May, 1910, the fuel and light allowances of Royal Marine officers and warrant officers are directed to be assessed for the purpose of taxation, and that the ration and messing allowances to Royal Marine warrant officers, non-commissioned officers, and men are taxable after ninety-two days; whether these allowances, if taken in kind, escape taxation; and whether, having regard to the whole circumstances of the case, he will direct that the above allowances shall not be assessed for the purpose of Income Tax?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. The allowances referred to, if taken in kind, are not liable to Income Tax, and my right hon. Friend is unable to agree to the proposal contained in the fourth part of the question.

asked how the sum of £8,000 stated to have been lost to the Exchequer during the financial year 1909–10, by reason of the Budget having been referred to the electorate, is made up; and whether any portion of such loss represents irrecoverable Income Tax or other and what assessed taxes and the respective sums attributable to each?

The figures of £8,000 referred to includes £2,467 in respect of Death Duties, and some £5,000 in respect of Income Tax estimated to have been lost.

asked 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 regulations 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?

My right hon. Friend is unable to give the assurance required by the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Commissioners of Valuation must take into consideration in making their valuation the estimate furnished by any owner of land of the total value or site value, or both, of the land; whether the Commissioners of Valuation in Ireland have given all owners of taxable land any, and, if so, what intimation that they will receive such estimates; and whether he will direct the Commissioners to make no provisional valuation of any property in Ireland without first giving the owner notice that he is entitled, within a reasonable specified time, to furnish his estimate of the total value or site value, or both, of the land?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Before making any valuation the owner will be given an opportunity of sending in his own estimate of value, and will have a reasonable time for doing so. This has already been done in a few thousand cases.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Board of Works are in receipt of memorials from the people of Termon and Glin, county Donegal, praying for the construction of a passenger and goods station at Barnesgap granite quarry on the Letterkenny and Burtonport Railway; and whether the Board is willing to co-operate with the railway company in constructing the required accommodation?

The memorials referred to were received by the Board of Works direct from the hon. Member on the 4th inst., but the Londonderry and Lough Swilly Company, who work the Burtonport Railway, are the proper persons to whom they should have been sent. The memorials have now been forwarded by the Board to the company for their observations.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what assistance the Board of Works are prepared to give towards the erection of a new station on the Burtonport Extension Railway between Crolly Bridge and Dungloe Road; and at what date the work is intended to be begun?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on 11th April, 1910. The commencement of the work rests with the working company, who have not yet forwarded plans for the station for the approval of the Board of Works.

asked the Chief Secretary what has been the result of the inquiry which the Estates Commissioners stated they proposed to institute with reference to the Jameson estate and the estate of Count de la Poer, in the county Waterford, in reply to a memorial from the tenants on these estates claiming to come within the provisions as to congested townlands under the Land Act of 1909?

The Estates Commissioners have not completed their inquiries in these cases.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, as the agent of the Stokes estate, Ballymallis, county Kerry, refuses to sell to the tenants under the Act of 1909 except they take worse terms than they refused under the Act of 1903, and as considerable uneasiness exists amongst those tenants, being practically the only tenants in the district who have not purchased their holdings, steps will be taken to put the compulsory clauses of the 1909 Act into operation in this case?

Agreements for the purchase by the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, of their holdings on the lands referred to were lodged with the Land Commission in December, 1906. As far as the Estates Commissioners are aware all the tenants have signed agreements.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state if the Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from the tenants on the Barton estate, Tullaghan, county Leitrim, requesting them to purchase the estate; whether the landlord is willing to sell; and, if not, whether, having regard to how these tenants have been deprived of the benefits of all land legislation up to 1909 by being returned as future tenants, and to the present state of congestion in the district, the Board would put the compulsory powers of the Land Act into operation?

The memorial referred to has been received. The Congested Districts Board have informed the owner of the estate that they would be prepared to open negotiations for sale through them if he so desired. So far the estate has not been offered to the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary if the property of the Marquess of Ely in county Fermanagh had been sold to the tenants; if so, have the Estates Commissioners acquired the untenanted land on this property; will this untenanted land be available for evicted tenants and for the enlargement of uneconomic holdings on the estate; and will he see that no portion of the demesne lands or other untenanted land on the estate be given to graziers or to other tenants already in possession of economic holdings?

The tenanted portions of this estate are being sold direct to the tenants under Section 1 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the holdings have not yet been vested in the tenants. The owner has instituted proceedings for the sale of certain untenanted lands on the estate to the Estates Commissioners, who have not yet acquired these lands, and are not in a position to make any further statement on the subject at present.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to acquire the untenanted lands at Newtown, near Askeaton, county Limerick, on the Hewson estate, for the evicted tenants, small holders and their sons, and labourers in the locality; whether the landlord is willing to sell to them those lands under the Land Purchase Acts; and whether there is a likelihood of a sale taking place soon?

The Estates Commissioners cannot identify the lands of Newtown as being included in the Hewson estates at present pending for sale under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked whether the representatives of Dudley O'Grady have expressed their willingness to the Estates Commissioners to sell to them the untenanted lands of Ballynorth, in the county of Limerick, under the Land Purchase Acts; what is their interest in the lands; and whether, in the event of their being able to prove title to them, the Estates Commissioners will purchase them for the evicted tenants, small farmers and their sons, and labourers in the district?

The Estates Commissioners have recently received a communication from the solicitors for the owner of this estate stating that they were now in a position to negotiate with the Commissioners for the sale of the estate, and the matter is at present under consideration.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that Colonel Trant, Dovea, Thurles, county Tipperary, has offered for sale, by private treaty, his untenanted lands situated at Killaraha, Kill, and Clondoty, on terms which provide for the immediate payment of a bulk sum and an annual rent per acre for each holding; whether the Estates Commissioners have received a memorial from adjoining tenants on Colonel Trant's estate at Ballinahow, complaining of the congested state of their holdings; and whether, in view of this fact, as well as the number of congested holdings in this district, the Estates Commissioners will take immediate steps to acquire these untenanted lands with a view to remedy the congested state of the district?

The Estates Commissioners have no information as to the statements in the first paragraph of the question. They have received the memorial referred to in the second paragraph, and are in communication with the memorialists on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a man named Patrick Donohue, his wife, and eight children, are at present living in a wretched cabin in the neighbourhood of their former holdings; whether Donohue was evicted out of his holding on Colonel J. Lopdell's estate, Cappamore, Kinvarra, county Gab way, sixteen years ago; and whether, in view of the promises made to reinstate the evicted tenants or otherwise provide for them elsewhere, can he explain why steps have not been taken by the Estates Commissioners to deal with the case of Donohue and his family?

I have no information as to the first paragraph of the question. The Estates Commissioners received an application from Patrick Donohue for reinstatement in a holding now occupied by six other tenants. His application was not lodged within the period mentioned in the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that four men—namely, Martin Moran, M. Glynn, George Graham, and John Coen—were brought before the magistrates some weeks ago on a charge of being concerned in the Kilcolgan murder case, and that the prisoners, through their solicitors, complained that clean linen and underclothing sent to them by their friends had been detained by the prison authorities; and will he explain by what authority the governor of Galway Prison, or anyone acting under his command, refused to deliver to the prisoners all articles sent to them from their friends outside?

The hon. Member appears to have been misinformed. The General Prisons Board inform me that the prisoners referred to received all the articles sent to them by their friends.

asked the Chief Secretary, whether he will notify to local authorities in Ireland the fact that the Local Government Board are adverse to local sanitary officers engaging in work of a political character; and whether, having regard to the possibility of an abuse of power by an official who is also a political registration agent, he will bring to the notice of the Local Government Board the desirability of issuing an order prohibiting local officials from acting as party agents for registration purposes?

The Local Government Board have no authority to issue a general order prohibiting local officials from acting as registration agents.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, owing to the failure of the potato crop in the Carna district, Connemara, county Galway, last year, and to the necessity in consequence for good seed for this year's sowing, he will recommend the Irish Agricultural Department, who have promised a loan for this purpose on satisfactory security which is forthcoming, to purchase the best seed and undertake the work of its distribution and the collection of the loan?

The Department of Agriculture are prepared to inspect seed and see that only suitable seed is supplied, but they cannot undertake to purchase seed. They will, however, assist by supplying names of reliable seed merchants. They are not prepared to undertake the distribution of the seed nor the collection from each farmer of the cost of the seed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can see his way to carry through the Labourers Bill as quickly as possible, so that money may be available for the carrying out of schemes promulgated by district councils, but which are now and have been for some time past hung up for want of funds?

Nobody is more anxious than I am to carry the Bill through, and I have made two or three attempts to get it through its Second Reading but without success owing to opposition. I may add that a financial Resolution will be necessary before the Bill goes into Committee, and this will afford an opportunity for a statement with regard to the objects of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Maurice Tobin, of Ballinanima, Kilfinane, was granted a pension by the local committee in March, 1910, and that an appeal was lodged by the pension officer on the grounds of insufficient evidence of age on behalf of applicant, and upheld by the Local Government Board; and, in view of the fact that this man had written statements of nine persons who certified that he was beyond the age, will steps be taken to secure a better administration of the law by those who are carrying out and working the Act on behalf of the Government?

The facts are as stated. The Court of King's Bench has held that if a claimant has not in fact reached the age of seventy the pension authorities have no power to award a pension. In this instance the statements of certain persons that they believed Maurice Tobin to be seventy years of age were not sufficient evidence that he had attained the statutory age.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the lands upon the estate of Nicholas Richardson, situated at Tyaquin, county Galway, will be divided in the near future, or could he give an approximate date?

Formal proceedings for the sale of these lands to the Estates Commissioners were instituted on the 30th September, 1908. The estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and, having regard to the prior clams of other estates, the Commissioners cannot at present say when it will be reached.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the number of evicted tenants in South Wexford belonging to the Leigh estate and elsewhere still unprovided for, he will ascertain from the Estates Commissioners how much untenanted land there still remains in South Wexford; and whether the Estates Commissioners propose to negotiate for it with a view to divide it amongst the evicted tenants?

The statistics of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by parliamentary divisions. The Commissioners are in negotiation for close on 2,000 acres of untenanted land in county Wexford, and, when acquired, they will have regard in its distribution to the evicted tenants in that county whose applications have been approved.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, as the Estates Commissioners have acquired the Boxwell estate for distribution amongst the evicted tenants, some means can be devised to allow the tenants to commence farm operations before the season is too far advanced?

The matter is engaging the attention of the Estates Commissioners, but they are not at present in a position to say when they will be able to allot the lands.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the names of the Irish ports at which portal veterinary inspectors are employed, the number of days in each week on which they perform their duties, and the average hours of attendance per day?

The following Tables give the desired particulars in regard to recorded attendances at the Ports. Sunday attendances, necessary in many cases. are not included. At some of the ports referred to the Portal Veterinary Inspector, apart from his ordinary work of examining livestock entering or leaving the Port, is required to visit and examine the carcases of any animals washed ashore in his district. This duty, which is especially frequent at Cork Port, where it often necessitates absence from home and station overnight, and the further duty of inspecting swine and cattle lairs in the vicinity of the Port, are usually performed outside the recorded hours of attendance.

I.—Ports at which Regular Inspectors of the Department are stationed.
Name of Port.	Number of Inspectors.	Number of days duty per week	Av'age hours of attendance perday
Belfast	3	6	9
Cork	2	5	3
Dublin	8	6	9
Waterford	2	6	7
*Drogheda	1	2	4
*Dundalk	1	4	7
Greenore	1	6	2
Larne	1	6	4
Londonderry	1	6	9
*Newry	1	5	4

II.—Ports at which Local Veterinary Surgeons act as Portal Veterinary Inspectors.
Coleraine	1	2	2
Portrush		1	1
Ballina and Westport	1	5 (a fortnight)	3
Sligo	1	3	2
Wexford and Rosslare	1	3	3
Milford	1	3	2
Mulroy		1	5
Limerick	1	Employed as occasion arises and paid a fee for each day employed.
Dundrum	1
* In these cases the Portal Veterinary Inspector is employed in dealing with reported outbreaks of contagious animal disease, in the inspection of cattle and swine lairs, and in other work outside the portal inspection work proper of thee Port.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the address delivered by Mr. Justice Wright at the Longford Spring Assizes; and whether, having regard to the fact that there were only two small cases for trial, and that there is no real crime in the county, he will, as chief Law Officer of the Crown in Ireland, advise the executive to withdraw the extra police now quartered in county Longford?

My attention has been called to the learned judge's address at the recent assizes to the grand jury of county Longford. I noted with much pleasure the improvement in the state of the county recorded by the judge on the authority of the responsible police officer. But a greater advance would have to be made, and until that be realised the police authorities would not be prepared to recommend the removal of, or a reduction in, the existing extra force.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from the fishermen of Maghercarty asking for an improvement of the harbour at that place; and whether the Board can see its way to take any steps in the matter?

The memorial referred to has been received. The Congested Districts Board have directed inquiries to be made and an estimate of the cost of the proposed improvements prepared, when the matter will be further considered.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from the fishermen of Hornhead, Dunfanaghy, and Portnablagh asking for the improvement of the Portnablagh harbour; and whether the Board can see its way to take any steps in the matter?

The memorial referred to has been received, and will be submitted to the Congested Districts Board at their next meeting.

asked the Chief Secretary, if he is in a position to reply to the resolution of the Arklow Harbour Commissioners sent him recently?

If the Arklow Harbour Commissioners will, in compliance with the provisions of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, address their application to the Treasury, and should the Treasury refer it to the Department of Agriculture in Ireland, the latter would be prepared to support it as a case in which they consider that further public money can be usefully expended; but such support must be subject to the views of the Department as to the urgency of other cases when compared with that of Arklow.

asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland if he will recommend Black water, county Wexford, to the consideration of the Development Commissioners with a view to providing the fishermen there with facilities for carrying on their business?

The Department of Agriculture in Ireland are of opinion that the circumstances of this case are not of sufficient importance to justify them in bringing it specially before the Development Commissioners at the present time, especially in view of the applications of the Department which are already before the Commissioners.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners received an application for reinstatement from Mrs. Bridget M'Kelvey, on the Delap estate, county Donegal; and whether her application has been yet dealt with; and, if so, with what result?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Mrs. Bridget M'Kelvey for reinstatement in a holding on the Delap Estate, county Donegal, formerly occupied by her, and now in the possession of her stepson, and they have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state how many head constables of the Royal Irish Constabulary in Ireland discharge duties properly belonging to sub-inspectors; are they obliged to do so without any special remuneration when head constables apply for and are granted leave of absence on holidays; is the inspector nominally in charge of the station obliged to discharge the duties of the head constable, and, in case the inspector is not permitted or allowed to do so; whether the expense of bringing a head constable from the depot or elsewhere to temporarily discharge the duties is borne by the district inspector or charged to public funds?

The only instances in which head constables discharge the duties of district inspectors are (1) those where vacancies exist for district inspectors which have unavoidably to remain unfilled for some time, (2) where district inspectors are sick, and (3), where district inspectors are on leave of absence. It is not possible to give the number of such cases as they are constantly varying from time to time according to circumstances. Head constables so acting receive no extra remuneration. The duties of head constables absent on leave are discharged by the senior sergeant at each station. Head constables are not, as a rule, sent to take temporary charge of other districts except when both the district inspector and the head constable of a district are necessarily absent at the same time, either on duty or through illness. In such cases the expenses are charged to the public. Should it be necessary to send a head constable to take temporary charge during the absence of an officer on leave or on urgent private business, the expense involved would be charged to the officer concerned.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state what is the total amount of the German Navy Estimates, and the amount and percentage of this total which is met by loan, excluding such expenditure as does not appear in the German Navy Estimates, such as pensions and the loan for the Kiel Ship Canal?

The German Naval Estimates for 1911–12 have not yet passed their final reading, and are still subject to revision. The total of the German Navy Estimates for 1911–12 is £22,029,635; of this total the amount to be met by loan is £5,328,274, or a percentage of 24.18.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in all other maritime countries, before new vessels are ordered, estimates of the expenditure involved in their construction and armament are submitted to and approved by Parliament; and why in recent years the House has been refused similar information, costly ships being laid down without any particulars of first cost being given?

The answer to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is in the negative. The practice adopted in this as well as in some other countries appears to be that which is most in the public interest.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state, for the United Kingdom and for the German Empire respectively, the expenditure on new naval construction for each of the years 1904–5 to 1910–11 respectively, and the increase per cent. in this respect in 1910–11 as compared with 1904–5 for each of these countries?

The increase per cent. in expenditure on new naval construction between the years 1904–05 and 1910–11 was:

United Kingdom	…	16 per cent.
Germany	…	166 per cent.

The expenditure for each of the years referred to is as follows:—

United Kingdom:—
1904–5	£11,263,019
1905–6	£ 9,688,044
1906–7	£ 8,861,897
1907–8	£ 7,832,589
1908–9	£ 7,406,930
1909–10	£ 9,597,551
1910–11	£13,063,874
(probable expenditure)

Germany.—The amounts appear in the Cameron Corbett (late Thomasson) Re-turn, and are:—

1904–5	…	…	£ 4,275,489
1905–6	…	…	£ 4,720,206
1906–7	…	…	£ 5,167,319
1907–8	…	…	£ 5,910,959
1908–9	…	…	£ 7,795,499
1909–10	…	…	£10,177,062
1910–11	…	…	£11,392,856

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the same privileges that are granted to the cadet corps by the War Office may be granted by the Admiralty to those companies of the boys' naval brigade who may wish to comply with similar conditions?

The question of the possibility of extending official recognition to boy bluejacket brigades under somewhat similar rules to those prescribed in the War Office Regulations for cadet corps has been under consideration, but the requirements and conditions of the Navy and Army are not analogous in this respect, and it is not anticipated that any general scheme can be adopted.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state the individual earnings of the four highest and four lowest machinists in the G and J Divisions of the Pimlico Clothing Factory for the third week in February; the number of pairs of service dress trousers stitched by each machinist; and the difference in earnings they would receive for the same amount of work should the proposed reduction in the price paid for the work take place?

The figures are as follows:—

In G Division.
Number of Service dress trousers.	Wages received.				Wages which would have been received at proposed rate.
Four highest—
	£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.
37	1	11	10		1	9	6¼
35	1	11	10		1	9	7¾
					(did other work)
34	1	11	0	*	1	11	2½†
		2	4
36	1	10	10		1	8	7
Four lowest—
35	1	8	8	*	1	8	4½†
		1	10¾
33	1	7	4		1	5	3¼
27	1	8	2		1	6	5
					(did other work)
25	1	9	4	*	1	8	11¼†
		2	4
In J Division.
Four highest—
39	1	11	10		1	9	4¾
40	1	11	1		1	8	7
43	1	10	0		1	7	3¾
38	1	7	10½		1	5	6
Four lowest—
49	1	6	11½	*	1	7	10¾†
		4	0
34	1	4	9		1	2	7½
37	1	4	7½		1	2	3¾
41	1	1	10	*	1	3	3¾
		4	0
* Additional sums paid to Supernumerary Machinists who acted in the absence of regular machinists.
† Part of these amounts would be payable to the Supernumerary Machinists.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the rights of officers serving under Article 513, Pay Warrant, of 1907, who have not accepted promotion under Army Order 123, of 1st April, 1909, or voluntarily accepted its conditions, will be recognised and maintained; and whether officers serving as majors on the 1st April, 1909, will be granted their pension of £300 at the age of forty-eight, if not previously promoted and if they wish to retire?

Compulsory retirement is not a right, but a liability, and officers are not entitled to compensation for being allowed to serve longer. When the change was made it was recognised that officers nearing the age of forty-eight might have made private arrangements in anticipation of retirement, and majors who were then within two years of that age were given the option of retiring at forty-eight on the rate laid down for compulsory retirement. I see no reason for extending this concession.

asked the Secretary for War if he will state roughly the number of rifles on issue to the Regular Forces and Special Reserves at home and abroad; the number of rifles on issue to the Territorial Forces; and the number of rifles in reserve?

The numbers are as follow:—Regulars, home and abroad (including Reservists), 270,812; Special Reserve, 63,180; Territorial Force, 252,122. It is not customary to publish the number of rifles in reserve.

asked how long it is estimated that it will take to re-sight the present issue of rifles or replace it with other rifles suitable for firing the new bullet; how soon the alteration or the re-issue will commence in the Regular and the Territorial Forces; and in what units will the start be made?

I am not in a position at the present time to make any statement on the points raised in the question.

asked whether the employés in the Army Ordnance department at Pembroke Dock are to participate in the benefits that are to accrue from the inquiry of the fair wages advisory board?

The question of increases in consequence of this inquiry is still under consideration. I am not yet in a position to say to what employés at what stations the increases will apply.

asked whether frozen or refrigerated meat supplied to the British Army is issued as being of the same nutritive value as fresh?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary for War whether it is proposed to make a reduction to the extent of about 25 per cent. in the price paid for stitching service dress trousers in the Pimlico clothing factory; whether the original price for this work of 2½d. per pair was increased some time ago to 3d. per pair, on the recommendation of competent tailors, the women having protested at the amount of work to be done for the price; and, if the alleged reduction is to be made, whether he will state the grounds for such reduction, and whether competent tailors have recommended it?

It is proposed from the 13th inst. to reduce the price paid to the machinists employed on Service dress trousers from 3d. per pair to 2¼d. per pair. The original price paid for the work was 2¼d. per pair. The rate was increased to 3d. per pair in January, 1910, on the readjustment of machine and hand work to be employed in the process. The reduction is to be made on the grounds that the character of the work does not warrant the payment of the wages produced by the piece-work rate of 3d. per garment. The reduction is based upon competent expert advice.

asked the Secretary for War whether it is his custom, when receiving a representative trade union deputation of Government employés, to invite at the same time other employés who are not in the union; and, if so, will he state the reason for this, and who those unorganised employés are supposed to represent when he receives them?

No, Sir. I have never invited or received unorganised employés on these occasions. I should not, however, desire to fetter the discretion of heads of departments who might be asked to receive deputations which they had good reason to believe were not representative of the class on behalf of which they were acting.

asked what is the proportion of ex-soldiers of the Regular Army employed in Government departments and offices in the United Kingdom, exclusive of the police and Post Office, as compared with the number of civilians?

No statistics of the nature required are available at the War Office.

asked the number of soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and wen, stationed in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, and the Curragh, respectively, during 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911, to date, who have joined the Army as Protestants are recorded as having changed their religion to Roman Catholics; and in how many cases was this change followed by marriage with a Roman Catholic?

The information required would involve the examination of an enormous number of attestations and the preparation of corresponding returns by the Record Offices. I do not think that the labour involved would be justifiable in the interests of the public service.

asked the Secretary for War whether the labourers working in the Army Ordnance Department at Woolwich and district are to have an increase of pay to 25s. per week; whether he will take into consideration the case of men employed in the Army Ordnance Department, His Majesty's Gun-wharf, Portsmouth, who are at present only receiving, labourers 20s. 6d. per week, leading men 22s. per week, and assistant foremen 23s. per week; whether the question of rent (locally) is taken into consideration when fixing the pay of employés in the Government service; and whether he is aware that house rent in Portsmouth is increasing yearly?

I hope to make a statement on the general question of the wages of labourers in connection with the Estimates. The question of the men employed at Portsmouth is under consideration. Wages are based on local rates, and the element of rent is, of course, one factor in such rates.

asked if any deduction in weight is allowed off Australian and Queensland meat contracts for the Army; and, if so, for what purpose?

No, Sir.

asked what is an average value for new furniture supplied by the War Office to messes and ante-rooms in first-class line Infantry bar racks, such as those at Aldershot?

The furnishing of the officer's mess for an Infantry battalion costs about £275. This is exclusive of maintenance of furniture, carpets, glass, and crockery.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Government propose to erect a factory for the manufacture of acetone in the Forest of Dean, and, if so, whether such factory will be erected this year?

The Treasury have provisionally sanctioned a proposal by the Commissioners of Woods to establish a factory in Dean Forest for the distillation of wood. The principal product will be acetate of lime, from which acetone is manufactured by a further refining process, which is carried on elsewhere. It is not at present proposed to undertake the manufacture of acetone in the Forest, but the works are so designed that the necessary additions to enable the acetone process to be carried out may be added without difficulty hereafter should it be deemed desirable. Plans are in active preparation with the view of erecting the works this year, but no date can yet be fixed for completion.

asked the Home Secretary when the Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection will be issued?

As I stated in reply to a question a few days ago, I am informed that the Report is under consideration, and that it is hoped that it may be submitted shortly.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a woman on the interdepartmental committee on the management of reformatory and industrial schools, having regard to the fact that there are, in England and Scotland, eleven reformatory and fifty-three industrial schools for girls?

I have always regarded it as essential that two or three women should be appointed on the committee, and hope to announce their names, with those of the other members, in a very few days.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to two cases recently heard in the Clerkenwell police court, arising out of a trade dispute, in the first a trade union workman, named Turley, being charged with a trivial assault upon a non-unionist workman, and sentenced to one month's hard labour, without the option of a fine; in the second a non-unionist workman charged with striking a picket, and who was simply bound over to keep the peace; and whether under these circumstances he can see his way to advise the release from prison of the trade unionist?

I must ask the hon. Member to put this question down again for Thursday, in order to give me time to communicate with the magistrate concerned in both cases.

asked the Home Secretary what were the precise terms of the order given by him on 18th November last to the police as to the desirability of avoiding the arrest of women who took part in the suffrage deputations on that day; whether the order was verbal or in writing, and to whom it was given; and what were the reasons for the order?

No orders, verbal or written, emanating directly or indirectly from me were given to the police engaged in dealing with the Suffrage demonstration either on or before the 18th November. For the rest I must refer the hon. Member to the very full answer I gave the Noble Lord the Member for Nottingham on Friday.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he is aware that the trustees of the French School, Soho, have issued a notice to parents requiring children attending the school to be vaccinated, if the operation has not been performed within the last seven years; that a doctor attended at the school on Wednesday, 8th March, for the purpose of vaccinating the children, that the trustees have ordered the exclusion of children not vaccinated within the past seven years; and, if so, will the Board of Education take steps to prevent this proposal being carried out?

I understand the hon. Member to refer to the Westminster French Protestant Church School. I have no information as to-what steps may have been taken of the nature indicated. The school is not a public elementary school in receipt of Grant, and it does not appear to be within the power of the Board of Education to intervene in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he is aware that the carrying out of the instructions of the Board relative to the exclusion of children from elementary schools in the county of Devon on medical grounds entails a loss of Grant to the extent of £1,200 to £1,400 annually; and whether, in view of the cause of such decrease, he will arrange that the reduction of the grant be discontinued?

I cannot find that the Board have received any communication from the authority on this matter, and I have no independent information. With reference to the second part of the question, I am not prepared to amend the existing articles of the code, except in connection with a general revision of the system of grants for public elementary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Mahomedan praying ground at Lagos, which was occupied by the Mahomedan community since 1875, when part of it was acquired by the community at auction, has been taken away from the Mahomedans without compensation; whether the praying ground allotted them in place at a low rent is only leased for ten years; whether this action was approved by the Colonial Office; and whether he will refer the whole matter to the Governor for report and reconside ration?

I have already received a full report from the Governor on this subject. The Mahomedans in question are only a small section of the Mussulman Community at Lagos. The title under which they held the land was extremely doubtful, and they expressed themselves quite satisfied with a new piece of land which was granted them in exchange on leasehold terms for ten years at the nominal rent of one shilling a year. They have since represented that they would prefer a Crown grant of the land, as they feared that they had no security of tenure under the lease. It has been explained to them that the system of Crown grants has been discontinued, and they have been given a formal undertaking from the Government that in no case will they be required to give up the land without being assigned another site. As far as I am aware, they are satisfied with this arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what were the terms of the standing offer of reciprocity made by Canada to the United States; and when, and under what circumstances, was this standing offer discontinued?

The Canadian Customs Act of 1867 contained a provision enabling the Governor in Council to admit free from the United States certain specified articles such as grain and flour and timber, in case of reciprocity, and the Duties of Customs and Excise Act, 1879, enabled the Governor in Council to reduce or remit duties on a similar though not identical list. This provision, subject to modification in detail, remained in force until 1897, when the Canadian Government passed a new tariff which, as the Minister of Finance explained, was based on the principle of having two tariffs, one for the countries which were willing to trade with Canada and one for those which were not. It also gave a preference to British goods. He explained that the Dominion Government had done their best to bring about better trade relations with the United States and had made known their willingness to negotiate for a fair and reasonable reciprocity treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will procure a Canadian Hansard copy of, and circulate among the Members of the House, Sir Wilfrid Laurier's speech on reciprocity delivered in the Canadian House of Commons on Tuesday last?

When the Hansard is received I will gladly have some copies placed in the Library for the convenience of Members, but, pending their arrival, I would refer the hon. Member to the verbatim reports which have appeared in the London Press within the last few days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention had been directed to the error in the figures of Canadian and British trade that were given by Sir Wilfrid Laurier in his speech to the Imperial Conference of 1907, as reported in the blue book, Cd. 3523; whether the reports of the speeches at the Imperial Conference, as reported in the blue book, were ever examined in the Colonial Office and submitted to the Colonial Premiers for correction; and whether he will take steps to have the erroneous reports altered?

The hon. Gentleman presumably refers to an error in the figures in Sir W. Laurier's speech printed on page 410 of Cd. 3523. Those figures should have been in dollars, and not pounds. In every case the reports of speeches at the Conference were forwarded to members for correction before being finally printed off In view of the fact that full trade statistics were printed in Cd. 3524 I do not think it necessary to pursue the matter further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any report has been received or called for from His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in Canada, indicating the effect of the proposed arrangement between Canada and the United States upon British Trade in those articles which, in his previous report, he urged British manufacturers to send to the Canadian market?

replied to the question: Information bearing on these matters as well as other affecting British trade has been received from time to time from His Majesty's Trade Commissioner, but no special report of the character indicated in the question has been furnished or called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether Lord Chelmsford communicated with the Colonial Office before or after his refusal to remove the deadlock between the two Chambers in Queensland by swamping the Upper Chamber; and, if so, whether the Colonial Office then approved, and still approve, Lord Chelmsford's refusal on the ground that a question so vitally affecting the relations of the two Houses should be submitted to the people at a General Election?

Any communications which might have passed on this subject would have been strictly confidential, and I must decline on well-established principle to express my own personal view upon a matter with which I had no concern.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether at any time during the last five years the Governor of the Commonwealth of Australia, or the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, has refused to act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth or Dominion, respectively, or has even offered manifest delay in acting in accordance with that advice; and (2) whether it is now considered to be the established usage in Australia that the Governor-General of the Commonwealth shall act on the constitutional advice of the Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, irrespective of what might be his personal opinions or sympathies; and whether the Government of the Commonwealth possesses the means of terminating any deadlock arising from the refusal of the Governor-General to accept the advice of the Prime Minister?

It is the established usage in the Commonwealth of Australia that in all matters not affecting Imperial interests or involving a breach of law the Governor-General shall act in accordance with Ministerial advice, unless he is prepared, in consequence of a refusal, to accept such advice, to replace his Ministers by other Ministers ready to accept responsibility for his refusal. I am not prepared to give an answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question, nor to his further question. It would not be consistent with public policy to make any statement on the points raised.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will issue a notice to all public vaccinators, pointing out that under the orders of the Local Government Board re-vaccination must be applied for by the persons who are desirous of undergoing the operation, and can only be paid for out of the rates when at least ten years have elapsed since the previous vaccination at the public expense?

I have considered the suggestion that a special notice should be issued to public vaccinators, but it does not seem to me that this is required.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if he will say, in connection with the cases of small-pox so far returned in London, in how many had the patients been vaccinated, in how many revaccinated during the past ten years, and in how many were they unvaccinated; and what have been the respective number of deaths in the above three classes of cases?

The information asked for is given below:—Return of Cases of Small-pox compiled from M.A.B. Sheets up to Sunday Evening, 12th March, and of Deaths from Small-pox up to 11th March.

	Ages.
	0–10.	10–20.	20–35.	35 and over.	Total cases.	Deaths among those cases
Vaccinated.	4	9	13	15*	41	2
Unvaccinated.	8	3	2	—	13	6
	12	12	15	15	54	8
* One patient in the vaccinated group, aged 37, is stated to have been revaccinated at the age of 10 years. This case has not died. No other vaccinated patient had been vaccinated or revaccinated since infancy, except after having contracted small-pox.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has received any communication from the Guildford Rural Council concerning the surrender of a fat heifer belonging to a meat trader in Shere, valued at £20, which subsequently proved tuberculous and was conseqently destroyed; if so, whether such communication contained a suggestion that in this particular case compensation should be paid; and, if so, what reply has been made by the Board?

I have not been able to identify the communication referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before finally determining that the Declaration of London does not require the authority of Parliament for its ratification, and that the decisions of our prize courts, founded on the law as laid down in the Declaration, could be enforced without the authority of Parliament against British subjects within British jurisdiction, he will refer to the decision of the Privy Council in 1892 in the case of Walker v. Baird, and will consult the Law Officers of the Crown and inform the House accordingly?

I am advised that the case of Walker v. Baird has no bearing on the question raised by the hon. and learned Member. That case dealt with the question whether the terms of a treaty afforded a good defence to an action for trespass in the municipal courts. I see no need to refer the matter to the Law Officers of the Crown.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any Power, except Russia, has within the last thirty years treated or attempted to treat cotton as contraband, and, if so, under what circumstances and with what result?

The answer is in the negative. So far as I am aware, except in the war between Russia and Japan, there has not been, in the last thirty years, a war in which the question of cotton has been considered important.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether, in view of the bad lighting and generally unsatisfactory arrangements of the Longford Post Office, he will consider the desirability of obtaining a more central site in Longford, and erecting a proper office on the most modern lines to cope with the business done at the office; (2) whether he is aware that, owing to defective construction, business is greatly retarded at the counter of the Longford Post Office, which is far too small for its purpose; and will he direct that the present glass petition be removed and the counter extended so as to admit of three sections being made, that is, telegrams, stamps, and money orders, instead of, as at present, all on one narrow counter?

The Longford Post Office is held on a lease which has a considerable term to run, and the expense of providing an entirely new building could not be justified. Proposals are, however, under consideration for enlarging the public office and extending the counter and for improving the lighting arrangements.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, a telephone arrangement having been made for Mullingar, the line will now be continued to Longford, only twenty miles distant, thereby linking up two towns which have many business interests in common and adding to the general volume of business with the metropolis; whether he is aware that public bodies and private individuals are prepared to give any reasonable guarantee against loss; and if he will state if there is any objection to give this convenience to the public of Longford as elsewhere?

The conditions on which extensions of the trunk telephone system in Ireland can be carried out are still under the consideration of the Treasury, and for the moment I am unable to take steps with regard to an extension to Longford.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is any Trade Commissioner in Newfoundland, or any representative in the over-seas dominions, whose duty it is to report upon the course of British trade in that part of the Empire; and, if so, whether he will call for a Report as to the effect of the proposed arrangement between Canada and the United States upon Newfoundland interests?

There is in Newfoundland no Trade Commissioner who could be called upon to furnish such a Report.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he will now give particulars of the working of the Small Holdings Act up to the 31st December, 1910, similar to the particulars given in answer to a question on the 12th November, 1908, and showing for each county the total number of applicants; number of approved applicants; estimated acreage still required for applicants; quantity of land already acquired; number of applicants provided for by the council or the Board; with any remarks thereon?

County	Number of applications received.	Number of applications provisionally approved.	Quantity of land acquired or agreed to be acquired.	Number of applicants provided for		Acreage which the Council estimate is still required for approved applicants.
				By the Council.	By private landowners.
	1.	2.	3.	4.	5.	6.
ENGLAND.			Acres.			Acres.
Bedford	818	—	2,483	318	51	821
Berks	405	187	1,932	80	23	1,828
Buckingham	607	350	2,210	107	15	3,500
Cambridge	1,454	1,063	4,066	586	20	6,510
Isle of Ely	1,669	1,288	2,282	341	No information	1,400
Chester	339	308	2,109	114	37	4,194
Cornwall	622	366	2,364	124	62	2,322
Cumberland	102	72	372	24	20	143
Derby	179	112	266	8	13	607
Devon	761	584	2,405	160	153	4,097
Dorset	382	196	1,247	44	94	1,897
Durham	447	399	1,060	47	18	3,401
Essex	607	239	1,586	111	44	1,869
Gloucester	754	—	1,547	151	108	2,572
Hants	682	364	982	80	31	4,599
Isle of Wight	142	90	562	43	No information	148
Hereford	426	—	1,375	79	41	1,627
Hertford	339	—	1,473	97	7	2,008
Huntingdon	662	345	2,552	251	No information	1,489
Kent	824	527	1,463	90	41	1,925
Lancaster	369	256	453	79	23	1,261
Leicester	429	212	1,832	100	No information	1,000
Lincoln, Parts of Holland	785	650	2,003	133	—	7,477
Lincoln, Parts of Kesteven	375	240	2,875	150	—	1,085
Lincoln, Parts of Lindsey	673	565	2,202	147	21	7,300
London	73	11	—	—	1	245
Middlesex	219	106	113	12	No information	756
Monmouth	381	239	2,074	90	3	3,243
Norfolk	2,074	1,052	6,232	595	35	3,610
Northampton	457	222	1,823	147	50	679
Soke of Peterborough	119	—	246	14	No information	95
Northumberland	551	307	2,256	75	30	4,791
Notts	298	—	641	30	No information	200
Oxford	728	464	2,137	143	117	1,200
Rutland	100	54	234	27	16	60
Salop	543	313	1,466	80	76	2,613
Somerset	2,106	1,182	4,136	282	84	11,588
Stafford	303	168	1,037	39	64	1,019
Suffolk, East	333	121	595	42	26	303
Suffolk, West	339	147	756	96	35	468
Surrey	372	196	627	52	20	847
Sussex, East	208	108	236	19	42	730
Sussex, West	146	89	37	5	28	520
Warwick	491	—	1,046	61	55	764
Westmorland	44	17	80	8	5	30
Wilts	1,049	484	2,311	188	118	6,032
Worcester	1,102	—	1,313	236	101	1,440
York, E. Riding	665	156	2,087	108	28	1,395
York, N. Riding	299	146	84	7	19	1,991
York, W. Riding	362	—	1,348	54	43	1,428
Isles of Scilly	—	—	—	—	—	—
Total	28,214	13,995	76,816	5,869	1,818	111,127

The following table gives the information desired:—

asked whether the school board of Lochs, island of Lewis, have yet taken steps to meet the complaint of Dr. Cameron, the medical officer of health for the parish, relative to the sanitary condition of the Keose and Kershadder public schools?

The Department are in communication with the school board on the matter.

asked the Lord Advocate what biological and fishery investigations have been made by means of the Scottish research vessel since 1902; and in what reports the results will be found?

The investigations made by means of the Scottish research vessel will be found included in four Blue Books presented to Parliament in 1905, 1907, 1908, and 1909, under the title of Reports on Fishery and Hydrographical Investigations in the North Sea and adjacent waters (Northern Area). A fifth volume, nearly ready for press, will include Reports, based on the work of the research vessel during the past eight years, upon the distribution, migrations, rate of growth, and determination of age of the plaice and cod. Further information as to the investigation is contained in the various reports of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, issued from Copenhagen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of the imports for Home consumption and the exports (domestic produce) of ships, all machinery, electrical machinery, and agricultural implements and machinery, respectively?

Articles.	Imports for Home Consumption (Net Import retained in the United Kingdom).		Exports of United Kingdom Produce.
	1903.	1910.	1903.	1910.
	£	£	£	£
Ships and boats (new) and their machinery	52,000	25,000	4,284,000	8,769,000
Electrical machinery	519,000	532,000	437,000	1,607,000
Agricultural machinery	60,000	298,000	1,855,000	2,687,000
Other machinery	2,937,000	2,697,000	17,766,000	25,003,000
Total machinery (other than machinery of new ships exported).	13,516,000	3,527,000	20,058,000	29,297,000
Agricultural implements	Not separately distinguished.		466,000	577,000

The following Statement gives, for the years 1903 and 1910, the information required by my hon. Friend:—