asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total Customs and Excise revenue derived from the taxation of articles of food, drink, and tobacco in the year 1910, including licences for the sale or manufacture of these articles?

As I have explained in reply to several similar questions, I cannot give statements of the yield of particular heads of revenue for separate periods of an uncompleted financial year in anticipation of my general review of the revenue of the whole financial year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in cases where an income exceeding £5,000 is received for the year 1908–9, Super-tax for the year 1909–10 is payable notwithstanding that the income actually received or receivable for the year 1909–10 does not amount to £5,000; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any, and what, steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I beg to refer the Noble Lord to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for the Melton Division of Leicestershire on the 14th ultimo.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state from whom the pensions officer of the Aghalee, Belfort, Lisburn, sub-committee received the information on which he based the allegation that John M'Leavy, of Derry, Killultagh, Ballinderry, had entered into an agreement securing maintenance for himself and his wife for life; and whether he persists in the allegation in view of the applicant's affidavit to the contrary?

The responsibility for the acceptance or rejection of M'Leavy's claim rests, not with the Pension Officer, but with the Local Pension Committee and the Local Government Board, both of whom have decided against his claim.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mrs. Mary Carmody, of Gortatlea, Castleisland, has been deprived of her pension because she cannot find her baptismal certificate; and whether, seeing that the local pension committee, who know this woman, are satisfied that she is of the required age, and that she is almost destitute, he will request the Local Government Board to make further inquiries regarding her?

The Local Government Board allowed the pension officer's question, on the ground that Mrs. Carmody had not reached the statutory age. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say why it is that Mrs. Bridget Corcoran, of Clooncolligan, Johnston's Bridge, in the Ballinamuck sub-pension committee, county Longford, No. 2,052, has been refused a pension, although the same was granted to her by the pension committee on 22nd December, 1910, and as through a mistake her age appears in the Census of 1851 as being only nine years, while she has documentary evidence to prove that her father died in 1840; and if, under those circumstances, the pension officer will be directed to give Mrs. Corcoran the pension, considering that she has reached the statutory age, although not correctly recorded in the Census of 1851?

The Census Returns showed the claimant as nine years old in 1851, and not in the family in 1841, while her father died in 1840, and no other satisfactory evidence was produced. In these circumstances the Local Government Board came to the conclusion that the claimant was a posthumous child, born soon after the taking of the Census on the 6th June, 1841; and they are prepared to hold that she will attain the statutory age when the 6th June next is past.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the reasons upon which the Local Government Board refused an old age pension to James Guilfoyle, Lisheen, Templemore, county Tipperary?

The Local Government Board upheld the pension officer's appeal against the award of a pension to Guilfoyle on the ground that his means, calculated in accordance with the terms of Section 4 of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, exceeded the statutory limit.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the rural districts in Ireland in which, to the end of 1910, parcels of land had been vested in trustees under the Land Acts of 1903 and 1909, stating in each case the name and area of the land, the number of families entitled to use it, and the purpose; and whether the trustees are members of the district council as such or other persons?

Table IX. appended to the Annual Report of the Estates Commissioners for the year ending 31st March, 1910, gives particulars of parcels of land vested in trustees under the Irish Land Act, 1903–9, during that year, and similar returns for each of the previous years in which parcels were vested in trustees are appended to the Annual Report for these years. The trustees are in some of these cases members of the district council as such, in others they are not.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will give the names of the estates, and the dates of the returns of advances in which their respective particulars may be examined, referred to in the memorandum of dissent appended by the late Mr. Commissioner Finucane to the last Annual Report of the Estates Commissioners?

The present Estates Commissioners are not aware of the particular estates to which the late Mr. Commissioner Finucane made a general reference in the Minute referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that auditors for the Local Government Board in Ireland continue to disregard matters of common knowledge affecting the accounts and the rates if the matters do not appear in the accounts; for instance, that they pass payments on a high scale for advertising in newspapers defunct but for those payments, and on a low scale for advertising in papers the public read; and if he will say why those auditors are not instructed uniformly to require proof of circulation as a condition precedent to the sanction of payment?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. Having regard to recent decisions limiting the powers apparently conferred by statute, it would appear that auditors are not in a position to deal effectively, by way of surcharge, with excessive payments to newspapers where such payments-are made in respect of contracts enforceable at law unless they are in a position to charge and prove fraud or collusion. The Local Government Board have no authority to give the instruction indicated in the concluding paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state how many applications for reinstatement were made by evicted tenants in each county in Ireland; how many have been reinstated in each county and how many provided with equivalent holdings, stating in how many cases the settlements were made by the landlords and in how many by the Estates Commissioners; in how many cases the Estates Commissioners exercised their compulsory powers for the purpose; and if he will state how many applications were refused in each county and how many still remain under consideration?

I would refer the hon. Member to Table XXVII. of the Appendix to the Estates Commissioners Report for the period to 31st March, 1910, which gives particulars regarding the applications of evicted tenants in each county in Ireland, and the manner in which they have been dealt with.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application, to be reinstated from Mrs. Margaret Myrons, Dromard, county Tipperary, who was evicted about fourteen years ago from a farm of forty acres by Surgeon-General Roe; and whether he can state what steps the Estates Commissioners purpose taking in order to reinstate Mrs. Myrons?

The Estates Commissioners do not appear to have received any application for reinstatement from the evicted tenant referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that three years ago the owner of the Waithman Estate, near Athlone, in the county Roscommon, offered the estate for sale to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6; that the tenants then understood that the estate was being purchased by the Commissioners; and that the tenants' solicitor has received a reply from the Commissioners as to the condition of the negotiations for the purchase of the estate; whether he is aware that this has resulted in the issue of processes for the recovery of the unabated rents; and whether immediate steps will be taken to bring this matter to an early conclusion, either by the purchase of the estate by the Commissioners or by its transference to the Congested Districts Board?

The owner offered this estate for sale to the Estates Commissioners, who have purchased the lands of Ballinlig, Carigeens, Tobberreoge, Knock-drumdonnell and Cartron, and the tenants have signed undertakings to purchase their holdings, which will be vested in them in due course. The Commissioners decided not to acquire the lands of Clonkeen, the holdings of which are congested, and the Commissioners had no untenanted land in the neighbourhood suitable for the relief of such congestion. The tenants on the lands acquired by the Commissioners are liable for interest in lieu of rent to the Land Commission. The Commissioners have no information regarding any legal proceedings taken by the owner to collect the rents due by the other tenants, nor have they any power to interfere in the matter. The Congested Districts Board have been asked to purchase the lands of Clonkeen, and have arranged for their inspection.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say whether, in the event of the Estates Commissioners acquiring the untenanted lands of Cloun-reask, adjacent to the village of Askeaton, in the county Limerick, they will allot a portion to each town tenant there to enable him to purchase his holding, especially having regard to the fact that they have used a portion of this land for a number of years on the eleven months' letting system, and have grown foodstuffs on it for themselves and their families?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the Estates Commissioners have received a resolution from the town tenants of Askeaton on this subject, and if the untenanted lands of Cloonreask are acquired by the Commissioners they will consider the application of the town tenants when they are dealing with the lands in their order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland if he can say whether, having regard to the fact that the untenanted lands of Newtown, on the Hew-son estate, adjoin the untenanted lands of Ballynorth, in the county of Limerick, which the Estates Commissioners are negotiating with the landlord to purchase, they will take steps simultaneously to acquire the lands of Newtown for the smallholders and their sons and labourers in the locality?

The suggestion of the hon. Member will be considered by the Estates Commissioners, but up to the present no proceedings have been instituted before them for the sale of the lands of Newtown.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can say if the Charles Sheils Charity Trust is being administered in Carrickfergus, Armagh, and Dungan-non in accordance with the will of the founder; and whether, in view of the fact that the trustees are promoting a Bill in this Session, he will ascertain how many of each religious denominations are to be found respectively on the local boards of management and amongst the recipients of the charity?

This charity is regulated by Acts of Parliament passed in 1864, 1866, and 1875, and is not in any way under the control of the Irish Government. An amending Bill is being promoted by the trustees in the present Session of Parliament. I have no information as to the administration of the charity. The offices of the charity are at 25, Clare Street, Dublin, and the secretary would probably be able to give the hon. Member any information he may require on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can say if any representations have been made to the Commissioners of National Education as to advancing money for the rebuilding of Guy's School, Ballymena, county Antrim; and whether the Commissioners will see that priority will not be given to any such application to the detriment of earlier and more urgent applications?

Application has been made to the Commissioners of National Education for a grant towards the erection of a new and suitable schoolhouse for the accommodation of the children of the Guy's Schools, Ballymena. As there are exceptional circumstances connected with the case, which make it most desirable that it should be given priority, and that a new Schoolhouse should be provided without further delay, the Commissioners referred the case for special consideration to the Treasury in January last, and it is still under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Commissioners of Charitable Bequests have decided to hold a public inquiry before consenting to allow Guy's School, Ballymena, county Antrim, to be sold to the Post Office; and whether the postal authorities will meantime make further inquiries into the suitability of the suggested site?

I have not been informed that the Commissioners of Charitable Bequests are now unwilling to sanction the sale of Guy's School. I am satisfied that of the properties available the site of the school is the most suitable foe post office purposes at Ballymena, and the legal arrangements for purchasing it are in hand.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can say why the rod-fishing season on the River Feale, in the county of Limerick, was curtailed from the 31st October to the 15th September in each year; and whether, as this is a grievance to anglers, he will take steps to have the old date, 31st October, stand?

The by-laws fixing close seasons for salmon and trout in the Rivers Feale, Geale, and Cashen were made by the Department of Agriculture in the interests of the fisheries of those rivers and after public inquiry. The by-laws were approved by the Lord Lieutenant in Council in October last, and are now in force. An appeal to the Lord Lieutenant in Council against the provisions of the by-laws lay with all persons interested. Notice of this right of appeal was posted at all the usual places for posting notices in the Petty Sessions districts affected. If any person objected to the Department's bylaws he should have exercised this right of appeal before they were approved of. The existing close seasons cannot be altered for three years.

asked whether it is proposed to make any arrangements during the current year for the payment of monthly salaries to national education teachers in Ireland?

I have nothing to add to my reply to the question on this subject addressed to me on the 16th February by the hon. Member for Cork City.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the cost of the "Oldenburg" and the other three ships of the same programme, and also of the "Hercules," "Colossus," "Orion," "Lion," "Princess Royal," "Conqueror," "Monarch," "Thunderer," separately, on a comparable basis?

As the final instalment for the "Oldenburg" and the other three ships of the same programme will not be known until the Estimates for 1912–13 appear, it is not possible to state their cost. I, therefore, cannot give the comparative figures asked for in my hon. Friend's question.

asked the total income of the Greenwich Hospital Pension Fund; the total expenditure; and the total amount actually paid in pensions, distinguishing between pensions paid to officers, pensions paid to men, and pensions paid to women?

The total income of Greenwich Hospital for the financial year 1909–1910 was £204,594 17s. 1d., while the total expenditure was £195,563 13s. 6d. The total actual amounts paid in pensions were as follows:—

asked whether Artificer-engineer Ernest Marchant has up to the present time received any recognition of the services he rendered on the occasion of the stranding of H.M.S. "Montagu"?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his similar question on the 20th June, 1910.

asked the Secretary of, State for War, what shortage at present exists in the establishment of the Army, including the British Army in India?

The shortage on establishments of all ranks in the British Army, inclusive of Colonial troops and Indian battalions serving in the Colonies, on the 1st March, amounted to 1991. It must be remembered that a pool of 1,850, over and above the ordinary regimental establishments, is included to cover variations in recruiting.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many officers and men, respectively, of the Territorial Force did not attend camp in 1910?

The number of officers and men of the Territorial Force absent with or without leave from camp in 1910 were 748 and 16,168 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for War what number of staff officers are employed in a division of Regulars on a war basis; and what number are available for employment with a Territorial division on the same war basis?

The war establishment of a Regular Division contains six officers on the personal staff who are aides-decamp, and eleven staff officers. It is intended that the war establishment of a Territorial Division shall be similarly constituted. There are at present six staff officers on the peace establishment of a Territorial Division.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has addressed letters to the governing bodies of the boys' brigade, Church lads' brigade, Jewish lads' brigade, and other organisations for boys, suggesting affiliation or other connection with the Territorial Army; if so, what replies have been received; and whether he will lay copies of the correspondence?

No official suggestion has ever been made by the War Office to any of the bodies mentioned that they should affiliate with the Territorial Army.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is intended to invite the co-operation of civilian airmen in connection with the air battalion for the purposes of home defence?

The question is under consideration as to how the services of civilian airmen anxious to serve can be utilised in peace and war.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will state upon what terms the War Office has hitherto supplied camp equipment to boys' brigades and similar organisations; whether new-regulations have now been made; and, if so, for what reasons?

As regards the first part of the question, if equipment was available locally and could be spared, General Officers Commanding-in-Chief were empowered to lend it to the organisation mentioned on certain terms. As regards the rest of the question new regulations have now been made. The privileges mentioned are now only granted to bodies which are recognised by Territorial Force Associations, because it is not considered justifiable to give military aid to bodies which do not comply with any military requirements and maintain no military connection.

asked the Secretary for War, whether he can state the number of men employed at Redford barracks; and when he expects that they will be completed?

One hundred and seven men are at present employed on preliminary work. The Cavalry barracks will, it is hoped, be completed by Midsummer, 1913, and the Infantry barracks by Midsummer, 1914.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can see his way to restore to the foreman in the Weedon Army Ordnance Department the eight days' leave each year which was taken from them when they were placed on a pension scheme; and whether he will consider the advisability of allowing the labourers in these ordnance works more leave with pay than they are now allowed, exclusive of bank holidays?

The grant of pension rights to foremen of the Army Ordnance Department, including those at Weedon, carried with it, as conditions of acceptance, revised scales of wages and of leave. These foremen get twelve days' leave with pay, in addition to eight paid holidays in the year. The labourers also get eight paid holidays. It is not proposed to alter these arrangements.

asked the Secretary for War whether any steps can be taken to obviate the discharges that are taking place from the Woolwich torpedo factory of men over forty years of age who were unable to accept their transfer to Greenock on account of family conditions, etc.; and whether he is aware that temporary hands have been transferred to other departments of the Arsenal, while men who are now being discharged have been in the service for a long time?

I shall deal with this question in the Debate to-day, and I think this will be a better course than attempting to discuss the matter now.

asked whether any Report or Memorandum has been issued on the Territorial manœuvres held in Kent last year for the information and instruction of all ranks?

Certain criticisms were drawn up at the conclusion of the operations by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief

asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether he is aware that the War Office granted £400 to the Winchester Corporation in aid of the expenditure incurred by that body in litigation against a private individual; whether he is aware that this action was originally decided by an arbitrator, mutually agreed upon, and whose decision was subsequently upheld by a judge in the High Court against the corporation; whether he can explain why the War Office took this unusual course; and whether it is to be used as a precedent in future?

The facts are as stated in the question. The hon. Member has, however, omitted to state that the Court of Appeal reversed the decision of the judge in the High Court. I have already informed the hon. Member of the reasons for the action taken by the War Office.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the total number of denominational schools which have been transferred to local authorities in each year since the coming into force of the Education Act, 1902?

supplied the following figures showing the number of voluntary schools transferred to local education authorities since the coming into force of the Education Act, 1902:—

asked the Home Secretary whether he will place one or more women on the Departmental Committee which he is appointing to inquire into the management of reformatories and industrial schools?

Yes, Sir, as I informed the House on Monday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the amount of British, German, Dutch, and other foreign spirits imported into the British Colonies of Africa?

The following Statement shows the quantity and value of spirits of all kinds imported into British Dominions and Protectorates in Africa, distinguishing the imports from the United Kingdom, British Possessions, Germany, Holland, and other foreign countries during 1909:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can give the names of the baronies in the county of Limerick that contributed to the Guarantee Fund of the Limerick and Kerry Railway, which was amalgamated with the Great Southern and Western Railway?

The liability in respect of this guarantee appears to have rested with the county of Limerick at large. The baronies are not enumerated in the relative Acts of Parliament, but their names are given in a Return to an Order of this House dated the 6th August, 1902. [No. 376, Railway and Harbour Guarantees (Ireland).]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the delays and inconveniences caused to British ships entering or leaving Brazilian ports owing to the dilatoriness of the officials and their overbearing methods of performing their duties, and to the irritating nature of some of the regulations in force; and, if so, whether he will make representations to the Brazilian Government urging them to remedy the grievances complained of?

I am aware that difficulties have arisen and complaints have been made in the past in connection with delay and inconvenience, due to various causes, suffered by British ships in Brazilian ports; but I understand that various regulations which were felt to be irksome have been withdrawn. If any further case have occurred, and the Noble Lord will give me the particulars, I will inquire into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can now state what proposals the Government intend to submit for discussion at the forthcoming Imperial Conference?

A list of subjects proposed by His Majesty's Government for discussion at the Imperial Conference will be found on page 10 of Cd. 5513. On further consideration it has been decided that the subject of uniformity in the design of stamps should be abandoned. His Majesty's Government have since proposed the following additional subjects:—The enforcement in one part of the Empire of commercial awards given in another part and the extension of the Imperial postal order scheme.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention had been called to the widespread distress, accmpanied in some cases by the ruin of small investors, which has been occasioned by the failure of the Charing Cross Bank; and whether the Government propose to strengthen the law, with a view to preventing such occurrences in the future?

The circumstances to which the bon. Member alludes are generally known to me, but His Majesty's Government are not in a position to consider the introduction of legislation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give particulars of devolution on to superior duties performed by male telegraphists and sorting clerks and telegraphists in provincial offices during the year 1910, including the number of officers concerned, the number of days devolution duty performed, and the total payment made for the year?

The preparation of such a return would involve much clerical work; and the value of the return would not justify the labour and expense involved.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been directed to the conditions of the pay of postmen in the district of Caterham, Surrey; if he is aware that the postmen at Caterham Valley have a maximum of 25s., while the postmen at Caterham, i.e., Upper Caterham, have a maximum of 23s., the work in each case being of similar character and the volume of work fully as great, if not greater, at Caterham than at Caterham Valley; if he is aware that the cost of living, owing to the altitude of Upper Caterham and cost of transport, is rather higher for the Caterham men than for the Caterham Valley men; and if he will see that all these men are placed on the same footing?

I am having inquiry made, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.