asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the grounds on which an old age pension was refused to Michael Hynes, of Bownslieve, near Inagh, West Clare (registered number of claim, 1,830)?

I understand that Michael Hynes' claim to an old age pension was disallowed on the ground that he has not attained the statutory age.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the pension officers at Westport have recently withdrawn pension books from the following old age pensioners: Martin M'Ginty, Patrick Glynn, Mary M'Manmon, Anne Gibbons, Margaret Flynn, and Patrick Walsh, paying patients in Westport union infirmary, and Mary Newman, paying patient in Westport union hospital; upon what grounds the pensions granted to those people have been discontinued; and whether, having regard to the fact that no portion of the cost of their maintenance was chargeable to the poor rates, he will take steps to have their pensions immediately restored?

I have made inquiries and find that on the 2nd instant, as the result of questions raised by the pension officer, each of the seven persons named was decided by the local pension committee to be disqualified for an old age pension on the ground of receiving poor relief. I have no authority to intervene in the matter, or to restore the pensions. I may say, however, that the hon. Member appears to be misinformed as to the facts. None of the persons named were at the time of disqualification in the union infirmary or hospital. Patrick Walsh was in the infirm ward of the workhouse, out was not receiving medical or surgical treatment there, while the others were in the body of the workhouse.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in the case of Patrick O'Connor, of Moheroon, Carron, Kilnaboy, district Ennis, station Ennistymon, number in pension officer's register Lva 484, an old age pension was refused on the ground that the applicant possessed sufficient means, whereas, although he possessed previous to the marriage of his daughter, the place of three cows, he is now entirely without means of subsistence of his own; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The Local Government Board in December, 1909, upheld the appeal of the pension officer in this case, as it appeared that Patrick O'Connor was the tenant of sixteen acres and a-half of good land, in respect of which no formal assignment had been made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state why, in reference to old age pensions, means are estimated in Ireland according to standards that would be considered unacceptable in England; and whether instructions will be issued to pension officers to relax their rigour in this respect?

The Local Government Board have no knowledge of the standards by which means are estimated in England, but the circumstances of the two countries are entirely different. The pension officers are not under the Board's control.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, in the case of Daniel Doohan, of Deconrade, Lissycasey, West Clare, although the pension committee allowed him 4s., the pension officer objected on the grounds of sufficient means; whether he is aware that Daniel Doohan, who is seventy-six years of age and who has five young children, is very poor, his holding of seventy acres being on a bleak hill side and assessed thus: judicial rent, £12 12s.; Government valuation, £12 13s.; interest in lieu of rent, £10 12s.; that all the stock on the holding belonging to himself consists of four old cows; and whether, after weighing all these conditions, he will direct that effect shall be given to the recommendation of the pension committee?

The decision of the Local Government Board on this case was given over two years ago, on 1st January, 1909. When the case was before them, Patrick Doohan possessed five cows, four yearlings, four sheep, and three pigs; and the Board upheld the pension officer's appeal on the ground that Doohan's means exceeded the statutory limit. It is not in the Board's power to reopen the matter now.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention had been called to the Report of the Auditor-General in his report on the National Accounts for 1909–10, in which he quotes two specific cases where holders of farms had divested themselves of their tenancies in order to qualify for an old age pension; in one case, where a woman held a farm of forty acres, which she worked with her son and daughter, she applied for a pension, but was refused on the ground of income; she then transferred the holding to her son, and made a fresh application, and was granted a pension of 5s. per week, as her principal source of income was fixed at the value of her board and lodging in the farm; the second case being of a man who was joint owner in 100 acres of land and applied for a pension in 1908, but was refused on the grounds of income; he then transferred the interest in the farm to his brother and renewed his application of a pension, with the result that he has been getting 5s. per week since the 5th August, 1910, his source of income having been determined the same as in the previous case, at the value of his board and lodging on the farm; have not the English Local Government Board passed all such claims; and, in view of the methods adopted by the Irish Local Government Board in depriving people of pensions who live with their children in farms of fifteen and sixteen acres, will some steps be taken to have the same treatment meted out to applicants in Ireland as to those in this country?

I have seen the Report of the Controller and Auditor-General referred to by the hon. Member, and have nothing to add to my reply to his question of the 16th instant. The two cases referred to in the question seem to have been cited by the Comptroller and Auditor-General for the purpose of expressing both disapproval and doubt.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that John Dwyer, Gurtacoola, Drumbane, county Tipperary, was granted an old age pension by the Thurles sub-pension committee last July, and that the decision of the sub-committee was appealed to the Local Government Board by the pension officer; whether he can state the decision of the Local Government Board; whether, in the event of no decision, he will explain the cause of the delay; and whether, in case the Local Government Board decide in favour of John Dwyer's application, he will be allowed the pension from the date of his application?

The Local Government Board gave a decision on 28th October last upholding the pension officer's appeal on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence of John Dwyer having reached the statutory age.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state whether any entries into the primary registers for British exports of free goods from the ports of London and Liverpool have been checked from 1st June, 1910, to 1st March, 1911, in the Customs Statistical Office; what is the method used in the monthly scrutiny of discovering errors made in the primary registers for articles entered by value only; and, if entries into the primary registers are not checked, how is it possible for errors to be discovered which arise through goods being registered to the wrong country?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. There is no intention of abolishing the system of check by the Customs Statistical Office, and consequently the question put in the third paragraph does not arise. As regards the second paragraph I am afraid that it is not possible, within the limits of an answer to a question, to explain in detail the various methods of check actually employed.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he has received a request from the gardeners employed at Kew Gardens to refer the question of their wages to the Fair Wages Advisory Committee; and whether he intends adopting this course?

I have received a communication from the Board of Agriculture on the subject of the request of the gardeners at Kew Gardens, but I do not consider the case an appropriate one for reference to the Fair Wages Advisory Committee. It has frequently been explained that the remuneration allowed to the gardeners is of the nature of a subsistence allowance not wages in the ordinary sense of the term.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state for what reason the sum of £2,467, stated to be the amount of Death Duties lost to the Exchequer by reason of the postponement of the Budget of 1909, is in fact irrecoverable; and whether the Commissioners of Inland Revenue have taken any steps to enforce payment of such duties from the personal representatives of the deceased persons whose estates were liable, or against such estates; and, if not, why no such proceedings have been taken?

The assets in each case were realised before the Bill became law, and the accountable persons at that time either were abroad or could not be traced. No proceedings, therefore, could be taken.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the promised committee to deal with questions of local taxation and Imperial grants will be appointed; and whether he can promise that adequate representation on the committee will be given to municipal corporations?

I hope to be able to state the composition of the committee before the end of the week, but I cannot give a definite pledge as to dates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he can now state the constitution of and terms of reference to the Departmental Committee on the Financial Relations of the Imperial and Local Authorities?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he can now state the personnel and terms of reference of the Departmental Committee on the Financial Relations of the Central Government and Local Authorities?

I hope to be able to state the composition of the Committee before the end of the week, but I cannot give a definite pledge as to dates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of the contributions out of the Exchequer to local taxation funds in each of the last five years on account of the additional Customs and Excise Duties; and what is the estimated amount of such contributions in the present financial year?

The information with regard to the last five years will be found on p. 35 of the Statistical Abstract (Cd.5296). Clause 11 of the Revenue Bill will fix the amount for the current and subsequent years, and retrospectively for 1909–10, at the amount for the year 1908–9.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of licences in the tobacco trade issued in the years 1907–8, 1908–9, and 1909–10; whether 7,000 of those who formerly held licences were, in the last year, forced out of business by the increased duties; whether the number of manufacturers forced out of business was twenty-six in the year 1909–10, and what proportion that number bears to the total number thus engaged; and what has been the total effect of the new duties upon the various branches of the tobacco trade?

The number of tobacco licences issued during the three years in question was as follows:—

			Manufacturers.			Dealers.
1907–8	…	…	415	…	…	386,260
1908–9	…	…	407	…	…	390,437
1909–10	…	…	383	…	…	383,700

Dealers' licences have decreased by 6,737, less than 2 per cent., in 1909–10, as compared with the previous year; on the other hand, in the last quarter of 1910–11, for which figures are available, they have increased by about 5,000, as compared with the corresponding quarter of 1909–10. The decrease in the number of manufacturers' licences for 1909–10, amounting to 6 per cent., is very slightly in excess of the normal annual decrease which has been going on for some years. I cannot say how far the new duties are responsible for the decrease in 1909–10, nor can I within the limits of an answer discuss the total effect of the new duties on the various branches of the trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to collect the Undeveloped Land Duty in the following cases: where the owner cannot develop the land for want of capital; where the owner is willing to develop and has tried every available means to sell or let for the past ten years without receiving an offer; where the owner is prevented from developing his land through a lack of proper approaches; where the owner cannot develop his land without the concurrence of adjoining owners, who refuse to co-operate in a joint scheme for deve- lopment; and where the owner has previously developed his adjoining land and the result has been empty property and serious capital loss from over-development; and, it so, whether he will take these cases of hardship into consideration with a view to relieving them in the provisions of the Budget of 1911–12?

So far as the circumstances to which the hon. Member alludes operate to diminish the market value of the land, they would equally operate to diminish the liability to Undeveloped Land Duty. Whether in any particular case the liability would be altogether extinguished would depend on the precise facts of the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the representative of the Manchester Unity who received confidential news of the State insurance scheme was pledged to silence for a definite time or until the introduction of the proposed Bill?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on 7th March.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware than an important Debate on sickness and invalidity insurance is arranged for this evening, and whether he can say that any authorised plan or outline of the Bill can be supplied for use in this Debate?

My right hon. Friend will have no further statement to make on the subject until the proposals of the Government are settled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to remove the surveyorship of taxes, Income Tax Department, from Cookstown, county Tyrone; and, if so, whether he will arrange for the headquarters of this department to be re-established at Ballymena, county Antrim, which is, geographically and by railway communications, the best centre for this office?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, it is considered that the interests of the taxpayers for the whole area involved will best be served by stationing the surveyor at Belfast.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, since the publication of the Napier Report respecting the condition of the crofters and cottars in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, the deer forest area in the Highland crofting counties has increased by 1,248,598 acres; and, in view of the fact that it has been shown by this and subsequent Reports that much of the land thus absorbed for sport might be utilised for the creation of new holdings and be thus available for occupation by crofters and cottars who are making urgent demands for land, has he yet considered the expediency of discouraging a further extension of the deer forest area by arranging for a special tax on deer forests?

My right hon. Friend will deal with any proposals for new taxation which he has considered when he makes the annual Financial Statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to divert the fines imposed upon motorists for exceeding the speed limits to the Treasury and allocate them to the funds of the Road Boad, instead of being applied, as at present, to the benefit of those districts whose magisterial benches impose the fines?

I will draw the attention of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the suggestion of my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention had been called to the resolution passed by the Associated Chambers of Commerce on the subject of the grievances of Income Tax payers; and whether he will institute an inquiry into the administration of the Income Tax Acts with a view to removing, by legislation or otherwise, existing: grounds of complaint?

My attention has been drawn to the matter referred to by the hon. Member, which will receive the consideration of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked whether, in reference to the collection of rents of cottages, plots, and tenements on behalf of the rural district council of Ennistymon, West Clare, the Local Government Board will sanction the appointment of James Shannon, of Miltown Malbay, as collector, in view of the fact that James Shannon was elected to the position in May, 1910, but the Local Government Board intimated that the appointment could not be sanctioned because he held licensed premises; that on the 4th August, 1910, James Shannon completed a transfer of his licensed premises, and on the 4th October, 1910, he was instructed by the council to proceed to collect the rents; and that he acted accordingly and lodged the proceeds to the credit of the council; and will he state on what grounds the appointment of James Shannon has not been sanctioned?

The facts are as stated. Shannon has only been appointed collector in respect of the cottages built under the second scheme of the Ennistymon Rural District Council, and the validity of the appointment has been challenged by the collector for the first scheme of cottages. The council's solicitor has stated that there was no vacancy to which Shannon could be appointed. In these circumstances the Local Government Board cannot approve of the Council's action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether circulars have been issued by the Irish Land Commissioners informing the agents of landlords who sold to their tenants three years ago that, in the event of such landlords electing to remain on the all cash register their sales would not be completed before the year 1930; and whether in the great majority of these cases the tenants will be three-quarters per cent. to one per cent. for the next ten years in excess of what they would have to pay if the sales were completed and the vesting order issued, and in addition that their term of redemption will be extended from sixty-eight and a half to over eighty years; and as in all those cases these arrangements were made long after those tenants had signed for purchase', and could not anticipate any such extra burden, can he hold out any hope of a speedier conclusion of those sales?

No such circular has been issued by the Land Commissioners. Sales under the Land Purchase Acts are dealt with in accordance with the provisions of these Acts, and in the priority prescribed by the regulations made there-under. The Commissioners have forwarded to each vendor a copy of the recent regulations as regards the allocation of the money which may become available in the financial year commencing 1st April next, and during each succeeding year, and have also sent them a copy of the prescribed form for use in case the vendor desires to elect under the Act of 1909 to accept payment either wholly or partly in stock.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners will make inquiry from Mr. H. D. Littlewood Clarke as to his willingness to sell to them for distribution the untenanted land on the estate in county Tipperary, in respect of which agreements were lodged in 1907 between himself and his tenants?

When this estate is being dealt with in order of priority the question of the acquisition of any untenanted land in the possession of the vendor will be considered by the Estates Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state what is the cause of the delay in dividing up portion of the estate of Mrs. Roe, near Streams-town, county Westmeath; and when will those lands be available for distribution?

Proceedings for the sale to the Estates Commissioners for some sixty-three acres of untenanted land on the townland of Streamstown on the estate of Anna S. Roe are pending before the Commissioners. The owner has accepted the Commissioners' formal proposal to purchase the lands, but the estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and having regard to the prior claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when it will be so reached.

asked the Chief Secretary what was the date in each of the years between 1902 and 1908, on which the required annual conference was held between the chief inspector of national schools and the three local inspectors of the Castlebar circuit?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked by the hon. Member for South Wexford on this subject on the 6th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Return of Estates in the Land Judges Court (Ireland), of which notice stands on the Order Paper, will be granted?

The Return asked for would involve a very long and troublesome inquiry. If the hon. Member will move for a continuation of the Return presented to Parliament in 1908 (No. 323 of that year) there will be no objection to its being granted.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Return of Local Contributions to Technical Schemes (Ireland), of which notice stands on the Order Paper, will be granted?

There is no objection to giving the Return. Many of the local authorities do not close their collections for the financial year ending 31st March until May or June. The Return cannot, therefore, be ready for presentation before June next.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the acreage of Mrs. Mary S. Dowds' holding at Portahard, Frenchpark, county Roscommon; whether she has forwarded an application to the Congested Districts Board for a portion of the De Freyne estate, now in possession of the Board; and what reply has been made to her application?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the acreage of the Dowd holding at Portahard is 4a. 0r. 3p.; the tenant was offered but refused an enlargement that would bring the holding up to eight acres. The tenant applied for a new holding instead of the enlarged holding, and this application will not be acceded to.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in holding the inquiry into the second half- acre scheme adopted by the Mitchelstown (No. 2) Rural District Council; and will steps be taken to have the scheme carried through as soon as possible?

The Local Government Board are aware that the Council have a scheme in contemplation, but it has not yet been submitted for confirmation.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state why P. Fallon, of Elphin, county Roscommon, an evicted tenant on the estate of Captain P. M. French, has not been reinstated nor any effort made to provide him with land elsewhere; and whether he will take steps to see that this man's claim is attended to?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Patrick Fallon for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate referred to, but as his application was not received within the period mentioned in; the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, it cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state whether an application has been made for reinstatement by an evicted tenant named Robert Bailey, who was evicted from the Perry estate, near Ballinagore, county Westmeath?

The reply is in the affirmative, but as Bailey's eviction took place since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and his application, was not received within the time mentioned in the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, it cannot be dealt with under the latter Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, on the occasion of the recent trial of a Fermanagh postman named Armstrong before Mr. Justice Wright at the late Fermanagh assizes, held in Enniskillen, the foreman of the jury was a Mr. Montgomery, a near relative of the accused, and that another juryman named Armstrong was a cousin of the accused; whether, although Mr. Justice Wright charged the jury strongly in favour of conviction, a verdict of not guilty was returned; were all Catholic jurors called in the case, with one exception, ordered to stand by; and what steps the Government propose to take for the better administration of justice in Fermanagh county?

The police have no knowledge of any relationship between the man Armstrong, the accused in the case referred to, and the two persons who acted as jurors indicated in the hon. Member's question. The police do not know the religious persuasions of the persons ordered to stand by, nor are they aware of the religious composition of the jury. The order to "stand by" was directed principally against persons from the locality who would be likely to be influenced by local feeling, and was given altogether irrespective of the question of religion.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the estate of Captain T. G. Burke, and others, situate at Kilmeen, Loughrea, is listed amongst the estates to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners; is he aware that a number of the tenants are poor farmers with an average valuation of £3; and, having regard to the urgency of affording some help to those poor tenants, will he direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the peculiar circumstances of this estate, and request them to deal with it immediately?

This estate is pending before the Estates Commissioners for sale to them under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and will be dealt with in order of priority, but having regard to the prior claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when its turn will be reached.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the rateable value per head of the population in Ireland?

The rateable valuation per head of the population of Ireland, as estimated for the middle of the year 1910, is £3 12s. 10d.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether the British naval officers delegated to the Conference which drew up the Declaration of London have conveyed to the Government any assurances that, in their opinion, the provisions of the Declaration would be advantageous to this country in the event of the Navy being engaged in war?

The representative of the Admiralty at the Conference was in agreement with his colleagues, and although not called upon to give any separate assurance to His Majesty's Government, he concurred in the provisions of the Declaration.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will say what battleships have been struck out of effective commission in the years ending 31st March. 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911; and what are the oldest battleships in commission during the current year?

Assuming that "struck out of effective commission" means that the ships have been paid off for disposal by sale or otherwise, or that they have been relegated to the position of reserve units of the Fleet, the names are as follows for the periods stated:—

Year ending 31st March.
1908	…	Nil.
1909	…	Nil.
1910	…	"Barfleur."
		"Centurion."
		"Renown."
1911	…	"Hood."
		"Repulse."
		"Nile"	Are under orders to be struck out.
		"Trafalgar"
		"Ramillies"
		"Resolution"
		"Empress of India"
		"Royal Oak"
		"Royal Sovereign"

The oldest battleship in commission on the effective list during the present year is the "Trafalgar," launched in September, 1887; but excluding vessels now ordered to be struck out, the oldest ship is the "Revenge," tender to Gunnery School, launched in November, 1892. The oldest in the Fourth Division of the Home Fleet is the "Magnificent," launched in 1894.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many years the old Seamen Pensioner Reserve were paid from Greenwich Hospital funds on attaining the age of fifty; and what was the average number so paid each year up to the time that they were transferred to Naval Vote?

The reply to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is sixteen years, and to the latter part, approximately, 246.

also asked how many years the old Seamen Pensioner Reserve, who are now embodied in the Royal Fleet Reserve, have been paid the fivepence a day augmentation from Greenwich Hospital on attaining the age of fifty-five years; and what has been the average number a year transferred to the funds up to the 1st April, 1910?

The reply to the first part of the Noble Lord's question is eighteen years, and to the latter part 168.

asked how many years the Admiralty paid the sum of £100 a year as rent for the use of Greenwich Hospital?

The sum of £100 a year was paid as rent for the buildings occupied by the Royal Naval College at Greenwich from 1876–77 to 1891–2. From the year 1892–93 to 1896–97 the rent was £5,000 a year, and from 1897–198 to the present time the rent has been £6,500 a year.

asked the First Lord of Admiralty whether casual labourers, when incapacitated by accidents arising out of their employment in His Majesty's dockyards, are paid on the basis of their earnings during the previous twelve months; whether he is aware that this system produces hardship in cases where such labourers have been employed irregularly; and whether he will consider the desirability of paying such labourers at the rate of half the daily pay of which they were in receipt at the time when they were incapacitated?

The basis of compensation to casual labourers is that indicated by the hon. Member, and is in accord with the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, and of the scheme framed thereunder. In the event of any case of real hardship arising from the application of the rule, special consideration would be given to it.

asked the "First Lord of the Admiralty if he is now in a position to state what action he is prepared to take in connection with the damage done to the fishermen at Beer, through the operation of one of His Majesty's cruisers?

I regret to say that the inquiries are not yet complete.

asked the Secretary for War whether his attention had been called to the loss caused to Mr. A. W. Smith, of Feltham, Middlesex, owing to Territorials firing in the Feltham Hill Road, on 21st January; whether he is aware that the men were warned that the firing would frighten a considerable number of ewes in lamb, belonging to Mr. Smith, in an adjoining field, and might cause considerable damage; that they, in spite of this warning, continued to fire; and whether the War Office intends to recompense Mr. Smith for the damage he has sustained?

Any claim for damage committed by the unit concerned is a matter for the consideration of the Association administering it. Mr. Smith has been informed to this effect, but it is understood that hitherto no application has been received by the County Association to which he was referred.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether in future contracts will be accepted for supplying meat to the Army which has been fed outside this country?

It is not proposed to make any change in this respect in regard to contracts for supply of meat.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the pay of a private in the Infantry of the Line is 1s. a day; whether he has anything to find out of his pay for food or equipment; and whether he will take the remuneration of the private soldier into consideration before increasing the salaries of commissioned appointments?

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, the remuneration of the private soldier has been largely increased of late years. The Infantry private, in addition to the traditional 1s. a day, receives, when he is fully efficient, proficiency pay at 3d. or 6d. a day. He also receives in addition to rations an allowance of 3d. a day to meet the cost of his messing. He maintains his clothing and kit from an allowance given for the purpose, which is additional to his pay and seems from experience to be amply sufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that the rule applying to men working in the danger buildings at Woolwich, that the shirts worn are to be made of wool, is being more rigidly enforced; that there is often a difference of opinion as to whether a particular shirt is wool or not, one foreman saying it is and another foreman saying it is not; that this at times throws undue expense upon the workmen in having to buy new shirts; that another cause of extra expense is that on occasions men are transferred to the danger buildings for a temporary period only, and have to provide themselves with new shirts for that period; and whether, in view of the fact that at certain other establishments under the War Office the workmen are provided with shirts free of cost, about the quality of which there can be no question, he will give instructions that the workmen at Woolwich referred to shall also be supplied with shirts just as other articles of protective clothing are supplied?

I am aware that it has been found necessary to enforce the observance of this rule. The men have mentioned to the superintendent the difference of opinion referred to as regards the nature of the shirts, but he has been unable to substantiate the statements. No case can be traced of men temporarily transferred and so having to buy new shirts. Shirts, are only supplied free of cost at Waltham for special work in the nitro-glycerine factory and at Woolwich in the lyddite establishment—in both cases on account of the destructive nature in the material of these particular processes. There do not appear to be any good grounds for incurring the considerable public expenditure on the provision of shirts as suggested. It must be remembered that all these men are provided with Government outside clothing for carrying out their work.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of extending the power of nomination for admission to Sandhurst so as to include the headmasters of municipal and county secondary schools who may have boys in their upper forms possessing powers of leadership similar to those possessed by boys in the public schools; and whether he will consider the desirability of affording easy admission to Sandhurst to suitable candidates from such schools who might be unable for financial reasons to enter the college?

No school which fulfils the conditions required for recognition by the Army Council as an approved school will be debarred from recommending candidates for admission to the Royal Military College by nomination. The terms of payment in connection with the course at the College are of universal application and cannot be altered in favour of candidates from any particular class of school.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many acres the War Office have purchased for the camp in Northumberland; what price they paid per acre; what the land was assessed at for rating purposes before the purchase; and what rent it brought in gross and net?

Negotiations are still in progress for the acquisition of land for an Artillery range in Northumberland. I am not therefore in a position to give any of the information required; but I will let the hon. Member know when I am able to answer his question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to secure a reduction in the expenses of officers in the Regular Forces or give such increases in their remuneration as will allow of suitable men of small financial resources taking up commissions in the Army?

During recent years the expenses of officers have been reduced partly by the contributions from the State towards the expenses of providing furniture for themselves and for their messes and to a great extent by the efforts of the officers themselves. I do not think that in many regiments much more can be done in this direction. As regards increased remuneration, I have already explained to the House that it is not practicable at present to find the considerable sum required.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, before asking General Sir Ian Hamilton to give the country the benefit of his views on compulsory service, he requested another distinguished officer who has served on the Army Council to write the book?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state the number of horses required by the Cavalry Division, exclusive of transport, upon mobilisation?

The total number of horses that will be required by the Cavalry Division, riding, draught, and pack, exclusive of transport, to complete on mobilisation, is 3,154.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many trained horses between the ages of six and fourteen, inclusive, there are at the present moment in the Cavalry Division; and how many horses there are in the United Kingdom available as a reserve or to fill up vacancies on mobilisation which fulfil the above conditions, and which are not at present in any unit that does not compose part of the Cavalry Division?

The number of trained horses in the Cavalry Division between the ages of six and fourteen inclusive is 4,592. The number of riding horses available as a reserve, i.e., registered horses, is 2,617. This figure does not include the horses of any units not in the Cavalry Division.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the closing of Council schools during the Coronation week, arrangements will be made under which the peripatetic teachers, who are paid only for the lessons given by them, will not be deprived of their means of livelihood?

The matter lies within the discretion of the local education authorities, who employ the teachers, and cannot be dealt with by the Board of Education.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is prepared to move an Address praying His Majesty to remove from the Bench those judges whom he has accused, in a recent reply to a deputation of the Parliamentary Committee of Trade Unions, of using language reflecting on trade unions, which was extremely ignorant and out of touch with the general development of modern thought, and which has greatly complicated the administration of justice and added bitterness and a sense of distrust to the administration of the law?

asked the same right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of his reply to a deputation in which he said that on several occasions statements had been made from the Bench reflecting on trade unions in language which was extremely ignorant and out of touch with the general development of modern thought, and which had greatly complicated the administration of justice and added bitterness and a sense of distrust to the administration of the law, he will say what are the several occasions referred to and what are the statements which were made from the Bench?

I have nothing to add to the remarks I made to the deputation to which the hon. Member refers. They should be read with their context.

asked the Home Secretary whether he was aware that merchants and others in the Aberdare Valley who supplied provisions and materials to the Metropolitan Police during their recent stay in South Wales have not had their accounts paid; whether the Glamorgan County Council repudiates liability for these accounts; whether, as a consequence, some of the merchants are being seriously embarrassed, and all of them inconvenienced; and whether, pending a final decision on the question of liability, he will authorise the payment by the Treasury of the accounts in question?

I have no information as to the accounts in question; but I have invited the Chairman of the Standing Joint Committee to come and see me to discuss the matter.

asked from what other sources, besides the Metropolitan area, police were drawn during the late disturbances in Glamorganshire; and whether the Glamorgan County Council have refused to pay, not only for the Metropolitan Police, but also for the men drawn from other districts?

In addition to the Metropolitan and the Glamorganshire police, the police engaged on special duty in connection with the disturbances mentioned were drawn from four counties, namely, Carmarthen, Monmouth, Gloucester, and Brecon; and five boroughs, namely, Cardiff, Bristol, Swansea, Merthyr Tydvil, and Newport. I am informed that it is only in the case of the Metropolitan Police that the County Council have refused to pay.

asked the numbers of men and women, respectively, sentenced to death in England and Wales, and also the numbers executed, during each of the years 1908, 1909, and 1910?

The numbers are as follows:—

Year.		Sentenced to Death.		Executed.
		Males.	Females.	Males.	Females.
1908	…	23	2	12	—
1909	…	27	4	19	—
1910	…	24	4	16	—
NOTE. —One male sentenced to death in 1908 was executed in 1909.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will state to the House if it is still the settled policy of the Government not to vote money for emigration purposes?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the Government intend to assist boys and girls who have no means of their own to emigrate to Colonies where there is a demand for their labour?

The Government are not at present proposing any change of policy in this connection.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether the Legislature of the Bahamas has adopted a resolution in favour of union with Canada; and, if so, what is the attitude of His Majesty's Government in regard to this proposal?

I have received a telegram stating that the House of Assembly and the Legislative Council have passed a resolution asking for the approval of His Majesty's Government for the transmission to the Government of Canada of an invitation to consider whether it is possible that the Colony should enter the Canadian Dominion. His Majesty's Government propose to await the arrival of the text of the resolution by mail before considering their attitude in regard to it.

asked whether any delegate will be appointed to represent the interests of India at the forthcoming Imperial Conference; and, if so, whether, in the selection of that representative, care will be taken that he will fully represent the business and other interests of India?

India will be represented at the Imperial Conference by the Secretary of State for India.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he will state how many natives were employed in the Transvaal mines according to the latest returns; and whether he can say if any, and how many, were recruited from the British Protectorates which are under the control of his Department, how many from the Dominion of South Africa, and how many from the Portuguese and other foreign States and Territories?

According to the latest official Return received in the Colonial-Office, that for December last, there were 215,867 coloured labourers employed in the Transvaal mines, of whom 191,784 were employed in gold mines. I cannot at present say what the numbers from the Protectorates, the Union or Portuguese territory respectively were, but inquiry it being made.

asked whether any information has recently been received with regard to the situation in Somaliland?

I have had an opportunity of discussing matters with the Acting Commissioner of Somaliland, who has recently come home on leave of absence, and I am glad to be able to say that the situation is satisfactory.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give further time for the discussion of Clause 10 of the Revenue Bill, either in Committee or on the Report Stage, having regard to the feeling of local authorities on the subject of the proceeds of the Land Taxes and the fact that Clause 10 was closured through in Committee?

I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer given by me on the 20th instant, in reply to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for St. Pancras, East.

asked the President of the Local Government Board for how many men and for what period the new work to be provided by the Central Body for London will find employment; and what is the amount expected to be paid in wages for such work?

The new schemes of work recently submitted to me by the Central (Unemployed) Body for London were estimated to employ 440 men for four or five weeks. The cost of labour, including supervision and watching, was estimated at £2,297.

asked the President if he has received a petition from one of the men charged and convicted in connection with the recent riot at Belmont Workhouse; what are the reasons for the peti- tion; and if he proposes to take any action in relation to it?

I have received a letter from one of the men charged and convicted in connection with the recent disturbance at Belmont Workhouse, alleging that he took no part in the disturbance. I understand that evidence was given before the magistrates to the contrary, and that the magistrates convicted him. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he would give an opportunity for discussion of the new draft Poor Law Order before it comes into operation; and, if so, when he will give such opportunity?

I may refer the hon. Member to the replies which have been given to other questions on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the Labour Exchange officials at Portsmouth are supplying lithographic printers to a London firm whose men are on strike, namely, Messrs. Water-low and Son; whether the Labour Exchange authorities not only give notice of the work, but also supply the applicants with the means for paying their fares to London; and, if so, whether, in view of the Labour Exchange regulations, which states that in all trade disputes or strikes the exchange should be neutral, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Since the beginning of the dispute in the printing trade no vacancies for printers in the London area have been notified to the Portsmouth Labour Exchange, and no printers have been supplied by that Exchange for work in London. As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware the regulations (which have the force of law) prohibit the advance of railway fares to any workman going to fill a vacancy caused by a strike or lock-out.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state when, and to what extent, it is intended to increase the staff of the Cork telegraph office; and will the telegraphists be selected by open competition?

I am unable to state at the present moment what additions will be made to the telegraph staff at Cork, but I can assure the hon. Member that any additional force which may be found to be necessary will be provided without avoidable delay. Any additional appointments on the establishment will be filled in the normal manner—i.e., either by the transfer of established officers from other offices or by the promotion of learners who have entered by competition.

asked whether those persons and local authorities who have granted wayleaves or privileges of a similar character under agreement with the National Telephone Company, Limited, will remain on the same footing as regards rentals, and with the same rights to terminate agreements when the telephone business is taken over by the Postmaster-General?

Speaking generally, any person on whose private property poles or other fixtures for the construction of telegraphic lines have been erected by the National Telephone Company will be entitled, after the telephone system has been taken over by the Government, to withdraw the facilities which he has granted in accordance with any agreement he may have previously made with the company. With regard to rentals in such cases his position will be unaltered. As regards poles in hedges and banks on the roadside the Postmaster-General has certain powers under the Telegraph Act of 1908 which are not enjoyed by the Telephone Company, and his position with reference to flying wires over property differs from that of the company. The Postmaster-General, who has statutory powers for the construction and maintenance of telegraphs over, along, and across public roads and streets does not make any payments to local authorities in respect of such telegraphs, and will not do so in respect of those taken over from the National Telephone Company. I may refer the hon. Member on this point to Questions 372 to 375 in the Report of the Select Committee on Post Office (Telephone Agreement), 1905 (House of Commons Paper 271/1905), as well as to Section A of the Telegraph Act, 1892, under which the Postmaster-General has dealt with similar wayleaves acquired from the National Telephone Company in 1896.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether, in view of the national value for meteorlogical purposes of the telegrams sent daily from Clacton-on-Sea to the Meteorological Office, he can see his way to grant facilities for transmitting such telegrams free of cost, and thus relieve the ratepayers of that town from a burden hitherto voluntarily undertaken in the national interests?

Telegrams are not sent to the Meteorological Office at the cost of my Department from any office; and I regret that I cannot accept the hon. Member's suggestion to send them free of cost from Clacton-on-Sea.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether his attention has been called to the inconvenience caused to the residents, some 17,500 in number, of the Itchen urban district, Southampton, in consequence of the closing of the only available post and telegraph office at Woolston on Sundays, which necessitates to those inhabitants who wish to despatch telegrams a journey by ferry-boat to the head office in Southampton, some three miles distant; whether this office has hitherto been open for telegraphic business on Sundays; and whether he will order its reopening for the benefit of the seafaring population resident in the district, and to whom telegraphic communication is of frequent importance?

Sunday attendance at the Woolston Post Office has been discontinued because the business transacted was extremely small. On four Sundays in August and September last there was an aggregate only of fourteen transactions, including four telegrams forwarded. It is not usual to open town offices of this character on Sunday; and there appears to be no sufficient reason for treating Woolston exceptionally in this respect.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that until recently persons giving notice to withdraw sums of over £1 from the post office could draw the same within three days of giving notice, but that now four days elapse before they can get their money; and whether he will take steps to alter the regulations so that the withdrawal can be made within three days?

I am aware of the circumstance to which the hon. Member refers. The three days' system necessitated in the majority of cases the despatch of the payment warrant from the Savings Bank Department on the day of receipt in that Department of the notice of withdrawal. This was found to involve practical difficulties and also heavy expense for arranging by telegraph for the provision of the necessary funds at offices of payment. As a matter of fact, most of the warrants were not presented for payment on the day they reached the depositors, and the inconvenience and ex-expense of maintaining the three days' system did not therefore appear to be justified, especially as the systems of withdrawal on demand and by telegraph afford considerable facilities for prompt payment in cases of necessity. The alteration does not seem to have caused inconvenience to depositors such as to require reconsideration of the question, and I regret that I cannot see my way to revert to the old arrangement.

asked the particular items under the salaries and wages sub-heads where savings are anticipated for the year ending 31st March, 1911, by reason of the allowances for increase not being all required, referred to in Supplementary Estimates, Post Office, 1910–111.

A saving is anticipated under A1, which, as the hon. Member will see on referring to the printed Estimates, covers Salaries, Wages, etc., (London) for the Secretary's Office, the Solicitor's Office, the Accountant General's Department, the Medical Department and the London Postal Service (excluding the Circulation Office); under C1, which covers the Salaries, Wages, etc., of the Provincial Establishment (England and Wales), that is, Postmasters, Sub-Postmasters, Supervising Officers, Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists, Telephonists, Postmen, etc., and under C3, the equivalent Vote for Scotland.

asked the Postmaster-General, concerning the case of E. H. Potts, whose services as a postman in Manchester were discontinued on medical grounds, whether he is aware that, against the statement of Dr. Watson that the man was subject to fits, the man declares he can prove that he never had a fit of any description; and whether he can authorise a further and fuller medical examination for which the man appealed?

The medical officer's opinion that Mr. Potts suffered from epilepsy was based not only on personal examination, but on admitted attacks of fainting in circumstances tending to confirm the diagnosis, and to establish Mr. Potts' unsuitability for the duties of a postman. With the facts now before me, I do not think further examination necessary; but any evidence which Mr. Potts desires to produce will be considered carefully.

asked the Parliamentary-Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he was aware that 175 payers of tithes in North Walsham (which tithes were sold by auction in the year 1904 at 10 years' purchase) are now being compelled to redeem their tithes under the Tithes Act at 25 years' purchase on the application of the present tithe owners, who thus make a profit of 150 per cent., and that, in addition to the 25 years' purchase, the tithe payers are being called upon to pay the whole cost of the redemption proceedings, being 12¼ per cent. on the redemption money; whether, under the circumstances, the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, instead of making an order for the redemption of these tithes will make an order for reapportionment; and whether the Board will introduce legislation to so amend the Tithe Acts as to prevent this class of speculation?

The original application was for the redemption of Impropriate Tithe amounting to £94 16s. 1d., and Vicarial Tithe amounting to £44 18s. 1d. In accordance with their usual practice the Board gave full consideration to all the circumstances brought before them, and in the draft schedule of assessment now deposited for inspection in the parish the amounts have been reduced to £47 11s. 6d. and £22 10s. 11d. Further sums amounting to £3 10s. 2d. have since been excluded, and any representations made to the Board as regards the remainder will be carefully considered. Wherever it is possible under the provisions of the Tithe Acts a reapportionment is offered, but where the offer is ignored it is assumed that redemption is preferred. At present the number of persons in the assessment is 146, and of these 122 are liable for tithe rent charges not exceeding 5s. The expenses of the redemption are by the Tithe Acts chargeable on the landowners, and are calculated on the usual statutory scale. The Board have no power to investigate the manner in which tithe owners become possessed of their property, bat in the event of any Amendment of the Tithe Acts being proposed the suggestion of the hon. Member will be considered. There is no present intention of proposing legislation.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the restricted area to which the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was confined and the effective measures taken by the Board to prevent spreading, the Board will make representations to the Argentine Government to cancel the order now in force against importation of British cattle not later than 1st June next, in order that the loss to the breeders of pedigree stock may be diminished during the current year?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 16th instant to the hon. Gentleman the Member for South Wilts, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Lord Advocate if in those quarters of Australian and American beef which are found to be infected with a worm nodule disease, it is the practice that the visibly affected pieces only are cut out, and the remainder allowed to be sold to the public; and since home-fed beef, if suspected of tuberculosis, is not stripped and dressed in this manner but entirely condemned, are the authorities in Scotland going to continue meting out different treatment to Colonial and foreign supplies than to that of the home produce; and are they going to continue allowing such a questionable kind of beef to be distributed to the public?

I am informed that so far as Australian meat is concerned there is apractice as stated by the hon. Member. American beef does not present the nodular condition referred to, particulars of which are contained in a Report (New Series, No. 45) recently presented to the Local Government Board. The attention of the medical officers at the principal Scottish ports was in February directed to this Report by the Local Government Board for Scotland, and the local authorities will doubtless take any necessary action. I am advised that home-fed meat suspected of tuberculosis is entirely condemned only in exceptional circumstances, but in any case it would not be correct to infer that regulations for tuberculous meat are necessarily suitable for application to the meat in question.

asked the Lord Advocate, what is the rateable value per head of the population in Scotland?

The valuation and rating law of Scotland is different from the English law, and comparative figures must therefore be accepted under reservation. The figure which, I think, may be taken in the case of Scotland as most nearly correspond to "rateable value" in England and Wales is the assessable rental for the purpose of the owner's Poor Rate—namely, £25,987,110 for 1908–09. Dividing this by the estimated population of Scotland, as at the middle of the near 1909, namely, 4,877,648, the average value per head is £5 6s. 7d.

asked the Lord Advocate if he is in a position to say when the House Letting (Scotland) Bill will be reintroduced?

The House Letting (Scotland) Bill has already been reintroduced, and I hope it may be circulated within the next few days.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will see that a clause is inserted in the Bill introduced by the President of the Local Government Board to prohibit the sale and use for the purpose of the manufacture of certain articles of unclean flock manufactured from rags making the Bill applicable to Scotland?

The Bill to which my hon. Friend refers, and which was circulated last week, has been framed so as to extend to Scotland.

asked the Lord Advocate under what authority the Secretary for Scotland recently advised or instructed the Lord Lyon King of Arms to refuse to decide a question of precedence between the Royal College of Surgeons and the College of Physicians; and whether the Secretary for Scotland has any jurisdiction, direct or indirect, over the Lyon King of Arms as such?

Questions of precedence are, in the view of the Secretary for Scotland, exclusively for the Sovereign to decide. The jurisdiction of the Lyon King is exclusively statutory, and does not embrace questions of precedence. And the Lyon King having invited an expression of opinion on the question referred to by the Noble Lord, received an answer on the lines above indicated.

asked the Lord Advocate whether there is any probability of Lochcarron, Ross-shire, and other parishes similarly circumstanced, being brought within the congested area?

The question of the extension 1 of the congested districts area is at present under the consideration of the Congested Districts Board, but I am not as yet in a position to make any definite an nouncement.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that many of the houses comprising the crofter settlement at Aignish, Stornoway, which were constructed by the Congested Districts Board, were so defective as to be uninhabitable; will he state how many of these houses have since been abandoned by the tenants; and what reduction has been made on the rents in respect of losses arising to the tenants?

I am informed that legal proceedings are going on in regard to these houses; and in these circumstances my hon. Friend will perhaps postpone his, question.