asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the number of persons in the United Kingdom and Ireland who are liable to pay the Super-tax on incomes between £5,000 and £10,000 per annum, £10,000 and £15,000, £15,000 and £20,000, £20,000 and £25,000, £25,000 and £30,000, £30,000 and £35,000, £35,000 and £40,000, £40,000 and £45,000, £45,000 and £50,000, £50,000 and £60,000, £60,000 and £70,000, £70,000 and £80,000, £80,000 and £90,000, £90,000 and £100,000, £100,000 and £120,000, £120,000 and £130,000, £130,000 and £140,000, £140,000 and £150,000, and the number over £150,000 per annum, the numbers given for those between £5,000 and £10,000 of course including those who pay on larger incomes?

I am not in a position to furnish the hon. Member with the information for which he asks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was owing to the blunder of a subordinate official that demand notes for Income Tax usually sent out in December, and followed by a reminder in January, were in many cases not posted this year until 29th March?

As is always the case in a year of revaluation of property, the issue of demand notes suffered some general, but unavoidable, delay last year. Notwithstanding this, however, the demand notes for 1910–11 were actually issued, with but few exceptions, by the end of January last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to which railway companies and on what dates it was suggested by the Inland Revenue Department that payment of Income Tax due last March might be postponed until the present financial year?

The communication to which the hon. Member refers was made early in March to most of the principal railway companies in London, in the circumstances indicated in the reply given on the 3rd instant to the hon. Baronet the Member for the City of London.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether complaints have been received respecting the delay in dealing with the repayments of Income Tax; will he state what were the number of repayments in arrear in September last, and the number in arrear now; whether the arrear is due in some measure to the lack of experience on the part of the head of the branch; and whether he will consider the desirability of placing the head of such a department a man with large experience, even though he be a member of the second division, instead of an upper division officer with a much shorter service and limited knowledge?

The detailed examination and checking of the enormous mass of repayment claims, amounting to about half a million a year, necessarily involve some delay in dealing with the cases. Every effort is, however, made—and with success—to reduce the delay to a minimum. The number of repayments in arrear in September last was 48,000, and is now 21,000. There is certainly no foundation for the suggestion contained in the third part of the question. As regards the last part of the question, I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the chairman of the Board in his organisation of the office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Revenue Department can shift its duty of collecting Petrol Tax from manufacturers and dealers on to private persons having no power in the matter; whether it is in accordance with his promise of rebate to medical practitioners to make them liable for others, over whom they have no power, by withholding the rebate to which the Finance Act entitles them, when their vouchers show they have paid 3d. per gallon tax, and could get no petrol without paying this; and what more, in addition to proving the payment of tax by them on all the petrol they have used in the practice of their profession, are medical practitioners required to do in order to get the statutory rebate?

There is nothing in the regulations governing the charging of Motor Spirit Duty which throws the responsibility of collecting the duty on users of petrol. Whenever satisfactory evidence is forthcoming that the duty has been paid on motor spirit used by a duly qualified medical practitioner for the purposes of his profession, repayment of the proper amount is made; but, for the reasons given in the answers of the 8th and 15th March last, the fact that a sum equivalent to the duty has been included in the price charged to a purchaser by a dealer cannot be regarded as proving that the duty has been paid to the Crown by a manufacturer or an importer.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the amount given in relief of rates under the Agricultural Rating Act, 1896, up to date?

The total of the grants in the United Kingdom under the Agricultural Rates Act, 1896, and consequential Acts up to 31st March, 1911, amounted to £32,526,234. Details for the period to 31st March, 1910, are given on pages 34 and 35 of the Statistical Abstract of the United Kingdom (Cd. 5296, 1910).

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Report of the Committee appointed to consider the amagamation of the Excise and Customs services is likely to be issued; and whether, in case the whole report is incomplete, the portion of it dealing with the question of salaries in the combined Department will be issued before the end of May?

I regret that I cannot yet fix a definite date for the issue of this Report, but I hope it will not now be very long before it is ready. I do not see my way to accept the suggestion in the second part of the question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what was the total number of retirements from the Excise outdoor service in each year from 1901 to 1910, inclusive; and what was the number of retirements occasioned by ill-health in each of these years?

Return of retirements from the Excise Outdoor Service (supervisors, officers, and assistants), during the ten years 1901–10, showing the number of retirements occasioned by ill-health:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of Excise and pension officers who died during their term of active service in each year from 1901 to 1910, inclusive?

Return of Excise officers (supervisors, officers and assistants) who have died during their period of active service during each calendar year from 1901 to 1910, inclusive:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that in 1909 an Act was passed to prohibit the landing and selling in the United Kingdom of fish caught in prohibited areas of the sea adjoining Scotland or Ireland, will he state what quantity of fish has been confiscated at British ports since the Act came into force, on the ground that such fish was caught in the Moray Firth?

About half a ton.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the difference in the cost of the establishment in the Estate Duty Office in 1902–3 and 1910–11?

The cost was £97,783 in 1902–03, and £120,606 in 1910–11.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the public are constantly complaining of the lack of efficiency in the Estate Duty Office, of the delay in dealing with Death Duty accounts, and of inaccurate and over-assessments; and whether the Accountant-General, as control officer, exercises an efficient check over the assessments so as to safeguard the Revenue and the public?

I am not aware of any general complaints of the nature referred to by the hon. Member. The functions of the Accountant-General of Inland Revenue do not extend to the checking of Death Duty assessments, made in the Estate Duty office.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state upon whose recommendation the grant of £3,000 by the Road Board for the improvement of roads in Caithness was made to apply to the road between the Ord of Caithness and the borough of Wick; whether any local authority was consulted before the object of the grant was settled in this manner by the Road Board; whether the County Council of Caithness has recommended the application of this grant to other roads; and, if so, whether he proposes to accede to such recommendation by the county council?

The Road Board have indicated that they are prepared to grant £3,000 for the improvement of roads in Caithness, but no details of the grants have yet been settled. The county council of Caithness have asked that the grant should be contributed to works of improvement on (1) the road from the Ord to Lybster and (2) the road from Thurso to Tongue, and these proposals are now under the consideration of the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can now state the sum allocated by the Development Commission this year for the promotion of forestry in Ireland?

The Development Commissioners have recommended that advances, not exceeding £25,000 in all, may be made from the Development Fund from time to time as required for the purchase of areas in Ireland available for afforestation. These advances are to be made under certain conditions which are at present the subject of correspondence between the Treasury and the Department of Agriculture. A sum of £17,000 has been inserted in the Estimate for 1911–12 for this purpose.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will draw the attention of the Development Commission to the desirability of improving, in the interests of the local fishermen and traders, the means of communication with Ballyvaughan, county Clare?

The Department of Agriculture will make inquiries as to facilities for the conveyance of agricultural produce and of fish from Ballyvaughan.

asked the number of evicted tenants who have been reinstated in East Clare and the number whose cases are pending for consideration; and if he will impress upon the Commissioners the urgency of this matter?

The records of the Estates Commissioners are not kept by Parliamentary Divisions. In the county of Clare 149 evicted tenants have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with others, and the names of fifteen evicted tenants have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Estates Commissioners. Their cases will be considered as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that at the public inquiry into the advisability of changing the close season for the capture of salmon and trout by means of single rod and line in the Coleraine district, held at Antrim on the 12th May, 1910, and at Lisburn on the following day, every witness recommended a uniform close season for the whole district, dates from 10th October to 1st November being advocated; whether he is aware that the Board of Conservators for the Coleraine district on three occasions, 28th January, 1905, 6th November, 1907, and 2nd April, 1910, passed resolutions in favour of a uniform close date, 10th October, for the whole district, and forwarded copies of those resolutions to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries Department; in view of this local opinion, can he state the reasons which influenced the inspectors to decide to close the River Bann a month before its tributaries, the Maine and Blackwater; and whether he will ask that this decision be reconsidered by the inspector?

I am informed by the Department of Agriculture that some of the witnesses at the inquiries mentioned advocated a uniform close season, but the dates proposed for its commencement varied from 1st October to 1st November. The Department received copies of resolutions of the Board of Conservators in 1905 and 1910, respectively, advocating, as the commencement of the close season, 1st October and 10th October, but the communication received from the Board in 1907 suggested (without mention of a date) a uniform close season, or, alternatively, a by-law prohibiting the sale of salmon land trout in October. The Department, in declining to make any alteration in the existing close seasons, took into consideration all the circumstances within their knowledge, and see no reason for altering the decision arrived at.

asked why the Local Government Board intend to sanction a rent of 1s. 9d. per week for labourers' cottages in the county of Mayo, whilst the average rent for similar cottages and allotments in Cork county is only 1s.; is the cost of land, labour, or materials any dearer in Mayo than in Cork; and, if not, why are the labourers in Mayo obliged to pay a rent in excess of the average for the rest of Ireland?

The original proposition of the Killala Rural District Council was to charge 1s. 10d. per week for cottages with acre allotments and 1s. 9d. for cottages with half-acre allotments, but as the result of the intervention of the Local Government Board the Council agreed to reduce the proposed rents to 1s. 9d. and 1s. 6d. respectively. These figures, as already stated, do not compare unfavourably with the rents charged in other rural districts in Mayo. Although the cost of providing cottages and plots of land in county Mayo may not be higher than in county Cork, there is a wide difference between the two counties as regards the ability of the ratepayers to bear the additional taxation in respect of the provision of labourers' cottages. In Cork the ratepayers, through their elected representatives, appear to be only too willing to tax themselves for this purpose to the extent of 1s. or 1s. 3d. (the maximum) in the £ by charging very low rents to the labourers for the cottages, but the hon. Member will readily recognise that it would be quite impossible for the ratepayers in the Congested Districts of Mayo to bear anything approaching this additional burden of taxation, and accordingly rents have to be charged approximating more nearly to the annual payments by these councils in respect of the cottages. If any deduction is to be drawn from the difference in the rents generally obtaining in the two counties, it is that the rents in county Cork should be increased and not that those in county Mayo should be reduced to the same level as those in the former county.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can now give a complete Return of the quantity of barley imported into each of the principal ports in Ireland from Great Britain and abroad during the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December, 1910; and can he state the quantity of malt imported during the same period, and also give the corresponding imports for each of the months in 1908 and 1909?

presented the following statement, showing the total quantities of barley and malt respectively imported into Ireland from Great Britain and places abroad during each month, January to December inclusive, for each of the years 1908, 1909, and 1910, as stated in the Returns furnished to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland:—

asked whether Mr. Cornelius O'Callaghan, county councillor, Millstreet, county Cork, had been appointed an inspector under the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, whether this person is at present a member of the National Directory of the United Irish League, and recently attended a banquet of the Irish party in Dublin; and what are the qualifications of Mr. O'Callaghan, to what district had he been despatched, and upon whose recommendations was the appointment made?

Mr. O'Callaghan has been appointed a temporary Land Inspector under the Congested Districts Board. The Board have no information as to whether he is a member of the body referred to, nor are they aware that he attended the banquet mentioned. Mr. O'Callaghan is a fanner with a knowledge of land, who has given evidence as a valuer in the Land Courts. No districts are assigned to land inspectors who are sent to different parts of the Congested Districts whenever they are required. The appointment was made by the Congested Districts Board, who were satisfied as to Mr. O'Callaghan's qualifications for the post.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have power to buy tenanted land adjacent to a congested estate as defined by the Land Act of 1909, and which the Commissioners declare to be congested, with the view to relieving congestion on the estate?

The powers of the Estates Commissioners to acquire land not situated in a congested districts county under the compulsory provisions of the Irish Land Act, 1909, to which the hon. Member presumably refers, are limited to the acquisition of congested estates or untenanted land.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any inspectors from the Estates Commissioners recently visited the Thompson-Orpen estate, Millstreet, county Cork; did they inspect the farm of Timothy Murphy, evicted tenant; if so, with what object; and can he state the general purposes of their visit to this estate?

The estate referred to does not appear to be the subject of proceedings for sale before the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts. The Commisioners are not aware of any visit by one of their inspectors.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mrs. Mary Nolan, Eoveny, Derrylester, county Fermanagh, was allowed an old age pension of 5s. per week by the Enniskillen pension sub-committee; that the Local Government Board disallowed the pension on appeal; that her brother is in receipt of an old age pension, and his age according to the Census returns and the parish register is over eighty years; and whether, seeing that Mrs. Nolan's age is three years under her brother's, he will recommend the Local Government Board to grant her an old age pension?

The Local Government Board upheld the appeal of the pension officer, as there was no proof that Mrs. Nolan had reached the statutory age. So far as the Board are aware, there is no-evidence to show how much younger she is than the brother referred to, and, in any event, it is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked in what year was rent first paid to the Aldworth family for the use of the market house as a petty sessions court house by the grand jury of the county Cork; in what year did the last of the lives mentioned in the lease of the site cease to exist; and are the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests at liberty to hand over the balance of the Aldworth bequest for the purpose of assisting to erect a town hall and library, on proper representation being made by the people of Newmarket?

I understand that rent appears to have been paid for the Newmarket Court House to the Aldworth family by the grand jury of the county Cork for the first time in the year 1866, a presentment for that purpose having been passed at the spring assizes of that year. I have no information as to the year in which the last of the lives referred to ceased to exist. The Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests are not at liberty to hand over the balance of the Aldworth Bequest for the purpose mentioned in the question. The fund has become an educational endowment.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that the Crown have recently proceeded against Mr. Martin Finnerty, D.C., county Galway, in consequence of his acting as district councillor after imprisonment; whether he is aware that in the same district Mr. William Hastings, of Ballinasloe, although disqualified, has acted as urban councillor in opposition to the wishes of the majority of the ratepayers; can he state the reason why the Crown took no action against him; and is he aware that the ratepayers were put to expense to prevent him from so acting?

I am aware of the matter stated in the first part of the hon. Gentleman's question. I do not know on what ground the hon. Gentleman states that Mr. William Hastings is disqualified. Though there have been convictions against Mr. Hastings, no sentence of hard labour, I am informed, was imposed on him, and such a sentence, with other matters not arising, is the basis of disqualification under Article 12, Sub-clause 4 (c) of the Schedule to the Application of Enactments Order of 22nd December, 1898.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that two men, named John Connors and John Angland, who were to be tried at the recent Cork Assizes, and the case adjourned to next assizes, were discharged by Judge Dodd to appear at Newmarket Petty Sessions, and gave securities; that. Connors has since absconded; will he explain why these two men were not arrested in Cork on a warrant to serve one month's imprisonment to which they were sentenced on the 9th December, 1910, the date of the adjourned trial at Cork being March, 1911; were the bails entered into by Connors and Angland continuing bails, or were they without bails from the date of the adjournment in Cork until the next Newmarket Petty Sessions; will he say whether these men were returned for trial for serious assault on an All-for-Irelander; and will the Government order an inquiry into these breaches in the execution of the law?

I refer to the reply given by the Chief Secretary on 29th March to a question by the hon. Gentleman relating to this case. The man attacked was, I understand, an All-for-Irelander. I am aware of the adjournment of the case from the recent Spring Assizes to the Summer Assizes, and, I am informed that the presiding judge directed that the accused should attend at the Newmarket Petty Sessions on 31st March to enter into bail with sureties for their appearance at the Summer Assizes. In this order the learned judge followed a course frequently adopted. I understand the previous bails were not continuing, and the accused were not accordingly under bail in the interval. I am informed by the police that the warrant referred to was not executed at Cork, the police taking the view that owing to the judge's directions that the men should attend at the Newmarket Sessions on 31st March, it would not be expedient to execute it in the meantime. I have stated the whole facts of the case, and there is nothing to be elicited by an inquiry.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is proposed, and, if so, when, to take a ballot vote of the whole of the dockyard employés on the question of the Government scheme of compensation for accidents?

Inasmuch as any workman is at liberty to refuse to accept the Government scheme, or, having accepted it, to withdraw from it at any time, there does not appear to be any occasion for taking a ballot.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that a number of joiners have recently been obliged to enter Portsmouth Dockyard as labourers in order to revert to their trade; and if he will take steps to have this proceeding discountenanced?

Joiners have occasionally been entered as labourers at their own request on account of scarcity of work in their trade in the district. When vacancies for joiners have arisen some of these men have been selected, but it is not proposed to restrict entries of joiners to that source.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether he will consider the advisability of abolishing the classification of storehousemen in the Royal dockyards, and raising their rate of pay so that their weekly wages may rise from a minimum of 35s. per week to a maximum of 42s. by annual increments of 1s. per week, in view of the increased cost of living in dockyard towns.

Both the questions raised are at present under consideration of the Admiralty in connection with the annual dockyard petitions, replies to which will be promulgated in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the number of men employed in the Royal Dockyards at the time the establishment was suspended, and what was the number of established men; at what date was the establishment reopened, and what was the number of men on the establishment at the date of the reopening; what number of men has been established since the reopening, and how many of these men reached the age limit for eligibility for establishment during the period of the suspension; what is the number employed at the present time; and what is the number of established men?

It has not been possible in the time available to obtain the information required to enable the hon. Member's question to be answered today, and I must therefore ask him to postpone it.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether representations have been made to the Treasury on the question of solictors' costs in the Horn case; and, if so, with what result?

I am not in a position at this moment to make a statement on this matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the quantity of Welsh coal for naval purposes, for which tonnage has been chartered, is less for January, February, and March, 1911, than that for the corresponding months in 1910; whether the naval manœuvres of 1909 were temporarily suspended owing to a coal strike; and whether he can assure the House that the Admiralty is satisfied that, in the event of an emergency arising that would call for an instant replenishment of the naval depots, the requisite quantity would be obtainable without delay, bearing in mind the disturbed state of the Rhondda Valley, where an extension of the existing labour troubles may occur at any time?

The aggregate drawings of all descriptions of steam vessel Welsh coal in 1911 for the period given are about 4 per cent. less than in 1910, and this was due to the fact that a considerable stock of coal was laid down at a new depot in 1910. But for this, the drawings in 1911 would have been 4 per cent. greater than in 1910. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative, and to the third part in the affirmative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will consider the possibility of amending the regulations under which the soldier school assistants in the Royal Marines are employed; and whether he will allow noncommissioned officers in the Royal Marines employed in the schools to continue to serve in the divisional and depot schools, provided they have satisfactorily performed their duties for three years, and to remain in such employment until pensioned, instead of as at present being obliged to retire to ordinary corps duty afloat and ashore?

Non-commissioned officers employed in the schools are all trained in naval gunnery, musketry, and infantry duties, and are available for duty with the Fleet when required. It is therefore necessary that they should not be kept too long on shore in the schools, but should take their turn at sea in order to maintain their efficiency as marines.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the only class of warrant officer in His Majesty's Services not eligible for promotion to higher rank is the Royal Marines schoolmaster; whether he will explain why there should be this difference between a schoolmaster in the Royal Navy and a schoolmaster in the Royal Marines; whether he is aware that a chief schoolmaster in the Navy gets £246 a year and a head schoolmaster in the Army gets £200 a year, while a warrant officer Royal Marine schoolmaster has to be content with a salary of £137, and that the pensions in the three cases are £150, £100, and £82 respectively; whether he can see his way to place the schoolmaster in the Royal Marines on the same footing as regards salary and pension as the schoolmaster in the Royal Navy; and, if not, will he explain to the House the reason for making these distinctions between persons who do practically the same work?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; there are other warrant officers who do not rise above that rank. With regard to the second and fifth parts of the question, the duties of naval and marine schoolmasters are not the same. The figures given for naval and marine schoolmasters are the maximum obtainable in each case in pay—exclusive of allowances—and pension. The figures given for the Army schoolmaster appear to be incorrect. The maximum pay for the Army warrant officer schoolmaster is £127 15s., an allowance of £18 5s. being added to this in certain posts, and the maximum pension is £91 5s. The question of the status and pay of marine schoolmasters has been recently under review, and it is not considered desirable to re-open it now.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many assistant paymasters have on an average for the past year been doing the work of paymasters; and why, having regard to the fact that the senior list is below the establishment authorised by Order in Council, assistant paymasters are not promoted in cases where they are required to do paymasters' work?

The answer to the first part of the question is one. This case was due to an oversight when a change was made in the complement of a particular ship, and has been rectified by the appointment of a paymaster for the new commission.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a number of lieutenants of the Royal Naval Reserve have undergone no training save that to be obtained on board a stationary hulk; whether these officers are recognised as fit to serve on board a warship in commission; and whether he is aware that they are blocking the promotion of younger men who have received sea training in the Navy?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. As regards the third part, the officers referred to do not block the promotion of younger men who have received training in the Navy, as all Royal Naval Reserve officers can obtain promotion as soon as they become qualified and make the necessary application.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware of an abuse steadily creeping into the Naval Service of nuns and other ladies dressed in the garb of the Roman Catholic Church collecting money as the sailors go round the pay-table on board His Majesty's ships when moored at home and abroad; and whether, in view of this practice being objectionable to a section of the Service, he will issue instructions that no such collections be permitted at pay-time in the Navy?

I am not aware of the practice referred to, but if the hon. and gallant Member knows of any cases of which he will give me particulars I will make inquiries.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the agreed wages for labourers as published by the Board of Trade, Cd. 5459, is for Leith, 5½d. per hour, Edinburgh, 5½d. per hour, Larbert, 6d. per hour, Grangemouth, 6d. per hour, and why his Department has decided upon the Dunfermline rate as applicable to Rosyth, seeing that Dunfermline has no rate which applies to labourers; and whether, under these circumstances, his Department will reconsider the question with a view to imposing the rates of the Firth of Forth districts upon the contractors at Rosyth, rather than that of a small and isolated inland town?

The rates quoted by my hon. Friend are those agreed in the localities referred to for a limited class of builders' labourers. As pointed out in the question, these wages are not uniform, and there does not appear to be a Firth of Forth rate. I have made inquiry into the matter, and I have no reason to doubt that the contractors for Rosyth are paying a fair rate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any reason to alter the official statement that the German Navy Law of 1900 provided for thirty-three armoured ships, including cruisers and pre-"Dreadnoughts"; and whether he has received any official or non-official protests from the German Government on the subject?

No such official statement as that suggested in the Noble Lord's question has been made.

asked the First Lord whether Royal Marine clerks are permanently employed in the Royal Marine barracks and never go to sea; and whether he can see his way to allowing the soldier assistants of the Marine schoolmasters to be permanently employed instead of going to sea after holding their appointments for three years, looking to the fact that these men have an average of fifteen years' service, ten years of which is at sea, before being appointed?

Non-commissioned officers employed in the schools are all trained in naval gunnery, musketry, and infantry duties, and are available for duty with the Fleet when required. It is, therefore, necessary that they should not be kept too long on shore in the schools, but should take their turn at sea in order to maintain their efficiency as Marines.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the ammunition for use with the proposed new rifle has yet been approved; if not, whether experiments have been commenced with this end in view; and whether he will give ballistical particulars of the ammunition approved or under trial?

The ammunition has not been approved. Experiments have been commenced, and at this stage it is not considered advisable to give any ballistical particulars.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether sufficient progress has been made with the proposed new magazine service rifle to enable him to place a specimen in the Tea Room for the inspection of Members?

Sufficient progress has not yet been made to enable me to comply with the hon. Gentleman's request.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will give particulars of the proposed new rifle with reference to weight, length of barrel and over all, type of breech action, chamber capacity, length of lead, bore, rifling, and sights?

No decision has been reached regarding the details of the proposed new rifle.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he would state for what number of men and horses accommodation will be provided in the new Cavalry barracks at Edinburgh?

The blocks for single men now being erected will provide for 668 non-commissioned officers and men. The number of quarters for officers and married men is not yet settled. The stables will provide for sixty-six officers' chargers and 480 troop horses.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the outfit of a second-lieutenant in the German Army costs about £18 on joining, whereas the cost to an officer of similar rank on joining the British Army for his outfit is from £60 to £80; and whether he can see his way to reducing the charges to British officers to a more reasonable sum?

I have not been able in the short time at my disposal to verify the figure given by the hon. Gentleman as to the cost of an officer's uniform in Germany. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that under the scheme of scholarships described by the Secretary of State in his speech on Army Estimates, very considerable assistance is given in order to meet the cost of an officer's outfit. It is hoped that this will be of considerable benefit to young officers of small means. But the whole matter shall be very carefully considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether he will now inform the House that the object has been accomplished for the publication of the book entitled "Compulsory Service," what were the terms of the contract entered into between the Secretary of State for War and the publisher, particularly whether the terms were half profits or royalties on sale; if the latter, what sum, if any, was paid in advance; and to whom such sum was paid?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can inform the House how many copies of the book entitled "Compulsory Service," all editions, have been sold; and how many copies were distributed free by the publisher, by the Secretary of State for War, by General Sir Ian Hamilton, and by Admiral Sir H. W. Wilson, respectively?

The terms of the con tract were a matter of private arrangement between the Secretary of State for War and the publishers. The information for which the hon. Member asks cannot, therefore, be given.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there is a difficulty in carrying out the respective duties of the air battalion and the balloon factory harmoniously with each other; and if he intends to take steps to put the relations between the two upon a more satisfactory basis?

The Noble Lord appears to have been misinformed. The air battalion is the new organisation which has replaced the balloon school, and the latter has now ceased to exist.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether, with a view to keeping deputies lieutenant of counties in close touch with the Territorial Force, he will consider the advisability of recommending that ex-Territorial colonels or majors wearing the long service medal shall, ipso facto, receive appointments as deputies lieutenant?

Under existing arrangements, ten years' commissioned service in the Territorial Force, or eminent service as a member of a County Association, qualifies for appointment as deputy-lieutenant, if the person is otherwise eligible, and a considerable number of those recently appointed have had such Territorial connection. There is a fixed establishment of deputy-lieutenants for each county based on population, and as there are about 5,000 holders of the Territorial decoration, I am afraid that the proposal is impracticable.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the contract weight, pounds per bushel, of oats for the British Army; and what country is the principal source of supply?

The contract weight of oats at home stations is thirty-eight lb. per bushel, except in Ireland and Salisbury Plain, where it is 40 lb. per bushel. Provided that the oats fulfil the contract conditions there is no stipulation as regards the source of supply; quality and price being the only governing factors.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a Commission, known as the Owen Commission, was recently sent out to inquire into the state of our fortifications at Gibraltar and in the Mediterranean; and, if so, whether he proposes to present the report to Parliament, and, if so, when?

A Committee, with General Sir T. F. Owen as Chairman, reported on these matters in 1907. It is impossible to make public the details of the armaments of our fortified ports.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether officers who have obtained the new crimson and gold dress sash will be reimbursed the cost of the same now that the Army Order has been withdrawn?

Any claims for out-of-pocket expenditure incurred before the Army Order was cancelled will be favourably considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that all departmental officers promoted substantive colonel after 1st January, 1911, are required to effect alterations in their present uniform at a cost of some £30, which includes an entirely different sash, costing £11, from that now in their possession; and if he will state the reasons for this change, having regard to the fact that, besides the expense entailed upon the officers concerned, they are to be dressed completely different from officers of similar rank promoted prior to the date named?

The officers mentioned were permitted to adopt a gold sash and certain other distinctions in dress which previously were restricted to other substantive colonels not belonging to services and departments. The change was authorised at the request of the heads of the services concerned with a view of removing what was felt to be an invidious distinction between these officers and other substantive colonels. To avoid undue expense to colonels who might wish to wear out their existing uniform, the change was not made compulsory for those who held that rank at the date of the order, namely, 19th March, 1910. All colonels promoted after that date were required to provide the new uniform.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can state approximately the length of time required to construct aeroplanes of the present well-known standard types, distinguishing between monoplanes, biplanes, and triplanes?

The time for constructing aeroplanes depends on the engine. If the engine is in stock the aeroplane of any standard type could be constructed in a few weeks.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his consent has been given to the transfer of the Alderley Edge School to the Cheshire county authority; whether his attention has been called to the fact that the transfer involves the expenditure of nearly £5,000 from the local rates for the repayment of a mortgage and the improvement and extension of the school premises; whether he is aware that it is proposed, after this expenditure of public money, to give the incumbent of the parish full control and use of all the premises out of school hours and free of any rent charge; whether a petition against the transfer was received, signed by over 100 residents, protesting that the terms of transfer were inequitable, that the site of the school was unsatisfactory, and that the extension would not meet the needs of the district; and what reply was given?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With reference to the second part of the question, the estimate submitted by the local education authority of expenditure on alterations of and additions to the school premises, including the purchase of additional land, amounts to the sum of £4,503 1s. 8d. In addition to this the local education authority take over a debt of £250 charged on the school premises. The statement in the third part of the question is not accurate. The provision of the Memorandum of Arrangement approved by the Board with reference to the use of the school premises reserved to the trustees is as follows:—"The Trustees shall have the use of the school and premises (other than the two classrooms marked A and B on the plan hereto annexed) on Sundays and Saturdays and on two evenings each week after five o'clock on paying the cost incurred in heating, lighting, and cleaning the school during such time, time to be allowed on these two evenings and Saturday for the proper cleaning of the school. This right of usage shall not be interpreted to prevent the local education authority from carrying out any duties which may be imposed upon it by Act of Parliament, as for example, maintaining an evening school on four or five nights per week. The trustees shall be entitled to the use on Sunday of the whole of the seats in the school premises excluding the seats in the two classrooms A and B hereinbefore mentioned." With regard to the fourth paragraph, petitions were received against the transfer which in effect alleged the objections referred to in this part of the question. One of these petitions was signed by over one hundred residents. I may add that the petition in favour of the transfer was received from 270 ratepayers and voters in the Alderley Edge Urban District. The reply of the Board of Education to the petitioners against the transfer was that the Board had carefully considered the plans of the alterations and the Memorandum of Agreement, and that they "are of opinion that there is now no reason for them to decline to entertain this proposal, and they have, therefore, decided that, subject to the necessary conditions being complied with, the school may be transferred to the local education authority."

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that on Monday night, at the North Staffordshire Mining Institute, a statement was made by Mr. F. H. Wynne, His Majesty's inspector of mines, that he doubted whether there was an explosive on the permitted list which would not, under certain circumstances, cause an explosion in the presence of gas, without coal-dust, or in the presence of coal-dust, without gas; and to the statement made by Mr. A. M. Henshaw, at the same meeting, that two permitted explosives had given off visible flame, and that in one case of a permitted explosive, largely used, the coal was ignited; whether, in view of these statements on matters so gravely affecting the life and property of all connected with coal mining, he will cause full inquiry to be made into the truth of the above statements at an early date; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mr. J. T. Stobbs, instructor in charge of the Stoke-on-Trent Mining School, has stated that his pupils had assisted him in keeping a record of cases where flame had been caused by permitted explosives of the highest repute, and that the record ran into teens; whether he will at as early a date as possible ask to be supplied with the list of permitted explosives that are said to have failed in the manner indicated; and whether he is prepared to suspend the use of such permitted explosives as may be mentioned in such list until the truth or otherwise of the statement is established?

I will answer this and the subsequent question of the hon. Member together. I was not aware of the particular statements referred to in the questions; but I am advised that it is a fact well established and generally known that all explosives emit flame on detonation, but the flame is not necessarily such as will ignite gas or dust. That depends on the temperature and duration of the flame. It has never been contended, however, that it can be said of the explosives which pass the Home Office test or of any known explosives, that in no circumstances can they cause an ignition, and this has been repeatedly pointed out in official documents emanating from the Home Office. Their use is allowed only under stringent conditions as to the mode of firing and the absence of gas. The question of instituting a new and severer test is now under consideration, and it will, I hope, be brought into force in the course of this year. As regards the case in which coal is said to have been ignited, I am advised that this was no doubt due to one of the cartridges in the shot igniting and not exploding. The fire was easily extinguished.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Smith v. the General Motor Cab Company, he proposes to introduce legislation to give taxicab drivers the same advantages which other workers have under the Workmen's Compensation Act?

The case referred to does not decide that taxicab drivers as such are not entitled to the benefits of the Compensation Act, but only that in the circumstances of the particular case the contract between the driver and the proprietor was not a contract of service. The question is entirely one of the nature of the contract. If it is a contract of service, the Act applies. To extend the Compensation Act to persons entering into contracts other than contracts of service would alter the whole character of the Act. The question of the nature of the contract between the taxicab driver and the owner will, no doubt, come under the consideration of the Committee which I have just appointed.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the recognised practice of the Metropolitan police authority, when a subordinate officer is a complainant against a superior, to suggest insanity, and send the complainant to the chief surgeon to be examined as to his sanity, as was ordered in the case of Inspector Syme; whether there have been other cases in addition to that of Syme in which the Disciplinary Board have deemed such an examination necessary; what action on such complainants' parts has induced the Disciplinary Board to compel such an examination; and whether, in cases of conflict of evidence where, as in the case of Syme, insanity was suggested and not established, insanity is as readily suggested in the case of the superior?

To act in the manner suggested would be quite opposed to the practice of the Metropolitan Police, and it is a complete misrepresentation of fact to say that in the case of ex-Inspector Syme insanity was ever suggested. The case of this ex-inspector was referred, in accordance with established practice, to the chief surgeon to report whether he could find in this officer's general state of health any explanation for what appeared to be very extraordinary and unreasonable behaviour on the part of a man with a good record of service. Many such cases are so referred, and often on the medical report further disciplinary proceedings are dropped, or decisions arrived at are, if necessary, modified—the man's state of health being held responsible for the particular default charged against him. There were several such cases during 1910, and they occur every year. It is a practice of many years standing, and it is one that can tell only in favour of, and never adversely to, the officer affected.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state whether, and, if so, when, the evidence given before the Royal Commission on Coal Mines will be published?

Four volumes of evidence leading up to the first and second Reports of the Commission were issued in 1907, 1908, and 1909. The minutes of evidence bearing on the third Report, just issued, are being prepared for publication with as great expedition as possible, and it is hoped that they will be issued in about a fortnight.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in the United States of America no poisonous substance can lawfully be sold by retail unless the bottle or other receptacle containing the same bears a label stating the name of the poison, its character, whether alkaloid, narcotic, or otherwise, and the appropriate antidote, remedy, or treatment to be used in case the poison is improperly taken or applied; and, if so whether he will consider the advisability, by Order in Council or otherwise, under the Poisons and Pharmacy Acts, of making regulations that a label giving similar information shall be affixed to every bottle or receptacle containing poison sold by retail in this country?

I am informed that the Privy Council Office has no knowledge of the American regulations referred to. No evidence has reached that office which would show that there is any pressing need for an amendment of the existing poison regulations in the direction indicated by the question, and it is considered doubtful whether it is desirable to multiply the purely mechanical precautions of the kind suggested.

asked the Home Secretary if, in view of the fact that David Davies was, by his personal intervention, discharged from preventive detention, although known to be an habitual thief, he will be prepared to defray out of Home Office funds the whole cost placed upon the locality in connection with his recent arrest on a charge of burglary?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is proposed to include employers engaged in the credit drapery trade and their assistants within the provisions of the Shops Bill?

The first part of the Bill, which regulates the hours of employment of shop assistants, will only apply to those assistants who are mainly employed in a shop; it will not apply to assistants mainly engaged in travelling. The second part of the Bill, which deals with the closing of shops and prohibits the carrying on of retail trade of any class elsewhere than in a shop after the closing hour for shops which carry on that class of trade, would apply to the credit drapers in so far as they carry on retail trade.

asked the Home Secretary whether, when a justice of the peace signs at his own residence the declaration of a conscientious objector under the Vaccination Acts, he is entitled to retain the fee charged, or whether it must be forwarded to the justices' clerk?

A fee authorised by a Table of Justices' Clerks Fees can be demanded only when a clerk has rendered the service in respect of which the fee is authorised. I am advised that when a declaration is made before a justice in the absence of the clerk no fee should be demanded.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state the number of Chinese and other Asiatics at the present time in Liverpool and Birkenhead; whether they arrived in this country as emigrants or passengers or as members of the crews of vessels; the respective numbers under each category, and approximately the occupations they are engaged in; and what number, if any, Chinese females reside in Liverpool and Birkenhead?

I have no means of giving the information desired, and can only suggest that the hon. Member should await the publication of the Census figures.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any decision has yet been arrived at in regard to the recommendation of the Police Commission that officers be admitted to full pension after twenty-five years' service; and whether he is aware of the discontent prevailing in the service owing to the delay in settling this question?

The Secretary of State hopes that the Government of India will shortly be in a position to report the result of the inquiry which involves the actuarial examination of a large mass of data.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether up to the end of March no Jamaica bananas had arrived in England since the termination of the direct line service between England and Jamaica early in February?

I understand that a shipment off bananas from Jamaica arrived in this country on the 20th March, and that other shipments will be received fort-nightly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the continuance of martial law in European Turkey and the disturbances recently reported, he will publish the Consular report for the past year?

By a recent Ministerial decree the state of siege in Constantinople has been prolonged indefinitely, but, as regards the rest of European Turkey, the system of trial by court-martial, which was introduced in Macedonia by the Turkish Government in the autumn of 1909, has been abolished, and the last of the courts-martial, that sitting at Kochana, concluded its labours in the month of February of this year. His Majesty's Government do not consider that any useful purpose would be achieved by the publication of the Reports received from His Majesty's Consular Officers in Macedonia during the year 1910.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the responsibility of Great Britain, as one of the signatories of the Berlin Treaty for the condition of Macedonia, and in view of the hardships inflicted on the population in the past year, he will take steps to increase the consular staff, so as to insure more complete information on the situation in the rural districts?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I returned to the question he addressed to me on the 28th of February last, when I stated that there were consular representatives at all the important centres in both Macedonia and Albania, and that they would make what travels were necessary to get full information in their respective districts. Special instructions in this sense have been sent to His Majesty's Ambassador in Constantinople. We have a Consul General and a Vice-Consul at Salonica, Vice-Consuls at Cavalla, Monastir, Scutari, and Uskub, and Consular Agents at Janina and Prevesa; and His Mejesty's Government consider that this staff is fully adequate to supply all the information required as to conditions in Macedonia and Albania.

asked the Prime Minister whether, with a view to obtaining weekly an additional twelve hours for debate in the House whilst the Parliament Bill is under consideration, he can see his way to recommend the suspension of the 5 o'clock rule on Fridays and prolong those sittings until 10 p.m.; and also recommend sittings of the House on Saturdays, commencing at 10 a.m. and adjourning about 5 p.m.?

I regret that I do not see my way, as at present advised, to adopt my hon. Friend's suggestions.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many county councils and how many rural district councils have voluntarily adopted the Notification of Births Act, 1907; and in how many cases, if any, has it been put into operation on the initiative of the Local Government Board under Section 3 of the Act?

Perhaps I may refer the hon. Member to the written Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for New-castle-under-Lyme on the 9th ultimo. The table in that answer gives the figures asked for.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he possesses any powers to enforce the removal of children in the workhouse; and, if so, whether he will state what those powers are?

The Local Government Board possess general powers for the management of the poor, for the government of workhouses, and the education of the children and otherwise in connection with the relief of the poor, which would probably in ordinary circumstances be found sufficient to effect the object in view.

asked the President why he refused the request of the St. Pancras Board of Guardians to be allowed to increase the cheese allowance to the inmates of casual wards from one and a-half to two ounces?

The allowance of cheese at the St. Pancras casual wards is that prescribed for all casual wards, and experience suggests that it is undesirable to alter the allowances of food at particular places.

asked whether tinned or preserved meats coming from foreign countries for the supply of the British Army, Navy, and the general public are subject to inspection to test their qualities as human food; and whether there is any guarantee given by the contractors that horse-flesh is not used in the production of such meats coming from abroad?

Full power to inspect meat coming from abroad is contained in the Regulations which have been made under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907. I have no information as to the terms of contracts made by importers, and, as the hon. Member is no doubt aware, contracts for the supply of provisions to the Army and Navy are not dealt with by the Local Government Board.

asked the President whether he can give the names and the number of firms in Great Britain engaged in the manufacture of bovril and other meat extracts, and where they are situated; whether he can say if inspectors belonging to his Department regularly inspect those factories to see that sound meat, and meat only, is used in the manufacture of bovril and like commodities; is there any register kept of the number of cattle slaughtered for the production of bovril, and are they home produced or foreign animals; and can he give the number of carcases used in bovril manufacture per year?

I am not able to supply the information indicated in the first part of the question. So far as I am aware these meat extracts are not prepared from meat in this country. Inspectors from my Department do not inspect the factories. Under the Public Health Acts the duty of inspecting articles of food intended for sale for human consumption rests on the local authority. I am not aware whether any register is kept of the number of animals slaughtered for the production of meat extracts and of the number of carcases used in their manufacture.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the American Government prohibits the bleaching or adulteration of flour for consumption in the United States as being contrary to the laws relating to the sale of food and drugs, but at the same time allows American millers to bleach or adulterate flour for export to this country; and will he state what steps, if any, are being taken to prevent adulterated flour, which is declared to be injurious to the health of the citizens of the United States, being landed in this country?

I am aware of the provisions of the American law on this matter. A report by one of my inspectors has been presented to Parliament and will be printed immediately. The question what action, if any, is needed for the protection of consumers will receive my consideration.

asked the President whether, seeing that the medical officer of the Local Government Board, in his Annual Report for 1909–10, states that in Middlesbrough and the towns of the North-East of England no effective pressure is put upon the producer of milk of abnormally poor quality to improve the quality of his product (page 211 of extract from Annual Report), he will undertake to communicate at an early date to the secretary of the Darlington Farmers' Protection Association, which is the organisation of the dairy farmers throughout the area from which the milk supply of these towns is drawn, a detailed statement of the methods which Dr. Buchanan and the inspection staff of the Medical Department of the Local Government Board favour as likely to prove effectual in preventing a well managed herd of dairy cows from giving at any time milk below the standard set up by the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901?

I will confer with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries as to the suggestion which the hon. Member makes.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the outbreak of diphtheria amongst wood pigeons at Elton, Hunts; and whether any further researches during the last two years have settled the question as to whether pigeon diphtheria is dangerous to man?

No special information has reached me regarding an outbreak of diphtheria among wood pigeons at Elton. So far as research has at present gone I understand that it does not suggest the communicability of pigeon diphtheria to man.