asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he will state what are the disciplinary duties performed by minor staff officers in the Customs Statistical Office which did not devolve upon allowanced assistant clerks before the minor staff officer class was created; what disciplinary duties are performed by Messrs. Carter, Conibeer, Smith, Stimpson, and Walkington which were not previously performed by allowanced assistant clerks; how many clerks are under the disciplinary control of each of these five officers during the discharge of their daily duties; whether he can state the additional annual cost incurred by the creation of the minor staff officer class in the Customs Statistical Office; and, in view of the fact that eight out of nine minor staff officers in the Customs Statistical Office are engaged on duties which were previously performed by allowanced assistant clerks, can he state why such a class was created, having regard to the number of classes already in the office?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is none. The answer to the third part is that the numbers vary according to circumstances. The answer to the fourth part is that the additional annual cost is, at maximum salaries, £360. The answer to the last part of the question is that the duties are superior to those falling to the class of allowanced assistant clerks, out not sufficiently good to be allocated to the class of junior clerks.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that assistant clerks in the Customs Statistical Office who have refused promotion to the general service have been informed that the qualifications for promotion in the Statistical Office cannot properly be compared with the qualifications for promotion to the general service, he will state why assistant clerks who have accepted promotion from the Statistical Office to the general service are eligible, by Treasury letter embodied in Board of Customs Minute 5698/1906, to revert to the Statistical Office as junior clerks, having regard to the statement that the qualifications for promotion and the whole character of the work are different?

The promotion of a Statistical Office assistant clerk to the general service does not imply that he is not qualified for promotion within that office.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether in regard to the case of Miss Margaret Mullins, of Lahinch, West Clare, Ireland, who was declared ineligible for an old age pension on the ground that she had been inmate of the Ennis workhouse, it has been brought to his notice that she was an inmate of the infirmary of the Ennis union solely on account of an accident causing fracture of the leg, that at the time she was in the service of Mr. Frank Cahir, of Trinaderry, Ennis, and that when fit to resume her household duties she was again taken into service by that gentleman; and whether these circumstances constitute a disqualification for the old age pension?

I understand that the facts are that Margaret Mullins was herself under the impression that she was disqualified until the 31st December, 1910, through having received poor relief, and that accordingly she did not claim to be entitled to a pension as from any earlier date. The pension authority had therefore no opportunity of adjudicating on the character of the poor relief received. If the circumstances as stated in the question had been made known to the Pension Committee by the claimant when her claim was under consideration, I think it is probable that they would have regarded the relief as medical, and allowed the pension as from the 12th December, but, as they were not, and as the pension was in fact allowed as from the 6th January only, no payment can now be made for any period prior to the latter date.

asked on what grounds the application of John M'Glynn, of Commeen, Cloghan, county Donegal, for an old age pension was refused by the Local Government Board?

John M'Glynn was refused a pension by the local Pension Committee in January, 1909, on the ground that he was under the statutory age, and on appeal the Local Government Board confirmed the decision of the Local Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that a change has been made in the scale of salary of Class 1 clerks of the secretariat of the Admiralty, which will not be reported to this House until the Navy Appropriation Account, 1911–12, is presented in nearly two years' time, he will give an undertaking that no alterations in the scales of salaries of any of the higher positions of the Civil Service will be made until the change has been reported to the House in the Estimates concerned, and attention drawn to it by means of a footnote or otherwise?

The change in the scale referred to will be shown in the Navy Estimates, 1912–13, which will come before Parliament in February or March next.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Consols and Canadian Pacifies stood at 114 and 48 respectively in 1897, as against 81¾ and 233 at the present time; that gilt-edged and other securities and the Banks of England and Ireland shares show a heavy depreciation since 1897 in comparison to those of joint-stock banks; if so, and considering that the latter securities as well as Canadian Pacifies are respectively protected against gambling bear operations by Leeman's Joint Stock Bank Act of 1867 and by Canada's Criminal Code Act of 1892, will he inquire into the workings of these two protective legislative measures to ascertain whether these have been in any way responsible for the differences in the range of values of the various stated securities since 1897?

I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that difficulties and misunderstandings are arising through the land valuation officers adopting the practice of making their claims and carrying on negotiations with owners verbally and by telephone; and whether he will issue instructions for all claims and notices to be served in writing, and that where verbal negotiations are carried on notes should be taken and initialled by both parties concerned?

All notices which are required to be given under the provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, are in writing.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Local Government Board held an inquiry in May last with reference to providing the town of Ardara with a proper supply of water, and that the Congested Districts Board, on their purchase of the town, promised £200 towards the carrying out of a scheme for a water supply; what is the cause of the delay in this work, as planned by the engineer of the Local Government Board; when its commencement is contemplated; whether the Board of Works have sanctioned the expenditure of a sum sufficient for the purpose; and whether, having regard to the need in which the town stands for a supply of water, steps will be taken for the immediate carrying out of the water scheme?

An inquiry was held in May last, as stated in the question, and the Congested Districts Board promised £200 towards the carrying out of the scheme. A loan of £500 was sanctioned by the Local Government Board for these works, but in February last the Glenties Rural District Council passed a resolution to the effect that there was a sufficient supply of water to the village and that there was no necessity for a further supply. The work was not planned by an engineer of the Local Government Board. The council apparently are not proceeding with this scheme, and the Board have received a complaint as to their neglect in doing so which is at present under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that negotiations for the sale of the Boyton estate, Convoy, county Donegal, commenced about six years ago, and that the tenants have been paying 4½ per cent. interest on the purchase money during this long period; will he state the cause of the delay in completing the sale; and will he urge on the Estates Commissioners the desirability of expediting this sale so as to relieve the tenants of the payments of interest which they have at present to meet?

This estate is on the principal register of direct sales and is in priority for payment during the present financial year. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that the greater number of the holdings will be vested in the tenants next month, and the remainder when the requisitions of the Commissioners have been discharged.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, when the Duke of Devonshire sold his Tallow property to the tenants about six years ago, he declined to accept a Mr. P. F. Walsh as a tenant of two farms which he held as accommodation land; whether the farms remained vacant until quite recently, when they were purchased by the Estates Commissioners, who have given them back to Walsh, together with a grant of £100 to purchase farm implements; whether he is aware that Walsh is president of the local branch of the United Irish League and is an undischarged bankrupt, never having paid any of the damages given against him in the Tallow conspiracy action, when he was cast in £5,000 for a boycotting conspiracy in Ireland; whether he can state if Walsh has ever tilled the farms; and why such a man was selected by the Estates Commissioners in preference to many others of a respectable character?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from P. F. Walsh for reinstatement in a holding of 16½ acres formerly occupied by him on the estate of the Duke of Devonshire, County Waterford, and which they understand has been in the owner's possession since Walsh's eviction. In 1905, on the sale of the Duke of Devonshire's Tallow estate to the tenants, the agent agreed with the tenants to sell the holding in question as untenanted land to the Commissioners, and they purchased it under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. They have reinstated Walsh in the holding, and have sanctioned a grant to him of £100 for the purchase of stock. The Commissioners cannot say whether Walsh is President of the local branch of the United Irish League, nor are they aware whether he is undischarged bankrupt. Walsh was only put in possession of the land on 30th January last, and the Commissioners presume that he has not yet tilled it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to give the House full information as to the steps taken by the Law Officer of the Crown to trace the whereabouts of Mr. McCann and the children, who were taken away from their Protestant mother in Belfast without her sanction?

The police have made careful inquiry, and as the result believe that these children and their father have gone to the United States.

asked how many of those persons occupying the thirty-seven cottages in the parishes of Moville Lower and Moville Upper that cost £6,290 are wholly engaged in agriculture; how many are shoemakers, blacksmiths, and fishermen, respectively; can he state the occupation of the remainder; and how many belong to any Protestant denomination?

The Local Government Board are not supplied with particulars of the religious denominations of tenants of cottages provided under the Labourers Acts, or as to whether they are wholly engaged at agricultural work or partly at other work. The Rural District Council it is assumed are satisfied that the persons they select as tenants come within the definition of agricultural labourer laid down by the Acts, and their selection is not subject to review by the Board.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state the total amount of loans sanctioned for small holdings since the Small Holdings and Allotments Act. 1907, came into force in each county and each county borough?

The following table gives the information desired:—Loans sanctioned to (1) County Councils, and (2) County Borough Councils, in England and Wales for purposes of small holdings since the 1st January, 1908 (the date on which the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, came into force).I. County Councils.—Anglesey, £3,430; Bedford, £43,179; Berks, £32,660; Buckingham, £13,228; Cambridge, £91,922; Cardigan, £3,130; Carmarthen, £2,250; Carnarvon, £50,592; Chester, £103,049; Cornwall, £56,931; Cumberland, £4,060; Denbigh, £14,365; Derby, £1,868; Devon, £18,849; Dorset, £10,425; Durham, £3,782; Ely (Isle of), £78,105; Essex, £24,298; Flint, £10,802; Glamorgan, £18,387; Gloucester, £39,848; Hereford, £50,978; Hertford, £23,846; Huntingdon, £111,613; Kent, £21,660; Lancaster, £7,894; Leicester, £49,291; Lincoln (Parts of Holland), £62,960; Lincoln (Parts of Kesteven), £79,600; Lincoln (Parts of Lindsey), £66,929; Merioneth, £1,315; Middlesex, £2,782; Monmouth, £32,552; Montgomery, £42,075; Norfolk, £129,663; Northampton, £15,590; Northumberland, £48,366; Nottingham, £16,728; Oxford, £10,613; Pembroke, £32,277; Peterborough, Soke of, £9,667; Radnor, £465; Salop, £34,402; Somerset, £121,018; Southampton, £10,106; Stafford, £44,625; Suffolk, East, £10,884; Suffolk, West, £13,063; Surrey, £25,366; Warwick, £30,371; Westmorland, £200; Wight, Isle of, £13,838; Wilts, £18,222; Yorks, East Riding, £35,416; Yorks, North Riding, £6,000; Yorks, West Riding, £31,826. Total, £1,872,361.II. County Borough Councils.—Blackburn, £16,000; Brighton, £5,644; Bristol, £274; Burnley, £7,815; Cardiff, £16,000; Newcastle-on-Tyne, £11,735; Newport (Mon.), £11,500. Total, £68,968.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he would state how many loans he has sanctioned, and what is the sum total of their value, for the purposes of the Small Holdings and Allotment Acts?

The total number of loans sanctioned for small holdings and allotments since the 1st of January, 1908 (the date on which the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1907, came into force), is 1,235, amounting to £2,028,430. Of these, 1136 loans, amounting to £1,941,329, were sanctioned for small holdings, and 99 loans, amounting to £87,101, for allotments:—

LOANS SANCTIONED FOR SMALL HOLDINGS SINCE THE 1ST JANUARY, 1908.
Year.	Authorities.		Land.		Equipment and Adaptation.		Totals.
			Amount sanctioned.	No. of Loans.	Amount sanctioned.	No. of Loans.	Amount sanctioned.	No. of Loans.
			£		£		£
1908	County Councils	…	139,830	24	24,097	23	163,927	47
	County Boroughs	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
1919	County Councils	…	601,181	167	96,895	154	698,076	321
	County Boroughs	…	21,424	4	14,065	7	35,489	11
1910	County Councils	…	655,198	216	133,817	335	789,015	551
	County Boroughs	…	6,110	1	1,329	5	7,439	6
1911, up to and including 25th April.	County Councils	…	188,314	83	33,029	109	221,343	192
	County Boroughs	…	20,025	3	6,018	5	26,040	8
	Totals	…	1,632,082	498	309,247	638	1,941,329	1,136

				No. of Loans sanctioned.	Amount of Loans.
					£
County Councils	…	…	…	1,111	1,872,361
County Borough Councils	…	…	…	25	68,968
				1,136	1,941,329

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Territorial officers are now being asked to refund the outfit grant which was given to them to cover the cost of the necessary changes in uniform under Paragraph 606, Territorial Force Regulations, notwithstanding the fact that, at the time of transfer, these officers were fully qualified Volunteer officers; and whether he will take immediate steps for the cancelling of this order?

Officers who qualified fully as Volunteer officers in the Volunteer Force for the branch in which they are serving are not required to obtain any further qualification in the Territorial Force, beyond serving three years and being returned as efficient three times, in order to enable them to retain the outfit grant given on transfer. There is therefore no such order as that to which the hon. Member refers, but if the hon. Member would be good enough to forward to me details of the cases to which he refers I will make full inquiry.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the strength of the Regular

The figures are as follows:—

—	1st January, 1905.		1st January, 1911.
	Officers.	Other Ranks.	Officers.	Other Ranks.
Regulars—
Home	5,434	130,422	5,841	121,688
India	2,803	75,585	2,981	74,823
Colonies	2,614	68,467	1,898	45,257
	10,851	274,474	10,720	241,768
Army Reserve (Sections A and B)	66,121		118,170
	Officers.	N.C.O.'s & Men.	Officers.	N.C.O.'s & Men.
Militia (excluding Permanent Staff)	2,577	88,282	—	—
Reserve Division of Militia	—	7,254	—	—
Special Reserve (including category b)	—	—	1,969	61,789
			Territorial Force.
Yeomanry (excluding Permanent Staff)	1,250	25,217	1,196	23,455
Volunteers (including Officers and Permanent Staff, All Arms)	—	245,359	—	—
Territorial Force—
Infantry	—	—	5,000	164,690
Other Arms	—	—	3,500	69,011

N.B.—The strength of the Regulars for 1st January, 1911, includes the Regular Establishment of the Special Reserve, a portion of which corresponds to the old Permanent Staff of the Militia, which is not included in the figures for 1st January, 1905.

asked the Under-secretary of State for War (1) whether it is to be understood that for purposes of collecting the census of, and classifying, horses in Ireland the aid of the members of the constabulary is entirely eliminated; that where the word police occurs the words Lord Lieutenant are to be understood; and (2) if he will

The points raised in this and the next question were fully dealtwith in the Debate on the Army (Annual; Bill and in replies to questions put on Tuesday last, and I have nothing to add to the information already placed at the disposal of the House.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the facts that Australia, New Zealand, and Canada have lately passed or proposed most stringent anti-trust legislation with the object of protecting their consumers from artificial high prices due to the manipulations of either the American or of the Home trusts and combines; and, considering that all such trusts, in conjunction with other gambling operations, have seriously affected the masses of this country, will he further communicate with the Colonial Office with a view to obtaining the information necessary of the various legislative measures from all our Colonies, and issue the same in the Blue Book as promised with regard to foreign legislation on options and future contracts?

I will take steps to have information of the kind collected with a view to publication.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the dredger "Stonewall" left Hull four or five months ago, and has since been reported wrecked and all hands drowned; if he can state the reason no inquiry has been held; and if he will order an inquiry to be held in the interest of the widows and relatives of the crew?

Yes, Sir; I am aware that the steam dredger "Stonewall" sailed from Plymouth for Ferrol on 25th November last, and has not since been heard of. I have already ordered a formal investigation to be held into the circumstances of the case, and as soon as all available information is obtained the inquiry will be held.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state whether it has been decided to place the carrying out of the proposals regarding assurance against invalidity and unemployment under the control of the Post Office; and, if so, whether he will make provision for Post Office servants to be eligible for any superior or extra appointments necessitated by this increase of the work of his Department?

It would be premature to make any statement on this subject at present.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether a contract has been entered into for building a new post office at Eastbourne; and, if so, would he state the name of the firm whose tender had been accepted, and the price?

A contract for the new post office at Eastbourne has been made with Messrs. J. and M. Patrick, of Wandsworth, for the sum of £11,715, with a credit of £215 for old materials.