asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the reason why clerks to surveyors of taxes who were placed on the Civil Service establishment in 1908 are not entitled to count their previous service as clerks to surveyors of taxes towards pension or superannuation; whether, although technically in the employment of the surveyors, they were to all intents and purposes in the service of the State and paid for out of public funds; and will lie state why the precedents created in the cases of the women typists and Customs boatmen should not be followed?

I have nothing to add to the reply of my right hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to the Noble Lord, the Member for the Hornsey division of Middlesex, on 27th February.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the difficulty in distinguishing between the ditties discharged by the clerks to the surveyor of taxes who are on the establishment of the Civil Service and the clerks to the surveyors of taxes who are not On the establishment, he will consider the desirability of placing on the Civil Service establishment all unestablished clerks to surveyors of taxes of more than two years' service; and will he, in coining to a decision oh the matter, give, consideration to the resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in London on 15th and 17th March, 1910, to the effect that the present system of staffing the offices of surveyors of taxes with clerks who are for the most part employed on agreement with the Board of Inland Revenue terminable on one week's notice should be at once clone away with, and that the duties of these, clerks should be discharged by responsible civil servants?

I beg to refer to the replies of my right hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, on 27th February.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state how many copies of Important Notice No. 469 B/Sec., relating to the provisional return of Income Tax before the complete examination of claims, were printed and how many were issued in the months of March, 1910 and 1911, respectively; and what were the total sums repaid in respect of Income Tax for such months?

The Forms in question, of which a stock is always kept, are reprinted when such stock is becoming exhausted, and no printing has been actually done in the months referred to. Six hundred and twenty-six Forms, No. 469 B. were issued in March, 1910, and 7,500 in March, 1911, the claims for repayment received in the former month being 20 per cent. less than in the latter, owing to the postponement of payment of Income Tax for 1909–10 consequent upon the delay in passing the Finance Act of that year. The total sums repaid in respect of Income Tax were approximately £140,000 in March, 1910, and £202,000 in March, 1911.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Return of new posts created as a result of legislation passed during the last six years, moved for by the hon. Member for Taunton, has been prepared; and, if so, when will it be laid upon the Table of the House?

Replies are being received front the Public Departments which it was necessary to consult; and the Return will be laid as soon as the information is complete.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the final meeting of the Customs and Excise Amalgamation Committee was held on the 21st ultimo, he can now give an approximate date for the publication of the Committee's Report?

I am afraid that I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for North Sligo on last Monday.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now give the particulars of the proposals of the Development Commissioners for the acquisition of land in Wales for afforestation purposes; the extent and locality of the land proposed to be acquired; and whether the recommendation has been approved of by the Treasury?

No definite proposal for the acquisition of land in Wales for afforestation purposes is before the Development Commissioners at present, but a comprehensive scheme of forestry for England and Wales, submitted by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, is now engaging the Commissioners' attention.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many contracts have been entered into by Government departments without competitive tenders having been received, and the nature of such contracts?

My right hon. Friend hopes very shortly to be in a position to supply this information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of his promise that medical practitioners should get rebate of duty paid by them on motor spirit used in the practice of their profession, and the provisions of the Finance Act to that effect, if he will explain why medical practitioners in Ireland, whose vouchers for the two last financial years show the payment of duty by them, have got rebate in respect of the second year, but have been refused in respect of the first on precisely the same evidence, the facts not being questioned; what authority there is for this refusal; and whether he will have the overdue rebate paid forthwith?

The practice of the Board of Customs and Excise was fully explained in an answer given to the hen. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury on 15th March. If the hon. Member will give me particulars of any case in which he thinks that rebate has been improperly withheld, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Francis Whelan, of Aughacashel, Drumshanbo, county Leitrim, was granted an old age pension by the No. 1 Carrick-on-Shannon subcommittee in July, 1900, which was, on appeal by the pension officer, disallowed on the ground that his family could not be traced in the Census of 1841 or 1851; and whether, having regard to the fact that Whelan produced sworn testimony from four respectable persons, who were from eighty to eighty-six years of age, that he was seventy-three years old, the Local Government Board will reconsider his claim, and, as his personal appearance is that of a man of eighty years of age, grant him a pension?

The Local Government Board disallowed Francis Whelan's claim on appeal on the ground that he failed to produce satisfactory evidence that he had attained the statutory age. The Board are no longer in possession of the documents connected with the claim, and are consequently unable to state now what evidence Whelan produced in September, 1909, when the case was decided. The Beard have no authority to reconsider their decision, unless a fresh claim is lodged and appealed against.

asked the Chief Secretary how the local solicitors of the Irish Land Commission are paid for their work in the recovery of arrears of annuities and of interest in lieu of rent; why they are not required to furnish accounts of the number of each class of cases dealt with by them each official year; and, if they do furnish such accounts, whether he will ascertain from them and state the number of annuitants and of payers of interest respectively, sued in the year ending 31st March, 1911?

The solicitors who act for the Land Commission in the local recovery of arrears of land purchase annuities and interest in lieu of rent are remunerated by the prescribed costs of court, which on the recovery of the debt are paid by the defaulter. The Land Commission do not require the solicitors to furnish them with the details of all their proceedings with regard to the cases placed in their hands, nor do they propose to do so, the Commissioners entire object being to obtain the prompt recovery of all arrears due.

asked the Chief Secretary if, in the ordinary case of a bailiff. with purchase agreements in one pocket and writs for arrears of rent in the other, getting the former signed by force of the latter, he will explain the nature of the inquiry alleged to be made by the Estates Commissioners, seeing that the tenants are never given an opportunity of proving the facts; and if the facts are admitted by the vendor, why are agreements signed under this duress allowed to stand?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 6th April, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary, seeing that the Estates Commissioners, after having negotiated with both. Colonel Kavanagh and his tenant for the purchase for the relief of congestion of grass land not offered by either of them for sale, if he will ascertain the grounds, upon which they refuse to ask Mr. Grad-well to sell for a similar purpose in a similar part of Westmeath his interest in the grass farms of which his tenant, Mr. McCulloch, has publicly offered to sell the tenant's interest; and whether he is aware that young men are emigrating from this district for want of land?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 6th April, to which there is nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the inspection of the Colomb estate, near Caherciveen, was completed more than two months ago, he will state what steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to complete the purchase negotiations?

The inspector's report in the case of this estate is with others awaiting the ruling of the Estates Commissioners, and will be dealt with as soon as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any untenanted land on the Naper estate, at Old- castle, county Meath, had been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; whether a purchase agreement had been lodged on behalf of John George O'Neill for a farm on the townland of Farnalough; and, if so, would he state when the tenancy was created?

Proceedings for the sale of an estate direct to the tenants have been instituted by Mr. William L. Naper, who also offers some sixty-eight acres of untenanted land for sale to the Estates Commissioners. A purchase agreement signed by John George O'Neill has been lodged for the purchase of a holding in the townland of Farnalough. The holding is stated to be held by him under a, lease for thirty-one years dated 1st November, 1902.

asked the number of holdings under £10 valuation in Coole rural district, Westmeath, in which Mr. Richard Gradwell, a non-resident, holds 2,000 acres of grass land?

The number of holdings under £10 valuation in the district referred to is 868.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that men belonging to the mechanical transport section of the Commissariat and Transport Corps (Territorial) in Lancashire have to pay their drivers' licences of 5s. out of their own pockets; and whether he will take steps, by making a grant to the county associations or otherwise, to meet this expense?

When a driver has not got a licence for his own use in civil life, it is the intention that the county association should pay for it from association funds. I am making inquiries into this particular case.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether an Army pensioner can, if he desires to do so, commute his pension; and what are the regulations with regard to this privilege?

Under Article 1,138 of the Royal Warrant for Pay, etc., Army pensioners under the age of eighty who are in receipt of more than one shilling a day may be permitted to commute the excess over that amount, provided that they are in good health, and that the Army Council and the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital are satisfied that the commutation would be to their distinct and permanent advantage.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is responsible for the programme of the Imperial Education Conference; and why it is that the subjects for discussion are, with ten exceptions, of domestic rather than Imperial interest, and the speakers educationists of the United Kingdom rather than representatives of the Overseas Dominions?

No, Sir, the facts are not as stated in the question. But I understand that the Imperial Education Conference has made a report of its proceedings, which is to he published very shortly, and the hon. Member will doubtless find in it an authoritative statement of the facts.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can further consider the representations made to him showing that money intended for the education of children of the poor classes has been diverted from its purpose and is being used for the advantage of wealthier people; and whether he can now advise the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into and report on the question of educational endowments?

I am considering the representations made to me on these points, but I am not yet prepared to make a statement. The Report of the Departmental Committee will throw some light on one portion of the problem.

asked the President of the Board of Education how long the Report of the Departmental Committee on Educational Endowments has been in print, and when it will be issued and available for the House?

The Report was received on the 31st March. I hope to publish it as a Parliamentary Paper very shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can state how much public money is now expended in England and Wales upon elementary, secondary, and technical education, respectively, and how much upon continuation schools; and from what sources and to what extent, respectively, is such public money derived?

The question cannot be answered in the form in which it is put, nor does the subject lend itself, in any case, to discussion by question and answer. The hon. Member will find such information as is available on the subjects to which he refers in the Statistics of the Board of Education, published in 1911 [Cd. 5506]. Information with regard to the expenditure of Local Education Authorities will be found on pages 34 and 35 of that volume as regards England, and on pages 218 and 219 as regards Wales. The expenditure of the Board of Education in England and Wales is dealt with on pages 3 and 4 of the same volume.

asked the Home Secretary (1) whether lie is aware of the anxiety and inconvenience caused to asylum officers by the doubt which exists as to the interpretation of some sections of the Asylum Officers' Superannuation Act, 1909; and whether, in view of the duty imposed upon him by Section 15 of that Act to settle disputes which may arise, he proposes to issue any regulations or set up any machinery for that purpose; and (2), whether, early in July of last year, he received a memorial from various officers of the County and City of Worcester Lunatic Asylum, Powick, requesting him, as provided in Section 13 of the Asylum Officers' Superannuation Act, 1909, to decide a dispute as to their right to be considered established officers eligible for superannuation under that Act; whether any reply has yet been sent; and what steps, if any, he has taken to settle the points at issue?

I will answer this and the next question by the hon. Member together. The opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown is being taken as regards the extent of my jurisdiction to determine disputes under Section 15 of the Act, and as regards a number of other questions which have arisen under the Act, including those raised in the memorial from officers of the Powick Asylum referred to by the hon. Member. These questions are still under the consideration of the Law Officers. As soon as their opinion is received, the effect of it will be made known to all who may be concerned, and steps will be taken to exercise whatever jurisdiction I am advised is conferred on me by the Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Rev. H. M. S. Bankart was summarily dismissed on 18th February last from the chaplaincy of Lancaster County Asylum because he had assisted his fellow asylum workers in forming a trades union; whether he is aware that Mr. Bankart was not then allowed to conduct Divine service the following Sunday, 19th February, and that, therefor, no service was held on that day; and, if so, whether he will address a remonstrance to the authority responsible?

The matter is entirely one for the visiting committee of the asylum, and I have no authority to interfere. I am informed, however, that Mr. Bankar was given the opportunity of resigning. The complaint against him was not that he had assisted in forming a trades union of asylum workers, but that he had improperly absented himself from his duties and had posted up an unauthorised notice in the asylum. I am also informed that no Church of England service was held at the asylum on the Sunday referred to, and I am communicating with the committee on this point.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how much public money is now expended upon the relief of the poor in England and Wales, and from what sources is it derived

The latest complete statistics on this subject are published on pages thirty-five and thirty-six on the Thirty-ninth Annual Repoit of the Local Government Board. They show that of an expenditure of £14,717,000 on the relief of the poor in England and Wales, £11,511,000 was estimated to have been met out of local rates. £2,419,000 out of grants and government subventions, and £787,000 out of other miscellaneous receipts.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how much public money was expended during the last financial year upon providing employment for the unemployed, and from what sources was it derived?

Of the £100,000 voted by Parliament for the purposes of the Unemployed Workmen Act during the last financial year the sum of £77,671 was distributed in England and Wales to the Central (Unemployed) Body for London and the Distress Committees outside London. I am not yet in possession of information as to the amount raised by rates for the purposes of the Act. In addition to the sum above-mentioned, I sanctioned loans during the year to the amount of £294,565 in respect of permanent works undertaken by local authorities which would assist in providing work for the on employed.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the amount paid annually by the Government to medical officers in England for inspection of children in schools, and the rates of allowances for the same; and whether the Local Government Board in Ireland are making arrangements to put the same order in force?

I have been asked by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board to answer this question. Medical officers for the inspection of children in public elementary schools in England and Wales are not paid by the Government, but by the local education authorities who appoint them. Some of these officers are employed in the work of inspecting school children for the whole of their time, and others for part of their time only. There is no uniform rate of payment, and I am afraid I cannot furnish a satisfactory estimate of the total expenditure. Some information as to the school medical service as at present organised in England and Wales will be found in Section 1 of the Report of the chief medical officer of the Board, issued in November last (Cd. 5426). I am unable to furnish a reply to the second part of the question, which should, presumably, be addressed to the Irish Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether postmen can, if they desire to do so, commute their pensions; and what are the regulations with regard to this privilege?

There is no statutory authority for the commutation of pensions granted to Civil Servants on retirement on account of old age, ill-health, or inefficiency. Pensions granted on retirement on account of abolition of office can be commuted on the recommendation of the Head of the Department in which the pensioner has served.