asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he can state approximately the gross amount of expenditure lost to Ireland in the form of rents of all kinds, rural and urban, paid to absentee landlords since 1853, and in the form of prices paid under the Land Purchase Acts to absentee vendors since 1884; and, if not, whether he will endeavour to have this information made available?

I have no means of obtaining the information necessary to answer this question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will explain the origin and give a full account of the payments into and out of and the present condition of the account called Restitution Annuity dealt with in the Report of the Chairman and four other Members of the Financial Relations Commission, paragraphs 50, 51, 52, and 53, and for which the Treasury failed to produce before that Commission any statutory or equitable authority?

The Restitution Annuity Fund referred to was set up by Section 11 of the National Debt and Local Loans Act, 1887. The annuity ceased on 30th September, 1897 under the provisions of Section 4 (1) of the Public Works Loans Act, 1897. During its existence, a total sum of £1,365,000 was paid over to the National Debt Commission, and was used to cancel debts amounting to £1,352,818 83. 0d. An account of the object of the annuity and the basis on which its amount was calculated will be found in the House of Commons Paper (No. 166 of 1887).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer concerning the case of labourers who would pay for unemployment insurance when engaged in a trade covered by' the Insurance Bill, whether he intends to provide for the return to them of any money they have paid in cases where they are compelled to take work in some other trade which could offer them no unemployment benefit?

Under the Unemployment Insurance Scheme it is not necessary to make any special provision to meet the case referred to by my hon. Friend, namely, that of labourers who work at one time at occupations within the scope of the insured trades and at another time at occupations outside those trades. Such labourers will contribute to the fund so long as they are employed in an insured trade, and thereupon they will become entitled to the benefits prescribed in the Bill whilst unemployed, whether or not they work at another trade in the meantime. Their claim to benefit will, of course, he limited automatically by the rule that not more than one week's benefit is payable for every five weeks' contributions.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state how many teachers were promoted for highly efficient service to the first and second sections, respectively, of the first grade during the three financial years ending on 31st March, 1909, 1910, and 1911, by the Commissioners of National Education (Ireland); how many of these in each section respectively were not paid the resulting increment to salary, though entitled to it by the Commissioners' rules; what sum has been saved in each of those years to the Treasury in consequence; what is the amount of the unexpended balance which the Commissioners refunded to the Treasury in each of those years; and will he urge the Treasury to authorise the Commissioners to pay these teachers their increments, together with the accumulated arrears, out of these unexpended balances?

The following Table shows the number of teachers promoted to first and second section, respectively, of the first grade during the years ended 31st March, 1909, 1910, and 1911:—

Year ended 31st March, 1909.		Year ended 31st March, 1910.		Year ended 31st March, 1911.
1(1)Grade.	1(2)Grade.	1(1)Grade.	1(2)Grade.	1(1)Grade.	1(2)Grade.
26	44	51	99	22	51

All the teachers promoted in the year ended 31st March, 1909, received increments of salary. Of the teachers promoted in the year ended 31st March, 1910, five male teachers in 1 (1) grade have not yet received increments, and of the teachers promoted in the year ended 31st March, 1911, twelve male teachers in 1 (1) grade and thirty-one male teachers in 1 (2) grade have not received increments. The payment of increments of salary to the teachers in question from the dates of their promotion would have involved additional charges on the Vote for the year ended 31st March, 1910, of £271, and for the year ended 31st March, 1911, of £492. The unexpended balances of the Votes for public education (Ireland) during the years ended 31st March, 1909, and 1910 were £15,307 18s. 11d. and £2,854 3s. 10d. respectively. It is not possible at present to state the amount of the balance from the Vote for the year ended 31st, March, 1911, but it will probably be about £25,000. As regards the final paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the similar question of the hon. Member for South Kerry on 12th July last.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Irish trained teachers in England, on receiving their training diploma, after two years' satisfactory service and passing a medical examination, are recognised as fully certificated, while in Scotland Irish trained teachers are classed only as uncertificated after receiving their diploma unless they pass the Scotch certificate examination; whether the Scotch qualifications are fully recognised in Ireland; and whether, in view of the disadvantage under which Irish trained teachers labour in seeking employment in Scotland, he will have inquiries made into this matter with a view to its adjustment?

I am aware that Irish trained teachers in England, on receiving their training diploma, after two years' satisfactory service, and passing a medical examination, are recognised as fully certificated. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that Irish trained teachers are classed as uncertificated in Scotland. If recognised at all, they are recognised as fully certificated, and that is the case in general so far as the ordinary public schools are concerned, but in certain special cases the Scotch Education Department reserve the power to give a preference to teachers trained in Scotland. Trained certificated teachers under the Scotch Education Department are eligible for recognition as principal teachers, and certificated teachers under that department are eligible for appointment as assistant teachers in Irish national schools. No change appears to be called for.

asked on what evidence the Local Government Board disallowed the pension awarded by the Ballina subcommittee to Mrs. Bessie Ward, of Mullauns, Ballina?

The case referred to cannot be identified as having come before the Local Government Board on appeal.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds the Local Government Board disallowed the old age pension awarded to Mrs. Catherine Willis, of Mullauns, Ballina, by the Ballina sub-pension committee on 28th April, 1911; whether he is aware of the fact that the sub-committee in granting the pension had before them evidence from Census returns that the applicant's youngest sister was two years of age in 1841, and that the applicant was from home when the said Census was taken; and whether, in the circumstances, the case will be further investigated and a competent assistant sent from the Local Government Board to see the applicant, so that her pension, to which she is proved to be entitled, will be paid forthwith with arrears?

The Local Government Board have not disallowed the pension granted by the Ballina, pension subcommittee to Mrs. Willis on 28th April, 1911, but they have received an appeal from the pension officer against that decision, and the case will be duly investigated.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, old and decrepit horses are from time to time exported from Dublin to this country for transhipment, in order that they may be exported to Belgium and Holland; whether such horses are consigned to Liverpool or to what other English port; and from what port are they so exported to foreign countries?

The exportation from Ireland of horses unfit to undergo the voyage without unnecessary suffering is prohibited by orders made by his Department of Agriculture under the Diseases of Animals Acts, and, so far as the Depart- ment's officers at the Irish ports can judge, shipments in contravention of these orders do not take place. Old horses consigned to Liverpool have been shipped at Dublin from time to time, but no cases have arisen which necessitated interference with such shipments. The Department cannot say whether any of these horses were subsequently exported from Great Britain to the Continent.

asked the Chief Secretary if he can state why the Land Commissioners would not accept as a tenant, on his father's death, Charles Haste, of Kilnacourt, county Cavan, but refused his instalment and sold his farm without serving either notice or process; and what steps will be taken to redress this grievance?

The holding which was owned by Patrick Harte, since deceased, was sold at the instance of the Land Commission by public auction on 16th October, 1908, the Commissioners having been unable to recover by the ordinary method of legal process the arrears of a land purchase annuity due out of the holding. There is no record that Charles Harte made any proposal whatever to pay the arrears due out of the holding, nor does it appear that he made any bid at the auction with a view to purchase it. The holding was sold to the highest bidder for £80 together with auctioneer's fees. The funds which remained over after meeting the debt due to the Land Commission were distributed amongst the incumbrancers so far as there was money available. The Commissioners do not propose to take any further action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been directed to the request of the tenants in Ardnaree, and districts adjacent, for the purchase by the Congested Districts Board of the Saunders, Knox-Gore, Perry-Knox-Gore, Thompson, Palmer, Lewis, Jones, and Verschoyle estates, situated near Ballina; whether the Board are prepared to purchase the said estates; if he will state what progress has already been made in this matter; and whether, in vie w of threatened evictions, he will urge the Board to take immediate action?

The estates of Saunders, Knox-Gore, Perry-Knox-Gore, and W. H. Jones have been offered to the Congested Districts Board, and steps are being taken for their valuation. The Board are in communication with Captain Wade-Thomson as to the sale of his estate, and they have agreed to make offers for the estates of the late Sir Roger Palmer and R. J. Verschoyle. In the case of the representatives of Lewis the owners have expressed their willingness to sell the estate, but the maps and other documents have not yet been lodged.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners recognise James Fitzgerald, of Ballygran, in the county of Limerick, as the representative of his uncle, Michael Hartnett, deceased, and who a short time previous to his death was reinstated by them in a holding from which he was previously evicted?

The Estates Commissioners have appointed Jeremiah Fitzgerald limited administrator of Michael Hartnett, deceased, under Section 69 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by Section 35 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, for the purposes of sale of the lands for the purchase of which an undertaking was signed by Hartnett.

Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he will state the number of men of the Royal Army Medical Corps employed at Parkhurst Barracks who have committed suicide during the last two years, and the number of men of the same corps who were incapacitated from work owing to mental breakdown; (2) what were the average daily hours of work of the men of the Royal Army Medical Corps hospital staff at Parkhurst from 1st May, 1909, to 2nd May, 1911; (3) whether his attention has been called to the verdict of a coroner's jury on Sergeant Stokes, of the Royal Army Medical Corps, wherein it was found that Sergeant Stokes committed suicide while of unsound mind, produced by ill-health caused by his prolonged hours of work, and to the evidence of Quartermaster-Sergeant Trueman, who stated on oath that he had been at work from seven o'clock in the morning until eleven o'clock at night for seven days a week, and the coroner's remarks that none of the Royal Army Medical Corps men who gave evidence looked healthy; and whether any, and if so, what, steps have been taken to increase the staff of the Royal Army Medical Corps at Parkhurst; and (4) if he will state on what date Lieutenant-Colonel Donegan, commanding the Royal Army Medical Corps at Parkhurst, Isle of Wight, represented to the War Office or his superior officers that the men employed at the military hospital at Parkhurst were not sufficient to cope with the work, and asked for further assistance; and when such assistance was granted

I am not yet in a position to reply to the four questions on this subject in the name of the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, under the Anglo-Japanese Treaty of 1905, Japan agreed to respect the integrity of China; whether, since that date, any agreement has been arranged between Russia and Japan, and, if so, whether its terms will be made known; and whether they have any bearing upon the partition of China or defining the sphere of influence of the two Powers?

The hon. and gallant Member will perceive from the text of the Agreement between Great Britain and Japan of 12th August, 1905, that one of the objects of this arrangement, as stated in the Preamble, was "the preservation of the common interests of all Powers in China by insuring the independence and integrity of the Chinese Empire." With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the Agreements concluded between Russia and Japan on 30th July, 1907, and on 4th July, 1910. The former of these Agreements may be found in Marten's Treaties, and will be published in the next volume of State Papers. The latter Agreement appeared in the Press on 13th July of last year.

asked the President, of the Local Government Board, whether he would consider the desirability of taking immediate steps to promote legislation to make all cases of phthisis compulsorily notifiable?

As I explained in the House a short time ago, I have recently extended the range of notification of pulmonary tuberculosis. Before proceeding further in that direction I propose to await the results of that extension.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the total cost of the Poor Law since 1st January, 1834?

The aggregate expenditure of boards of guardians and other local authorities in England and Wales, which is ordinarily classed as relating to the relief of the poor, during the period of seventy-six years ended at Lady-day, 1910, was approximately £611,700,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average value and quantity of the imports and exports for each quinquennial period since the year 1860 for Great Britain and Ireland, respectively, exclusive of what passed from one country to the other for consumption therein

The following statement gives the information desired by the hon. Member, so far as the particulars are available:—

		Value of the Imports into Ports in		Value of the Exports of Domestic Produce form Ports in		Value of the Exports of Foreign and Colonial produce from ports in
Period.		Great Britain.	Ireland.	Great Britain.	Ireland.	Great Britain.	Ireland.
Annaul Average.		Million	Million	Million	Million	Million	Million
		£	£	£	£	£	£
1891–1865	…	240.9	6.7	144.2	.2	46.4	*
1866–1870	…	284.3	8.5	187.6	.2	46.9	*
1871–1875	…	348.9†	11.3†	239.1	.4	58.2	*
1876–1880	…	370.5	12.0	200.8	.6	56.6	*
1881–1885	…	390.2	9.4	231.4	.9	63.0	*
1886–1890	…	381.7	7.9	234.9	.7	62.2	*
1891–1895	…	408.5	9.3	225.8	.3	60.6	*
1896–1900	…	463.5	10.8	252.4‡	.3‡	60.6	.4
1901–1905	…	528.7	13.1	296.5‡	.4‡	60.2	1.1
1906–1910	…	615.4	14.5	396.4‡	1.1‡	89.3	1.1

*Less than £50,000.

†Partly estimated.

‡The value of new ships and their machinery exported was included for the first time in 1899.

NOTE.—The particulars given for Ireland represent only the direct trade of Irish ports with foreign countries and British Possessions. The values of the total imports and the exports of foreign and Colonial produce are computed real values up to and including 1870, and declared values in 1871 and subsequent years. For exports of domestic produce, declared values have been available throughout the period covered by the statement.Parcel Post is included in 1895 and subsequent years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Limerick Harbour Board at their meeting on 24th April last, passed a resolution to truss the swivel bridge over the Shannon, and that their engineer, in answer to a question, stated that the trussing of the bridge would interfere with the turf boats coming up to Arthur's Quay; whether he is aware that such a step would cause injury to the water-borne trade from county Clare; whether the Harbour Board enjoy statutory powers enabling them so to block the navigation of the Shannon; and what steps he proposes to take to secure that the provision of a better bridge for Limerick may not infringe the rights of the Clare boatmen?

I have communicated with the Limerick Harbour Commissioners regarding the hon. Member's question, and I am informed by them that the resolution referred to was passed as a result of the opinion of three engineers whom they consulted, that the trussing of the bridge wasnecessary in the interests of public safety. The Commissioners are of opinion that the proposed work will not cause any injury to the water-borne trade from county Clare. I am causing further inquiry to be made in the matter, and I will communicate the result in due course to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will state the number of cases settled in each of the last five years by conciliation and arbitration, respectively, which were referred to conciliation boards, such as mentioned on page 7 of the Second Report on Conciliation and Arbitration Boards [Cd. 5346], and in which a general or district rate of wages fell to be determined, specifying the industries which were the subject of each case and the boards concerned?

From the Returns furnished to the Board of Trade by Conciliation and Arbitration Boards it is not possible to give precisely the particulars desired, but all the information received is set forth very fully in the volumes issued annually by the Board of Trade entitled, "Report on Strikes and Lock-Outs and on Conciliation and Arbitration Boards." I have caused copies of these Reports for the last five years to be sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether ho can state the reason for the dismissal of Mrs. Torrens, lately in charge of the women's and girls' department at the Bath Labour Exchange; whether the lady supervisor who reported on her work at Plymouth has since supplemented that report; and whether there is any prospect of Mrs. Torrens' reinstatement?

The ground on which this appointment was terminated was unsuitability for the work required. I am afraid there is no prospect of the decision being altered.

asked the Postmaster-General how many candidates he proposes to call from the number of successful competitors at the male learners examination held in January, 1910, for the Dublin post office; and whether he proposes to call the remaining number of candidates who qualified at the limited competition examinaton of May, 1910, for the same office?

Two vacancies were announced in connection with the open competition for male learners at Dublin held in January, 1910, but to meet the needs of the service eleven candidates who qualified in addition to the two successful competitors have been appointed. It is not intended to make any further appointments from that examination. One vacancy was announced in connection with the limited competition for male sorting clerks and telegraphists at Dublin held in May, 1910, and two candidates who qualified have, in addition to the successful competitor been appointed. There is no intention of calling up all the candidates who qualified.

asked the Postmaster-General the total amount expended upon the present Carlow post office for alterations, improvements, etc., since the premises were acquired by his Department; what is the estimated cost of the proposed enlargement of the office for the purpose of telephonic installations; and when, approximately, the installation will be completed?

As stated in reply to a question on the same subject on the 24th of March, 1909, some £1,524 has been spent in improving, enlarging, and equipping the Carlow post-office since the building was taken on lease in 1889. The estimated cost of the further improvements now in hand is £330, of which part only is for the preparation of accommodation for telephone working. The proposals for the extension of the telephone system to Carlow are still under consideration, and I am not in a position to say by what date they are likely to be carried out.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention had been called to complaints regarding excessive delay on telegrams; whether this is due to lack of a sufficient telegraph staff in the Dublin office; and, if so, whether he will take steps to authorise an increase in the establishment of that office?

My attention has been drawn to cases of delay of telegrams, and I am investigating them. I understand that, on the day when the delay was most serious, the wires were working badly, and a mass of press work was handed in without notice. As at present advised, I see no reason to suppose that increased staff is necessary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are eleven men working the hydraulic lifts at Mount Pleasant, and on the wages sheet of the electric light department at a fixed wage of 24s. per week, who are not naval pensioners; and will he give them an opportunity to qualify for the establish- ment as postmen or porters in the London postal service?

The men now referred to are not naval pensioners, but are part of the large class under the engineer-in-chief, paid out of the labour sub-head. The men about whom I replied on the 23rd March to a question by the hon. Member are attached to the postal service. I have already given careful consideration to the claims of the men now in question, but I regret that I do not see my way to offer them established situations as postmen or porters, as such situations are reserved for men who have served either in the Army or Navy or as boy messengers in the Post Office, and there is a more than ample supply of eligible candidates from these sources. It must be remembered that in addition to their wages these men receive under certain conditions medical attendance, sick pay, holidays, and uniform.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in one week this year nearly 1,400 hours overtime were worked by postmen in Manchester; and whether he will make additional established posts to reduce, if not abolish, this excessive overtime at Manchester?

I am unable to state without inquiry the number of hours overtime worked in any one week by postmen in Manchester; a revision of the postmen's force there is under consideration, and any additional staff warranted by the growth of work will be sanctioned as soon as possible. A provisional addition has already been made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that in the town of Dunmore, county Galway, with a population of 600, there is only one mail delivery each day, and that, apart from this delivery, the residents are obliged to call at the post office for their letters; and whether he will inquire into this matter with a view to having a second or third delivery each day if necessary?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Lord Advocate if he is aware that, prior to the recent licensing courts held in Airdrie, the chief constable of Airdrie visited, or caused to be visited, certain public-houses, and on such visitation demanded to see the permit-books of the licensees; that the object of this demand was to secure evidence to lay before the licensing court that the public-houses in question were not paying; that it was stated at the said licensing court that, as a result of these inquiries by the chief constable, certain public-houses were not required; and that at least four of the public-houses, the licensees of which were so asked to exhibit their permit-books, were refused renewal of their certificates on the strength of the information so obtained; whether any public official other than the Inland Revenue officer has any authority to make such a demand; and what action he proposes to take in view of the conduct of the chief constable of Airdrie and in view of the consequences of that conduct?

I am, informed that no demand to see the permit books was made, but merely a request for information in response to which the permit books were frankly produced and the information given except in a single case. I understand that the court refused to renew certain certificates, but I am not in a position to state the grounds upon which they came to their decisions in any individual case. On the information before me I see no reason for taking any action in the matter.

asked the Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, when the correspondence on the subject of the provision of a site for a new science museum at South Kensington will be laid upon the Table?

These Papers will, I hope, be in the hands of hon. Members within a day or two.