asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under Clause 80 of the National Insurance Bill, trade unions will be allowed to claim the Board of Trade subsidy of one-sixth of unemployment benefits paid if Members of the union decide to share employment in alternate weeks during periods of industrial depression?

Subject to the regulations to be made under Clause 80, I see no reason why the State Grant contemplated under that Clause should be withheld in such a case as that referred to in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a man normally earning £1 a week, but being a member of two or more friendly societies, so that during sickness he is in receipt of 22s. per week, would, under Clause 9, Subsection (2) of the National Insurance Bill, only receive 13s. 4d. per week sick benefit, or whether he is only to be deprived either partially or entirely of the contributions of his employer and of the State towards his total benefit?

Clause 9, Subsection (2) only applies to the rate of sickness benefit or disablement benefit payable under the National Health Insurance scheme, and would therefore not operate in the case quoted by the Noble Lord. That case would, however, come under the proviso to Clause 27, in pursuance of which the man's sickness benefit under the Bill would be reduced by 2s.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in preparing the schemes embodied in the National Insurance Bill, he consulted the Employers' Parliamentary Council or any employers' association with respect thereto; and whether he will give the names of such bodies and also the names of the friendly societies and labour unions thus consulted?

:I did not consult the Employers' Parliamentary Council, I do not think any useful purpose would be served by compiling particulars of the friendly societies, employers' associations, and other bodies which the various persons I consulted could be regarded as representing or with which they were connected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will, during the Committee stage of the National Insurance Bill, consider the question of the comparatively diminishing birth rate of children born to healthy, sober, and industrious parents, and the increasing birth rate of children born to feebleminded, imbecilic, inebriate, diseased, and criminal parents, constituting a danger to and an impoverishment of the nation; whether he will consider the scientific methods adopted by the Legislatures of the States of Indiana, California, and Connecticut, and which measures are also being considered by the States of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Oregon, of the United States of America; and whether he will consider the desirability of dealing with and remedying this evil, thereby relieving the burden of taxation and rating upon the sober, healthy, and industrious portion of the community?

I am afraid that I cannot undertake to deal with this important question in connection with Health Insurance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Clause 44, Part II., of the Insurance Bill would give health committees the power to advocate vaccination out of public money by means of lectures or any other methods?

Paragraph (2) of Clause 44 (1) enables the local health committees to make provision for the giving of lectures and the publication of information relating to health as it thinks necessary or desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what opportunity is afforded to fishermen and those employed in fishing boats which are absent from the United Kingdom for lengthened periods to obtain the benefits of the National Insurance Bill; and how they or their employers are to carry out the provisions of the Bill?

The Insurance Commissioners are given power to prescribe the intervals at which payment of contributions should be made. Approved societies are given very wide powers for making arrangements for the payment of the benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that there are between one-and-a-half and two million members of various dividing societies in the country; whether he is aware that, if these dividing societies are not recognised as approved societies under the National Insurance Bill many of them will cease to exist; whether he is aware that the sick benefits paid by these dividing societies are considerably greater than those given to Post Office contributors under the Bill, and that, therefore, the older and worse lives will be worse off under the Bill than they are now; and whether, under these circumstances, he will consider the possibility of amending the Bill so that the dividing societies may be recognised as approved societies, for a term of years in any case?

As I have stated more than once, it is intended that the dividing societies should be able to start subsidiary departments, so constituted as to be qualified to administer the Funds paid in respect of their members under the Insurance Bill, and that they should be free to carry on the remainder of their business on the same basis as hitherto.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the health committees to be constituted under the National Insurance Bill will have power to purchase drugs wholesale to supply doctors and patients; and, if so, what provision will be made for t hose chemists who will thereby be ruined?

The health committees and approved societies retain under the Bill the same freedom as friendly societies at present have in regard to the supply of drugs. I believe the chemists must necessarily profit largely by the provisions of the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the health committees to be constituted under the National Insurance Bill will have power to purchase and destroy cows affected with tuberculosis?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a stevedore engaging dockyard labourers on a Monday for a job will have for that day's work to deduct the 4d. per head from each workman's pay for the day and add his 3d. per head; and whether this payment of 7d. under the National Insurance Bill can be partly recovered from other possible employers later in the week?

The normal arrangement would be as indicated in the first part of the question. The Insurance Commissioners are, however, being empowered to make regulations on the subject, and I hope that it may be possible to make regulations suitable to each trade by agreement.

asked whether societies hitherto granting only death benefits can, by adding medical and sick benefits to their operations, qualify as approved societies under the National Insurance Bill?

Any society which is in a position to provide the benefits prescribed by the Bill and which conforms to the conditions laid down there in, can be recognised as an approved society, even if it has not hitherto provided medical and sick benefits, and even if it is brought into existence solely for the purpose of the Bill.

asked whether commission paid for collection of contributions for death benefits only will prevent societies from becoming approved societies?

The answer is in the negative.

asked whether there is any fixed limit of working expenses excess of which will disqualify societies otherwise qualified to become approved societies; and whether, for this purpose, expenses in working death benefit business or other branches of insurance, if kept separate, will be taken into account?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and therefore the second does not arise. The expenses incurred in respect of death benefits by any society are not a matter with which the National Insurance will be in any way concerned. I may mention that the burden of extravagance in management so far as the benefits provided by the Bill are concerned, will fall on the members of an approved society in the form either of a deficit which they must make good or of a reduction in a surplus, which they might apply to additional benefits.

asked whether approved friendly societies, under the National Insurance Bill, which now make use of medical institutes supported by a combination of friendly societies to provide their medical benefits, will still be able to make use of those medical institutes and support them out of their funds?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that at the Barnwood House Hospital for the Insane, near Gloucester, 145 persons are employed as nurses, as attendants, as gardeners, and in other capacities, at wages of less than £160 a year; that the practice of the committee has always been to provide medical and other attendance during illness for all employés resident in the hospital, but that outdoor employés, while continuing to enjoy their wages without deduction during illness, have generally themselves made arrangements for their medical attendance; and that, in the event of any employé becoming unfit for service through confirmed sickness, age, or infirmity, the committee, in pursuance of a permissive regulation, grant to such employé a superannuation annuity not exceeding in amount two-thirds of his former salary and allowances out of the income of a fund of £70,000 vested in trustees for such purpose; and whether, under the above circumstances, if the above regulation is made obligatory and if the above trust fund is sufficiently increased to meet out of its income all claims for sickness, invalidity, and pensions without requiring any contribution from the employés, the hospital will be brought within Part II (b) of the First Schedule to the National Insurance Bill and thereby excepted from the provisions of Part I. of the Bill?

I am not aware whether employment at the Barnwood House Hospital for the Insane is employment under a local or other public authority. If it is, then, in the event of the course suggested being taken, on the assumption that the provision made for the employés under the terms of their employment is on the whole not less favourable than the benefits conferred by the National Insurance, and can be certified to be so by the Insurance Commissioners, the case would apparently come under Part II. (b) of the First Schedule.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in preparation for a just settlement of the financial relations of Great Britain and Ireland, he will obtain from the Irish Government Departments and make accessible to hon. Members all the material on which an estimate can be formed of the financial drain from Ireland without return or compensation in the form of rents to absentee landlords since 1853, and in the form of prices to absentee vendors of land since 1884?

The Government have no information on which such an estimate could be formed.

asked why the Estates Commissioners refuse to make an advance for premises or houses in the town of Strokestown, application No. 101 to 212; why they deprive the tenants in occupation of the right to become the owners of the houses they occupy, the tenants having promised the Commissioners inspector to pay in cash the difference between what the Commissioners might advance and the value of the premises; if he will state the rulings made by the Commissioners with reference to the town parks and the grazing ranches in Kildallogue, Lavally, Kilmore, Cloonrabracken, and Newtown, which are let on the eleven months and grazing system; if any and what provision has been made to supply the inhabitants of Strokestown with turbary, abundance of turf bank existing on the estate; if he will state if the landlord has consented to the division of the grass lands above referred to amongst the occupiers in Strokestown who require them; if the payment of the bonus will be withheld until the entire estate, including the town of Strokestown, and the grazing lands, adjoining, are included in the sale; and if the Estates Commissioners intend to take any further steps to settle the grievances of the tenants in the town of Strokestown?

The Estates Commissioners have notified to the vendors the amounts which they are prepared to advance in respect of the holdings in Strokestown, the difference between these amounts, and the prices arranged between the vendor and the tenants to be lodged in cash by the latter. The town parks and other lands referred to are part of the owner's demsene, and are not included in the lands in respect of which the owner has instituted proceedings for sale under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The sale is a direct sale between landlord and tenant, and the holdings will be vested in the tenants in accordance with the purchase agreements. After vesting, the holdings will continue to have appurtenant thereto such turbary rights as the tenants are entitled to. The payment of the bonus is not a matter within the jurisdiction of the Estates Commissioners, but will be dealt with by the Judicial Commissioner in Court on the allocation of the purchase money.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in regard to the Westby estate, Kilballyowen, West Clare, he can state the condition of negotiations with regard to the division of the land among the tenants; and whether any portion of the estate will be reserved for any person other than such tenants as come within the provisions of the Land Act of 1909?

This estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and meanwhile the Estates Commissioners are not in a position to express an opinion on the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the tenantry on the Percival estate, situate in the union of Tubber-curry, county Sligo, some eighteen months ago forwarded a petition to the Congested Districts Board praying that body to approach the landlord, A. Percival, Esquire, Templehouse, Ballymote, with the view to the purchase of his estate; whether negotiations have since been opened with this landlord; and if so, can he state wtih what result?

Memorials have been received by the Congested Districts Board from the tenants on this estate, and the agent has been informed that if he desired to open negotiations for the sale of the estate through the Board, he should lodge the necessary maps and documents. So far this has not yet been done.

asked the Chief Secretary what further steps, if any, have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the Parkes estate, Dunally, county Sligo, and, if no progress has been made, if he will explain the cause of the delay; and, further, if the Board have been informed that notwithstanding the negotiations the landlord's representatives are attempting to sell the estate privately in lots without the concurrence of the Board; and if he will make inquiry and have effective steps taken to secure the whole of this estate for the settlement of congestion?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that owing to the death of the landlord the negotiations for the purchase of this estate have been suspended. The Board are making inquiries as regards the latter part of the question

asked the Chief Secretary what further progress, if any, has been made by the Congested Districts Board in acquiring for the purposes of the Land Act of 1909 the grazing lands known as Ballymulderry, Doonfore, Ballygilgan, and Oxfield, all part of the Gore Booth estate, county Sligo; whether he will state what steps the Congested Districts Board have taken for the purpose of purchasing these lands; and what is the cause of the delay in completing the transaction?

The Congested Districts Board are in correspondence with the Estates Commissioners regarding the lands mentioned, as they understand that proceedings are pending before the Commissioners for the purchase of other portions of Sir Gore Booth's estate. No avoidable delay has occurred in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state when the holdings of the tenants on the Lady Castlestewart estate, county Cavan, will likely be vested; will he say when the purchase agreements were filed; and if the vendor is taking all cash?

The Estates Commissioners anticipate that this estate will be dealt with during the present financial year. The purchase agreements were lodged in December, 1905. The reply to the concluding inquiry in the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether written complaints have been made to the constabulary authorities against Sergeant Carroll, Royal Irish Constabulary, Maguires-bridge, county Fermanagh, for neglecting and refusing to protect a Mr. Irvine, his family, and house against a riotous mob in August last, and for insulting conduct to the same Mr. Irvine in March last; is this the same sergeant against whom Mr. Irvine got a decree for assault; is he the same sergeant who was in charge of the police when a son of Mr. Irvine was assaulted by Constable Carolin, Royal Irish Constabulary, for which assault the boy recovered damages; did the constabulary authorities purport to inquire into the charges or any of them; did they do so ex parte, having only the evidence of the police, and without hearing the complainants or Mr. Irvine; and will he direct an inquiry into the matter at which both sides can be heard; and, having regard to the constant friction and ill-feeling between the Protestant inhabitants of Maguiresbridge and Sergeant Carroll, will he suggest that the interests of peace would be best served by promoting Sergeant Carroll to some other district of greater importance and affording more scope for his abilities?

Complaints have been made against Sergeant Carroll as stated in the question. Mr. Irvine got a decree against him in 1909 for assault, but the Lord Chief Baron, on appeal, held that the assault was merely technical, and gave only sixpence damages. Mr. Irvine's son also obtained damages against a constable for assault during an election row, but the charges brought against Sergeant Carroll, who was in charge of the police on that occasion, were dismissed by the county court judge. The complaints against the sergeant have been inquired into by the Inspector-General, who is satisfied that the sergeant discharges his duties efficiently and impartially, and I see no reason for the inquiry suggested, or for transferring the sergeant to another district.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that subsistence allowance is not allowed members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, whilst engaged in collecting the Census returns, for duty performed within a radius of two miles from enumerator's barracks; whether this allowance is payable for duty performed partly within and partly outside this radius; whether this radius is calculated by the nearest public road or is it a mathematical radius; whether he is aware that superintendents are disallowing claims made for duty performed partly within and partly outside two miles from enumerator's barracks; what amount has been so disallowed in counties Down and Antrim; whether superintendents are empowered to disallow these claims, if not, will he issue instructions to them to have claims amended; whether he will cause full inquiry to be made into claims so disallowed to prevent any claimant being properly deprived of subsistence allowance actually earned by him; what was the object of imposing a two-mile limit from station for this duty, and was it intended that a man, after having performed a portion of a day's work within a radius of two miles from barracks and then proceeded outside that limit, should be deprived of subsistence allowance?

Subsistence allowance for absence in the daytime is not granted to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary for any duty performed within two miles of their station by the nearest road. The accounts of the census enumerators will be examined by the constabulary authorities prior to transmission to the Registrar General for repayment, and every care will be taken that no enumerator is deprived of any subsistence allowance to which he is justly entitled. Superintendents are empowered to disallow claims for subsistence allowance which do not appear to them to be in accordance with constabulary regulations, but the Inspector General is not aware that any claims have been disallowed in counties of Down and Antrim. All such disallowances, if made, will be reviewed when the accounts of the enumerators are being audited. Subsistence allowance is granted, if the duty is continuous, in the circumstances mentioned in the last paragraph of the question.

asked whether there were on the 1st April, 1910, twenty-one evicted tenants noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land; whether on the 31st March, 1911, not one of these tenants had been either reinstated or furnished with other holdings; what reason is given by the Estates Commissioners for the delay in this work; and when do they hope to bring it to a conclusion?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners have been in negotiation for the purchase of untenanted land, and arrangements have been completed to place four of the evicted tenants in possession to-morrow of lands which the Commissioners have been able to acquire, and the remaining cases will be dealt with according as lands are acquired by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners stated in June, 1909, that the name of Michael Rowe had been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land; and whether, as he was evicted from the Templemore property, and has long ago put in a claim for untenanted land, can he say if there is at present any prospect of his getting a farm?

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. Rowe's application will be considered in the allotment of the untenanted land on the estate, which is the subject of proceedings before the Estates Commissioners, but which they have not yet acquired as it has not yet been reached in order of priority.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the applications for reinstatement made by the following evicted tenants, and, if so, what further steps have they taken in each case, namely, John Lynch, Hugh Crean, and John Courtney, Ballinvogig, Annascaul, Dingle, evicted April, 1887, Michael Fitzgerald and Jeremiah Fitzgerald, Garrywilliam, Castlegregory, and Johanna M'Mahon, Maurice Barry, and Denis Courtney, Lougher Annascaul?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered the application of John Lynch, Hugh Crean, and John Courtney, and decided not to take any action. Michael Fitzgerald's case has been inquired into and his name has been noted for consideration in the distribution of untenanted land. As regards the case of Maurice Barry, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by him on 6th April, to which I have nothing to add. The Commissioners do not appear to have received applications from Jeremiah Fitzgerald, Johanna McMahon, or Denis Courtney.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the inspector who inquired into the application of Mr. William Neill, of Bansha, Killorglin, Kerry, for reinstatement to his farm on the Blennerhassett estate, near Tralee, was aware that Mr. Neill holds a pass book, showing receipts for rent down to 1885 as an agricultural tenant, entitling him to avail of all the provisions of the Land Law Acts; if he saw those receipts, how did he arrive at the conclusion that no action should be taken; and if he will state what new construction it is proposed to put on the Evicted Tenants Act which would exclude a tenant who held as an agricultural tenant down to 1885?

The Estates Commissioners have seen the pass book referred to by the hon. Member, and after full inquiry and consideration decided to take no action in regard to William O'Neill's application for reinstatement.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Commissioners investigated the claims of the representatives of the late Maurice Murphy, who was evicted from a farm on the estate of Lord Headley, Aghadoe, Killarney; whether, seeing that he was an agricultural tenant holding under lease dating back to 1848, which compelled him annually to expend large sums in improvements, finally he broke down owing to a large increase in his rent; and whether, under these special circumstances and as he is well within the Statute, immediate steps will be taken to provide his representatives with a holding?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the remainder of the question I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by him on 18th May, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the precise nature of the alleged wrong particulars furnished by Martin Quinn, Belclare, and Margaret Rochford, Stonepark, both of the D.D. Aclare sub-pension committee, county Sligo, which induced the Local Government Board to cancel these people's pensions; whether the sole ground of disqualification rested on the allegation that these people in making their application gave the wrong names of their townlands, which, in that Irish-speaking district, have more names than one; and whether, seeing that these people are illiterate and reside in a backward congested district, their cases will be reconsidered in accordance with the wishes of the local committee?

The Local Government Board nearly two years ago discontinued the pensions of the two persons referred to, not because they had furnished wrong particulars, but because they failed to show that they had reached the statutory age. I understand that fresh claims were subsequently lodged, and that these two persons are now in receipt of pensions. These pensions run from the Friday after the claims were allowed, and there is no power to antedate them.

asked the cause of the delay in paying to Michael Carroll, Kilfarboy, Miltown Malbay, West Clare, the old age pension which was granted to him on 15th December or 20th December last?

On the 31st January last the Local Government Board upheld an appeal lodged by the pension officer against the award on the 22nd December last of a pension to Michael Carroll by the Clare County Pension Committee on the ground that Carroll's means exceeded the statutory limit.

asked the Chief Secretary on what evidence the Local Government Board referred the claim to an old age pension of Mary Shaw, of Carrollustia, Colgagh post office, county Sligo; whether he was aware of the fact that the Sligo (No. 1) Sub-pension Committee on 30th March, 1911, unanimously passed her claim to an old age pension at the rate of 5s. per week; whether he disputes the contention of this committee that they most carefully considered all the evidence in the case; whether the local pension officer, during the investigation of the claim, expressed as his opinion that the claimant was of the age qualifying her for a pension; and whether, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the Local Government Board would reinvestigate it, so as to order the payment of this woman's pension and arrears?

The Local Government Board upheld an appeal by the pension officer against the decision of the Sligo (No. 1) Sub-pension Committee awarding Mary Shaw a pension on the ground that the evidence submitted was insufficient to show that she had attained the statutory age. There is no reason to suppose that the Sub-committee did not carefully consider the evidence before them, but the Board are not aware that the pension officer expressed the opinion attributed to him. The Board are not empowered to reopen the case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the nature of the irregularities that have been committed by the Dungarvan union; whether an inquiry was recently held by the Local Government Board; and, if so, will he lay a copy of the report upon the Table; whether he can state the amounts of public money squandered illegally under the scheme of that council by direct labour; whether a Mr. William Stack is in any way implicated, and, if so, to what extent; and what steps the Government propose to take in the matter?

The irregularities referred to took place in connection with the building by the Dungarvan Rural District Council of labourers' cottages by direct labour instead of by contract. An inquiry was held by the Local Government Board at the request of the council. The inspector's report and transcript of evidence are voluminous, and I do not see that any useful purpose would be served by laying them on the Table of the House. The Board estimate that owing to the irregularities there was an excess expenditure of over £2,000. Mr. Slack is chairman of the district council, but it did not appear that he was directly concerned in the transactions. The Board have communicated the result of the inquiry to the district council, and it is now for the council to consider what steps should be taken with regard to the action of their officials.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will ascertain and state the date of the appointment of the present secretary of Westmeath County Council, and the salary then fixed; the date of each increase of his salary since then, with the amount of increase, and whether it was preceded by notice of motion in each case; the present amount of his salary, and whether sanctioned by the Local Government Board; the payments made to him in each of the last three years under the Grand Juries Acts, the Franchise Acts, and the Old Age Pensions Act, respectively; and the present gross annual income of this official from all public sources?

The present Secretary of the county council was appointed in July, 1906, at a salary of £10 a year, which was increased after due notice to his present salary of £40 a year in September, 1908, and sanctioned by the Local Government Board. The following sums have been certified by the Secretary as having been paid to him during each of the last three years ended 31st March, 1909, 1910, and 1911 under Franchise Acts, £89 Os. 1d., £99 7s. 3d., and £101 1s., respectively; under Jurors Act, £64 1s. 9d., £81 11s. 9d., and £82 Os. 9d., respectively; under Diseases of Animals Act, £80 per annum; and under Explosives Act £5 per annum. The Board have no record of any further payments having been made to him during these years, and his present gross annual income as county secretary as certified by himself would appear to be £308 1s. 9d.

asked whether the secretary of Westmeath County Council is the returning officer, and has the appointment of presiding officers and charge of the ballot boxes at the local government elections there; whether it is with the approval of the Irish Local Government Board he is using his powers, inducements, threats, and active canvass to influence the result of pending contests; if not, whether the Board will withdraw from him until the elections are over all power of interfering with them, and send down an impartial outsider to appoint presiding officers, take charge of the ballot boxes, and superintend the count; and, if not, what action the Board will take to secure the secrecy of the ballot against a person who has forfeited public confidence?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The Local Government Board have no information regarding the allegations of influence brought against this official, and they have no statutory authority to interfere in the conduct of the election. Under rules made by the Board severe penalties are, however, provided in the case of irregularities on the part of returning officers.

asked the Chief Secretary if he would direct a Return to be laid upon the Table of the House of Commons, showing the names of the officials of the Land Commission and their salaries, and a general statement showing their duties in the various offices; will he say whether the expenses of the Land Commission are nearly £1,000 a day to sell out property amounting to £7,000,000 a year; how many examiners of title are there; will he consider the advisability of having an inquiry made into the system by which the Land Commission conducts the business; has any of the staff been cut down owing to the decrease of business in the Land Commission since the passing of the last Land Act; and is he aware that the tenants in South Wexford are complaining of the delay in carrying out the sales, as they understand there is plenty of money to be had?

The Estimates for the Land Commission give full particulars of the number of officials of the different grades and their rates of salary. It would be impracticable to furnish a return showing the duties of the various officers, numbering over 600. It is incorrect to suggest that the expenses of administration amounts to £1,000 a day. Excluding the extraneous charges, which are borne on the Land Commission Vote, the expenses of administration amount to about £160,000 per annum. In addition to the carrying out of sales, the work of the Land Commission includes the collection of nearly £4,000,000 per annum, the fixing of fair rents, the administration of Church property, the improvement of estates, and the distribution of untenanted land purchased by the Estates Commissioners, and the administration of the Evicted Tenants and other Acts. There are eighteen examiners of title. The fair-rent staff now numbers less than one-third the staff of some years ago. There has been no unnecessary delay in carrying out sales. Nearly £7,500,000 were advanced last financial year, and it is anticipated that this amount will be considerably exceeded during the present year. County Wexford cases, like all others, are dealt with in order of priority.

asked what provision is to be made by the Congested Districts Board or otherwise for the fishermen of Enniscrone, county Sligo; and whether he is aware of the disappointment prevailing amongst the fishermen of this district on account of the failure by the Government to fulfil even the promise made to those fishermen a year ago that a sum of money would be spent in deepening the harbour?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 3rd April. The Congested Districts Board are advised that the expenditure requisite to provide at Enniscrone a landing place for use by fishing boats at all stages of the tide would be out of all proportion to the interests which would be served by the proposed improvement,

asked whether the Commissioners of National Education and of Intermediate Education in Ireland usually advertise vacancies in the Irish Press; why does the Department of Agricultural Instruction not do so; how many officials of the Department have left its service in order to take up similar appointments in England; who has been appointed to fill the vacancy recently caused by the resignation of Mr. Smaile; how many scholarships, commercial and industrial, have been given out of the funds of the Department up to date; how many inspectorships, and headships of technical schools under the Department are now filled by Irishmen; and how many by other persons?

The Commissioners of National Education, the Intermediate Education Board and the Department, of Agriculture advertise certain vacancies on their staffs in the Irish Press when necessary. Eight officials of the Department of Agriculture, excluding clerks, left its service to take up appointments in England. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Smail has been filled by the promotion of Mr. McCaffery, one of the junior inspectors of technical instruction. Twenty-four commercial and twenty-two industrial scholarships, have been awarded by the Department. Eight of the technical instruction inspectors are Irishmen, three are not Irish, and there is now one vacancy. The Department has no information as regards the headships of technical schools.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the decision of the Lisburn Board of Guardians to erect the new dispensary at Glenavy instead of at Ballinderry was carried only by 12 votes to eight, although the total number of the guardians is over 60; whether he is aware that Glenavy is on the extreme border of the district, and that the erection of the dispensary there inconveniences some 400 of the people entitled to dispensary relief; whether the cost of the land required at Glenavy is £70 per acre, whilst land could be had at Ballinderry for 40 per cent. less; and whether, in view of the circumstances, he will direct the Local Government Board to hold a full inquiry into this matter?

The proposal to acquire the Glenavy site for the new dispensary residence was carried by the board of guardians by twelve votes as against eight in favour of the Ballinderry site. The meeting had been specially summoned to consider the question, and twenty-four out of the sixty-two guardians in office attended. Glenavy, where the medical officer has hitherto resided, is, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, the most convenient and suitable place for the dispensary residence, having regard to the interests of the dispensary district as a whole. The price of the site at Glenavy is £70 an acre, and that at Ballinderry £50 an acre. I do not consider that the suggested inquiry is either necessary or desirable, or that there is any adequate reason to question the action of the guardians in the matter.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he would state how many men were annually invalided out of the Royal Navy?

The average number of officers and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines finally invalided from the service during the years 1905 to 1909 was 1,987.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Special Reserve of the Royal Field Artillery will take any part in lining the streets at the forthcoming Coronation procession and Royal progress; and, in that event, whether he will give an opportunity to officers and men of the Irish section of being present, in view of the fact that the Irish Special Reserve infantry is to be represented?

The reply to both parts of the question is in the affirmative. The Irish Special Reserve Royal Field Artillery will be represented by one officer and twenty-five other ranks and the Royal Garrison Artillery by two officers and fifty other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware of the complaints made by indentured Indian coolies in Mauritius that they are recruited by misrepresentations, and subjected to hardships and ill-treatment on the plantations; that, when brought before the magistrates, they are unable to obtain witnesses in their favour, as no one is willing to give evidence against the employers; that they are often refused admission to hospital when ill; and that their contracts are unfairly prolonged under a law passed since they w ere engaged; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

I have not received any representations on the subject, but if my hon. Friend will inform me of any specific instance in which coolies have been recruited through misrepresentations, or ill-treated, I will make inquiry. The law to which my hon. Friend refers provides that a labourer who is illegally absent from his work may have his contract prolonged by the number of days during which he has been so absent—but I am not aware of any unfair prolongation of contracts, nor that labourers are unable to obtain witnesses in their favour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what is the number of emigration agents and sub-agents employed in Great Britain and Ireland by or on behalf of the Canadian Government at the present moment; and whether they are paid a fixed salary or by results?

I understand that there is no emigration agent or sub-agent employed in Great Britain and Ireland, by or on behalf of the Canadian Government, except the following:—Mr. John McLennan, Liverpool; Mr. L. Burnett, York; Mr. Andrew O'Kelly, Birmingham; Mr. A. F. Jury, Exeter; Mr. M. McIntyre, Glasgow; Mr. W. D. Cumming, Aberdeen; Mr. E. O'Kelly, Dublin; Mr. J. Webster, Belfast. All these officials are paid by a fixed salary, and not by results.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he will describe the existing practice by which in formation concerning British commerce, trade, and shipping, transmitted from British Ministers abroad or Consuls, is received and distributed in this country; whether the same is sent in the first instance to the Foreign Office or to the Board of Trade Department; whether. he will consider the advisability of British Ministers and Consuls communicating direct with the Board of Trade Department in connection with these matters; whether, in view of the competition by Germany and America with Great Britain in our foreign markets, he will give instructions to British Ministers and Consuls to take a keener interest in these matters; and whether he can state if German and American Ministers and Consuls abroad communicate with the Foreign Secretary of their respective Governments or with the Minister occupying a similar position to that of our President of the Board of Trade?

His Majesty's Consular officers communicate directly with the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade with regard to questions addressed to them by the branch, and furnish the branch with information as to contracts open to tender (by telegram, where that course appears desirable), and also as to classified lists of the principal dealers in various kinds of goods within their Consular districts. Answers to questions addressed to Consular officers by British firms are transmitted through the Commercial Intelligence Branch. The Consular officers also communicate directly with the Marine Department of the Board of Trade on matters arising out of the Merchant Shipping Acts. In all other cases His Majesty's Consular officers report to the Secretary of State, as do His Majesty's Ministers abroad in all cases. Copies of these reports, so far as they relate to subjects dealt with by the Board of Trade, are forwarded immediately to that Department. The information so received by the Board of Trade, when likely to be of interest to British merchants, manufacturers, or shipowners, is either published in the weekly "Board of Trade Journal" or communicated to firms on the Special Register of the Commercial Intelligence Branch, or sent to chambers of commerce and other interested bodies. Samples of materials for industry or of goods com- peting with British products, supplied by Consular officers from time to time, are displayed at the offices of the Commercial Intelligence Branch. The Annual Reports of His Majesty's Consular officers are edited by the Foreign Office and the Board of Trade jointly, and the Board consult with the Secretary of State, as occasion requires, respecting any changes which may seem desirable in the Consular instructions, so far as they relate to commerce and navigation. Newly-appointed Consular officers are required to spend some time at the Commercial Intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade before taking up their appointments, with a view to their becoming acquainted with the general nature of the requirements of British traders in the matter of the supply of commercial information. German Diplomatic and Consular officers report on matters relating to trade and shipping direct to the Commercial Department of the Imperial Foreign Office, and receive their instructions from the same source.

asked the Prime Minister whether at all discussions that may take place at the Imperial Conference regarding the Empire and foreign affairs a representative of the Government of India will be present?

The Prime Minister asks me to say that, as President of the Conference, he will take any steps necessary to ensure the representation of India when required.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he could inform the House of the total number of applicants in England and Wales who have borrowed under the provisions of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, and the total amount advanced by the Public Works Loans Commissioners to local authorities, and also the names of authorities in Wales which have adopted the Act, the number of applicants who have borrowed in each case, and the total amounts advanced to each authority; could he state the reasons why the provisions of the Act had not been more widely adopted, and would he consider the advisability of introducing a Bill to amend the same; and would he issue a circular to municipal authorities in South Wales drawing their attention to the advisability of adopting the present Act?

I have no precise information as to the total number of applicants in England and Wales, or in Wales only, who have borrowed under the provisions of the Small Dwellings Acquisition Act, 1899, but the Local Government Board have sanctioned the borrowing by local authorities of a sum of £154,687, to enable them to make advances in respect of the purchase of 875 houses. In addition to this the Board have also sanctioned loans to local authorities amounting to £16,566, for the purpose of providing funds from which to meet prospective applications for advances. The London County Council have advanced £2,880 in respect of the purchase of fifteen houses, and have sanctioned the borrowing by Metropolitan borough councils of £5,945 to enable them to make advances in respect of the purchase of thirty-two houses. The total amount advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners is £142,168. The Board have not complete information as to what authorities in Wales have decided to take proceedings under the Act, but I may point out that all county councils and county borough councils are local authorities for the purposes of the Act, and the councils of urban and rural districts may, subject, in the cases of councils of districts with a population at the last Census of less than 10,000, to the consent of the county council, pass resolutions undertaking to act under the Act. It is not, however, compulsory upon them to notify the fact to the Local Government Board. The Board have sanctioned the borrowing by two authorities only in Wales of money for the purpose of making advances—namely, Pontardawe Rural District Council and Llanelly Urban District Council. The amounts sanctioned were £5,639 in respect of thirty houses, and £535 in respect of three houses. The amounts advanced to these two authorities by the Public Works Loan Commissioners were £4,193 and £535 respectively. The fact that the Act has not been more generally utilised will no doubt be ascribed to various causes, but my own view is that there are not many places where the principle of the Act can be usefully put into operation. In these circumstances, I am not able to suggest amendments of the Act as proposed by the hon. Member, and I do not think that a circular drawing attention to its provisions would help.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has ascertained the number of the carcases of Chinese pork imported into Ireland; and whether he can state if any of those carcases were sold as Chinese pork or manufactured into Irish bacon?

Carcases of Chinese pork have not been imported into Ireland so far as the Department of Agriculture are aware. Chinese bacon (cured) has been brought to Ireland from Great Britain; but no evidence has been obtained to show that any of this bacon was sold as Irish. Further enquiries are being made into the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state how many carcases of Chinese pork were recently landed at Liverpool; whether they were inspected, and, if so, with what result; and whether he is able to state if they were sold as Chinese pork or manufactured into English bacon?

I am informed that a consignment of 16,089 carcases of Chinese pork arrived recently in Liverpool. A portion only of the consignment has so far been landed, and, as the inspection of the carcases will be a prolonged operation, the results of examination will not be available for some time. So far as is known, it is the intention of the owners to convert the whole consignment into bacon, and none of it will be sold as pork.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state what rural district councils have applied for loans for cottage buildings since 1st January, 1910, under the Housing Acts; and what have been the results of their applications?

Since 1st January, 1910, the Rural District Councils of Bedford, Billericay, Chipping Campden, Henstead, Hitchin, Linton, Mailing, Smallburgh, and Spalding have applied for sanction to loans for the erection of houses for the working classes under the Housing Acts. Loans have been sanctioned in the cases of Hitchin, Linton, and Smallburgh, and the other cases are under consideration. The Board have also given consent to the sale of Consols held on behalf of a parish in the rural district of Maldon and the appropriation of the proceeds in the erection of houses by the rural district council. I may add that between the passing of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, and the Act of 1909, loans for the erection of houses under the former Act had been sanctioned in respect of only eight rural districts, including Linton and Maldon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he was aware of the dispute between the Port of London Authority and staff of the Surrey Commercial Docks over the payment of wages; and whether he would intervene in the matter in order to obtain a settlement?

I understand that some difficulty arose in connection with the decision to readjust the method by which wages are paid in the case of certain classes of employés of the Port of London Authority at the Surrey Commercial Docks, in order to make the system of payment at those docks uniform with the system in force at other docks. I am informed, however, by the Port of London Authority that the arrangements which have now been made to carry out the readjustment will entail a minimum of inconvenience to the staff and that further difficulty is not anticipated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he could state, even with approximate accuracy, the number of British subjects whose domicile is in the British Islands serving in positions other than that of a certificated officer or engineer on British vessels permanently engaged in trading between places all of which are outside the British Islands?

I regret that I am unable to give the information desired. Some details on the lines indicated by my hon. Friend are contained in Table 23 of the Census of Seamen for 1906 (Cd. 3841), which shows the number of seamen employed on 4th April, 1906, on vessels which opened and closed agreements at foreign ports. This table does not, however, distinguish between Colonial seamen and those belonging to the United Kingdom, nor does it show where the seamen were domiciled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he would give the details of the respective sums standing to the credit of depositors and of stock held by them in the Post Office Savings Bank on 31st December, 1909, and in the trustee savings banks on 25th November, 1909, which make up the total of £240,919,000, as given in the Return, No. 133, United Kingdom (Trade, Commerce, and Condition of the People)?

The following statement gives the details required by the hon. Member:—

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make arrangements for a Sunday postal delivery in Lanesboro', county Longford, as it is desired by the business men of the town?

I regret that I am unable to make the desired arrangements. There is already a heavy loss on the postal service in the locality, and additional expenditure would not be justified.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state what staff is at present employed in the telephone department of the Irish trunk system in Dublin; will he state the titles by which the heads of this department are known; and whether there is any age limit affecting those employed as referred to in this question?

The staff at present employed in working the Post Office telephones at Dublin consists of one assistant supervisor and nineteen telephonists. The age limits for candidates for appointment as telephonists are sixteen to nineteen, with an extension under certain conditions in favour of candidates already in the service of the Post Office or the National Telephone Company.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, when the report on the diseases of animals for last year will be issued?

The report is nearly ready and will be issued in the course of a few weeks.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that for some years past, between the end of May and the end of August in each year, foreign-owned and foreign-manned steam vessels, to the number of ten or twelve, have been in the habit of trawling, greatly to the detriment of local fishermen, from the Sunk Light, Harwich, through East Swin and the Barrow Deep as far up as the Mouse Lightship; whether he is aware that a large portion of this area lies within the estuary of the River Thames; whether he is aware that these foreign vessels use roller and other trawls having a sweep, approximately, three times as large as ordinary trawls, and that these trawls, by reason of their peculiar and heavy construction, kill many small fish, destroy the spawn, and, by cutting up the ground and breaking down the heaps of ross which contain the worm, destroy the feed for shrimps and other fish and thus do mischief to the local fishing industry; and whether, under these circumstances, he will take steps during the coming season to prevent the incursion of these foreign steam trawlers, and afford to the native fishermen in the above-mentioned waters the necessary protection for their industry?

Almost all of the waters to which the hon. Member refers are the area within which this country possesses outside exclusive fishing rights, but the Board propose to communicate with the Board of Trade and the Admiralty with a view to arrange for the protection of that area by a fishery cruiser.