asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will have the applicability or inapplicability of the National Insurance Bill to Ireland ascertained by Irish actuaries acquainted with the conditions of life in rural districts in Ireland as contrasted with those of the fully-employed and well-paid population of Great Britain?

The applicability or inapplicability of the National Insurance Bill to Ireland appears to me to he a social and economic rather than an actuarial question, and one on which the House of Commons would prefer to listen to the representatives of Irish Constituencies.

asked whether the employés at a works which is closed down for a week or more at holiday times, who are employed contributors under Part I. of the National Insurance Bill, will be exempt from contributions for such periods; and, if not, whether they will, to avoid falling into arrears, be required to pay the whole of the contributions due in respect of them or whether the employer's portion of such contributions will be recoverable from the employer?

Contributions can only be paid through the employer in respect of a period during which the contributor is employed. An employed contributor may miss practically 6 per cent. of his contributions without suffering any disadvantage, and may miss any proportion up to 25 per cent. without suffering a complete suspension of benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether workmen in insured trades who, by the closing down of the works in which they are employed for periods of a week or more at holiday or other times, are unable to provide for their maintenance will be regarded as being entitled to unemployment benefit under Part II. of the National Insurance Bill, although they are not specifically discharged from their employment and do not enter into a new contract of service on the reopening of the works; and, if not so regarded, will they be liable to pay contributions during such periods, although they are not in receipt of wages; and will the employer be liable to pay his portion of the contributions due in respect of such workmen; and what steps does he propose to take to ensure the collection of such contributions?

Workmen who are unemployed in the circumstances mentioned in the question would be entitled to draw unemployment benefit provided that the other conditions entitling them to benefit are fulfilled in their case. I may remind my hon. Friend that benefit will not be payable during the first week of a period of unemployment. Neither work-people nor employers would be liable to pay contributions in respect of such periods as those referred to.

asked whether a superannuation fund established by an employer which only provides disablement benefit could become an approved society under the National Insurance Bill without also making provision for sick benefits?

The answer is in the negative.

asked whether a trade union, not at present providing similar benefits to those specified in Part I. of the National Insurance Bill, but willing to establish a section for the administration of such specified benefits and having 10,000 present members desirous of making it their approved society, will be eligible for approval under the scheme, and, if approved, whether such trade union will be required to deposit such sums as may be required by the Insurance Commissioners under Clause 20 (1) from its funds accumulated for other purposes, and, if so, whether it will be permitted, as its accumulations for purposes of this scheme grow, to substitute for such deposits from other funds its accumulations under this scheme; and, if approved under such conditions, whether the Government audit and control of its funds and administration would extend to the whole of its funds and activities or only to such portion of them as are established in respect of its approval under the National Insurance Bill?

A trade union, in the circumstances described, will be eligible as an approved society, and for the purpose of giving security would not be restricted to the method of depositing the necessary sums. The Government audit, and control to be established by Clause 28 of the Bill will only extend to the funds provided for the National Insurance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether any Returns have been obtained, as respects Ireland only, regarding the rates of sickness and disablement in urban and rural districts, respectively, for the purposes of the National Insurance Bill; if so, whether they will be laid upon the Table of the House; and, if not, whether such Returns will e obtained and laid upon the Table before the Committee stage of the Bill is taken; and (2) whether any actuarial calculations have been made, as respects Ireland only, for the purposes of the National Insurance Bill; if so, whether they will be laid upon the Table of the House; and, if not, whether he will cause such calculations to be made, based on the actual rates of sickness, disablement, and unemployment in Ireland, and to be laid upon the Table of the House before the Committee stage of the Bill is taken?

With regard to Part I. of the Bill, the proportion of the Irish population already insured against sickness is so small and so confined to purely industrial areas that it is to be feared that the data available for the calculations indicated by the hon. Member would be of little value. So far as Part II. is concerned, there is no reason to suppose that the unemployed rates in the insured trades would, on the whole, differ seriously from those applicable to the United Kingdom.

asked whether any extra fees, in the nature of mileage, will be allowed in respect to doctors who have to travel long distances in order to visit their patients?

This would be a matter for the doctor concerned to arrange with the society or health committee, subject to the arrangement being to the satisfaction of the Insurance Commissioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that the conditions of the National Insurance Bill, in regard to medical treatment, have roused dissatisfaction amongst the general medical practitioners throughout the United Kingdom; whether, in view of the fact that their cordial support is essential to the success of the scheme, he would consider changes in his proposals likely to satisfy the medical profession; whether he had sought the information or advice of those who justly claim to represent general medical practitioners; and, if so, with what result?

With regard to the first and second portions of the question, I think I made the position clear in my speech during the discussion on the Second Reading last Monday. With regard to the concluding portion, I have seen representatives of the British Medical Association twice—once before and once since the introduction of the Bill. I have also seen representatives of the General Medical Council, and I have consulted from time to time other representatives of the medical profession. Moreover, I have carefully perused the able report of the British Medical Association on contract practice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is his intention that health societies in administering the maternity grant under the National Insurance Bill will make provision for the services of qualified midwife nurses; and whether, in the event of the employment of a midwife, the 30s. grant is supposed to cover her services and those of any doctor she may have to consult?

The maternity benefit of 30s. is intended to cover the cost of doctor and midwife where necessary.

asked whether a man at present normally earning £1 a week, who belongs to three friendly societies, so that when ill he receives 30s. a week, would under Clause 27 of the National Insurance Bill only receive £1 a week during sickness; and, if so, would he be entitled to claim the return of some of his payments made in the past?

In the case described the man would not be entitled to any sick pay under the National Insurance which would bring his total receipts during sickness above £1 a week. He would not be entitled to a return of contributions on this account.

Am I to understand that ho would be entitled to the privileges for which he had paid himself, but would receive no assistance from the State or from his firm?

The State makes provision for persons who would otherwise be distressed owing to sickness or unemployment. If the provision is so adequate as this it is obviously undesirable that the contributions of the State should be used for the purpose of encouraging malingering.

Am I to understand that a man's benefit which he has paid for himself in the old society will not be interfered with? Will he still be allowed to receive the benefits he has been paying for in the past?

We do not interfere at all with the other societies. It is a matter for him and the other societies. We have only to deal with the funds raised under the Bill to which we contribute.

asked how small chemists can benefit under the National Insurance Bill if health committees are to buy drugs wholesale and give them out to doctors and patients?

I have no reason to believe that health committees will buy drugs wholesale and dole them out to doctors and patients.

asked if the health board proposed to be set up under the National Insurance Bill will be at liberty to pay 2s. 6d. out of possible available funds in addition to the 6s. to the doctors for attending friendly societies' members, or will such extra payment be confined to the Post Office insured?

The Insurance Commissioners will have power under the Bill to ensure fair conditions of payment to medical practitioners for their services to insured persons. If the 6s. turns out to be insufficient, the surplus of 2s. 6d. per member provided in the finance of our scheme can be drawn upon.

Will they have liberty to make that extra payment both to the members of friendly societies and those insured under the Post Office?

I have already explained that with regard to the Post Office insured the 6s. does not come into account at all. Inasmuch as it is an insurance on a bad life it is obvious that 6s. would not cover the medical attendance in those cases.

asked whether unemployed benefit will be paid under the National Insurance Bill under the circumstances of a section of workpeople at a particular mill having a grievance which the employer refuses to redress, and as a consequence all the other workpeople employed at that mill giving in their notices in support of the aggrieved section, and in retaliation all the other employers in the town locking out their workpeople, who have no dispute or grievance; and will the latter portion of workpeople be entitled to unemployed benefit?

If, as I gather from the terms of the question, the workpeople referred to are directly affected by a lockout, they would be precluded by Clause 63 of the Bill from receiving unemployment benefit while the lock-out lasts. It is, however, very difficult to give a general reply to a hypothetical question without reference to all the circumstances of each particular case.

I desire to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question, of which I have given him private notice—whether, in view of the fact that the National Insurance Bill itself recognises that a distinction is necessary between the case of Great Britain and the case of Ireland, and that in the opinion of the people of Ireland further such distinctions must be made to render the insurance scheme equitable as between the two countries, he considers it possible and desirable that the case of Ireland should be dealt with separately in the Bill, and if so will he agree to deal with the necessary modifications for Ireland by Amendments to Clause 59 and such other Clauses as affect Ireland specifically?

When I came to frame the Bill I found that the conditions as to labour, medical attendance, and in a few other rather important respects, were very different in Ireland, especially as to organisation. There were very few societies there, and I had to frame separate Clauses to deal with Ireland; therefore I should have thought it would be very convenient when we come to consider the Bill that all proposals with regard to Ireland should be dealt with in connection with the Irish Clauses in the Bill. If that suits the convenience of hon. Members, certainly it would be convenient to the Government as well.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in the computation of Super-tax an allowance is made for tithe in the case of land let to a tenant by the proprietor, but in the case of land in the occupation of the owner no such allowance is made; and, if so, whether he is prepared to take steps to treat both cases in the same way?

Tithe is allowed as a deduction in both cases. In the case of land in the occupation of the owner, the basis for the Super-tax is the assessment to Income Tax, Schedule A; and in arriving at this assessment the tithe has, as a rule, already been deducted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a hardship is put upon partners in private firms as compared with partners in firms incorporated as limited companies by the working of the Income Tax Act in regard to the Super-tax, which does not appear to have been intended by him; is he aware that according to the statement 2/ST, sent out by the Commissioners as a guidance, partners in private firms have to base their return on the amount upon which the Inland Revenue Commissioners have assessed the business, and which is in all cases more than the actual profit made, and greatly in excess of the profit distributed; and could he see his way, so far as the Super-tax is concerned, to remedy this hardship by putting partners in private firms on the same footing as shareholders in limited companies, who only have to return the actual amount received in dividends and not base their income upon the amount upon which the Inland Revenue have assessed their company?

The point which the hon. Baronet has brought forward was fully considered during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill of 1909; and I do not consider that any alteration of the law is necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can see his way, by regulation or otherwise, to extend the optional facilities afforded by Section 49 (3) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, so that they should apply to licence holders whose Licence Duty is under £60?

As I informed the hon. Member for South Ayrshire on Monday last, this matter is under consideration.

asked if it is intended to impose increment Tax on an occasion when it is found that the site value is a minus quantity?

Yes, Sir, if on the occasion increment is revealed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that when the original site value is a minus quantity the 10 per cent. allowance will increase instead of diminishing the duty, he wilt insert a clause in the Finance Bill amending the law in this respect?

I am not aware that the provisions of Section 3 (5) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, will in any case have the effect of increasing the amount of duty payable; and I do not consider that an amendment of the law is called for.

It is obvious that if two minuses are added together they will increase the unit. Will the right hon. Gentleman look into that point and take advice upon it?

I should have thought that two minuses would amount to nothing.

Is the right hon. Gentleman then going to charge a duty on nothing?

On the contrary, we are going to charge the duty on the increment, and if there is a real increment in value, of course we shall charge the duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, seeing that the Valuation Department has obtained through Form IV. particulars of the agreements showing the term for which any agricultural land is let, demands for Undeveloped Land Duty have been served upon owners of occupations entitled to exemption under Section 17 (5) of the Finance (1909–10) Act; and whether he will issue instructions that such claims shall not be made in future?

The particulars asked for and given on Form IV. are in general insufficient to enable it to be determined to what extent the exemption contained in Section 17 (5) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, applies. Where the title to exemption is clear, no claim for duty is made; and therefore I do not think it necessary to issue any instructions of the nature suggested.

asked the hon. Member for, Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he would arrange for schoolboys to be allowed to bathe in the Serpentine during the summer months at any hour in the day instead of in the early mornings and evenings only?

The First Commissioner regrets that he cannot go so far as my hon. Friend suggests, but he has for some little time been considering the general question of the bathing hours, and has decided to make some alterations which will come into force at once, before the Whitsuntide holidays. The new hours will be as follow:—

Would my hon. Friend state whether the amended hours are not simply a grant of an additional half-hour?

An additional half-hour in the morning and an additional hour in the evening.

May I ask whether any complaints have ever been received on account of the bathing, although the hours have included a large section of daylight?

Yes, a certain number of complaints, but not many.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether he will give a statement of the difficulties which prevent bathing taking place in the morning and afternoon?

I would like to have notice of that question.

asked whether in future the designs of architects other than the official architect will be invited when public buildings are contemplated; and whether the approval of the House will be obtained before the selected plans are carried out?

A large number of public buildings are always in course of erection in the great towns throughout the country; and it is found to be easier, better, and more economical that they should be designed and carried out as part of the regular work of the Office of Works. The practice has, however, not been uniform in the case of the most important buildings. It has been the custom hitherto to lay before both Houses of Parliament the plans of public buildings of national importance, whether prepared by the official architect or by an architect in private practice. There is no intention of departing from this custom.

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether there is one official architect for the whole of the United Kingdom, or whether there is one each for England, Scotland, and Ireland?

There is more than one for England.

Oh more than one for England.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will state the names of the architects responsible for the new War Office and the new offices of the Local Government Board and the Woods and Forests Department; whether designs were invited from other than the official architect to the Commission of Works; and whether the approval of Parliament was obtained before the plans were put out to contract?

The new War Office was designed by the late Mr. William Young, F.R.I.B.A. On his death the work was carried out by his son, Mr. Clyde Young, in association with Sir John Taylor, K.C.B., of the Office of Works. The Local Government Board Offices were erected on plans of the late Mr. John Brydon, F.R.I.B.A., and completed by Sir Henry Tanner, of the Office of Works, with the approval of an advisory committee of eminent architects consulted by the First Commissioner of Works. Both Mr. Brydon and Mr. Young were selected from a panel of architects submitted to the First Commissioner by the Royal Institute of British Architects. In both cases their plans were exhibited at the Houses of Parliament before execution. The Office of Woods was not built under the direction of the Office of Works. It was designed by Mr. John Murray, the architect usually employed by the Commissioners of Woods for buildings in London.

asked whether the First Commissioner, in view of the increasing demand for public statues and for large monuments in London and the decreasing space available for them, will consider the rearrangement of Hyde Park Corner on a more rectangular plan, such as has proved a success at the Marble Arch, and the utilisation of the spaces so formed for statues or monuments; and whether he will arrange for a schedule to be made of places available for statues in London, so as to preserve some proportion between the ultimate number and the frequency of permits granted for erecting new statues?

The First Commissioner is afraid that there would be some real difficulty in making the space at Hyde Park Corner rectangular, but would be glad to receive from my hon. Friend a more detailed suggestion which could be entertained in its relation to the traffic and other considerations. As regards the last part of the question, few such sites are under the control of the First Commissioner, but he would be ready to assist the various local authorities of London in compiling such a schedule.

Will the hon. Gentleman see that steps are not taken to turn London squares and streets into bad editions of Siegers Allee, Berlin?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Prime Minister if he will say when he proposes, in preparation for his promised measure of full self-government for Ireland, to have the work of the Financial Relations Commission continued to the present time by a similar Commission, fairly representative of the two countries; whether Irish Members of this House will be consulted before the members of the Commission intended to represent Ireland are appointed; and, if no such Commission is to be set up, how it is proposed to ascertain the actual financial relations impartially as between the two countries?

No such Commission is in contemplation. The Cabinet are taking such steps as they consider necessary to inform themselves on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government assume the 2 millions net excessive taxes found by the majority of British members of the Financial Relations Commission to have been taken from Ireland in 1893–4 as an average annual excess which may justly be multiplied by the number of years since the Union to find the total excessive taxation of Ireland; whether any independent effort will be made to ascertain the actual excess in each year; and, if so, about what time will Members of this House he able to obtain the figures and the data on which they are based?

I cannot give the hon. Member any information as to these points.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the excessive taxation of Ireland, as contrasted with that of Great Britain, was found as a fact by all the members of the Financial Relations Commission, and admitted by all the witnesses, including the Treasury witness, who alone suggested that excessive taxes were partially compensated for by extravagant expenditure on the government of Ireland; and whether any but Treasury witnesses are to be examined by the Treasury committee now investigating this subject for the benefit of the Cabinet?

It is not the case that only Treasury witnesses will be examined.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the keen attention with which the Irish people are watching him in regard to this incident?

further asked the Prime Minister if, to allay anxiety in Ireland, he will say whether the Government adopt as established the findings of the majority of British members of the Financial Relations Commission, or whether the terms of reference are intended to enable the committee now sitting to go behind those findings?

I must decline, as I have more than once declined, to discuss the matters referred to in this question. The duties of the committee have been sufficiently described in my previous answers.

asked, having regard to the uniform administration of old age pensions in Great Britain and Ireland in accordance with age and poverty, and the abnormal proportion of pensioners in Ireland in direct consequence of British rule, whether that consequence is treated by the Government as increasing or diminishing, or affecting in any way, the claim for full restitution of the excessive taxes found by all the members of the Financial Relations Commission?

I am not prepared to discuss the causes or effects of the large proportion of old age pensioners in Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister when he proposes to give the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the proposed Estimates Committee; and whether he can give either the hon. Member for West Aberdeenshire or the hon. Member for the Hexham Division an opportunity of moving the Resolution on this subject of which they have given notice?

After Whitsuntide we shall find time for the discussion of one or other of the Resolutions to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a memorial signed by 600 members of learned Societies, and by others, urging the maintenance in its integrity of the site assigned to the Natural History Museum at South Kensington in]899; and whether he will cause this memorial to be printed and circulated, together with any other memorials which lie may have received from persons or societies qualified to express an opinion upon the issues involved?

Yes, Sir, I will arrange to have this done.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will at the same time cause to be circulated the memorial addressed to the President or the Board of Education with regard to the site of the South Kensington Museum, and also the answer which the President of the Board of Education gave to the deputation that waited upon him in regard to the subject?

I believe that has already been circulated as a Parliamentary Paper. I think it is highly desirable that anybody who reads the one Report should also read the other.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that various Members of Parliament have recently declared their intention of distributing their proposed salary in subscriptions to charities in their constituencies; and whether he will take steps so to restrict the amount payable in charitable subscriptions by Members of Parliament as to make such indirect influencing of constituencies impossible?

I was not aware of the fact alleged by my hon. Friend. I will consider his suggestion, but I cannot at present express any opinion as to whether its adoption would be practicable or expedient.

If it is found to be practicable or expedient, would its adoption be possible without legislation during this Session?

Well, I should think not.

asked whether proposals for schemes to be laid before the Development Commissioners have been received from local sea fishery committees; whether the Board will publish these proposals; and whether the Board has laid its own proposals before the Development Commissioners for the assistance of inshore fishermen?

Applications for advances from the Development Fund have been made by four sea fisheries committees. It will be the duty of the Board to report to the commissioners respecting them, but neither the applications nor the reports will be published at the present stage. The reply to the concluding inquiry is in the affirmative.

asked whether the Board of Agriculture have yet made any report on the application made by the Westmorland County Council on the 8th April last for a grant for heavy stud horses for service in the county under Part I. of the Development and Road Improvement Act, 1909; and whether any grant for the purpose will be available during the current financial year?

It is not possible for the Board to report upon the application to which the hon. Member refers until their proposals with regard to the encouragement of heavy horse-breeding generally have been formulated. Enquiries are now being made for this purpose, and one of the Inspectors of the Board will put himself into communication with the Westmorland County Council.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the salaries of clerks in the Register House in Edinburgh are unattachable by arrestment, that in several instances recently the courts have granted warrant to arrest, that these warrants have been defied by the keeper of the Register of Sasines, and that the sheriffs who grant the warrants say they are unable to enforce them; and, if so, will he say what steps he proposes to take so that these clerks may be equal with others before the law?

As the law at present stands, the salaries referred to, like other Civil Service salaries in Scotland, are not attachable by arrestment. The question whether the Bankruptcy Law should be amended in the direction suggested by my hon. Friend will be considered in any legislation following upon the Report, issued last year, of the Committee appointed by the Secretary for Scotland to inquire into the Bankruptcy Law of Scotland and its administration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Harold Philip Trevor, who was only five weeks at large after serving a sentence of penal servitude, and who was recently convicted and sentenced to four years' penal servitude, declared that in the five weeks' liberty he committed over one hundred serious crimes; and, if so, whether he can say how he evaded police surveillance for the commission of so much crime?

Trevor was not under police surveillance. He was released on a licence which expired after one week, and he was then free from all control. There can be no doubt that he committed a considerable number of crimes, most of them of rather a paltry character, before he was traced and arrested, but I do not think any special credence is to be attached to his boastful statements as to their number.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in the case of the Aerial Navigation Bill he is prepared to consider the possibility of inserting Clauses bringing abetment within the scope of the Bill, so that the organisers of an aviation meeting may be held responsible in case of accident due to the absence of reasonable precautions for safeguarding the public, increasing the penalty in the case of any person who navigates an aircraft recklesly or negligently, in a manner which is dangerous to the public, when such person is not a holder of a certificate of efficiency delivered by execution of the Royal Aero Club, or such competent authority as may from time to time be determined, and allowing no navigator of an aircraft to hold a certificate of efficiency unless he is previously guaranteed in a sum to be determined, say £1,000, such guarantee being available for compensation in the case of an accident due to neglect or want of skill on the part of the navigator?

As I explained in answer to the questions put to me by hon. Members on 24th May, and in moving the Second Reading of the Bill, the Bill now before the House is of an interim character pending general legislation on the subject of aerial navigation. The points raised in the hon. Member's question will be carefully considered before general legislation is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the number of Scottish candidates for examination for the posts of inspector and sub-inspector of mines and the expense to which they are at present put in having to travel up to London for examination, he will consider as to making arrangements for their sitting for examination in Scotland?

As my hon. Friend is aware, a certain number of the new sub-inspectorships of mines are to be allotted to each division. The scheme of appointment provides for the holding of a separate examination in each division, including Scotland, at which men working in the division will be nominated to compete. The same system could not be adopted in the case of the higher appointments, as the candidates come from all parts of the country, and are not selected for appointment in any particular division. I may remind my hon. Friend that candidates for other high appointments in the Civil Service are in precisely the same position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether the rule referred to in Clause 3 of the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill, by which a member who is exempt from the obligation to contribute to the political fund of a union shall not be excluded from benefits, is intended to alter the existing law which prevents a member of a trade union suing for benefits; and, if so, will he be willing to introduce words on the Committee stage making it clear that Section 4 of the Trade Union Act, 1871, could not be pleaded against a member who might be excluded from benefits on account of his refusal to contribute to the political fund of his union?

It is intended by the Bill that a member of a trade union shall have a right of action against the trade union if it acts in contravention of the part of Clause 3 referred to in the question. If in the Committee stage it appears that there is any doubt, as to whether the Bill carries out this intention, I shall be quite ready to insert words to place the meaning beyond dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can give a date for the introduction of the measure ho proposes to introduce making provision for the care and control of the feebleminded?

I regret that I cannot give any date. I can only refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to questions on this subject on 24th April and the 1st May.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that a workman who is certified to be disabled from following his employment through an industrial disease scheduled in the Compensation Act, and who is medically advised to submit to amputation of limb because of suffering from such disease, is disqualified from the benefits of the Compensation Act unless the disease was contracted in an occupation named in the table of trades in the schedule of the Act; and, if so, whether he can take any step which will provide for a compensation claim being effectively made when a disease named in the schedule is contracted?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The right to compensation in respect of industrial disease is not limited to persons employed in the processes or occupations mentioned in the second column of Schedule III. to the Workmen's Compensation Act and of the Orders made thereunder. Any workman, whatever his occupation, who is suffering from any industrial disease mentioned in the first column is entitled to compensation, if the disease is due to the nature of his employment. The second column only relates to the question of proof, i.e., in the case of workers engaged in the processes or occupations mentioned therein it is assumed that the disease is due to the nature of the employment, unless the certifying surgeon certifies or the employer proves the contrary; in the case of workers engaged in other processes or occupations it rests with the worker to prove that the disease was due to the nature of the employment.

asked whether any women are employed in the sorting and mixing of East India wool; whether he is aware that these processes expose the sorters and mixers to the risk of inhaling dust which may contain the spores of anthrax; whether the special rules for the protection of such workers are applicable to factories and workshops, and whether they are generally observed; whether the Department has new special rules under consideration; and, if so, when they are expected to be issued?

As this question was only put on the Paper yesterday, no detailed inquiry has been possible, but I have ascertained that in two important districts, Huddersfield and Rochdale, the sorting, of which there is very little, and. the mixing of this wool is done by men. I understand that this is true also of the Bradford district. The regulations which apply to all factories in which East India wool is used have been in operation since the 1st January, 1909, and are, I am informed, well observed. I have recently received the reports of special inquiries made with regard to mixing and other processes in the manufacture of felt, and the Factory Department is in communication with the manufacturers regarding them, but I cannot yet say whether any further regulations will have to be made.

asked the Postmaster-General if a number of men employed in the wood-working department of the Post Office service have received notice of discharge; what is the reason of this reduction, and what is the number of men who have received notice; how many of these men have secured other places; and whether he can do anything to secure employment for the remainder?

I would refer the hon. Member to an answer given to a question on the same subject by the hon. Member for North Islington on Wednesday last. The number of men affected is twenty-seven. All of these have been offered good situations.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what additional annual expenditure would be involved by restoring the Sunday postal arrangements to those which existed in Eastbourne before the recent alteration; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which has arisen, and the complaints made by schoolmasters, doctors, and those engaged in business in regard to the reduction in the hours of; service in the Eastbourne post-office on Sundays; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to remove such complaints?

I will answer the hon. Member's two questions together. A reversion to the arrangements in force at the Eastbourne post-office on Sundays before the recent alteration would cost about £70 a year for staff. Various complaints have been made concerning the reduction in the hours of service on Sundays, but, as I have already stated in reply to a question by the hon. Member on 7th February, the amount of business transacted was not sufficient to justify the exceptional hours of attendance which formerly obtained.

May I ask, in view of the facilities granted in other towns, if we are not entitled to postal arrangements on Sunday similar to those which we have enjoyed until now?

Eastbourne is merely put on the same footing as other towns of similar status throughout the country. No powers of opening on Sundays in Eastbourne were exceptional.

Is it not a fact that there are other towns smaller than Eastbourne which have much greater facilities?

There are one or two still left. They are all gradually being brought into line.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, in view of the fact that the complete preliminary Report of the Irish Census Returns has already been issued and in the hands of Members of this House, will he say when the similar Reports for England and Scotland may be expected to be issued?

I hope the English Report will be ready within the next fortnight. The Scottish Report will, I understand, be circulated to-morrow.

asked what is the total value of exports from the United Kingdom to British possessions in 1910?

The total value of the exports of the produce and manufacture of the United Kingdom consigned in 1910 to British Dominions, Colonies, Possessions and Protectorates was £147,303,000.

asked what is the value of goods per head of estimated population exported from the United Kingdom during 1910 to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, and the United States?

The total value of th3 produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom consigned in 1910 from this country to the Dominions and foreign countries in question per head of the estimated population of those Dominions and countries, was as follows:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether certain old age pensioners in the Hackney district have been unable to obtain their pensions recently owing to the non-issue of new pension books; and, if so, what action he will take in the matter?

I am making inquiries in regard to this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member when they are complete.

asked the President of the Board of Education (1), whether, in order to obviate the hardship suffered by many head teachers of elementary schools by the reduction of their salaries in consequence of the decreased average attendance at their schools, he will make it obligatory upon local education authorities when re-classifying the schools in their areas to require a margin of 15 per cent. above or below the average attendance required for the class before the class of any particular school is raised or lowered; and (2), Whether, in fairness to the head teachers of elementary schools, he will make it obligatory upon local education authorities not to reduce the salary of any such teacher who has served at least ten years as a head teacher within their area, notwithstanding that the average attendance has fallen below that required according to the scale?

I propose to answer these two questions as one. The Board have no authority to impose any obligation on local education authorities restricting the right of the authorities to control their expenditure upon the schools for which they are responsible. I have every sympathy with teachers who, through no fault of their own, suffer hardship from the operation of graded salary scales. I cannot, however, regard it as unreasonable that the salary of the head teacher should bear some relation to the size of the school for which he is responsible. I think that most authorities endeavour to mitigate, so far as possible, any ensuing hardship, but I must remind the hon. Member that as a result of the existing law, under which local education authorities exercise only a partial control over the staffing of a number of schools in their areas, the simplest remedy— namely, promotion from one school to another, is not, as a rule, open to them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether a reduction of the Army in India is to be proposed?

The hon. and gallant Member is aware that the Financial Member of the Government of India, speaking in January last in the Governor-General's Legislative Council on Mr. Cokhale's motion regarding the increase of public expenditure, announced that the Commander-in-Chief was about to institute an inquiry with a view to the reduction of all unnecessary military expenditure. The Government of India's recommendations in pursuance of this inquiry have not yet been received by the Secretary of State. His Majesty's Government do not contemplate any reduction of the British forces serving in India, but they are fully prepared to consider favourably the proposals that the Government of India may find it in their power to make for effecting such readjustments in the native Indian units, with a view to economy, as could be carried out without loss of efficiency to the Army in India as a whole.

asked whether, in connection with the negotiations for the purchase of the Palmer estate, in the parish of Kenmare, regard will be had to the claim of Jeremiah Riordan for reinstatement in Ashgrove farm, in the townland of Gortalinny South, from which his father was evicted?

If the Congested Districts Board purchase the estate referred to, the case of Jeremiah Riordan will be considered, provided the holding from which his father was evicted is still untenanted.

asked whether the attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to the resolution passed at a public meeting of the tenants on the F. G. Williams estate, at Mastergeehy, near Waterville, on the 21st instant; and whether the Board will take steps to give effect to the resolution by purchasing the estate on such terms that the grazing lands may be divided?

A copy of the resolution referred to has been received by the Congested Districts Board, and they have communicated with the owner asking whether he is willing to negotiate for the sale of his estate through the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the tenants of Sir Morgan O'Connell, in the townlands of Ballycarberry, Kimego, and Killelan, near Caherciveen, have frequently taken steps to complete purchase negotiations but without success; can he state at whose request and by what authority, without the consent of the tenants, a valuer named Mr. Green was sent to inspect the estate; whether the Estates Commissioners have any report on the subject; and what value, if any, was fixed on the land by this valuer?

Proceedings have been instituted by the owner for the sale of this estate direct to the tenants, and purchase agreements signed by the tenants have been lodged in respect of some of the holdings. The estate was inspected in order of priority by one of the inspectors, and the Estates Commissioners have communicated to the owner the sums which they are prepared to advance in the case of outstanding holdings, and they have asked for purchase agreements at such prices.

asked whether, in regard to the property of Mrs. White, Caherlean, Killard, West Clare, of which the agent is Mr. R. J. Stacpoole, of Ennis, and respecting which the tenants, numbering twenty-seven, have made application to the Congested Districts Board, he can state what is the present condition of the negotiations?

The Congested Districts Board have been in communication with the agent, but so far they have not succeeded in arranging for negotiations for sale.

asked whether, in the case of the estate of R. J. Stacpoole, Farrihy, West Clare, the tenants having, after the enactment of the Land Act of 1909, written to the landlord and offered him more than his yearly income out of the property, and the landlord having declined to sell on the ground that there was no money available for payment in cash, and the tenants having thereupon applied to the Congested Districts Board, the Chief Secretary can state what is the present situation in regard to this property; and whether prompt steps will be taken to give relief under the last Land Act to the tenants, numbering about one hundred and twenty?