asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he can give an undertaking to the House that no negotiations will be concluded or entered upon for the division of Morocco into spheres of influence before the House has had an opportunity of discussing the proposal?

I cannot give a hypothetical undertaking of this kind, but to prevent misconception I ought to add that no negotiations for altering the political status of Morocco are, so far as I am aware, in contemplation.

asked the Secretary of State whether his attention had been called to the punitive operations being carried on against the tribes in the neighbourhood of Fez; and whether he would direct the British agent in Fez to report fully on the details of those operations and communicate those reports to the House?

His Majesty's Representative in Morocco will in the ordinary course report events of importance in Morocco, but I cannot undertake to lay Papers where no British action has been involved; though I may later on be able to give information as to matters of fact, if desired.

I should like to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention had been called to the fact, that on the day the French troops entered Fez a large district with many villages was ravaged by the Sultan's troops under the command of French officers; the men were killed or dispersed, their crops and sheep all stolen, nearly 80 women and children seized and sold in the market at prices varying from 40 dollars to one dollar for small children; and whether, in view of the fact that France claims to be acting as the mandatory of Europe, and that this expedition to Fez has been undertaken with the assent and approval of the British Government, he does not consider that the British Government is in some measure, at least, responsible for these barbarities, and this House ought to be informed from week to week as to the proceedings of the Sultan and the French troops in Fez for which, as it appears to me, the British Government are in some sense responsible?

Certainly, the British Government is not responsible. I deprecate very strongly questions of this kind or questions being put in a form which really reflects upon the officers of another Power before it can be possible for His Majesty's Government to have full information as to the facts. It was precisely in consequence of these reports in the Press that I put in the addition to the original answer that I may later on be able to give information as to matters of fact if required. I am quite sure the French Government will be the first to give full details.

May I ask whether in view of these reports he will not undertake to give information immediately it reaches the Foreign Office, so that we may know whether these facts, which are stated on very substantial authority, have any foundation?

They are not matters in which we have any responsibility. They are matters which primarily concern another Power. I certainly cannot promise to lay Papers which I have not yet received. When full information is received as to the facts I shall be willing to state what our information is.

Are these facts made on any substantial basis at all?

No, Sir; my statement with regard to information as to facts was not intended to imply that what is reported in the Press is a fact. On the contrary, my statement as to the facts was intended to mean that until we know what the facts were it was certainly impossible for me to give information, and as I said in the previous answer I think it very undesirable that Members should draw premature conclusions.

asked at what date the Hague, Conference upon Opium and Kindred Drugs will meet, which was fixed for 1st July next?

No date has yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information that Germany has agreed to negotiate with the United States for a general arbitration treaty similar to the draft treaty now understood to be in the hands of Great Britain and France; and can he communicate to the House any information as to the progress of the treaty negotiations as far as they concern our own country?

The answer to the first question is in the negative. As to he latter, I can add nothing to the answers given on Tuesday, but I look forward to making progress now that the draft of a treaty has been received.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he was aware that a new claim, with fresh evidence, had been made for an old age pension by Mrs. Anne Sullivan, Ballard, Emlaghmore, near Caherciveen; and whether the Local Government Board would take these facts into consideration when adjudicating on the claim?

If the fresh claim referred to comes before the Local Government Board on appeal, they will duly consider all the evidence submitted to them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that Timothy Shea, High Street, Caherciveen, was granted an old age pension on 1st January, 1909, by the local committee; whether the judgment of the local pension officer as to a claimant's age is held to be sufficient to disqualify a claimant who has submitted all the evidence he can procure; and whether steps would now be taken to secure the pension to this claimant?

The ground on which the Local Government Board considered that Timothy Shea was disqualified for the receipt of an old age pension was intimated to the hon. Member in the reply given to his question on 14th March. It is open to Shea to make a fresh claim.

asked on what principle the Local Government Board decide against claimants to old age pensions in cases where there is no record from the Census of 1841 or of 1851, and where there is no reliable documentary proof, but where the sub-committee are fully satisfied from local knowledge, often personal, and from local testimony, that the applicant is fully qualified, and where, as is frequently the case in rural parts of Ireland, documentary evidence is quite unobtainable; and whether pension officers have any instructions to appeal all such cases indiscriminately?

The Local Government Board do not decide on principle against claimants for old age pensions in the circumstances mentioned, but decide each case on its own merits. The Board consider all evidence submitted to them. Pension officers are not under my control, but I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 1st May, on behalf of the Treasury, to a question on this subject by the hon. Member for North Sligo.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that an old age pension was paid to Matthew Kearney of Doniel, Moyvore, county Westmeath, from January, 1909, to February, 1911, when it was taken from him on the grounds that his means exceeded the statutory limit; whether he will say if there was any change in Kearney's means between the time when the pension was granted and when it was taken away from him; and whether he is aware that Kearney is in possession of no means whatever, having assigned his little holding to his son five months before the pension was taken, which shows that this action had no relation whatever to the receipt of the pension; and, in view of this fact, whether the Local Government Board will restore the pension to him?

The facts are as stated in the first paragraph of the question. When applying for a pension Kearney represented that he had no means of his own but was dependent on his son. When assigning his farm to his son Kearney reserved a life interest in it and the profits of the farm for life. Since the award of the pension he appears to have been granted by the Land Commission a second farm at Cloneybane, the two farms being worked as one. The transfer of the first farm in 1910 would appear to have been made with a view to securing the continuance of the pension. There is no reason why the pension should be restored to Kearney.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the Local Government Board for Ireland as appeal authority had deprived a pensioner named Anne Butler of her pension, on the ground that her treatment in Kilkenny union hospital constitutes poor relief, and does not come within the terms of the exception in the Pensions Act in favour of medical relief (including food and comforts supplied by or on the direction of a medical officer); whether he was aware that the Kilkenny borough committee decided that the pensioner was receiving medical treatment and not ordinary relief, and that one of the medical officers personally attended before the committee and informed them of the disease from which the pensioner was and is suffering, and that she was in the hospital under the orders of the medical officers, and purely in order to ensure her receiving such treatment and care as her condition of health required; whether he could state on what grounds the Local Government Board for Ireland decided in these circumstances that she was in receipt of non medical poor relief; and whether there was any judicial authority for their action in thus deciding?

The Local Government Board allowed a question raised by the pension officer to the effect that Anne Butler was disqualified for continuing to receive a pension by reason of being in receipt of Poor Law relief. The Kilkenny Borough Pension Committee held that the relief granted was not disqualifying relief. The Board, however, ascertained that Anne Butler had been in the workhouse infirmary suffering from "debility," and, having regard to the duration of her residence there, they held that any medical relief she was receiving was merely incidental to ordinary relief. There have been no judicial decisions on the point.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners propose to purchase the untenanted portion of the Boyton estate, Convoy, county Donegal; and, if not, whether they propose to make any offer for unoccupied lands near this estate, in order to provide the tenants of this estate, most of whom hold small and poor farms, with additional lands?

The owner has instituted proceedings for the sale of this estate direct to the tenants, and proposes to sell and repurchase under the provisions of Section 3 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, the demesne and other lands in her occupation. The Estates Commissioners in dealing with these lands will have regard to the amount of land available for the enlargement of holdings, where they consider such enlargement necessary.

asked whether purchase agreements have been lodged on behalf of tenants on the estate of Craven H. Wade, county Meath, with the Estates Commissioners; if so, would he state at what date, and when, the estate is likely to be reached in the order of priority?

Purchase agreements have been lodged on behalf of the tenants on this estate, but the Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when the estate will be reached in order of priority.

asked whether any negotiations are on foot between the Estates Commissioners and Dr. Kelly Paterson for the acquisition of untenanted land at Mullahan, Rathkenny, county Meath.

The Estates Commissioners had a preliminary inspection made of the lands and communicated their estimated price to the owner, but up to the present he has not instituted proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in the case of the Kildeemo farm, lately in the occupation of Mrs. Anne Mathews but part of the estate of Lord Leconfield, he was aware that recently the tenants made an offer to the agent, Mr. Willis, who in return asked a larger price; whether this property would be soon dealt with; and whether in the meantime care would be taken that the farm should not be striped in such a way as to defeat the intentions of the last Land Act?

The Estates Commismissioners inform me that the lands of Kildeemo do not appear to be included in lands for the sale of which proceedings have been instituted before them, and they have no information as regards the matters referred to in the Question.

asked the Chief Secretary how many probation officers have been appointed in the several petty sessions districts in Ireland; what the aggregate cost of these officers in salary and expenses respectively amount to; under whose supervision these officers are; and whether he can give any information showing the work clone by these officers since their appointment?

In 1910 twenty-one probation officers were appointed in the several Petty Sessions Districts in Ireland. The amount paid to these officers in that year as remuneration was £32, and as expenses £1 10s. There is also one probation officer for the Dublin Metropolitan Police District, and the amount paid in this case as remuneration in 1910 was £227. These officers are under the supervision of the magistrates. I shall be happy to forward to the hon. Member a statement in reference to the work done by these officers.

asked whether collectors of Income Tax are ineligible for the Commission of the Peace in Ireland; and, if so, when this disqualification was introduced?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that it is the practice not to appoint to the Commission of the Peace persons holding the office of a Collector of Taxes whether of Income Tax, Poor Rate, or County Rate, and this practice has been in existence from a remote period.

Have not several Income Tax collectors in Ireland been appointed in the last ten years?

I only give the information that I receive from the Lord Chancellor. It must have been by inadvertence if it was done.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to see that this inadvertence is not repeated?

I do not know whether a collector of taxes is a good magistrate or not. I should like to have time to consider it.

asked the Chief Secretary if he was aware that some months ago the Registrar of Petty Sessions in Ireland issued a circular directing magistrates not to take statutory declarations of secrecy for the purposes of local government elections unless there was affixed 1s. duty in petty sessions stamps; would he state under what authority the Registrar issued this circular; and, further, why the practice of many years standing of taking these statutory declarations of secrecy without payment of any stamp duty had been departed from?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question addressed to me on this subject by the hon. Member for South Cork on 22nd May.

asked what is the amount of loan applied for by the Roscommon Town Commissioners under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, 1908, and the amount sanctioned; whether sanction was given within the last financial year; and, if so, why no portion of the housing grant has been made in respect of the loan for that year, and the absence of any mention of the loan from any of the tables published last week?

The Town Commissioners of Roscommon applied for a loan of £7,000 in August, 1909, and a loan of £2,500 was sanctioned in December, 1910. The Commissioners were not entitled to participate in the allocation of the annual income of the Irish Housing Fund for the financial year ended 31st of March last, because the Local Government Board could not certify on the 1st April, 1910, to liabilities which had not yet been created, and in respect of which no payment was made by the Commissioners in the financial year. The tables referred to by the hon. Member included only loans applied for during the year ending 31st March last, and the case of Roscommon did not therefore appear in them.

Does not one of those tables contain loans applied for but not yet sanctioned?

I think that is so. The difficulty in this case seems to have been that though the loan was applied for in August, 1909, it was not sanctioned until December, 1910, and I am told it was not by inadvertence that the case of Roscommon was omitted from the tables, but I confess I am not quite sure about it myself.

Do these tables include all the transactions up to the present under the Housing Act?

No; as I understand it it is not intended that the tables should include transactions except those which have been applied for during the year. These are intended to be included in them up to date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any progress has yet been made with regard to setting up advisory committees in Ireland; and will he try the experiment in Cavan county without delay, in view of the dissatisfaction which the nature of the recent appointments made by the present lieutenant has caused?

I have nothing to add to, my reply to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 1st May.

Seeing the urgency of the matter will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the advisability of at once setting up these advisory committees?

No; I really do not think I have had enough evidence before me to satisfy me that there is any necessity for setting up advisory committees in Ireland. I should like to wait and see how they work in the adjacent land. I have nothing whatever to do with the appointment of magistrates. This rests with the lieutenants of the county and with the Lord Chancellor. I am always ready to communicate with the Lord Chancellor upon the subject. I have repeatedly done so, and found him most anxious and ready to do what he can to add proper persons try the Commission of the Peace.

The right hon. Gentleman has said the lieutenants of the county have a voice in the appointment of magistrates. Is he not well aware that no lieutenant of any county has any real voice in it? Why are their recommendations always obtained, and why are the representations of the people slighted in this matter as they have been?

The hon. Gentleman takes a strong view on the subject, and I do not quite agree with him.

A much stronger view than I have yet expressed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Pension Rule 4 (1) (page 156, Commissioners Rules, 1910–11), in reference to Irish National school teachers, not being an assistant teacher appointed on or after the 1st January, 1886, etc., applies in the case of teachers appointed before that date; if not, will he say why certain teachers who entered the service as far back as 1875 and down to 1885 are dealt with under the rule set out above; are these teachers refused higher grade pensions; and, if so, will he explain the reasons for the same?

Pension Rule 4 (1) applies to all teachers appointed before the 1st January, 1886, and such teachers are not refused higher grade pensions provided they are promoted to the higher grade before the age of sixty in the case of men, and fifty-five in the case of women.

asked what is the reason why the Union Jack or other National flag was not flying from the tower in Dublin Castle on the occasion of the celebration of the King's birthday on Saturday last?

I am informed by the Board of Works that the flagstaff had recently been inspected in view of the King's approaching visit, and being found in an unsatisfactory condition had been removed, and it was not practicable to provide the new one in time for the King's birthday celebration. Owing to the size of the pole required no temporary arrangement could be made.

asked whether structural weakness has developed in His Majesty's ship "Invincible," to such an extent that, through outside pressure, water finds its way into the compartments reserved for oil?

No structural weakness is known to have developed in His Majesty's ship "Invincible."

Will the hon. Gentleman answer my question. Has water percolated into the oil compartments or not?

I have said that no structural weakness is known to have developed. I have no report whatever that water has percolated into the oil compartments.

asked whether through structural weakness the roller plates under the turrets of His Majesty's ship "Invincible" have given out, making it impossible to train all guns on one beam, fire them, and then train all guns on the other beam immediately and fire them, as may be necessary in action; and whether the ship will be ready in full commission for active service in three months from 1st March, 1911?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative—and to the second part in the affirmative.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that two of the barbettes of the "Invincible" have never been trained round a complete 32 points?

I am not aware of that. Perhaps the Noble Lord will give notice of the question?

Will the hon. Gentleman ascertain whether the facts are as stated in the question?

Well, I should imagine that would be done.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has any reason to modify the official statement made that no signs of structural weakness had been shown by His Majesty's ship "Invincible"; whether, when she was recently about to be docked, portions of the longitudinal framing were removed; whether, on docking the ship, signs of structural weakness were apparent to such an extent that pumping out the dock had to be stopped; whether the ship was refloated, taken out of dock, and the portions of the longitudinal framing which were removed replaced, the ship being re-docked afterwards without any further signs of buckling; and whether it is intended, owing to a structural weakness, to strengthen the longitudinals?

There is no reason to modify the statement that no structural weakness has been shown by his Majesty's ship "Invincible." No portions of longtidunal framing have been removed. No signs of structural Weakness were observed on docking. It is not intended to strengthen the longitudinals.

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will inquire if structural weakness has developed or not?

The Noble Lord may take it that full inquiry was made.

Will the hon. Member inform the House why the vessel was taken out of the clock, why pumping out the dock had to be stopped, and why nine gangs of twenty-five men each were sent on board, many of whom are working there now? May I ask further whether he can inform the House why the director of naval construction went down to superintend the ship, and why he had to superintend the pumping at this dock?

What happened was this: When the ship was docked last autumn there was no case of any structural weakness at all, but because of the disposition and character of the blocks for dry dock purposes there was a slight buckling, which is not uncommon in ships of this character. That had nothing to do with the structural character of the ship. In order that that might not take place again great care was taken in the replacing of the blocks.

Will the hon. Gentleman tell the House what the 200 Shipwrights were doing there?

I repeat that there is no structural weakness. There was a slight buckling on account of the disposition of the blocks, a matter with which the Noble Lord is more familiar than I am.

Will the hon. Gentleman in making inquiries in regard to this matter also make inquiries how these points of information are always leaking out, contrary to the regulations of the public service?

Will the hon. Gentleman and the Admiralty be rather more candid with the House? Is he aware that there is considerable want of confidence in regard to some of the answers given by the Admiralty?

I am perfectly confident that I have been perfectly candid, and that everybody in this House thinks so.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there has been no leakage with regard to these compartments, and that everybody in Portsmouth knows what is happening?

Is there such a ship at all?

asked whether any reduction has been made in the prices paid in the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth for iron caulking and chipping (pneumatic work only); and, if so, whether this reduction has received the sanction of the Admiralty; what was the date on which the reduction had to come into effect; and was such reduction recommended by the officers in charge of the men so employed?

The replies to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. The date asked for in the third part is 1st May. I do not know that any useful purpose would be served by a statement setting forth the opinions on this matter of the particular officers referred to in the fourth part of the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that where a person, by means of his holding or having held an office under His Majesty the King, has lawfully or unlawfully either obtained possession of or control over any document, sketch, plan, or model, or acquired any information and at any time corruptly or contrary to his official duty communicates or attempts to communicate that document, sketch, plan, model, or information to any person to whom the same ought not, in the interest of the State or otherwise in the public interest, to be communicated at that time, he is guilty of a breach of official trust; and whether the Board of Admiralty have any authority to act in contravention to, or to give instructions not in accordance with, the Official Secrets Act?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman has set forth in the first part of his question an extract from Section 2 (1) of the Official Secrets Act, 1889. With regard to the second part, the Board of Admiralty are, of course, bound to conform to the provisions of the law.

May I ask how it was that instructions were sent down last year to the dockyard officials to show the Japanese Commissioners anything that they might wish to see?

I would like to see these instructions, but I must remind the hon. and gallant Gentleman that information must not be communicated to any person to whom the same ought not in the interest of the State or otherwise in the public interest be communicated. He may take it from me that the Admiralty are fully alive to the responsibility which rests upon them as the result of that prescription.

Does the hon. Gentleman consider that Commissioners representing any foreign Power should be shown anything they wish to see?

That question really does not arise out of the answer.

asked whether ex-soldiers and marines who are not members of any existing Naval Reserve force are free to join the Veteran Reserve?

The question whether ex-seamen and marines shall be admitted as members of the Veteran Reserve is now under consideration. The admission of ex-soldiers is a matter for the War Office.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that labourers employed in the works of the Coventry Ordnance, Limited, do not receive payment for overtime worked; and whether this is a violation of the Fair-Wage Clause?

I have no information respecting the matter raised in my hon. Friend's question, but have ordered immediate inquiry.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a number of discharges from Chatham Dockyard have been decided on; if so, whether he will state the number of men who are to be dismissed and the reason for their dismissal; and whether some action can be taken to remove the necessity of discharging men at a time just prior to the Coronation?

Sixty men, who were temporarily catered at Chatham Yard recently will shortly be discharged. These men were engaged for specific work which has now been completed. They were made fully aware at the time of their engagement of the temporary nature of the job, and no prospect of permanent retention was held out to them. I may add that the number of men engaged in the Chatham Yard was on 22nd May, 1909, 8,736; on 21st May, 1910, 8,781; and on 20th May, 1911, 8,976. From this last-named number, of course, sixty will shortly have to be subtracted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state the number of prosecutions against proprietors of cotton mills for the present year up to 31st May; the amount of penalties inflicted, and costs; the number of convictions; and how many of the cases were in Oldham?

The Home Secretary has asked me to apologise to the hon. Gentleman for his absence, and to answer the question. The figures reported to the Home Secretary are as follows:—Eighty prosecutions, seventy-seven convictions; amount of fines, £490; amount of costs, £286 2s. 3d. Sixteen of the cases were in the Oldham district, five being in the borough.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many cotton-spinning mills in Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, and Blackburn have installed special apparatus for the taking away of dust generated in the process of stripping carding engines, and the number of mills in each case in which the installations are complete, and the number only partially so; whether notices have been served on employers to complete the same within a given date; and, if so, what date; and whether similar installations are being insisted on in the Yorkshire cotton mills?

My right hon. Friend is unable to give the precise figures up to date of the mills which have introduced this apparatus; but according to the information obtained by the inspectors on their last visits to the different mills fifty-six out of the 323 mills in the boroughs mentioned have introduced the apparatus completely and thirteen partially. The figures for the separate boroughs are: Oldham, ten completely, four partially; Bolton, twenty-one completely; Rochdale, seven completely, seven partially; Ashton, five completely; Stalybridge, three completely, one partially; Blackburn, ten completely, one partially. Notices have been served on all the mills to provide the apparatus within three months from the date of the notice, but the Home Secretary is informed that there has been some delay in consequence of objections raised by the operatives to certain types of apparatus. A joint committee of operatives and employers has been sitting to settle this question. Similar installations are being insisted on in the Yorkshire mills.

May I ask why nobody is present to represent the Home Office? Why is neither the Home Secretary nor the Under-Secretary present to answer questions?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many cotton-spinning mills in Oldham, Bolton, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne, Stalybridge, and Blackburn are fitted with automtic locking motions over the cylinders of carding engines; whether the inspectors are insisting on them being applied in all mills throughout the trade, and if any date has been fixed for their completion; and, if so, what date?

As in the case of the hon. Member's previous question, the Home Secretary cannot give the precise figures, but according to the information obtained at the last visits of the inspectors, 149 out of 323 mills in the boroughs mentioned are now fitted with the card-locking motions. The separate figures are: Oldham, 76; Bolton, 21; Rochdale, 10; Ashton, 9; Stalybridge, 8; Blackburn, 25. The inspectors are pressing mill owners to fit locking motions in all mills in the trade, and marked progress is being made, but no date has so far been fixed for the completion of the work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to a speech made by Mr. Cecil Chapman, one of the magistrates of the police-courts of the metropolis, at Chorley Wood, on 25th May, in support of Woman Suffrage, in which he attacked the law as unjust and unequal, and accused the Government of cruelly sweating the women in their employment; whether the delivery of speeches of this character by magistrates of the police-courts of the metropolis is permitted by the regulations of their service; and, if not, whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

The attention of my right hon. Friend had not been drawn to the speech referred to until the hon. Member sent him a newspaper report of it, and he is communicating with the magistrate upon the subject.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that for the last forty years the Glasgow Parish Council has been boarding out Glasgow pauper children among the crofters of the West of Scotland; that 80 per cent. of the island of Iona consists of these children; and whether he can say what the Glasgow Parish Council pays per week for each child?

I am aware that the Glasgow Parish Council have for many years boarded out children among the West Highland crofters. The payment made for each child varies from 3s. to 5s. per week. It is not the case that 80 per cent. of the population of Iona consists of such children, the actual figures being 16.6 per cent.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is considering the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the Bankruptcy Laws and Procedure in Scotland; if he intends introducing a Bill on the lines recommended by the Committee; and, if so, when?

The answer to the first and second parts of my hon. Friend's question is in the affirmative. I cannot at present say when the Bill will be introduced.

asked the number of prosecutions, the number of convictions, and the amount of fines for illegal trawling off the coast of Fife for the last twelve months?

For the twelve months from 1st June, 1910, to 31st May, 1911, the number of prosecutions for illegal trawling off the coast of Fife was four, the number of convictions was four, and the amount of fines imposed was £180.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is proposed to introduce a measure in order to prevent the spread of bee disease in Britain; if so, whether such a measure will be compulsory, subject in special cases of hardship to compensation; and whether it will cause infected areas to be scheduled for export and import until declared uninfected?

If the investigations now in progress indicate that legislation is required in order that the spread of disease amongst bees may be prevented the Board will at once bring in a Bill for the purpose.

Has the Board at present power to take steps to ensure the destruction of the refuse from infected hives so as to prevent any of it from being blown on to other persons' premises?

I do not think so.

Are these the particular kind of bees they get in their bonnets?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture when it is proposed to issue the Report of the Departmental Committee, presided over by himself, which as appointed last year to inquire into the best means of improving and extending the trade in pedigree live stock between Great Britain and other countries?

This Report will, I hope, be issued next month.

asked whether the Board of Agriculture has made or proposes to make arrangements whereby control experiments will be conducted in the event of any future alleged outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain, and so create greater confidence in the minds of British stock-owners in decisions of the Board which have the effect of closing against them their best markets for an indefinite time?

Practical agriculturists are more than satisfied with the Board's procedure in regard to the foot-and-mouth disease.

Does the hon. Baronet mean agriculturists inside or outside the Board?

Agriculturists outside the Board like the hon. Member himself.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture (1), whether the Board is aware that unless the embargo upon the importation of British cattle into Argentina is removed so as to admit of such cattle being shipped from Great Britain not later than the end of July, the whole of this year's trade in pedigree cattle with that country will be lost; and, if so, what action is the Board taking in the matter; and (2), whether any diplomatic representations have been made direct to the Argentine Government with a view to the removal of the restrictions on the importation of British live stock imposed in consequence of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Surrey three months ago; and, if so, with what result?

The Board are in communication with the Argentine Government as to this matter, and hope to receive a reply in the course of a few days.

Is not it a fact that the Board communicated with the Argentine Government on this matter three months ago, and have they received no definite reply since? The matter is one of enormous importance to stock owners.

As the hon. Member is aware, the Board do not communicate directly. They carry on communications through the Foreign Office.

Has no reply been received from the Foreign Office?

Not so far; no definite reply.

asked the Prime Minister if he would lay upon the Table of the House a translation of the Bill which has recently passed the Reichstag conferring Home Rule upon the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine?

His Majesty's Government are not yet in possession of the text of the Bill in its latest shape. There will be no objection to laying a translation of it when it has been received.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know whether there is any danger of the grant of Home Rule to these provinces leading to the dismemberment of the German Empire?

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that no Bill has ever been proposed in the Reichstag granting Home Rule to Alsace and Lorraine, and that no Bill has been passed, and that the answer given is quite inaccurate?

asked whether the Government, before they give facilities for the full consideration of a Women's Enfranchisement Bill in this House, will afford an opportunity to the electors to give a verdict on this issue?

No, Sir, I am not able to give any such assurance.

Will the Government, in determining what facilities should be granted for this Bill, have regard to that principle of supremacy of the House of Commons which finds such fervent expression in the Parliament Bill?

That does not arise in the least out of the question.

Is it the intention of the Government to connive at the disposal by Parliament of a first-class constitutional question which has never been before the country?

It is the intention of the Government to fulfil the pledge which I gave before the last General Election.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think himself bound to fulfil the pledges which were given by the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Secretary of State for War?

That does not arise.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a recent decision of the General Medical Council in regard to a medical practitioner connected with the Sandow Institute; and whether he will consider the advisability of recommending an inquiry by way of Royal Commission into the constitution of and powers exercised by the General Medical Council?

I see no sufficient reason for instituting such an inquiry.

As the General Medical Council is the only professional tribunal with disciplinary powers, from whose decision there is no appeal whatever, does the right hon. Gentleman consider this body's virtual combination of the functions of prosecutor, judge, and jury is consistent with the principles of justice?

I do not in the least agree with the hon. Member's representation.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the importance that the public on the shores of Loch Etive attach to the matter of sea-trout fishing, and whether he will take steps to assist them in continuing that enjoyment; whether the waters are tidal; and whether hitherto the public have been in the habit of fishing these waters for sea-trout.

I have no precise information as to the importance that the public attach to the sea-trout fishing referred to. The waters of Loch Etive are tidal, but this fact does not appear to give the public the right to fish in them for sea-trout. Sea-trout stand on a different legal footing in this respect to white fish. Inquiry is being made whether the Crown is entitled to any of the salmon and sea-trout fishing, for want of charters to subjects, and when the facts are ascertained I shall be happy to communicate them to the Noble Lord.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, whether licences to hunt deer in the New Forest are now from time to time granted by the Crown; and, if so, under what Statute such licences are granted, in view of the fact that the right of the Crown to keep deer in the forest was absolutely extinguished by the New Forest Deer Removal Act, 1851?

No formal licences under any Act of Parliament are granted to hunt deer in the New Forest, but since 1883 no objection has been taken to the hunting.

Are licences granted as a fact, and are deer hunted in the New Forest?

No. I do not think any licence is required.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say in whom the property in these deer is vested?

That, again, is a legal question to which I am not prepared to give an answer.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take the advice of the Law Officers of the Crown as to whom the property in these deer is now vested?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he will state the total amount of revenue raised in Ireland from all sources for an average year in each quinquennial period from 1886 to 1906; what amount should be paid for an average year in each period on the part of Ireland as her contribution to the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom under the Government of Ireland Bill, 1886, had it become law; if he will also state what amount would be available for Irish development after providing out of sources of Irish revenue then existing, and since imposed by the Parliament of Great Britain, the stipulated contribution to the Imperial Exchequer, as well as providing for the cost of civil and other government charges as they have since existed in Ireland; and whether he will also state what portion of the then estimated share of Ireland's responsibility for the National Debt would now be extinguished by the operation of the Sinking Fund provided by the Bill of 1886, and when the whole of Ireland's liability under the latter head would be extinguished; (2) what loss in each year to the finances of an Irish exchequer would result from the imposition of the increased spirit duty imposed by the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, had the financial clauses of the Government of Ireland Bills, 1886 and 1893, respectively, been in operation between Great Britain and Ireland since the time the increased duty was imposed; and (3) whether he will have prepared a balance-sheet of Irish revenue and expenditure for an average year in each quinquennial period from 1886 to 1906, similar to that presented by Mr. Gladstone in the Government of Ireland Bill of 1893, as amended, and setting out the items as therein stated; and whether he will set out separately the Irish yield of any taxes since specially imposed as war expenditure or extraordinary expenditure for the defence of the realm, as defined in Section 10. Sub-section (7) of that Bill had it become law?

I am afraid I cannot undertake to furnish hypothetical calculations on the basis suggested in these questions.

Does the loss on the Spirit Duty in Ireland in years past affect the question?

If it is calculated on the basis suggested I should think it does.

Having regard to the importance of the question will the hon. Gentleman give me facilities to make inquiry myself?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the information recently supplied to him concerning the overtime worked by the preventive men of His Majesty's Customs at Cardiff is incorrect; and whether he will cause an independent inquiry to be made into the matter, which is causing dissatisfaction among the officers?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to my answer to his question on this subject on the 16th ultimo; the Board of Customs and Excise inform me that the answer I then gave was quite accurate. If, however, the hon. Member will state in what particular he considers it to have been incorrect, I will make further inquiry.

The suggestion made in the question is that independent inquiry should be made, and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the officers of these men are not anxious to make complaints?

I have already pointed out that the impression conveyed by the hon. Member is not correct. If he will point out in what particulars he thinks the information is incorrect, I will make inquiries.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that I have already, in a former question, stated the cause of complaint? Apparently no inquiry has been made.

I have made inquiries, and as far as my information goes the hon. Member is not accurate.

asked whether the Secretary to the Treasury will inquire whether the Irish Lights Board have given, or are about to give, contracts for the supply of brushes to Dublin manufacturers, and if clauses have been, or will be, inserted in such contracts making it imperative upon the contractors to employ trade union workmen and pay the standard rates of wages; and if he could state whether any effective steps would be taken by the Irish Lights Board to ensure that the condtions as to employment of trade union labour and payment of standard wages are complied with?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Commissioners of Irish Lights have obtained three tenders for the supply of brushes during the year ending 31st March, 1912, and in compliance with the request of the Commissioners the Board of Trade have decided to sanction the acceptance of the lowest tender which contains the conditions as to rates of wages and hours of labour which contractors are required to observe in, accordance with the Resolution of the House of Commons of 10th March, 1909.

asked whether, if Great Britain and Ireland were taken as a single entity for the purpose of paying the old age pensions 1909–10, and that the amount paid in each country continues to bear the same proportion to each other as they did in that year, and if a ratio was calculated as to what each country should contribute to a common fund, having regard to their respective standards of wealth as indicated in their yield of Income Tax on investments in Government stocks, public companies, foreign dividends, coupons, etc., under Schedules C and D, year 1909–10, Ireland's contribution as compared to that of Great Britain would he about as 1 to 27; and, if so, whether, if the payment of old age pensions was regarded as an Imperial liability of the State towards His Majesty's subjects in Great Britain and Ireland, without regard to where they are domiciled therein, there should be transferred from the cost of civil government in Ireland under the heading of old age pensions a sum approaching two millions; and, if not, will the right hon. Gentleman state the exact amount?

The total expenditure on old age pensions in 1909–10 was £8,496,000. One twenty-seventh of this sum is £315,000. The expenditure on old age pensions in Ireland in 1909–10 was £2,443,000, or £2,128,000 more than one twenty-seventh of the total expenditure in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, under Section 4 (3) of the Education (School and Continuation Class Attendance) Bill, the Government proposes to empower the courts to recover fines and costs from children; and, if so, by what procedure?

The Bill proposes to empower the courts to recover fines from children over fourteen, where it is proved to the court that the parent has done his best to get the child to school. It is intended that the child should only be forced to pay if he is in receipt of wages or some other income, and if this is not sufficiently clear from the Clause itself, steps will be taken to make the necessary alteration at a later stage.

asked whether, in the case of necessitous children who would be fed if there were no Coronation holidays, he can say whether these children will receive food during these holidays?

My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Education asks me to say that it rests with the local education authority, not with the Board of Education, to determine as to the meals it provides under the Act.

Are we to understand that the children are not going to be fed?

I have nothing to add to the answer.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state whether similar telephone facilities are to be given to Irish farmers and Irish agricultural co-operative societies as he has proposed in England; will he say the extent of the guarantee required in the two countries, and will the detailed provisions of this telephone system be sent through the proper channels to the various Irish cooperative societies?

No distinction will be made in the provision of telephone party lines in rural districts or in the conditions of such provision between any part of the United Kingdom and any other part, and I shall be glad to have the assistance of all societies interested in the development of agriculture in Ireland in the organisation of these party line systems. It should, of course, be understood that these cheap party lines can only be provided in districts in the vicinity of existing telephone exchanges or where there is enough telephone business to justify the establishment of new exchanges and their connection with the general telephone system of the country.

Is not the result of the answer that there will be no rural telephones in Ireland, though extensions of the telephones are to be made, and that a distinction has been made between the extension of the telephone trunk system in the towns of Ireland and that in England?

I do not think that will be so.

Will not this limitation which the hon. Gentleman mentioned prevent the extension of the telephone to the farmers in England?

Undoubtedly it will to some extent. The system can only be extended gradually.

Is it not a fact that though in the Cavan district they promised absolutely every guarantee that was asked they were told that they would not get the telephone?

Doubtless. But these facilities cannot be given right throughout the country in places where the telephone does not exist to some extent at present. We cannot cover the whole face of the United Kingdom with a network of telephones at tremendous cost.

Is it not the fact that this is due to the fact that the management is in London and not in Dublin?

asked what are the reasons for the discharge of a number of men from the post-office factory at Mount Pleasant, some of whom have worked there for many years, in one case up to thirty-nine years; and whether the Postmaster-General can say what work is to be offered to these men outside, as they state that they have been given to understand is to be the case?

asked—(1) If, while employés in the Post Office wood workshops are being dismissed, large contracts are being given to outside firms; (2) if the majority of the employés in the Post Office wood workshops who have received notice of dismissal are men with many years' service and receiving trade-union rates of wages; and if the majority of those retained are receiving less than the recognised union rate of wages?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer Questions 59, 60, and 61 together. The reason for giving notice to a number of wood-workers in the Post Office factory at Mount Pleasant was explained in his answer to the hon. Member for North Islington on the 24th of last month. The man to whom my hon. Friend the Member for Hoxton refers as having worked in the factory for thirty-nine years has, I regret to say, just died of pneumonia at the advanced ago of seventy-two. All the men under notice of discharge have been actually offered suitable work with a firm of repute at their own trade under favourable conditions. The majority of them have already accepted this work. Two only have definitely declined the offer made, and on behalf of these two further inquiries are being made. Any suggestion that the Postmaster-General is dismissing men paid at trade union rates in order to have the work performed by men paid at lower rates is, of course, without the smallest foundation, and as regards the rates of pay and conditions of employment in the Post Office factories I may remind the Noble Lord the Member for Hornsey that when the men were offered an option between agreed trade rates and conditions (recommended by the Select Committee) and the existing Post Office conditions they chose the latter. The men who are retained will, of course, continue to enjoy these conditions. The majority of the men to whom notice has been given had some length of service and are among the more highly rated of the wood-working hands. For these higher-grade men there is, as my right hon. Friend has already stated, no prospect of further employment in the Post Office. For the unskilled men who have been working in conjunction with the hands under notice employment can be found in the Post Office (though not necessarily in the factories) on work of other kinds. No contract for woodwork only has for a long time been placed with an outside firm for which the factory quotation, both as to price and rate of delivery, was at all suitable. An urgent order for distribution cases, of which the woodwork represents but a small portion of the cost, has just been placed outside after the Postmaster-General had satisfied himself that for reasons of economy and of difficulty in securing sufficiently early delivery he would not have been justified in giving it to the Post Office factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the fact that the unskilled negro workmen in protected America are far better off than our white unskilled labourers in this country; and whether he proposes to protect the employment of our white British workmen in the future, in order to make their conditions of comfort and prosperity equal to the conditions of the descendants of the African slaves in protected America?

The answer is in the negative.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that it was the leader of the coloured people in America who has made the statement that the black people in America are better off than people in this country of the same class, and is the hon. Gentleman willing that the coloured people in America under the present system should continue so much better off than people of the same class in this country?

I shall be very glad to convey the hon. Gentleman's question to the President of the Board of Trade.

Are the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary to the Board of Trade both engaged at the Imperial Conference?

I should have apologised at the beginning for the President of the Board of Trade.

And the Secretary?

The Secretary is unwell.

asked whether, in view of the fact that over 300,000 tons of manufactured steel were imported during the first four months of this year, and that this continued importation of surplus steel made by foreign workmen was the cause of the closing down of the Ebbw Vale works indefinitely, and the throwing out of employment of hundreds of our own men, he intends to take any action to prevent our own men from being thrown out of employment in the future by the importation of surplus steel from abroad?

My right hon. Friend has seen newspaper reports to the effect that it is proposed for the present to close the Ebbw Vale Steel Works, and he trusts that this stoppage will only be temporary. It is not intended to propose legislation of the nature suggested.

Can the hon. Gentleman say how our own men can be employed in making these goods when the policy of the Government encourages the importation of these untaxed goods from abroad?

That is a matter of opinion and of argument.

asked (1) how many men were recruited by the manager of the Greenock Labour Exchange during his recent trip to Stornoway and other outlying parts of the Greenock area, the trade or occupation of the men so employed, and the cost of the trip to the State? And, (2) what representations were made by the manager of the Greenock Labour Exchange when he applied for sanction to make a recruiting trip to Stornoway and other places recently visited by him; and whether he informed the Board of Trade that at that time there were hundreds of young Highlanders unemployed in Greenock who had been induced to leave their native towns and villages by false promises concerning wages and conditions of employment; and whether it is a function of the manager of a Labour Exchange to act as a recruiting agent in securing a supply of cheap labour for employers?

The recent journey of the manager of the Greenock Labour Exchange to a part of Scotland to which it has not yet been found possible to extend the Labour Exchange system was only authorised after it had been satisfactorily ascertained that it was impossible to fill either locally or from other Labour Exchanges a large number of vacancies registered at the Greenock Labour Exchange. I am informed that there is no ground for the suggestion that young Highlanders suitable for this class of employment were already available in Greenock. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Greenock manager, in undertaking the journey, was fulfilling the legitimate duties of a Labour Exchange manager in placing workpeople desiring employment in touch with employers desiring workpeople. The journey was undertaken as part of the ordinary duties of the manager, and its cost cannot be separately stated.

Question 65 has not been answered as to how many men were recruited during this journey.

I am very sorry that I cannot give the hon. Member the information.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the men who were recruited were skilled draughtsmen or unskilled labourers, and whether, when the trip was made, there were hundreds of unskilled labourers unemployed in the neighbourhood?

I am sorry I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the information he asks for. Perhaps he will put a question down.

asked whether the President of the Board of Trade has recently received a statement of the condition of the Metropolitan baking trade; and, if so, and having regard to the fact that these conditions are such as call for reform, will he use his influence to secure time for the discussion and Second Reading of the Hours of Labour (Bakehouses) Bill in order that the same may be referred to a Select Committee of this House?

The President of the Board of Trade has received the statement referred to, and has communicated a copy of it to the Home Secretary. The Home Secretary would refer the hon. Member to the answer which he gave to a question on this subject on the 24th April last. Until the inquiries of the Inter-Departmental Committee are completed, he is unable to make any statement as to legislation.

Has the hon. Gentleman any idea when we may expect the report?

I am informed that the report will soon be circulated.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will explain the term prospective candidate, used in Clause 3, Sub-section (2) (a), of the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill?

The term "prospective candidate" is used to meet the case of the person who is presented or presents himself to the constituency before a vacancy has occurred or dissolution has been announced as the person who will contest the constituency at the next election, or who may not have been adopted by formal resolution as the candidate for the seat at the next ensuing election, but who is, nevertheless, conducting a campaign with the intention of presenting himself as the candidate as soon as the opportunity arises. I must not be understood as stating that such a person would not be a candidate in the strict sense of the term.

Would that definition cover the candidate introduced by his father?

Do I understand the hon. and learned Gentleman that a prospective candidate would not come under the Corrupt Practices Act?