asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the pension granted to Mary Murphy, of Newquarter, Greeveguilla, county Kerry, was disallowed on appeal by the Local Government Board; whether the Board, in coming to this decision, were aware of the fact that she has a certificate showing that she was married 54 years ago and also a certi- ficate of her eldest child showing the same to be 53 years old; whether, under these circumstances, and recognising the inaccuracy of the Census returns, her case would be reconsidered and her pension allowed?

Mrs. Murphy furnished no marriage certificate, as alleged, but informed the Local Government Board that the register of marriages was not in existence. The baptismal certificate furnished shows that her eldest child would now be only about 50 years and 6 months old, not 53 as stated. Mrs. Murphy was not found as a member of her parents' family in the Census Return of 1841, while in 1851 her age was recorded as 8 years. In these circumstances the Board were not satisfied that she had attained the age of 70 years, and they disallowed her pension accordingly. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked the Chief Secretary why the decision of the Ballinamush pension committee granting a pension of 5s. a week to Philip Quinn, of Aghadowry, county Longford, which was paid to him for five months, had now been cancelled and the pension withdrawn; whether he was aware that Quinn was paralysed and suffering from senile imbecility for seven years; and would he now direct that this man's case be reconsidered?

Philip Quinn's pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board in July, 1909, on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit; and a second claim was disallowed for the same reason in October, 1909. No further claim has come before the Board, who have no power to reconsider their decisions.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that any recent instructions have been issued to pension officers in Ireland directing them to be more inquisitorial in their inquiries into old age pensioners' right to be paid; whether he is aware that in county Longford recently there have been five cases of old persons who, after having pensions given them almost from the start, have now had their books taken up and their former payments stopped, and this in opposition to the decision of the local pension committee in each case that they were entitled to this payment; and, if so, what action he proposes to take?

No such instructions as are described in the first part of the question have been issued. As regards the five cases mentioned in the second part of the question I shall be pleased to make inquiries if the hon. Member will furnish me with the names and addresses of the persons concerned.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the rules and regulations in connection with the intermediate examinations of 1912 have yet been issued; and, if not, whether he could say when it would be available for Members of the House?

asked what was the cause of the delay in presenting the Rules and Programme of the Intermediate Education Board for the year 1911–12; and when would it be laid upon the Table?

The Rules and Programme of the Intermediate Education Board for the year 1912 will be laid on the Table of the House to-day.

asked when the two Returns dealing with the Labourers (Ireland) Acts will be issued which were moved for by the honourable Member for North Kerry and ordered to be printed on the 28th and 29th March, 1911?

These returns, which are somewhat voluminous, are approaching completion; and I hope to lay them on the Table of the House after the Whitsuntide recess.

asked what steps the Congested Districts Board have taken to purchase the tenanted lands owned by Colonel Rice, at Bushmount Causeway, for re-sale to the tenants; and, seeing the delay caused by the landlord on the question of sale, the Congested Districts Board will consider whether the time has arrived to acquire these congested holdings compulsorily?

The Congested Districts Board wrote some time ago to the owner asking him whether he was willing to negotiate for the sale of his estate through them, but no reply has been received up to the present. The question of acquiring these lands compulsorily has not been considered by the Board.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet entered into negotiations with Mr. Denny, of Denny Street, Tralee, who is the receiver over the John Sands estate in North Kerry, with a view to purchase his lands for re-sale to the tenants; and whether an inspection has yet been made of the holdings, and, if so, what is the result of same?

The Congested Districts Board have been in communication with Mr. Denny, the receiver, regarding a sale of this estate, and the Board have issued a request to the land judge for particulars of the estate so that an inspection may be made. Pending receipt of particulars the estate cannot be inspected.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet inspected the tenanted and untenanted lands, the property of Mr. Eyre Stack, situate at Ballyconry, Listowel; whether he is aware that there is a good deal of congestion in the district; whether, seeing those lands were offered to the Board many years ago, immediate action will be taken to purchase the tenanted and untenanted lands; and whether any offer has yet been made to the landlord for the purchase of same?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet inspected the property of Mr. Eyre Stack with a view to purchasing it under the Act of 1909 as the maps and forms necessary to enable them to do so have not yet been lodged. Until the lands are inspected no offer can be made for purchase.

asked whether the lands of the Barlow estate, situate at Drumrose, Posseckstown, near Nobber, county Meath, have been vested in the tenants; and whether the Commissioners have acquired the untenanted portion of the estate?

The tenanted holdings on the estate referred to which were sold direct by the owners to the tenants have been vested in the purchasers. The owners have accepted the preliminary estimate of the Estates Commissioners for the purchase of 157 acres of untenanted land, and have instituted proceedings for its sale to the Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired the lands of Bordwell and Turfarney, estate of the late Mr. H. I. Owens, situated in the parishes of Aghaboe and Rathdowney, Queen's County, respectively; and can he say whether the Commissioners propose utilising those farms for the purpose of enlarging the small, uneconomic holdings in the locality?

The Estates Commissioners cannot find that any proceedings for sale of the estate referred to are pending before them.

asked the Chief Secretary when the owners of the Mary E. Carson and Others estate, county Cavan, E. C. 2701, offered the same for sale to the Estates Commissioners, under Section 6 of the 1903 Act; if he is aware that the tenants are paying 3¾ per cent. interest in lieu of rent; and, as these few tenants are the only unpurchased tenants in the district, will he cause the Estates Commissioners' purchase machinery to be put in motion without further undue delay in regard to this estate?

An originating request instituting proceedings for sale of some 430 acres of tenanted land to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, was lodged on the 24th February, 1911. These lands were originally the subject of proceedings direct by the owners to the tenants, and it is anticipated that they will be inspected at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether sub-contractors are paying the standard rate of wages at the building of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, in accordance with the Fair-Wages Resolution of the House of Commons, to marble polishers and painters; and, if not, will he say what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that by sealed order, dated 8th April, 1908, Mr. Daniel M'Caffrey, inspector under the Labourers Act, 1907, granted a cottage on the lands of Killashee and Aghakeeran, for John Casey or his brother Michael Casey of Aghakeeran, No. 205 on the site list of cottages contained in his order; whether it, now turns out that no such order has been confirmed by the Local Government Board, with the result that Casey, who is a deserving labourer with a large family, has been virtually deprived of a cottage; whether he will call for a report into the manner in which this has been worked to Casey's detriment, and require the restoration of his name to the list forthwith?

The Labourers Orders do not specify the names of the labourers for whom the houses are intended, but it would appear from the records in the office of the Local Government Board that the cottage on site No. 205 was proposed in pursuance of a representation lodged on behalf of a man named Patrick McDermott. The inspector's order was confirmed by the Board, who are informed that, although the cottage is not yet completed, the plot has been let to McDermott.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the eviction of James Harte, Aghnashinnagh, Ballinalee, county Longford, who was evicted from his farm in 1885, and whose representative and nephew, Patrick Harte, of Clooncose, county Leitrim, now seeks restoration to the evicted farm; and whether, in the event of its being found impossible to reinstate him in his uncle's old farm, his name will be noted as a person for whom an equivalent holding will be found in county Longford or elsewhere?

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application from James Harte or his representative.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the total amount applied for by local authorities in Ireland under the Housing (Ireland) Act, 1908, up to the 31st March, 1911, and the total amount sanctioned up to that date?

Loans for housing purposes are sanctioned not under the Housing of the Working Classes (Ireland) Act, 1908, but under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890. Since the date of the pasing of the Act of 1908 applications have been received by the Local Government Board for loans amounting to £374,187, inclusive of cases involving an amount of £115,790, in respect of which provisional orders will require to be made before borrowing can be sanctioned. The amount sanctioned since the date indicated is £224,081.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commisioners specifically notify evicted tenants on their reinstatement of the amounts allowed them for rebuilding, stocking, etc., their farms; and, further, what precautions are taken to secure that the particular money is applied for the special purpose for which it was assigned?

Evicted tenants' applications are inquired into by an inspector. If the Estates Commissioners sanction a grant or loan on reinstatement it is expended through the inspector, who notifies the evicted tenant and arranges with him in the case of a grant for stock as to when the stock will be purchased, and in the case of a grant or loan for buildings, whether the tenant himself will build or whether the work will be done by contract. The expenditure on the purposes approved by the Commissioners is supervised by the inspector whose accounts are checked in the Land Commission and subsequently by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will make inquiry into the case of Mr. J. J. Brady, late principal teacher of the Larah boys national school, county Cavan; whether he has had his salary withdrawn owing to the Commissioners refusing to grant his training diploma; whether he was entitled to his diploma in 1906, when he received his increments, as good service, according to Commissioners' rules, which is necessary in order to obtain each; whether he is aware that seven inspectors testified as to his efficiency; and whether, owing to the conditions which have affected this particular teacher, he will recommend the Commissioners to reconsider his case in as favourable and generous a light as possible?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Mr. Brady was principal teacher of Larah boys national school until 30th April last, when, in accordance with the Board's rules, he was no longer recognised in that capacity as he had failed to obtain his training diploma within five years from the date of leaving the training college. In 1906 Mr. Brady was allowed an increment of salary, but the standard of efficiency for the grant of an increment to an assistant teacher is not equal to the requirements for the award of a training diploma. During his long period of probation Mr. Brady failed to fulfil the condition of two continuous years' service with favourable reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the wife of the hon. Member for the Buckrose Division of the East Riding of Yorkshire, with whom she was travelling in a taxicab in the neighbourhood of King's Cross on 25th May, was injured by reason of collision with another taxicab; whether he is aware that taxicabs in the streets of London frequently proceed at a speed of over twenty miles per hour, and motor omnibuses frequently proceed at a speed of over twenty miles per hour (although the legal speed limits are twenty miles and twelve miles per hour respectively); whether he is aware that accidents by reason of exceeding the speed limit are of daily occurrence; and whether, with a view to prevent the frequent accidents by reason of excessive speed and reckless driving, he will introduce legislation requiring every mechanically driven vehicle to be fitted with a reliable speedometer, so that drivers may have no excuse for exceeding the respective speed limits?

I share the regret of all Members of this House at the accident referred to. The legal limits of speed are exceeded at times by motor vehicles of all kinds; the police are on the alert to repress these offences, and many prosecutions result. The compulsory provision of a speedometer would be of little assistance to police in controlling excessive speed, as these instruments do not usually retain a reliable record of the maximum speed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the numerous cases in which trade unionists who have declined to pay a Parliamentary levy have lost their jobs, notwithstanding the Osborne judgment, because of pressure brought to bear on employers and foremen by the officials of the unions, and have in the same way been prevented from obtaining further work until they had paid up arrears of the Parliamentary levy; and whether he will consider the insertion of provisions in the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill to prevent similar action in the future?

All such points are proper subjects for discussion in Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is any intention on the part of His Majesty's Government to reduce the standing Army in India; and, if so, whether this reduction will be of British or native troops, and by what amount?

The Secretary of State for India has nothing to add to the reply given to a similar question on 31st May by the Under-Secretary of State for War.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, when he lays Papers with reference to the transfer of the Masai from their present northern territories, he will include in them a copy of the agreement, now abrogated, by which they were guaranteed the possession of these lands?

I shall be happy to include a copy of the original agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what sums were spent last year on the Army and on education in Egypt.

I am not aware of the sums actually spent on the Army and education in Egypt last year. In the Budget for 1910 the sum of £E504,942 was allotted to the Ministry of Education, and £E867,006 to the Ministry of War and the Army of Occupation. A further sum of £E27,490 was allotted for "special expenditure" to the Ministry of Education, and £E19,341 to the Ministry of War.

asked whether the Government will ask the opinion of the Imperial Conference as to the advisability of more direct representation of India in the next Imperial Conference?

The Prime Minister desires me to state that the Government do not propose to take the action suggested, as representation by the Secretary of State for India meets all reasonable requirements.

asked whether the Government will take steps to provide that India should be represented at all sittings of the Imperial Conference where matters relating to the Empire and foreign affairs are discussed?

The Prime Minister will take any steps necessary to ensure the representation of India at the Imperial Conference when required.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the resolutions passed by the Haydock Urban District Council, Newton-in-Makerfield Urban District Council, Ashton-in-Makerfield Urban District Council, and by the St. Helen's Town Council urging His Majesty's Government to promote legislation in the present Session of Parliament on the lines of the Local Authorities Combined Drainage Bill or of the Public Health (Sewers and Drains) Bill; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have received a number of resolutions with respect to the Bills referred to. I could not promise to take any action in the matter this Session.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, under Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, when a small-pox hospital is maintained by several sanitary authorities under a joint hospital board, the prescribed particulars shall be furnished upon application by the clerk of each sanitary authority relating to cases from his district or should the clerk of the joint hospital board supply the information?

The view which the Local Government Board have taken is that the clerk to the joint hospital board is the right person to furnish the information in the circumstances described in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can supply details regarding the admission of Sarah Scott to the Birmingham Union about the year 1881; whether he can state the parentage of the girl, her age when admitted, or give information to enable her to trace her parentage; whether the present clerk to the union has refused information which he could have supplied; and whether books containing particulars of inmates have been destroyed?

I have communicated with the Birmingham guardians on the subject of the question, and am informed that the clerk to the guardians cannot state the parentage of the girl Sarah Scott. The books show that she came under the notice of the guardians early in 1881 as "deserted," "destitute," "legitimate," "aged nine years." She was brought by Martha Roden, of 14, Icknield Port Road. He knows of no source to enable him to trace her parentage. I do not gather that the clerk has refused information which he could have supplied; on the contrary, he appears to have devoted much time in trying to help the applicant, and to have engaged a man specially for some days to make a close search of the books. The books containing the particulars about inmates are destroyed from time to time. The particulars the clerk was able to supply in this case are taken from a book thirty years old.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention had been called to the delay occasioned by the practice of sending letters addressed in Irish to Dublin for translation from the Ken-mare postal district; and whether steps will be taken, in the event of any vacancy occurring, to secure that one at least of the staff will be able to deal with letters addressed in Irish, in view of the fact that Irish is the home language of many families in the baronies of Glanerought and South Dunkerron?

I have received only one complaint in respect of such a letter during the last four years. I should not be justified in insisting on a knowledge of the Irish language as a qualification for an appointment in the local postal service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has had any com- plaints from the assistants in Whitehall Place Post Office as to the cold and draughts experienced in that branch; whether the health of the employés there is under the average on account of the fact that an entrance exists both at back and front; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to remedy the grievance?

I have received no complaints with regard to the office in question (which is provided by the National Liberal Club), and no intimation has reached me that the conditions of working have been in any way inimical to the health of the staff.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether, in the coming transfer of the National Telephone service to the Government, transferred services from the company to the Government will in all cases of established staff rank for pension; and (2) whether, in the coming transfer of the National Telephone service to the Government, all employés of the National Telephone Company will be put on the establishment of the Government service, except in such cases where similar grades are not on the establishment of the Government service?

A Bill dealing with the matter will probably be introduced shortly after Whitsuntide, and it would, I think, be premature to give the hon. Member any information beyond that which is contained in the memorandum read in this House on the 9th of August, 1905, by the then Postmaster-General.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the reasons for the dissatisfaction among the staff of the head telegraph office at Liverpool owing to the alleged favouritism of the chief and his partiality to men who are not connected with the association, and especially will he inquire into the circumstances attending the recent promotion of No. 66 on the seniority list over the heads of equally qualified men Who are active members of the association?

The recommendations of the postmaster of Liverpool for promotion are, like all similar recommendations, thoroughly reviewed at headquarters, and into many of them I make personal investigation. I am satis- fled that they are made without favouritism or partiality, and especially that prominence in the work of an association of Post Office servants is not regarded as a disqualification for advancement. I am acquainted with the circumstances of the particular case referred to, and I assure the hon. Member that the officer selected was the best and most useful of the candidates.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state why the services of Patrick Brady, of Cloonagh, county Longford, have, after twelve years' service, been dispensed with and his district handed over to another person whose salary has been increased; and whether he will direct that Brady be restored to his daily route from Cloonagh to Kilmore in order to enable him to live or, in the alternative, that another route in the neighbourhood be arranged for him?

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

asked the Postmaster-General the number of sorters and head postmen respectively in the Eastern Central section of the General Post Office who were employed at intervals during the year ending 31st March, 1911, as acting overseers, the number of days during this period that these officers were so employed, the total amount paid in substitution allowance to the officers in question for performing these duties during the year, and the total amount that would have been incurred by the Department if these officers had been paid the minimum of the overseers' class for the whole time they have been performing these duties during the past year?

During the year ended 31st March, 1911, twenty-four sorters and six head postmen in the Eastern Central Section were employed at intervals as acting overseers for 1,911 and 428 days respectively. The total amount paid as substitution allowance to the officers in question for performing overseers' duties was £47 6s. 4d. to the sorters and £23 19s. 10d. to the head postmen. If they had been paid at the minimum of the overseers' scale of pay for the whole of the time they performed the overseers' duties the amount paid would have been £95 11s. to the sorters and £44 8d. to the head postmen.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the Bill for the promotion of agricultural credit societies, about to be introduced into the House of Lords by the President of the Board, will provide for the requirements of small holders only or for village tradesmen and others as well; whether the existing joint stock banks have all consented to cooperate in the Government scheme; and, if not, which of them have done so; and whether it, is still intended to make the county councils part of the machinery for carrying it out?

I would ask the hon. Member to await the introduction of the Bill which will not be long delayed.

also asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, under the county light horse breeding scheme, mares may only be issued to persons who are not financially in a position to breed horses on their own account, or whether they may be issued to any person who is interested in the scheme and has knowledge and experience of horse breeding?

The question is for determination by the various county committees. The only stipulation made by the Board is that mares shall be put in the hands of solvent and suitable custodians.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the facts that the first return of the population of the burgh of Linlithgow, under the recent Census, was 4,003; that later the registrar discovered that the name of a child had been included in the return which had been dead for some time prior to the enumeration and that he reduced the return to 4,002; that in this number were included the members of a travelling circus company living in caravans and tents as well as a special number of workers temporarily employed in laying the Carriden pipe track who were housed at lodging houses in the burgh; whether the persons above referred to will be treated as included in the population of the burgh for the purposes of the Licensing (Scotland) Act of 1903; and whether the Secretary for Scotland will take the above circumstances into account when he considers as to whether Linlithgow should be included among the burghs of 4,000 population which have a separate licensing court of their own?

According to the Preliminary Report on the recent Census of Scotland the population of the Burgh of Linlithgow was returned as 4,002, the figure stated by my hon. Friend. The Census population was taken in terms of the Census Act and of the instructions issued under that Act. The only duty of the Secretary for Scotland under the Licensing Act in the matter referred to is to declare the population according to the Census.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the local enumerators engaged in connection with the recent Census Returns in Scotland have not yet received payment for the work undertaken by them, although their duties were completed on 10th April, and that on the occasion of the last Census in 1901 payment was made to the enumerators about 18th May; and whether he will take steps to secure that payment for the services rendered by them shall be made to all the Census enumerators at an early moment?

The examination and audit of the Census Accounts for the whole of Scotland is necessarily a work of considerable magnitude. Three-fourths of the total amount of the claims have now been paid. The remainder are being dealt with as rapidly as possible, and it is hoped that they will be overtaken at an early date.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state who was responsible for the accuracy of the Census Returns in the West of Scotland; was particular care taken that all Census papers were gathered in after being filled up; can he say that in the North-West Division of Glasgow no Census papers were overlooked; and, in particular, can he say that all the papers at 64, Buccleuch Street were returned to headquarters?

The accuracy of the Census Returns depends, in the first instance, upon the care with which heads of families and separate occupiers entitled to be supplied with schedules have filled them up. The schedules were distributed and collected by the appointed enumerators under the general supervision of the local registrars, and I have every reason to believe that the work was carefully and accurately done. I am not aware that in the North-West Division of Glasgow any Census Paper has been overlooked, but in view of my hon. Friend's question special inquiry will be made in regard to the address he mentions.