asked the Secretary to the Treasury the cause of the delay in issuing the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Amalgamated Service of Customs and Excise; whether he is now in a position to say when this Report will be issued; and whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the members of these services in Ireland, on account of the delay, and on account of their being deprived for the present of the benefits promised them as a result of this inquiry?

I am unable to say when the Report will be presented to the Treasury. It is in an advanced state—but the questions remaining to be decided are extremely complicated, and demand and are receiving the most careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Government has sanctioned the transmission by the Governor of the Bahamas of an invitation to the Government of the Dominion of Canada to appoint Commissioners to confer with Commissioners to be appointed by the Bahamas as to the feasibility of arriving at some arrangement for the admission of the Bahamas into the Dominion with the status of a province, or has taken other steps to promote a consideration of this question with a view to securing for the produce of the Bahamas the benefit of more favourable access to the Canadian markets, or is Ire prepared now to indicate the view of His Majesty's Government with regard to the proposal?

:The suggested incorporation of the Bahamas with the Dominion of Canada raises several important issues other than that of access to the Canadian market, and I do not think I can usefully make any statement on the subject at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his attention has been called to the resolution of the Billinge Urban District Council to the effect that a residential permanent magistrate is very much required for the Billinge Urban District; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

On its receipt I forwarded the resolution for consideration by the Lord Lieutenant, on whose nomination appointments to the Commission of the Peace for the County Palatine of Lancaster are made.