asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the National Insurance Bill the managers and inmates of cripples' homes, voluntary homes of various kinds, and penitentiaries for women come in as employers and employés and have to make contribution to the sickness fund to the extent of 26s. a year per inmate?

I will refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me orally to-day to the hon. Member for Wandsworth.

asked the Chancellor if he will provide for the exemption of charities, such as the London Female Preventive and Reformatory Institution, which has 190 inmates in its homes, from the obligation to pay 26s. per head per annum for each of such inmates under the National Insurance Bill, and substitute a provision either that the State shall provide the insurance money for the inmates while in the homes, or that payments and benefits be suspended during residence in the homes?

I will refer the hon. Member to the reply given by me orally to-day to the hon. Member for Wandsworth.

asked whether it is intended in the National Insurance Bill that maternity benefit shall be paid to an unmarried woman if she is an insured person?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked why, under the provisions of Clause 56 of the National Insurance Bill, the scheme is to be submitted to the registrar rather than to the Insurance Commissioners?

A scheme under Clause 56 will deal with funds which are outside the National Health Insurance, but which are set free through the operation of the Bill. The Insurance Commissioners will only be concerned with funds provided for the purpose of the National Health Insurance.

asked whether, under Clause 53 of the National Insurance Bill, the right to take proceedings against employers who fail to pay their contributions is allowed to members of approved societies but withheld from Post Office contributors?

Clause 53 gives an employed contributor who is a member of an approved society the special right of recovering from his employer the value of benefits lost through the employer's neglect to pay contributions. As Clause 10, which deals with arrears of contributions, only applies to members of approved societies, it is unnecessary to give this special right to a deposit contributor, who, of course, retains his common law right to take proceedings.

also asked whether the security required under Clause 20 of the National Insurance Bill is one-half of the total annual contributions of insured members or one-half of only these contributions that they make under the provisions of the Act?

The limit of security is one-half of the contributions made under the National Health Insurance only.

further asked whether, by the terms of Schedule 4 of the National Insurance Bill, a permanently disabled female young person who was receiving 4s. a week would have her benefit increased to 5s. upon passing out of the young person class?

The reply is in the affirmative.

asked whether, in the circumstances provided for in Section 56 of the National Insurance Bill, the contributions received by approved societies on behalf of the employed contributor would not be diminished by the amount of the employers' contributions; and whether these societies would still be required to pay such employed contributor the minimum benefits; and, if not, whether any provision is made in the Bill to meet the case?

Clause 56 provides for the diminution not of the employer's contribution under the National Health Insurance, but of the employer's contribution under the Act on deed establishing an employer's superannuation fund which provides similar benefits. The latter portion of the question does not arise.

asked whether a contributor who, being out of work, continues to pay his contributions as provided in Clause 4 (3) of the National Insurance Bill, or who pays arrears as provided in Clause 10 (5), is intended to pay the employer's contribution as well as his own?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state in the case of which of the first-class Powers the Government stocks are respectively lower or higher than they were on 29th April, 1909; what has been the percentage of rise or fall in each case, and what has been the percentage of fall in the case of Consols and Irish Land Stock during the same period; and whether he will give similar information for the period commencing January, 1906, to June, 1911?

There are no sources of information available to His Majesty's Government on the subject of the prices of foreign Government stocks which are not equally open to the hon. Member himself.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a provisional valuation has been issued by the official valuer, fixing the original gross value and original full site value of 49, Kingsdown Road, Upper Holloway, at £420 and £157, respectively; that the house is described in the valuation as vacant, although used as an office, but not visited every day; that the district valuer of the Valuation Department of the Inland Revenue sent a communication on 24th April intimating that a valuer of the Department had been instructed to inspect the property for the purpose of ascertaining the value thereof, and asking for facilities for inspection; that, owing to the absence of the caretaker through illness, this letter was not received for some days; that, previous to its receipt, the provisional valuation paper was sent to the owner at another address, and it was therefore useless to make arrangements for the valuer to visit the place and inspect it; and that apparently the premises were valued without having been inspected; and if he can state whether this is an isolated instance or an ordinary custom?

I am informed that the property referred to by the hon. Member is one of an estate of similar houses situate in the same street, and was described on Form IV., returned by the lessee, as "occupied by caretaker for owner." When the valuer called to inspect the premises, in accordance with his advice note, he was unable to obtain an entry. As, however, the house appeared to be similar in all respects to others inspected and valued on the same day, it was not considered necessary to make a further attempt to inspect it. I understand that no notice of objection to the provisional valuation has been given.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps are being taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the estate of Captain Clive, M.P., Ballycray, Mayo; if he is aware that the sale of this estate was agreed upon between the then agent and the tenants in April, 1908, but not proceeded with; that in March, 1910, a second agreement was signed by the parties, but has not been approved by the Congested Districts Board; and that the district in question is acutely suffering from the effects of congestion, in many cases three families living on holdings of a similar number of acres; and if, under the circumstances, the Congested Districts Board will facilitate the completion of the sale of this estate?

Copies of sale agreements signed by the tenants but not by the owner of this estate were lodged with the Congested Districts Board. The Board' refused their consent to the proposed direct sale to the tenants, as they considered that, owing to the character of the property, it should be sold through them. The Board will have an inspection and valuation made of this estate as soon as possible with a view to making an offer for it. The Board have no information as regards the other points raised in the question.

asked how many hand-looms for the weaving of linen were in use in Ireland prior to the passing of the Act of Parliament in 1909, whereby it was made compulsory to weave the words Irish hand-woven linen on the edge of every napkin and table-cloth; how many handlooms are now being employed; how many weavers' cottages have been erected under the Labourers Act; and how many such cottages are now contracted for!

There are no statistics available from which the information asked for by the hon. Member can be obtained.

asked on what grounds. Mary O'Neill, of Meenlogher, Castlefin, county Donegal, was deprived of her old age pension?

This case does not appear to have come before the Local Government Board, and I have, therefore, no information respecting it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners will consider the advisability of using their powers to acquire the Bailey estate at Erryarmstrong, near Clara, North King's County, as a congested district estate, the valuation of a majority of the tenants being under £7 and the estate containing 250 acres of untenanted land?

The Estates Commissioners received in April last a memorial from the tenants on the estate of Mrs. Bailey, Kings' County, requesting them to acquire the lands of Erryarmstrong as a -congested estate under the Irish Land Act, 1909. The Commissioners asked for further information, which they received, on the 16th June, and the matter is at present under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the War Office by the invitation of reports from officers commanding units as to the additional cost of lodging within six miles of the General Post Office or within the London postal area, contemplate an early adjustment of the hardships at present suffered by married non-commissioned officers, acting as sergeant-instructors of the permanent staff, by reason of the cost of lodging in the districts immediately adjacent to the county of London?

This matter is now being considered, and will soon be settled.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the number of accidents which have been caused by motor omnibuses during the last few weeks; and whether he would propose some alteration in the requirements as to size, weight, and speed of metropolitan stage coaches propelled by motor power before they can be licensed?

The proportion of accidents connected with motor omni-buses varies from time to time, and during the last few weeks the number has been high; but some of them were due, I am advised, to causes unconnected with the omnibus or the driver. Various alterations in the specifications upon which new motor omnibuses are passed at New Scotland Yard were made recently; and the maxi- mum weight allowed has been greatly reduced. There has recently been a marked improvement in the omnibuses, and it is not proposed at present to make any further alteration in the specification. The limit of speed at present prescribed (twelve miles an hour) seems reasonable, and the police prosecute frequently when they can obtain evidence that that limit is exceeded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the number of notices of concessions filed at Seccondee, Victoriaburg, and Kumasi for timber, rubber, and agricultural rights generally, and advertised in the Gold Coast Government "Gazette"; whether certificates of validity are being issued in respect to these concessions; whether he can lay papers showing that the courts are exercising proper care in protecting native rights in the districts affected by the concessions; and whether he has considered if the number of these concessions renders desirable further legislation to safeguard the rights of the native against the exploitation of companies who have acquired influence over chiefs?

My attention has been drawn to the notices to which my hon. Friend refers, but I am informed by the Acting-Governor of the Gold Coast that these notices are quite untrustworthy as a guide to the amount of land which is being, or will be, alienated. I have no reason to think that the judges of the Supreme Court are failing to carry out to the best of their ability the duty of protecting native rights imposed upon them by the Concessions Ordinance. I will lay papers showing the area and situation of all land concessions hitherto granted in the Gold Coast; and also of the concessions which have formed the subject of notices in the Government Gazette during the years 1908-1910, but which have not yet been validated. I am not prepared to assert that the quantity of land alienated is unduly great, having regard to the large extent of these territories and the sparseness of the population, but I am carefully watching the situation, and am considering what further safeguards for the protection of the natives can be introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when he proposes to lay Papers showing upon what information he went when he sanctioned the removal of the Northern Masai from their territories in East Africa?

The Papers have already been distributed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state in what capacity the over-seas members of the Imperial Conference attended the Committee of Imperial Defence?

The over-seas members of the Imperial Conference attended the Committee of Imperial Defence on the invitation of the Prime Minister, it being considered that defence questions would be most suitably discussed at a Committee at whose discussions the principal expert advisers of His Majesty's Government in such matters are present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, has he arrived at any decision regarding the publication of a fuller Report of the proceedings of the Imperial Conference than that to be found in the daily précis; and, if so, what is that decision?

The question of publication of the proceedings of the Conference is for the Conference, and not for the Secretary of State, to decide. It is anticipated that a full report of the proceedings, so far as the discussions are not confidential, will be issued as soon as possible after the close of the Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the question of the legality of the conversion of merchantmen into warships on the high seas is left unsettled by the Declaration of London, the International Prize Court, when established, would not under The Hague Conference of 1907 be entitled and bound to decide all questions relating to such conversion in accordance with what the majority of that Court might conceive to be the general principles of justice and equity; and whether such decisions of the International Prize Court would not be binding upon and enforced against British subjects; and whether His Majesty's Government still adhere to their expressed views that, in the event of an International Prize Court being established and the Declaration of London being ratified, our position as regards questions left unsettled by the Declaration will be the same as it has hitherto been?

It is impossible to discuss these complicated matters within the limits of the reply to a question, but the subject will be dealt with fully in Debate within a very short time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will state which, if any, of the Powers represented at the London Naval Conference have up to the present time ratified the Declaration?

The Declaration has not yet been ratified by any Power.

asked the Prime Minister if he can say whether it is intended to introduce and proceed with a Plural Voting Bill before facilities are given for the Women's Enfranchisement Bill; and if he can state whether the Plural Voting Bill will be introduced this Session?

I have already said that I am not in a position at present to make any statement as to the introduction of a Bill dealing with Plural Voting.

asked the Prime Minister if he can state whether the Government's offer of facilities for the Women's Enfranchisement Bill will extend to Third Reading facilities if amendments in Committee are successfully resisted by the promoters of the Bill, although the majorities during the Committee stage may fall substantially below that by which the Second Reading was carried, or if Third Reading facilities will be withheld if a difference of opinion displays itself in Committee as to the form which the Bill shall take?

I have nothing to add to my published declarations on this matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if, under the regulations issued by the chief medical officer of the Board, children may attend the public schools although they come from homes in which at the time other children are suffering from measles; and if he is aware that the school attendance officers, acting under instructions from the local medical officers of health, whose action in this matter is governed by the Local Government Board regulations, insist upon a child attending school if it has once had measles, although its brothers and sisters may be suffering from the disease; and, in view of the loss of child life from measles, will he take steps to make the regulations for dealing with this disease more stringent?

No regulations on this subject have been issued, but a Memorandum was prepared jointly by the medical officers of the Local Government Board and Board of Education, which contains rules for the guidance of the officials concerned. These rules are based on present medical knowledge, and I am advised that such knowledge would not justify a modification of the rules in the direction suggested in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any inquiry is made in cases of certified deaths from chicken-pox with a view to ascertain if such cases of deaths in children are in reality due to small-pox and not chicken-pox, as alleged by the Registrar-General in his Forty-sixth and other Reports; and whether such inquiry has confirmed the opinion generally held by medical authorities that deaths from chicken-pox are of very rare occurrence indeed?

The doctor who grants a death certificate is required to state the cause of death, and, as a general rule, no inquiry is made to check the correctness of his statement. When small-pox is prevalent in a district, chicken-pox is frequently added to the list of notifiable diseases, with the object of discovering whether any cases supposed to be chicken-pox are really small-pox. In such cases it would rest with the medical officer of health of the district to make such inquiries as he considered necessary in regard to any deaths certified to be due to chicken-pox.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that the proper charge for public vaccination is 4s. 2d. at the surgery and 6s. 8d. at the patient's house, he has sanctioned Dr. Jaynes, one of the public vaccinators of the district of Bermondsey, charging 6s. 8d. for each child and adult he vaccinates at a place other than the patient's home; and whether of the total amount of fees for vaccination, paid to the three public vaccinators in Bermondsey for the years 1908, 1909, and 1910, the fees payable to Dr. Jaynes. amount to half?

Dr. Jaynes has been appointed by the Board as an authorised teacher of vaccination. In this capacity he receives, as prescribed by the General Order of the Board of 19th June, 1899, a fee of 5s. in respect of every successful primary vaccination of any child, which may be performed elsewhere than at the home of the child vaccinated, but at a place and subject to conditions which the Board have approved. Dr. Jaynes is only concerned with the vaccination of adults in his capacity of public vaccinator, and the fee in respect of such cases is 2s. 6d. when the operation is performed elsewhere than at the home of the patient. In addition the public vaccinator receives a birth fee of 1s. 8d. in respect of each child born within his district. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

also asked the President whether his attention has been called to the action of Dr. Jaynes in giving 2s. to many persons vaccinated at his surgery, and also to the fact that Dr. Jaynes and Dr. Johnston, both residing out of their district, are in the habit of giving medical certificates and orders for admission to the workhouse or infirmary in blank, leaving them to be filled up by the relieving officer; and what steps he proposes to take in consequence?

My attention has not been called to the matters with which the question deals. I am in communication with the guardians on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will state the cause of the delay in opening in Sligo a labour exchange in accordance with the statements publicly made by the head of the Labour Exchange Department in Dublin; and whether he can now state definitely when the exchange will be opened?

The delay in opening a Labour Exchange at Sligo has been due to the difficulty experienced in obtaining suitable premises. Negotiations on this point are proceeding at present and it is hoped that the necessary arrangements, will be concluded shortly.