asked the Chancellor whether, in view of the fact that all employers of labour have to contribute for their workpeople under the National Insurance Bill irrespective of their ability to pay, he will give an approximate estimate of the number of manufacturers who do not earn sufficient profit to be liable to pay Income Tax.

I am unable to furnish the estimate which the hon. Member desires.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the provisions relating to sickness and disablement benefit in Clause 9, Sub-section (2) of the National Insurance Bill refer only to sickness and disablement benefit conferred by the Act or includes the extra benefit which may be obtained by contributions additional to those required by the Act?

Clause 9 (2) refers only to sickness and disablement benefit received under the National Health Insurance, not to benefits obtained by means of additional contributions.

asked the Chancellor whether his attention has been called to the cases of hotel-keepers in the Highlands who, having built large additions to their premises for the benefit of the tourist traffic, find their licence duty greatly increased under the new Finance Act whilst the sale of liquor has in most cases considerably diminished; and, seeing that these premises and expensive furniture appertaining thereto remain unproductive for at least eight months in the year, can he see his way to introduce some amendment of the Act such as will admit of Licence Duty being charged according to consumption of liquor in the case of hotels which are open during the summer months only?

My hon. Friend is presumably referring to what are known as "seasonal hotels," as to which a liberal concession was given under the Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910. I am not at present prepared to alter the system of taxation then started, but if my hon. Friend has in mind any particular cases which he thinks involve hardship I will consider them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in the case of the Kiltane farm, in the union of Ballyvaughan county Clare, Mr. T. II. Blackhall has offered to sell the farm to the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board, and whether the landlord is willing to sell to the Congested Districts Board the whole estate, including the Kiltane farm; and whether, in the event of the landlord's refusal to sell, the Congested Districts Board will avail itself of the provisions for compulsory purchase in the Land Act of 1909?

Mr. T. H. Blackhall has offered to sell to the Congested Districts Board his leasehold interest in the farm referred to, but has declined to sell the whole estate. The Board are at present considering what action they will take in reference to this and some other similarly circumstanced estates in county Clare.

asked the Chief Secretary upon what grounds the Irish Local Government Board on appeal disallowed a pension of 4s. per week granted by the local pension sub-committee to John Lally, Bannahulty, Manulla, county Mayo, whose income is derived solely from six acres of inferior land which he holds at a rent of £4 0s. 4d. per year; and can he state in detail how the said income was estimated by the local pension officer?

The appeal lodged against the allowance of a pension to John Lally is at present being investigated by the Local Government Board. The Board are not in possession of the details of the pension officer's estimate of claimant's means.

asked on what ground the Local Government Board has refused to sanction the pension of 5s. granted by the Strokestown sub-committee to Mrs. Bridget Moran, a widow living on a small bog holding, paying a yearly rent of £2 14s., and found by the sub-committee to be over seventy years of age?

The family of Mrs. Moran could not be traced in either of the Census Returns of 1841 or 1851, and she produced no evidence to show that she had attained the statutory age. The Local Government Board had, therefore, no option but to disallow her claim.

asked the Chief Secretary why the committee of the Wexford County Lunatic Asylum refused to supply the report of the inspector of lunatics upon the circumstances of the suicide of John Kavanagh to the solicitor acting for his relatives; and if he will lay that report upon the Table of the House?

I understand that the Committee of the Asylum decided at their meeting on 21st June to supply a copy of the report.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received a communication from the Royal College of Physicians recommending that manufacturers and vendors of patent medicines should be compelled to print on the labels of the bottles or other vessels the exact composition of such medicines and the amount of each constituent; and whether, if he gives effect to this recommendation, he will take steps to make the rule applicable to the various vaccines and sera imported from abroad and those manufactured in this country?

I have been in correspondence with the Royal College of Physicians on this subject. I have no authority to take the step suggested, but I think that the question of the conditions of the sale of patent medicines might usefully be considered by a Select Committee next Session. I cannot at present express any opinion as to whether the inquiry should be extended to vaccines and sera.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the Chief Commissioner of Police has issued new instructions relating to the medical examination of men wishing to act as drivers of taxi-cabs, etc.; if he is aware that the circular has caused dissatisfaction amongst the men now engaged in that industry, who will require to renew their licences on 1st July or soon after; and whether, in order that the organised workers' views may be stated to him, he will receive a small deputation from the trade unions representing the men and discuss the matter with them?

I am not aware that this regulation, which was made in the interests of the public and of the cabdrivers alike, has caused any dissatisfaction amongst the men engaged in this industry. The Commissioner has not, I believe, received any communication to this effect; but he would, of course, be ready to receive and consider any representations from the union.

asked the Postmaster General whether Irish printing firms will be given an opportunity to tender for the Irish supplies of stamped postcards and envelopes sold by post offices?

The supplies of stamped postcards and envelopes issued by the General Post Office, including those issued in Ireland, are manufactured by Messrs. McCorquodale Company, Limited, under a contract which will remain in force for a period of not less than five years from the 1st January last. Tenders for this contract were invited from Irish as well as British firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the price of Turkish Government stock in 1902 was 106½ and the price in 1911 is 106, and that during the same period the Government stocks in Russia have upheld their market value; whether he is aware that both Turkey and Russia have laws prohibiting gambling operations in trade and finance; and whether, in view of the continued depreciation in the value of Consols, the Government will consider the advisability of introducing legislation to prevent gambling operations in futures and options?

I have not been able to verify the figures mentioned in the question, and I am not aware of the existence of the laws in Turkey and Russia to which the hon. Member refers. As he has already been informed, steps are being taken to bring up to date the information already published in Parliamentary Papers with regard to legislation affecting gambling in "options" and "futures" in foreign countries. I see no reason to think that any part of the depreciation in Consols can be traced to operations of the nature referred to in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the decision with regard to the question of the treasure trove at Thorpe will be settled in the near future, in order that the anxiety of the finders may be set at rest?

The Crown makes no claim to these coins, and instructions are being given to the Receiver of Wreck at Ipswich to return them to the finders.