asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the effect which the National Insurance Bill is likely to have on persons holding the certificate of the Apothecaries' Society who act as dispensers for medical men in their surgeries; whether he is aware that numbers of such dispensers will lose their present employment by reason of the fact that the medical men who employ them will no longer supply their patients with medicines, and that in the existing state of the law such dispensers will find it difficult, if not impossible, to obtain other employment either as chemists' assistants or otherwise; and whether he will take the case of such dispensers into consideration and consider in what manner they can be relieved from hardship?

It seems to me that under the Bill as it stands the demand for the services of persons of the class described in the question should be increased rather than diminished.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what is the proportion of direct to indirect taxation in Ireland and in Great Britain on the basis of Exchequer receipts or otherwise for the year 1910–11?

The figures are not yet available, but if the hon. Member will repeat his question when the annual Financial Relations Returns have been published, I shall be happy to have the calculations made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the percentages of direct and indirect taxation to be levied in the financial year 1911–12 on the basis of his Budget statement; and whether he will state what taxes are regarded as direct, and what as indirect, for the purposes of such a calculation?

The percentages of direct and indirect taxation for 1911–12 on the basis of the Budget Estimates of revenue are 57.76 and 42.24 respectively. For the purpose of this calculation, Excise Licences, Railway Duty, Estate, etc., Duties, Stamps, Land Tax, House Duty, Property and Income Tax (including Super-tax), and Land Value Duties, are treated as direct taxes, and all Customs and Excise Duties, excepting Licences and Railway Duty, as indirect.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the O'Conor estate, in the parish of Kilrooskey, county Roscommon, has been purchased by the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, whether he can state by whose authority a tenant on an adjoining estate is fencing a portion of the grass lands on the same estate?

The Congested Districts Board are unable to identify the O'Conor estate referred to, as they have purchased, or have on offer, several estates of that name in county Roscommon. If the hon. Member will give me the Christian name of the owner and the names of the lands comprising the estate I will have further inquiries made.

asked the Chief Secretary if agreements were entered into for the purchase of the tenants' holdings on the estate of T. C. E. Goff (lands of Roxboro and Carabane) about six years ago, and, if so, why the sale has not been completed; and can he say if the Congested Districts Board have now taken over the agreements from the Estates Commissioners, with a view to having the sale completed?

The agreements referred to and other documents in connection with this estate have been transferred to the Congested Districts Board by the Estates Commissioners. The Board will have the property inspected, and a decision arrived at regarding its purchase, as soon as practicable.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in fulfilment of a promise made more than three months ago, he will give the House an opportunity of discussing the breakdown of land purchase in Ireland; and whether, failing the allotment of a special day for the debate, he will arrange to have the Vote for the Irish Land Commission put down for a convenient date, of which fair notice shall be given?

I am not able at present to fix a time for this discussion.

asked when Mr. Joseph Flynn, tenant on the W. Laville estate, county Westmeath, the landlord of which is Captain Dawson, may expect to hear what judicial rent has been fixed on his farm, which was inspected by the Commissioners on 24th April, 1911?

The judicial rent in this case was fixed by order of the Sub-Commission Court dated 16th June. The decision was notified to the tenant on 19th June.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War when the Territorial Advisory Council last met?

The Council last met. on 27th July, 1909.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state when the new scheme for the training of Yeomanry officers will be made public?

I have nothing at present to add to the information which I gave the hon. Member on the 1st instant.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has made representations to the Government of the Union of South Africa on the subject of the Transvaal Gold Law and Townships Amendment Act and their operation against British-Indian residents of the province, with a view to obtaining a modification of these laws?

I would refer to my answer to the hon. Member for Tyneside on the 18th of May as regards the legislation referred to. Complaints against that legislation have been made and are now being investigated by the Government of the Union of South Africa, who have lately stated that there is no intention of interfering with any business or right to carry on business acquired and exercised by Indians prior to the date of the legislation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what were the number of births, of successful vaccination of infants, and of de- clarations of conscientious objection to vaccination in the borough of Halifax in the years 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, and 1910, respectively?

The registration sub-districts of north and south Halifax are not exactly coincident with the Borough, as they contain a small area outside. The figures for these districts, so far as they are available, are as follows:—

asked the Lord Advocate when the superannuation scheme provided for in The Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, will be laid upon the Table of the House?

I have to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the question of the right hon. Member for Clackmannan and Kinross on the 20th instant.