asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the fact that the 1901 Census of Ireland, unlike that of England, did not, as respects the occupations of the population, distinguish between employers and employed; and, seeing that the 1911 Census of Ireland made this distinction and that the possession of statistics in this respect is of enormous and urgent importance in connection with the National Insurance Bill, whether he will even if it is necessary to engage a special temporary staff and make provision for its payment apart from the anticipated cost of the Census, give instructions to have the occupation statistics of each county in Ireland in 1911 made available forthwith for this purpose?

The Irish Census Act, 1910, provided that only forms and instructions similar to those issued under the Act of 1900 should be used in connec- tion with the present Census. The inquiries issued under the two Acts are identical and do not distinguish between employer and employed. The information asked for is not, therefore, available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state why the pension payable to Mark Tummin, No. 1851, namely, 5s., has been reduced to 1s. a week by the Local Government Board; and will he give the basis on which this old age pensioner's means were calculated?

The Local Government Board reduced Tummin's pension to 1s. a week on the ground that his means exceeded £28 17s. 6d., but did not exceed £31 10s. On his holding of nine acres there are two cows, two calves, an ass, a sow, and fifty fowl, together with crops of potatoes, oats, and hay.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the members of voluntary aid detachments of the British Red Cross Society who did duty at the Coronation will receive decorations as well as the members of the St. John's Ambulance Association?

The question is under consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether it is by the order of the Board of Agriculture that the Metropolitan Cattle Market has been closed; whether he is aware that this is causing loss to graziers without appearing to check in any way the spread of diseases; and whether he has been made acquainted with the terms of a resolution passed at Market Harborough on Tuesday last urging that immediate steps should be taken to reopen the market?

Yes, Sir; but a further Order was issued by the Board yesterday which will permit of the holding of markets and the sale of animals for immediate slaughter. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.