I beg to ask the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to state the result of his inquiries into the rates of pay to workmen engaged in connection with the Government contract for rails at Dowlais ironworks; and what action he proposes to take to secure the proper observance of the Fair-Wages Clause attached to this contract?

I beg also to ask as to the result of the inquiries concerning the wages paid to workmen engaged by Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettle-fold, upon contracts for the Indian State Railways?

The Secretary of State is in communication with Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettle-fold regarding the allegations made against them, and I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as the firm's reply has been received and considered.

When may the reply be expected. Seeing that the matter has been before the India Office several weeks is it not time it arrived?

I will make inquiry of the Secretary of State.

Why not send down an inspector, instead of waiting for the reply?

I will communicate that suggestion to the Department.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now make any statement with regard to the recent order as to the employ- ment of sergeants instead of sergeant-majors as the permanent staff of the Yeomanry?

It has been decided to revert to the system in force before the recent changes in regard to the appointment of the permanent staff of the Yeomanry, but it will, of course, be made clear that no instructor will be retained or appointed who is not efficient in every respect.

When may the order be expected?

At once.

How will sergeants who came in under the new order be affected?

They will stay on for now. The change will not be retrospective.

asked whether representations have been received by the War Office from Territorial associations asking that the order regarding the inspection of unrecognised boys' organisations by officers in uniform be rescinded, and that drill halls may be lent or hired to such units if it does not entail expense to the public; and whether the War Office will look favourably upon such representations?

Representations to this effect have been received from six County Associations, of whom only two have recognised any Cadet units. It is not considered justifiable to give military aid to bodies which do not comply with military requirements and maintain no military connections.

Is it the desire of the War Office authorities to force these boys' organisations to become purely military organisations by a system of boycott, and does the right hon. Gentleman consider that these units are injuring the military spirit in this country?

I mean exactly what I said in the last sentence of my answer. Everyone must, of course, be glad to see these boys' organisations prosper; but I do not think a charge on Army funds justifiable.

I never suggested expense; I merely asked whether boy scouts and kindred organisations could be inspected by officers and have the use of drill halls without expense to the public?

All that is included in the phrase I have used.

asked whether an extra grant or allowance may be given to Territorial associations wherewith to furnish the quarters of non-commissioned officers of the permanent staff, as, owing to the proposed lower scale of pay and shorter period of appointment, non-commissioned officers cannot afford to furnish quarters on their present allowance?

The question is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received representations from county Territorial Associations that the present 4d. lodging allowance is insufficient to provide sergeant instructors with quarters suitable to their position, and that the billeting allowance of 1s. 0½d. for lodgings which includes supper and breakfast does not conduce to the popularity of and the respect for the Territorial Force?

Yes, Sir. Representations have been received on these matters. The 4d. rate of lodging allowance has been raised to 9d., with effect from 1st April last, and Commands were so informed on the 1st July. The billeting rates are being reconsidered in accordance with the pledge given in Debate on the Army Annual Bill this year.

asked whether pay and allowances will be issued to members of voluntary aid detachments when mobilised; and whether, in view of the financial burden cast on these detachments, a small grant can be given to authorised detachments that are efficient?

The question of the grant of pay and allowances on mobilisation is now under consideration. As regards expenditure in peace it is not proposed to make any grant. The expenses involved should be very small.

asked whether permission will be granted to the Herts Yeomanry to wear the scarlet collar and cuffs on the service dress jacket as approved on 2nd May, 1902?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Fair-Wages Clause is being systematically and continuously violated by Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold whilst executing Colonial Office contracts at their Dowlais works; and what action he proposes taking to secure its enforcement?

The firm has been communicated with in the matter; but, pending receipt and consideration of their reply, I am unable to answer the hon. Member's question.

Is there any idea when the answer will be ready?

I hope in a day or two.

asked what action the First Lord of the Admiralty proposes taking to secure the enforcement of the Fair-Wages Clause at Dowlais, where the moulders make the moulds for the ingots from which the plates for battleships are rolled, and also the various parts of the machinery employed in the rolling process, and where the pattern-makers make the patterns for the moulders, and are thus in both cases directly employed in connection with the contracts now being executed by Messrs. Guest, Keen, and Nettlefold on behalf of the Admiralty?

The point which the hon. Member raises was referred yesterday by the India Office to the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee for an opinion.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept their decision?

The point having been referred, I cannot say. I do not want to prejudge the case.

asked why the same precedence is not granted to the Chief Judicial Commissioner of the Federated Malay States as to the Chief Justices of Crown Colonies?

The circumstances of the Federated Malay States, which are not part of His Majesty's Dominions, differ from those of a Crown Colony, and it is impossible to argue by analogy from one to the other.

Has not soreness been caused in the Malay States by the fact that their chief officer should take a lower rank?

I do not know if there is any question which leads to greater soreness than that of precedence.

asked whether, in view of the number of natives of India residing in the Federated Malay States, the Government will grant them a representative on the Federal Council?

The answer to the hon. Member's question is in the negative.

Are there now 172,000 Indians in the Federated Malay States, and have they not brought a considerable sum of money into the country, and as the Chinese are represented on the Council ought not India also to be represented?

There is a large number of coolies in the Federated Malay States. If the hon. Member would like further information on the subject will he communicate with me privately?

asked the President of the Board of Education if it will be possible to provide in the current year for increased grants to secondary schools, and to earmark the increase for augmenting the salaries of the teaching staff in such schools; and, if not possible this year, whether such a provision can be made next year?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part of the question, I am not yet in a position to say whether it will be possible next year to make grants to secondary schools in advance of the present rate. I am doubtful whether it would be practicable in any case to earmark any additional grants expressly for augmenting the salaries of the teaching staffs. I am, however, considering the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state whether the bacilli of tubercle have been found to be in butter?

Tubercle bacilli are occasionally to be found in butter, when they have been present in the milk from which the butter was made. The risk to health from such butter may be regarded as relatively slight.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the action of the Board in compelling the master of the Mitford and Launditch union to resign has occasioned dissatisfaction locally; if the guardians have unanimously protested against the action of the Board; and if, considering that the master's offence consisted in carrying out specific resolutions of the guardians, and that he has had a number of years' service, he will comply with the request of the guardians for a public inquiry into the whole matter?

I am aware of the facts indicated in the earlier part of the Member's question. I may observe that, since I called upon the master to resign, his wife, the matron, resigned owing to ill-health, and her resignation automatically brought her husband's office as master to a close on 30th June. I have already informed the guardians that the case is not one that calls for further inquiry as suggested.

Have not several unions in Norfolk protested against what they consider the high-handed action of the right hon. Gentleman in dismissing the master and practically ignoring the guardians of this particular union?

That may be so, but when the whole circumstances of the case and the reasons for the master's dismissal and his wife's resignation are brought before the House and the public I am sure the House of Commons will side with the Local Government Board rather than with the guardians or the master.

Shall we have an opportunity of discussing this?

Yes.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that on various public buildings in the parish of St. Marylebone notice boards are exhibited by the board of guardians purporting to deal with vaccination and re-vaccination, and citing the exemption provision of the Vaccination Act, 1898, but without any reference to the Vaccination Act, 1907; and whether he will direct the guardians to withdraw these notices?

My attention had not previously been drawn to the matter, but I am in communication with the guardians with regard to it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if his attention has been called to the fact that nearly 100 children out of the 500 maintained in the Bethnal Green Poor Law School have been suffering from what appeared to be ptomaine poisoning; whether the cause of the illness has been discovered; and what steps, if any, have been taken to prevent a recurrence of the outbreak?

I have received reports with reference to this matter, and one of my medical inspectors has made personal inquiries into the circumstances. I understand that 124 of the children suffered from what appeared to be slight ptomaine poisoning. It has been suggested that the cause may have been a fish dinner. All the children have recovered. There is no evidence of any want of vigilance on the part of the officers of the school, and I understand that there was nothing to suggest that there was anything suspicious about the fish when it was received.

Was it tinned fish?

No, Sir.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will issue a circular to the various boards of guardians informing them that when an old age pensioner receives medical relief they are not entitled to apply any money received in respect of the pension to the maintenance of the pensioner in relief of the rates, that if a pensioner is asked to allow the agent of the guardians to collect the pension the pensioner should be at the same time informed that he is entitled to all money collected, and that an assurance must be given to the pensioner that all such money will be paid to him?

The whole question of the receipt by pensioners of their pensions while in Poor Law institutions is receiving consideration, and I could not promise to issue a circular as suggested at the present time.

asked whether Dr. Kaye, the medical officer of the West Riding County Council, has, at his request, investigated the claim made by Mr. A. Bryant, of Thornton, Bradford, that he has cured and is curing consumption in an advanced stage of the disease by means of gases which are given out by the maggots infesting putrifying meat; and, if so, with what result?

I have not made any such request to Dr. Kaye.

Is the statement reported in all the papers that the right hon. Gentleman has made this investigation untrue?

Like nineteen-twentieths of what appears about some Ministers in the papers, the opposite is the truth.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state when the next examination for third-class clerks, Engineers and Stores Department, will be held; and whether any extension of age will be allowed in view of the length of time since the last examination?

I cannot yet name a date, but I anticipate that an examination will probably be necessary before the end of the year. I see no sufficient grounds for any extension of the present maximum age limit of twenty-six.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that upon his inquiries last March into the conditions of telegraphic communication between London and Liverpool there was for a time a marked improvement, but that latterly there has been a recurrence of frequent delays between the London Com- mercial Sales Rooms and Liverpool, particularly in the opening business hours of the day when celerity of communication is of urgent importance for the effecting of sales and purchases; and whether he will at once and at somewhat short intervals in the future repeat his departmental inquiries which, on the last occasion, produced good results and, if necessary, provide additional lines or instruments?

The delays which the hon. Member now mentions were, I believe, due to interruptions of the wire and temporary failures of apparatus—contingencies which I fear are bound to occur sometimes in any telegraph service. As the hon. Member knows, the merchants dealing at the Commercial Sales Rooms enjoy the 'advantage of the assignment to their use of a special wire, so that their telegrams need not pass through the Central Telegraph Office. But that very advantage is liable at times to turn to disadvantage, because there is no case for more than one wire at the Commercial Sale Room, and it is not possible to counteract the effect of failure of wire, at a moment's notice, by distributing the work over other wires. I am fully aware of the great importance of maintaining a prompt service to those for whom the hon. Member speaks, and no pains are spared to that end.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish quarterly returns which will enable the public to judge of the telegraphic facilities afforded between the principal commercial centres of the United Kingdom, stating in such returns what in his opinion is a reasonable time for the transmission of a telegram between each couple of commercial centres during the busy hours of the morning, the percentage of telegrams delivered under that time, the percentage which took double that time, and so on, giving sufficient information to enable this House to form an opinion as to whether the service has been satisfactory or not and whether additional facilities ought to be afforded?

I fear that it would be quite impracticable to publish such returns. The telegraphic facilities between different centres are constantly varied—even from hour to hour—as the work fluctuates. To record the time taken by all telegrams between the centres would entail a great amount of labour and expense which would not be justified by the result.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that women are employed at the St. Anne's-on-Sea sub-post office on duties which entail almost continuous standing for periods of nine to ten hours, and that, in answer to complaints, it is stated that the same conditions exist at other offices and that the duty is not unduly trying; whether the necessity for this condition of affairs is caused by shortness of staff; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this condition of service?

There is one duty at St. Anne's-on-Sea which involves attendance at the public counter from 12.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. during the summer season only, the last hour's attendance being paid for as overtime. In the winter the duty finishes at 8.30 p.m. There is an interval of half an hour for refreshment from 4.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. The duty is performed on alternate days by two women clerks in rotation with another duty of eight hours. When not engaged with the public the officer performing the duty can. sit down, if she wishes, a stool being provided for the purpose. The arrangement of an eight-hour counter duty is normal, and is not considered irksome. I have, however, altered the practice of appending an hour's overtime daily to this duty during the summer season, and I am considering whether special circumstances at St. Anne's-on-Sea render any further alterations advisable.

asked the Postmaster-General if he intends, to introduce into England the automatic telephones known as the Strowger and the Lorimer systems; what has been, the cost to date in connection with this experiment; and what amount is it calculated it will cost to continue the same for say six months?

Contracts are in course of arrangement for two experimental exchanges to be constructed at Epsom and Caterham Valley on the Strowger and Lorimer Automatic Systems respectively. No special expense has at present been incurred for this purpose, nor can I say now what cost will be involved in working and maintaining these exchanges. The determination of this cost is one of the chief objects of the experiment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether representations have reached him regarding the inadequacy of the postal facilities in Portsoy, Banffshire; and whether this town is now of sufficient commercial and social importance to warrant the establishment of a salaried post office?

I have recently been considering the question of post office accommodation at Portsoy. The circumstances there do not warrant a provision of a salaried sub-post office. I have made arrangements that the sub-postmaster shall devote one side of his shop exclusively to post office business, and I consider that the requirements of the case will then be met.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the neighbouring town of Cullen, which is much smaller than Portsoy, there is a sub-post office? Why should not Portsoy have equally generous treatment?

Perhaps the question is, whether Cullen ought not to be reduced to the level of Portsoy.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that ten of the women telephone operators employed at the General Post Office, South, were seized with fits of fainting and hysteria while on duty on 7th July; whether any women telegraphists at the Central Telegraph Office were similarly affected on the same date; and whether he can now say when it is proposed to publish the report of the medical inquiry into the conditions of the London telephone service?

The facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The incident is attributed to the heat, which, on the date in question, caused a temperature of 87 degrees in the Central Exchange. There were no similar cases in the Central Telegraph Office on that day. I hope to publish the report of the medical inquiry into the conditions of telephone working at an early date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Post Office Exchange at New Oxted, with fifty-one subscribers, is closed from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays; and that an extra charge of 3d. is made for trunk calls after 8 p.m., with a further fee of 3d. on calls put through after 10 p.m., whereas the National Telephone Company's Exchange at Harlow, with only thirty-three subscribers, is available all day on Sundays and no extra charge is made for late calls; and, in view of the announcement that the use of Post Office trunk lines is granted to the subscribers to Post Office Exchanges on terms as favourable as those to subscribers to exchanges of the National Telephone Company, will he take steps to rectify the present inequality in this and other cases, and will he give instructions for Post Office charges in excess of National Telephone Company's charges to be refunded or not enforced in future?

The Post Office telephone exchange at New Oxted is an instance of the exchanges referred to in my answer to a recent question by the hon. Member as having been opened by the Post Office in districts which had not been served by the National Telephone Company. The amount of support given at first was not sufficient to justify the extra cost of attendance on Sundays, or a continuous service at night without the payment of special fees for calls. In view of the increase in the number of subscribers I am now trying to arrange for a continuous service on Sundays and at nights without any special charge to subscribers. I cannot, however, in view of the expense incurred, undertake to refund the charges previously made to subscribers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the discharge of a number of workmen by the National Telephone Company in the Stoke-on-Trent district; whether his pledge that the workmen should not suffer through the transfer of the telephone system from the company to the Post Office is still the policy of his Department; and, if so, will he indicate to the company that wholesale discharges so near the actual date of transfer are not in accordance with his declared intention?

I understand that the men referred to in the question were not part of the regular staff of the company, but labourers engaged temporarily for a special work. Their discharge is in no way due to the approaching transfer of the telephone system to the State.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether any recognised authority on town-planning or civic design has been consulted by the King Edward Memorial Committee in order to do justice to the architectural and other aesthetic opportunities of London?

Although the Committee did not consult any individual, a number of suggestions were brought before them by gentlemen well qualified to advise in such matters. The Committee have entrusted the work to Mr. Lutzens and Mr. Mackennal, whose plans will in due course be placed before Parliament.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will lay before the King Edward Memorial Committee the plan for improving Hyde Park Corner, prepared by Mr. Adshead, Professor of Civic Design, with a view to providing an adequate memorial to King Edward?

The First Commissioner of Works will be happy to do this.

May I ask if the hon. Gentleman will have the plans placed in the tea room?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether certain costermongers in London have received permission to trade after the time at which shops should be closed; whether he is aware that it would be most inconvenient to many of the inhabitants' of Portsmouth, and vitally affect the trade of the Portsmouth costermongers, if they were unable to do business after the shops were closed; and whether he can inform the House if Clause 10 of the Shops Bill will prevent costermongers trading after the shops are closed?

The effect of Clause 10, which has now become Clause 15 in the Bill as amended, is to make it unlawful to carry on any class of retail trade elsewhere than in a shop at a time when under the Bill or a Closing Order shops carrying on that class of trade are required to be closed. No exceptions to this rule are made by the Bill for costermongers either in London or elsewhere; though, so far as regards Closing Orders, a general discretion is left to the local authority making the Order to authorise sales after the closing hour in emergencies or other special cases if they think fit. It would obviously be a great hardship to shopkeepers if they were required to be closed while a similar trade to their own could be carried on without let or hindrance in the streets outside and would inevitably lead many shopkeepers to carry on a street trade themselves after the closing hour, and so defeat the very object of the Bill. No representations on the point have reached me from Portsmouth, but I have no reason to suppose that the conditions there are different from those in many other towns.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the costers carry on a totally different trade from what is carried on in shops? That certainly is so in Portsmouth.

asked whether the Government has decided to omit all the provisions relating to Sunday trading in London from the Shops Bill?

By Clause 8 of the Bill, as amended in the Standing Committee, the administrative county of London and some other areas are to be exempted from the provisions of the Bill as to Sunday Closing up to two o'clock in the afternoon; but I propose on the Report stage of the Bill to move to insert a provision which will keep in force the provisions of the Sunday Observance Act, 1677, so far, at any rate, as regards the areas to be exempted from the Sunday Closing provisions of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can now report the result of the inquiries which he has been making into the various disciplinary courts connected with the Metropolitan Police, with a view to seeing whether there should be some modification of the present system; and if in this connection he will take into consideration the formation of an independent board of appeal, including men with a judicial training, such as barristers or magistrates, so as to secure that those who are called upon to act as members of the court may not be closely linked with men whose own actions may be in question on some other occasion?

I find that in the year 1910 eighteen men were dismissed and seven others were reduced in rank out of a total force exceeding 19,000. I do not believe that so high a state of discipline has ever been maintained throughout so large a force at the cost of so few punishments. Further, in the last ten years the incidence of all punishments, including minor punishments, in the Metropolitan Police, fell from 11.3 per cent. to 6.3 per cent. There are many other figures, which could be cited, of a similar character; but these are sufficient to satisfy me that it would be difficult to improve upon the results which are obtained under the present system. It must also be remembered that the police authorities have no disciplinary powers other than those possessed by the private employer, and this fact renders the achievement even more remarkable. The formation of the Board of Appeal such as suggested in the question is impracticable, and I am certain that it would not be to the advantage of the constables that their failures should be dealt with by persons who have no experience of the difficulties and trials to which they are exposed.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now state for the convenience of Members what Bills the Government intend proceeding with and what Bills they propose to withdraw; and can he state the approximate date on which he proposes to bring the Session to a close?

I must remind the Noble Lord that I have already stated that I will shortly make a statement as to the course of business for the remainder of the Session.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in view of the late period of the Session which we have now reached, and with the view of saving time, he will consider the advisability of including the Finance Bill in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill?

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been given to the case of Kent v. Fittall, No. 5, whereby many thousands of electors will be in future deprived of their vote; and whether, in order to retain on the registers of electors those persons who have been prospectively disfranchised, he will initiate immediate legislation?

I cannot add anything to the answer that I gave yesterday to a similar question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will supply details up to the latest date available of the imports of tea into this country for home consumption, showing how much is imported from India and Ceylon, from China, and from Java, respectively, in the last twelve months, and the same for the previous twelve months?

The latest figures available are those for the twelve months ended June 30th, during which period 288,503,000 lbs. of tea were cleared for home consumption, as against 274,105,000 lbs. in the previous twelve months. No separate figures are available with regard to the quantity of Java tea cleared for home consumption, but I will have a statement showing the quantities imported from the other sources mentioned in the question printed with the Votes.— [See Written Answers this date.]

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that on the night of the 12th July a Protestant, named Evans, residing at Castletown Road, near Dundalk, had the windows of his house smashed and other injury done to his premises by a Nationalist mob; that he lives in dread of further violence, and his children have been threatened and cannot attend school; and what steps are being taken to afford protection to this man and his family?

The police authorities inform me that on the 12th July a few boys marched past Mrs. Evans' house beating a toy drum, and that some of them threw stones at the house and broke a window. On the following day some factory girls used abusive language to Miss Evans. The police do not anticipate any further interference with the Evans family, but they are keeping an eye to the house.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that both Catholics and Protestants had their heads broken in Cardiff recently?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Government favour the main purpose of the Labourers' Home Enfranchisement (Ireland) Bill introduced this Session; and if he will say by what alteration, if any, an opportunity can be obtained for discussing it next Session?

I am not prepared to express an opinion on the Bill introduced by the hon. Member or to advise him as to its Amendment.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware of the number of landless applicants refused allotments of untenanted land on the Pakenham, estate, Westmeath, who have since emigrated in consequence of that refusal; whether he still approves of the ranchers' scheme by which they were excluded, while two allotments were given to a widow and her only son residing together on an adequate farm; and what action, if any, the Estates Commissioners are now taking to check emigration from that depleted county by distribution of the untenanted lands?

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member's question on 26th July, 1910, regarding the estate referred to. As I have already informed the hon. Member the Estates Commissioners have acquired for distribution over 7,000 acres of untenanted land in county Westmeath, and are in negotiation for an additional 6,000 acres in that county.

asked whether the untenanted land on the estate of Lord Massy, at Castleconnell, county Limerick, has yet been acquired by the Commissioners; has the land been inspected; and, if so, how soon may it be distributed?

The Estates Commissioners have directed an inspection to be made of the untenanted land on the estate referred to which the owner has offered for sale. They are not in a position at present to reply to the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any steps have been, taken to re-instate Mr. Daniel Courtney, evicted tenant on the Ventry estate, in his holding at Clahaneanode, Castlegregory; and whether, as the estate is now in the hands of the Congested Districts Board, steps will be taken to have this man's case dealt with as soon as possible?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they are in communication with the Estates Commissioners in regard to the case of Mr. Daniel Courtney.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the number of students attending each of the Irish training colleges in the year ended June, 1911; the number of such students in each college who studied Irish during their course; the number in each college who entered for the final certificate; the number of hours per week in each college which each student has the services of the Irish professor; and whether he will state the number in each college who qualified in 1910 to teach Irish?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on the 20th July. The Commissioners of National Education have no information as to the number of students in the training colleges who studied Irish during their course as distinct from those who entered for the certificate examination in that language.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say how many students passed the entrance examination for King's scholarships in Ireland last Easter, in first and second division, repectively; how many first and second division students were called to each of the Irish training colleges for the session beginning next September; whether any and, if so, what colleges have called second division students passing over first division; and will he explain why this is done; and what control do the National Board possess as to admission of students to the various training colleges?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the numbers of candidates who passed the King's scholarship examination of 1911 are:—In the first division 48 men and 156 women, and in the second division 192 men and 684 women. Returns of the candidates selected for the training session commencing in September next have not yet been furnished to the Commissioners. In the case of Marlborough Street Training College the candidates (other than recognised teachers) who pass the King's Scholarship examination are selected for admission to the college in the order of merit. In the case of the other colleges the selection of King's Scholars is made by the college authorities from the list of candidates who have been declared eligible by the Commissioners.

asked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, what grants are made by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to churches in London in which the services are conducted wholly in the Welsh language; and whether such grants amount to more than £l per annum per head of those in average attendance at such churches?

The Commissioners have made grants, amounting to £450 per annum in perpetuity, to two Welsh churches in London under special statutory provisions. The Commissioners have no information as to the average attendance at these churches.

asked whether any steps have been taken recently by the Estates Commissioners to transfer Patrick Whelan and Martin Ryan, planters on the estate of Lord Cloncurry, Murroe, county Limerick, and thus bring peace to the district as well as to allow the representatives of the evicted tenants back to their old homes?

The Estates Commissioners are making inquiries as to the possibility of providing other farms for Whelan and Ryan.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Maria Morgan, of Ballintoy, county Antrim, has been refused an old age pen- sion by the Local Government Board, although the local committee had approved her claim; whether he is aware that the reason assigned by the Board is that she is an American subject, although she lived only two years in America, returned to Ireland sixteen years ago, was never out of Ireland except for those two years, and never at any time became an American subject; and whether further investigation will be made?

Mrs. Morgan has made three claims. Two of these were passed by the local pension sub-committee, but were disallowed by the Local Government Board not on the ground that she was an American subject, but because she had not retained a home in the United Kingdom during her absence from it, and because she failed to show that she had attained the statutory age. Her third claim was rejected by the sub-committee, and also by the Board when she appealed to them. Further investigation can only be made by the Board in the event of an appeal being lodged on a fresh claim.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board wrote to this applicant asking her whether she could supply evidence that she had not been more than two years in America, and that that was the only ground they gave for rejecting her claim?

No, I do not understand that that was the only ground. They sought that information from her; but they came to the conclusion that she had not maintained her home in the United Kingdom during her absence, and also that she had not proved that she had attained the age of seventy years.

Having regard to the fact that this woman has lived sixty-eight years in Ireland, and only two years in America, does not the right hon. Gentleman think it a great hardship on her to be deprived of a pension, and will he see that in the Amending Bill to the Old Age Pensions Act cases of this kind will be dealt with?

The Amending Act was necessary in order to enable the Local Government Board in future to deal in a different manner with these cases from that in which they have hitherto been bound to deal with them. She can make a fresh claim.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if several old age pensioners in the sub-pension district of Baltinglass No. I. have been kept out of their pensions for many weeks, in some cases for eleven and even twelve weeks; and, if so, will immediate steps be taken to prevent the recurrence of this hardship to the pensioners?

I regret that some delay occurred recently in the delivery of the new pension order books in this district. Steps have been taken to secure punctual delivery in future.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries to see if the pension officer is overworked, and, if so, will an assistant be provided?

asked why Catherine M'Namara, of Glin, county Limerick, a recipient of outdoor relief until this disqualification for an old age pension was removed, did not get the pension book until 8th July last, although she applied for it in December, 1910, and was then qualified for the pension in the matter of her age; and whether she has yet received the amount of pension due to her since last January?

I find on inquiry that the pension officer has no record of an earlier claim by Catherine M'Namara than one made on 20th March, 1911. This claim was allowed by the committee on 23rd June, 1911, and a book of pension orders dated from 30th June onward has been delivered to her. The pensioner appears in the circumstances to have no title to payment of pension in respect of any earlier date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why James Brummel, of Glin, county Limerick, was not provided for four weeks with an old age pension book when the old book was used up; whether he is aware that Brummel has been refused the £l which accrued to his credit in the meantime; and whether, as he was not to blame in the matter, will he take steps to see that this man gets the money that is due to him?

I find on inquiry that, according to the records kept by the local pension officer, Brummel has been supplied with pension orders in unbroken sequence for the whole of the time that he has been entitled to a pension, i.e., from 22nd January, 1909. I will, however, make further inquiries if the hon. Member will furnish me with fuller particulars as to the sum of £l of winch Brummel says he has been refused payment.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the pension officer for Glin district, in the county of Limerick, has only attended the meetings of the Glin sub-committee on one occasion since the Old Age Pension Act passed; and whether, as in many cases of applicants for the pension there is no positive evidence of age but the decision is left to the officer's personal judgment of appearances, he would see that the pension officer attends those meetings, so that he would know the reasons that influence the local committee, consisting of a body of representative men of both sects and generally presided over by a clergyman, in coming to a decision in such cases and further give them a voice in those decisions which at present they do not get?

Attendance at the meetings of the local pension committee or sub-committee is the right, but not the duty, of the pension officer (No. 11 (3) of the Statutory Regulations of 1908). I am not prepared to require the officer in question to attend all meetings of the Glin sub-committee as a matter of course, as this would seriously interfere with the regular duties of his station.

asked why the Development Commissioners have made it a condition of their proposed grant to the Agricultural Organisation Society for the purpose of promoting agricultural co-operation in England and Wales, that the society shall cease to be registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts and become incorporated as a company under the Joint Stock Companies Acts; whether such proposed incorporation involves the appointment of directors; and, if so, whether they will be paid salaries, and out of what fund?

I understand that the Development Commissioners thought it desirable that the Agricultural Organisation Society should be incorporated under Section 20 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908 (not, of course, as an ordinary joint stock company, but as an association not trading for profit), in order to secure that stability of the reorganised constitution and publicity of the accounts and proceedings which the Commissioners deem essential before any con- siderable advances can be recommended for the society to administer. It is not contemplated that the members of the governing body of the association shall be paid any salary.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean to say that there is no stability in the case of those societies, which are very numerous, which have been constituted under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts?

No, I do not mean to say that.

asked whether the Development Commissioners have received any application for or contemplate making any grant out of the Development Fund for the purpose of specialised research work in connection with the poultry industry?

The Development Commissioners have as yet received no application for this purpose. It is understood that such an application is about to be made, and it will, of course, receive full consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the county council of Cornwall received from carriage, etc., licences during the year ending 31st March, 1909, the sum of £9,262, and that was the fixed sum which in future would be paid to the county, but in the following year, when the county council had had the full charge of collection, the total received from such licences in the county amounted to £11,661, being an increase of £2,399; if he is aware that in other counties the same inadequacy of the grant compared with the actual receipts of these licences prevails; and will he consider the urgency of making the annual grant equivalent to the average receipts for the previous three years?

I believe it is the case that the yield of these licences was greater in most counties in 1909–10 than in 1908–9. But this does not seem a sufficient reason for altering the arrangement adopted by Parliament last year, and my right hon. Friend is not prepared to assist the ratepayer by transferring a sum from the income of the Road Board in anticipation of the recommendations of the Committee on Imperial and Local Taxation.

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the increased motor traffic causes increased cost of maintaining the roads and that the local ratepayers have to pay this increased cost?

asked if the original valuation and the revised valuation in the Scottish case stated by Mr. Holmes Ivory applied to different areas; and, if so, what the difference was?

The original valuation was in respect of a net area of about 586 square yards, and the amended valuation of about 655 square yards. The inclusion of the additional area which had been formerly excluded changed the character of the site, and secured the permanency of lights for the main building.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that Mr. Holmes Ivory denies that there was any alteration of the area of the site between the first and second valuations?

No. I have given this reply which was prepared after inquiry.

Has inquiry been made since the Debate?

So I understand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to prevent the valuers of property for Estate Duty making valuations showing a value in excess of the valuation made by the valuers under the Finance-Act who are valuing for Increment Duty; and whether all these valuers are acting under the instructions of the Treasury?

Valuations for Estate Duty purposes of property passing on death, as well as valuations of the same property for the purposes of Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, are now being made in each case by the same valuer and at the same time, and consequently valuations returned for Death Duty purposes are being adjusted daily by way either of increase or of decrease. All valuers are acting under the instructions of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

Is the hon. Gentleman now convinced that this will prevent cases such as were brought to the attention of the Chancellor on his Vote the other day arising in future?

That is the hope and the intention of the reply which I have given.

asked why the Finance Bill has not been proceeded with in due course?

The Finance Bill will be proceeded with in due course.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, how far the moorings for the new floating dock in the Medway are from Sheerness and Chatham dockyards, respectively; whether it is proposed to convey daily the men working on the floating dock from and to Sheerness or Chatham dockyards; what additional time for the conveying of the workmen will be allowed, and what additional cost of transit will be incurred per week, when the dock is in full work, if the men are brought from Chatham instead of Sheerness?

The moorings are situated 5½ miles from Chatham and 2| miles from Sheerness. The men working on the floating dock will be conveyed daily from and to Chatham dockyard. It is estimated that the men will spend 1½ hours daily in making the journey to and from the dock. If they are employed at work or on the journey beyond the ordinary working hours of the yard, they will be paid for the extra time at the usual rates. The men will be taken from Chatham, and not Sheerness. The estimated additional cost of transit by taking the men from Chatham instead of Sheerness during the annual refit of a battleship is £80 for each week of six days that the dock is actually occupied.

If there is such an increase in expense in working the dock from Chatham, why has Sheerness dockyard been neglected?

The question of expense was very carefully examined, and it was found to cost so much more to equip Sheerness as a dockyard suitable to undertake these refits that on the whole it was decided that it was better to work the dock from Chatham.

asked whether men employed at minimum wage on naval work at Deptford and the West Indian Dock have had their wages increased 1s. a day from 1st April, 1911; if so, whether the First Lord of the Admiralty will state the rate of wage these men are now receiving; and whether he is aware that the minimum wage at Portsmouth for men doing similar work is 21s. a week?

The minimum wage in the London establishments was increased on the 1st April last from 23s. to 24s. a week. The minimum wage at Portsmouth is as stated by the Noble Lord.

Has the minimum wage been increased or not?

The question of the minimum wage depends on various things, among them the cost of living, which in and around London is higher than elsewhere.

asked what was the decision of the court of inquiry held to ascertain the cause of the death of the victims of the mishap on board His Majesty's Ship "Superb" on 30th June, 1911?

The report of a court of inquiry is of a confidential nature, but it may be stated that the death of the men in question was due to asphyxiation by poisonous gas.

asked whether the First Lord of the Admiralty's attention has been called to the fact that the total number of officers and men serving on the active list of the Royal Navy down to 15th June last was 131,862, inclusive of the Royal Marines, who number 17,083, and that our Reserves number 24,700; and whether the sixteen cruisers attached to the Fourth Division of the Home Fleet can only be manned by Royal Naval Reserve men after war is declared?

With regard to the first and second parts of the question, the numbers quoted by the Noble Lord as borne on the active list are correct; the numbers quoted for the Reserves, however, are not correct, as there are more than twice that number. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

The right hon. Gentleman having answered these questions, may I ask him why he regards his duties in Grand Committee as prior to those in this House?

I came down in what I hoped would be ample time, but, unfortunately, I found that it was a few minutes after my questions had been passed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state why Michael Kavanagh, a tenant evicted on the estate of Colonel Tighe, county Carlow, has not yet obtained any benefit under the Evicted Tenants Act, although it is more than eight years since he first made art application for reinstatement; and whether the farm of Ballyredmond from which he was evicted has been sold by public auction recently.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Kavanagh's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant and cannot be acquired compulsorily under the Evicted Tenants Act. His name has been noted for consideration in the allotment of such un-tenanted land as the Commissioners may be able to acquire. Their powers to acquire land are limited to the purchase of lands in fee-simple, and they have no power to bid for a tenant's interest.

asked why the Estates Commissioners have refused to proceed to acquire the untenanted lands of Raheenbown, county Carlow, on the estate of Mr. C. B. H. Weld; and what objections, if any, the landlord has raised to the sale of such lands?

The Estates Commissioners instituted proceedings with a view to the compulsory acquisition of the lands referred to under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Acts, 1907, but on consideration of the objections filed by the owner under that Act they decided that the lands could not be compulsorily acquired to provide holdings for evicted tenants.