asked when the agreed Amendments on Clause 59 of the National Insurance Bill will be printed and circulated?

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member on the 12th July.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mr. Edward Connolly, registrar, Irish Land Commission, has received a request from his tenants to sell his estate near Clonegal, county Carlow, under the Land Purchase Acts; and, if so, with what result?

The Estates Commissioners have no information in the matter. The estate is not the subject of proceedings under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked what further action, if any, has been taken by the Congested Districts Board to complete the purchase of the Fuller estate, near Caherciveen; and whether any decision on the subject was reached at the last meeting of the Board?

The Congested Districts Board have ordered an inspection of the property referred to before deciding whether they would consent to a direct sale. The property will be inspected and a decision arrived at as soon as practicable.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners will take steps, before the Kenmare portion of the Lansdowne estate is finally disposed of, to arrange for the purchase of Mr. Daniel O' Sullivan's sub-tenancy at Cooraqueenish; and whether they will exercise the necessary powers which are vested in them?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that when this estate is being dealt with in order of priority the cases of the sub-tenants on the estate will be considered by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the estate of J. W. Barter, Record No. 3204, has yet been vested in the tenants; and, if not, will he explain the cause of the delay?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate of J. W. Barter has not yet been vested in the tenants, the estate not having yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board received a petition from the tenants on the Wilkinson estate, Dromboe, near Bantry, asking the Board to negotiate with the landlord with a view to the sale of the estate to the tenants; whether the Board has yet communicated with the landlord; if so, with what result; having regard to the fact that the practice of this landlord has been to serve the tenants with legal process the moment the rent becomes due with the object of putting them under as much costs as possible, will the Board take immediate steps to acquire the estate under the compulsory Clauses of the Land Act of 1909; and is he aware that in this estate, as soon as the tenants sent an offer of purchase to the landlord, there were legal proceedings taken against them for the recovery of the half-year's rent which fell due just at the date the offer of purchase was made to the landlord?

The Congested Districts Board, in May, 1910, received the petition referred to, and communicated with the owner inquiring whether he was prepared to negotiate for sale of the property through them. The vendor's solicitor replied, stating that Mrs. Wilkinson had no present intention of selling her property. The Board have no information regarding the legal proceedings referred to in the question. They do not intend to take steps at present to acquire the property under their compulsory powers.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board was aware, before it gave its consent to the sale of the Levis estate, in Caheragh, West Cork, that there were on the estate evicted lands, and that the landlord admitted his brother, who is a wealthy merchant in Skibbereen, a tenant of the evicted farms, and has signed or is about to sign a purchase agreement for the same; is he aware that Mrs. Barrett, the widow of one of the evicted tenants, resides with her son in a house on the evicted lands, and that her son has been for a number of years caretaking the lands for the landlord; will the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners to whom Mrs. Barrett made applications for re-in-statement under the Evicted Tenants Act now see that Mrs. Barrett and her son are provided with a portion of those lands?

This estate was not a "congested" estate, and the consent of the Congested Districts Board to the purchase of it by the Estates Commissioners was not necessary. The question of dealing with evicted tenant by the Board does not arise on any estate which they do not buy. The Estates Commissioners received an application from Mrs. Barrett for reinstatement in a holding which she states was formely occupied by her late husband on the estate of the representatives of John S. Levis or George Levis, county Cork. As her application was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, it cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board received petitions from the tenants on those portions of the Sir John Beecher estate, situate in the island of Cape Clear, and in the parish of Caheragh, in West Cork, asking the Board to purchase the estate; is the Board aware that this landlord has frequently stated that he would not sell his estate until compelled to do so by law; did the Board communicate with Sir John Beecher in consequence of the tenants' petition; and, if so, with what result; and will the Board now take the necessary steps to compel him to sell, and thus enable the people of Cape Clear and Caheragh to enjoy the benefits of land purchase?

The Congested Districts Board have received memorials from the tenants of Sir John Beecher's estate, parish of Caheragh, asking them to purchase the property, in which it is stated that the owner has refused to sell to the tenants. No memorials have been received in regard to Cape Clear portion of the estate. The Board communicated with the owner regarding his estate in the parish of Caheragh, inquiring whether he desired to negotiate for the sale of his property through them, but no reply has so far been received. The Board are not prepared to take steps at present for the acquisition of this estate under their compulsory powers.

asked when it is proposed to inspect the Leslie Wren estate, Castlemaine, county Kerry; and whether full inquiries will then be made as to the refusal of the landlord to allow Messrs. Cronin, Murphy, Flynn, and Wren, who are tenants on the estate, to sign purchase agreements?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on 24th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have made any offer to purchase the untenanted lands at Robertstown, in the county of Limerick, on the Lewis property; and, if so, whether it has been accepted?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to identify these lands as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have agreed to buy the untenanted lands at Morgans, parish of Robertstown, in the county of Limerick, the property of Mrs. Sandes; whether Mr. Commissioner Sogan visited the place some time ago with a view to purchase them; and, if so, what has been the result of his visit to the place?

The Estates Commissioners had an inspection made of these lands, and communicated to the owner their preliminary estimate of the amount which they would be prepared to advance for the lands if the owner instituted formal proceedings for sale to the Commissioners. This she did on the 30th June last, and the case will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state on what grounds Crohane Downing, of Glensk, Sneem, has been deprived of his old age pension, in view of the fact that he is seventy-two years of age according to the Census-Returns?

Crohane Downing's claim for a pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory-limit.

asked on what grounds Charles McCarthy, Reenroe, Emlaghmore, Caherciveen, has been refused an old age pension, in view of the evidence submitted as to his age and means?

Charles McCarthy was the occupier of a very well stocked farm, the rights in which he transferred to his son in February last on the latter's marriage; and the Local Government Board disallowed his claim, as they considered that the value of his maintenance on this farm was more than £31 10s. a year.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Denis O'Sullivan, who was reinstated in his evicted farm, Crinagort, Bonane, has been allotted an amount which is insufficient to rebuild his house; whether he is aware that no contractor can be got to build a house for £60 and that a labourer's cottage in the Kenmare union costs £130; and whether a sufficient advance will be made so as to enable Mr. O'Sullivan to rebuild a house on the farm for which he is compelled to pay rent?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on the 28th February last. The Estates Commissioners consider that O'Sullivan has been liberally dealt with and they are not prepared to sanction any further grant in his case.

asked whether the cases of the following evicted tenants on the Ventry Estate, county Kerry, have been inquired into, and, if so, with what result: Mrs. M'Mahon, Lougher, Glen-more; Denis Courtney, Lougher; Thomas Hoare, Lougher; John Mahony, Lough; and M. Fitzgerald, Lough; and whether, as this estate is now in the hands of the Congested Districts Board, a proper inquiry will be made and steps taken to have all evicted tenants properly dealt with at the very beginning?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on the 25th July. The Estates Commissioners inform me that they received an application from Mrs. M'Mahon for reinstatement in a holding on the Ventry Estate, from which she states she was evicted in October, 1909, and which is now in the occupation of other tenants. As her application was not lodged within the time specified in the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, it has not yet been inquired into.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board are aware of the promise given by Mr. C. M. O'Conor that the six uneconomic holdings on his property at Ballyroddy, Elphin, would be enlarged from his adjacent untenanted land of Caldramoran; and whether the Board, having acquired the latter, will, in accordance with that promise and with the intentions of Parliament, enlarge those uneconomic holdings from land on the same property before allocating any portion to persons from a distance?

The Congested Districts Board are not aware of the nature of any promises alleged to be made by Mr. C. M. O'Conor to his tenants in Ballyroddy near Elphin. The lands of Caldrymoran are now in the possession of the Board, and Mr. O'Conor has no control over them. If, however, the Board purchase the lands of Ballyroddy some of the lands of Caldrymoran will be available for the relief of congestion on the estate.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state how many midshipmen joined the Navy during the years 1909 and 1910, and the first six months of 1911 respectively; and how many of these have since left and of those who have left how many were withdrawn at the request of their parents?

supplied the following figures:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the ease of R. Perry, late of the 12th Lancers and Imperial Yeomanry; is he aware that this man was discharged from the Army on the 2nd July, 1896, and underwent an operation on his leg rendered necessary by an accident whilst he was in the 12th Lancers; that, though not allowed to rejoin that regiment, on the outbreak of war in South Africa, he joined the 34th Middlesex Company of Yeomanry, and went to the front with the 8th Division; that he had enteric and was sent home in October, 1900; that, when well again, he joined the 21st Sharpshooters and went again to the front, where he was injured by an accident in the field; that he was granted a pension on 13th July, 1906, for a period of eighteen months; and can he see his way to recommend the grant of a further pension to this man, seeing that his leg is still affected and that, in consequence, he is unable to follow his usual employment?

This man recently applied to the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital for a further grant, but, as the medical board by which he was examined on 12th July last found that he had full use of his limb, that there was no disability, and that he was not incapacitated, the Commissioners were unable to make him any further award.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War if he can give a statement showing the number of employés in the Pimlico factory affected by the recent re-grading and the different rates of wages paid?

The recent increases in the rates of pay are as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that a Reservist when called upon to attend shooting practice may have to procure at his own charges a substitute in his civil employment, for which the present allowance of 1s. 11d. a day is generally quite inadequate; and whether, in cases where it can be shown that the daily rate of a Reservist's pay is in excess of this amount, he will consider the advisability of making a larger allowance?

A Reservist is only called out for one day's training during the year. I am not aware of any cases in which this has entailed the loss of a day's pay from his civil employer or has necessitated the provision of a substitute, but the occasions would be very rare. It must be remembered that the Reservist is granted for this day a full day's pay and allowances of his rank, and in addition he receives a retaining fee of £9 2s. 6d. per annum. No additional grant would, therefore, appear necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what number of employés (by ranks) in Government offices and Departments belong to the Territorial Force, and what number in dockyards and other employments from which they could not be spared in time of war; and what arrangements, if any, have been made to replace these men on mobilisation?

There is no detailed information available at the War Office to show the numbers of Territorials serving in Government Offices or Departments. The War Office and Admiralty restrict the numbers permitted to join the Territorial Force within certain prescribed limits in order to avoid difficulties arising on mobilisation. No large deficiency could occur in the ranks of the Territorial Force by reason of men not being available for mobilisation owing to the exigencies of their civil employment in Government Offices or Departments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the filling up of Cardwell Bay, Firth of Clyde, which is under the jurisdiction of his Department; and, if so, whether he intends to take any action to prevent it?

As I informed my hon. Friend in February last, I am aware that a small reclamation is going on in Card-well Bay. I have caused careful inquiry to be made in the matter, and, as I am advised that the interests of navigation are not affected, I am not prepared to take any action to prevent the reclamation as at present proposed.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) If he will state the number of established officials below the rank of supervising officer in the departments of the engineer-in-chief, the controller of stores, and the controller of factories, respectively; and (2), The number of boys and youths under the age of twenty-one years employed in unestablished positions in the departments of the engineer-in-chief, the controller of stores, and the controller of factories, respectively?

I will obtain the numbers asked for by the hon. Member, and will forward them to him as early as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that upon a vacancy recently occurring in the ranks of the sergeants employed in the doorkeepers' branch at the General Post Office, London, such vacancy was filled up by the appointment of a man from outside the service; and, seeing that it has been the invariable practice when such a vacancy arose to appoint the deputy-sergeant, will he explain why in the present case a departure from the usual course has taken place?

It is the case that a recent vacancy for a sergeant in the doorkeeping branch, General Post Office, Headquarter Buildings, has been filled by the appointment of an ex-sergeant of the Metropolitan Police Force. The only deputy-sergeant at present employed could not be recommended to fill the vacant post.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether the committee of inquiry into the pay and promotion of the civil assistants of the Ordnance Survey has reported; if so, with what result; and, if not, when is the report expected?

The committee to which the hon. Member refers have made their report. It will be presented to the House forthwith.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) the number of unestablished employés working in the Engineer-in-Chief's, the Controller of Stores', and the Controller of Factories' Departments, respectively, and the percentage of the same to the whole staff in each Department; (2) the number of employés in the Engineer-in-Chief's, the Controller of Stores', and the Controller of Factories' Departments with service ranging from two years and upwards who are unestablished; and (3) the number of unestablished workmen employed in the engineering department of the General Post Office who are upwards of twenty-five years of age?

I am obtaining the statistics asked for by the hon. Member, and will forward them to him as early as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if certain members of the Limerick County Club, ex-military officers, have at any time within the past six years made false and libellous reports against sub-postmasters or other Post Office officials in county Limerick; and will he supply aggrieved Post Office officials with copies of reports made against them in future and permit them, without prejudice to their positions, to take legal proceedings against their libellers?

The hon. Member suggests that the Post Office officials in county Limerick have a grievance. I am without information on the subject. If more definite particulars are supplied, inquiry shall be made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial from about seventeen townlands around Kilnaleck, county Cavan, praying for extended postal facilities; and will he say when this matter will be inquired into?

I have received the memorial, and have called for a report.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he has any statistics showing the number of acres in the Island of Arran withdrawn from cultivation during the last ten years and devoted to deer; and can he say from the Census the number of farmers' sons there are in the island over eighteen years of age, and the number of these on the outlook for farms?

From the Return No. 344 of March, 1908, it appears that there is one deer forest in Arran of the extent of 2,500 acres, but I am not aware when it was formed. The Census figures will not, I fear, enable me to give the other information desired by my hon. Friend.