asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many Second Division clerks accepted the new scale of salary with the adjustment of pay provided for under Order in Council dated 21st December, 1907, and how many retained the old scale; what was the gross cost of granting the adjustment of salary; and will he state the cost of providing for the higher increments of those officers who accepted the new scale, and the estimated amount of offset or saving due to the surrender of the higher grade maximum of £350 for the maximum of £300?

Figures are not available, and could only be obtained by reference to all the Departments where Second Division clerks are employed. It is known, however, that a very large proportion of clerks accepted the new scale. Over a period of 45 years' service in the Second Division the total salary on the new scale would be £60 more than under the old scale, the increase in the first thirty years being £710 and the decrease in the last fifteen being £650.

asked at what date the Guaranteed Land Stock issued under The Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, can be redeemed, and what is the latest date at which such stock must be redeemed; and if all stock issued under this Act is redeemable at the same time?

Guaranteed Land Stock issued under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, is not redeemable before 1921, and thereafter may be redeemed if and as Parliament may direct. A sinking fund has been established under the Act of 1891, which should prove sufficient to redeem the stock by 1941.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can now say whether a demand for Income Tax to the amount of £2 18s. 4d. has been made upon the overseers of East Ardsley, in Yorkshire; whether it is the first demand of this character made upon these overseers; on what principle the demand has been made; and whether a similar demand will be directed to the overseers throughout the country?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question

Applicant.	Application received in the Treasury.		Forward to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.
University College, Aberystwyth	23 June, 1910	…	7 July, 1910
Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee	8 July, 1910	…	13 July, 1910
Armstrong College, Newcastle	21 July, 1910	…	25 July, 1910
Liverpool Marine Biological Committee	29 July, 1910	…	9 August, 1910
Southern Sea Fisheries District Committee	27 October, 1910	…	3 November, 1910
Kent, Bela, Winster, Leven and Duddon Fishery Board	25 November, 1910	…	12 December, 1910
Cornwall Sea Fisheries District Committee	6 December, 1910	…	Not sent to B. A. F.
North Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee	27 January, 1911	…	31 January, 1911
Hampshire Rivers Fishery District	8 February, 1911	…	15 February, 1911
Devon Sea Fisheries Committee	10 February, 1911	…	Not sent to B. A. F.
Bristol University	15 April, 1911	…	24 April, 1911
Camel Fishery District Board	29 April, 1911	…	9 May, 1911
Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee	2 May, 1911	…	9 May, 1911

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would furnish a list of all applications for grants for fisheries development made under the provisions of the Development Act, 1909, by local authorities or other local bodies in England and Wales, with the dates on which such applications were received by the Treasury, the dates on which they were forwarded to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the dates on which the Board reported to the Development Commissioners upon them?

The following statement gives the information asked for in the first three parts of the question. Perhaps the hon. Member will address the inquiry in the last part of the question to the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries.present friendly societies the administrative cost is about 4 per cent., whether he will explain the difference between the two figures?

I am unable to follow my hon. Friend's figures. The sum set apart for administration in the table on page 23 of the Actuaries' report represents for men 10.2 per cent., and for women 11.5 per cent. of the gross revenue, Including 2d. as the equivalent of the State grant towards benefits. If my hon. Friend will refer to page 79 of Section XI. of the Appendix of the report of the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies for 1906 (H.C. 49 of 1907) he will find that the cost of administration for existing friendly societies is 11.9 per cent. of their gross revenue. Of course the total cost of administration will be increased by the expenses of the Insurance Commissioners and other Government Departments, but I may point out that if a society can carry on its administration at a less cost than that estimated by the actuaries the whole of the savings will be available for additional benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state how present members of friendly societies who are over sixty-five, or who are in receipt of medical benefit from their society, and do not become insured persons under the National Insurance Bill, will be able to continue to receive medical attendance after the Bill has passed, seeing that the arrangements with the doctors will now be made by the health committees and not by the societies on whom the liability for their sick members rests?

The local health committees will only intervene in the administration of medical benefit so far as persons insured under the Bill are concerned. Those who are insured, but not under the Bill, in societies which become approved societies will not be affected.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place at the disposal of the Committee on Local and Imperial Taxation the valuations of a few typical urban and agricultural areas which may have been completed, in a form which will not disclose the names of owners or any confidential information, for the purpose of comparing the results of the present system of rating with the results to the same areas which would follow the substitution of land values as the sole basis of assessment, or whether he will furnish such valuations to Members desirous of giving evidence before the Committee?

The valuations of urban and agricultural areas are not yet sufficiently advanced to enable information to be given from which useful comparisons could be made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, having in view the fact that O'Keefe, the planter at Scrahan, Knocknagree, county Cork, has now left the district, and that the two evicted tenants are reinstated in their holdings, he will recommend the removal of the police hut at Scrahan, there being no further need of it in the district?

The Inspector-General informs me that Daniel Keefe has not yet left Scrahan. The police hut referred to involves no extra charge on the locality. The question of removing it will be considered when an opportunity arises.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Goold-Verschoyle estate, Athea, county Limerick, has been vested in the tenants; whether, in that event, the untenanted land on the estate has been absolutely acquired by the Estates Commissioners, and when and how do they propose to divide it amongst the labourers and uneconomic holders of the district; and can he state the number of each class amongst whom it will be apportioned?

The tenanted portion of this estate was the subject of direct sale proceedings from the owner to the tenants under Section 1 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the holdings were vested in the purchasing tenants on the 1st July. The Estates Commissioners had a preliminary inspection made of the untenanted land, which is being sold to them under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, for purposes of distribution, and communicated to the owner their estimate of the amount which they would be prepared to advance for its purchase, and the owner has expressed his willingness to accept this price. The Commissioners will deal with this portion of the estate as soon as practiable, but no scheme for the distribution of the lands has yet been prepared.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the County Wexford County Council some months ago voted £1,000 towards the construction of a pier at Blackwater, county Wexford; what steps have been since taken in the matter by the Department of Agriculture; what is proposed to be done; and when the works will be begun?

I understand that such a vote was passed by the county council. The Department of Agriculture must await a notification from the Treasury as to the amount, if any, available from the Development Fund for expenditure on piers and harbours on the east coast of Ireland before they can entertain the question of carrying out any marine work in county Wexford.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that complaints have been frequently made to the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Midland Great Western Railway Companies respecting the inefficient service and connections at Clara and Tullamore; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made by the Department of Agriculture with a view to provide improved accommodation?

No complaints of the nature referred to have been received by the Department of Agriculture, nor are they aware that any such have been addressed to the companies mentioned. Any definite complaint as to inadequate traffic arrangements that may be brought under the notice of the Department will be inquired into.

asked what effect the granting of old age pensions has had on the poor rate of Ireland?

From the statistics of Pauperism in Ireland at the end of July, 1910, and July, 1911, respectively, it would appear that about £130,000 per annum may be taken as the approximate amount saved to the rates as the immediate consequence of the removal of the pauper disqualification mentioned in the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908. To this sum might be added £5,000 as a rough estimate of the saving in respect of those persons who, while not actually in receipt of relief a year ago, were disqualified prior to the 1st of January last by the fact of having received relief since 1st January, 1909.

asked why an old age pension was refused to James Murray, Lisanurlan, county Longford, notwithstanding the fact that, owing to the assignment of his farm to his son on his marriage, he is now practically destitute; whether the local pension officer has taken steps to ascertain the truth of Murray's statement as to this assignment being now carried into full effect; and, if not, will he now be asked to do so?

The Local Government Board disallowed Murray's claim on the ground that the yearly value of the benefits and privileges he enjoyed on the farm which he had assigned to his son exceeded £31 10s. The Board were quite satisfied that the assignment had been made.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what steps have been or are being-taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the estate of General Clive, Ballycroy, county Mayo; if he is aware that of the 20,000 acres said to be comprised in this estate by far the greater and the most fertile part is devoted to grazing purposes, whilst hundreds of persons, tenants and their families, are hemmed in and huddled together on barren mountain patches under miserable and uneconomic conditions on the remainder of the estate; and, under these circumstances, will he urge on the Congested Districts Board the need to expedite the acquisition of this estate and the early distribution of the grazing tracts amongst the tenantry?

The maps and other documents necessary to enable the Congested Districts Board to have an inspection made of the property referred to, with a view to deciding whether they will make an offer for purchase, have been received. The estate will be inspected as soon as practicable, and the Board will then decide whether they will make an offer for purchase.

asked whether any further progress had been made towards the acquirement of the lands of Monedarragh or Strokestown, county Longford; whether any inspection has been made; and when it is expected that these lands will be available for distribution?

The Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made of the untenanted lands of Monedarragh, on the estate of J. W. Bond, county Longford, and have communicated to the owner their estimate of the price which they would be prepared to advance for them. The owner has expressed his willingness to accept this price, and the estate will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked how many estates the Congested Districts Board has purchased in the county of Leitrim, the area and prices of same, tenanted and untenanted; how many estates have been offered for sale to the Board, area tenanted and untenanted, prices in cash, and stocks in same, in county Leitrim, how many estates the Board has purchased in the counties of Roscommon, Galway, Sligo, Clare, and Kerry, area tenanted and untenanted, and prices in cash and stocks?

The Congested Districts Board have purchased three estates in the county Leitrim with an area of 6,260 acres (tenanted), 3,590 acres (untenanted). Price, £29,271 stock and £11,598 cash. Thirteen other estates in county Leitrim have been offered to the Board under the Act of 1909, with an area, of 4,421 acres (tenanted) and 1,121 (untenanted). The Board are not yet in a position to state what the purchase prices will be. The following tables give the particulars asked for with regard to the five other counties mentioned:—

ESTATES PURCHASED UNDER ACT OF 1909.
County.			No. of Estates Purchased.	Area (Tenanted).	Area (Untenanted).	Purchases Price.
						Cash.	Stock.
						£	£
Roscommon	…	…	15	10,222	6,792	93,661	49,273
Galway	…	…	30	31,479	20,820	183,746	63,924
Sligo	…	…	4	5,626	3,313	7,974	25,065
Clare	…	…	9	3,651	2,680	10,876	30,379
Kerry	…	…	6	76,761	9,409	8,572	229,645

ESTATES PURCHASED PRIOR TO ACT OF 1909.
County.			No. of Estates Purchased.	Area (Tenanted).	Area (Untenanted).	Total Purchase Price paid in cash.
						£
Roscommon	…	…	33	49,072	22,680	609,877
Galway	…	…	45	21,738	17,804	257,256
Sligo	…	…	10	11,047	3,992	118,167
Clare	…	…	—	—	—	—
Kerry	…	…	11	41,955	1,998	147,692

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will grant a Return. by counties, showing the total expenses incurred on the rates of each county in Ireland from the 1st April, 1899, at the four triennial elections since held; and whether, if he cannot grant this Return for the four terms, he will call for a Return of the expenses of the triennial elections held last June in respect of county, rural district, and urban district elections with a view to laying the same as a Parliamentary Paper?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return relative to expenses in connection with the election of county and rural district councillors in 1908, presented to Parliament on 2nd June last (No. 181). A similar Return regarding the elections held last June can be prepared if the hon. Member will move for it, but as some of the accounts have not yet been paid it would not be possible to complete the Return for some time.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of vacancies for the ensuing session in the Irish training colleges and the number of the latter; what was the total number of candidates who passed in the first divi- sion at the King's scholarship examination, Easter, 1911, and how many of these have applied for admission to the various training colleges, respectively; are there any second division candidates being taken into training colleges; and will he state under what circumstances?

The number of candidates who will be selected to fill vacancies in the seven Irish training colleges for the ensuing session is approximately 570 (273 men and 297 women). Forty-eight men and 156 women passed the King's Scholarship Examination of 1911 in the first division. The numbers of these candidates who have applied for admission to the various training colleges are as follows:—

Name of College.	No. of Men.	No. of Women.
Marlborough St. Training College, Dublin	3	23
St. Patrick's Training College, Dublin	18	—
Our Lady of Mercy Training College, Blackrock, County Dublin	—	75
Church of Ireland Training College, Dublin	5	6
Dela Salle Training College, Waterford	20	—
St. Mary's Training College, Belfast	—	42
Mary Immaculate Training College, Limerick	—	29

It is to be noted that some candidates have applied to more than one college for admission. It will be seen that candidates who have passed in a division lower than the first will be admitted to fill vacancies in the colleges, but the Commissioners will not be in a position to give precise information on the point until the college authorities furnish the returns of the candidates selected.

asked how many evicted tenants' applications in county Longford yet remain unsatisfied; and whether, in the case of Peter Farrell, who was evicted from the lands of Kilnacurran in 1885, and whose application was promised favourable consideration by the Estates Commissioners' inspector, the Commissioners will find him an equivalent holding on some of the estates on which a large amount of untenanted land exists?

There are three county Longford evicted tenants, whose applications for reinstatement have been noted by the Estates Commissioners for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land, who have not yet been provided with holdings. The remaining applications were received after the date mentioned in the Evicted Tenants Act and have not yet been considered. As regards the case of Peter Farrell I have nothing to add to my reply to the question of the hon. Member on 10th April last.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Commissioners of Education had recently been asked to consider the advisability of monthly payment of teachers; and, if not, whether he will call for a return to show the extra amount of labour which this would involve and, if the same is found to be inconsiderable, will he advise the Board to change the present system of payments from a quarterly to a monthly one?

I have nothing to add to the numerous replies I have given to questions on this subject early in the present Session, and to the statement which I made in Debate on 23rd May last.

asked the Under-Secretary for War what is the establishment for a British Cavalry regiment in Egypt; what is the present strength of the 21st Lancers now quartered there; and when the last draft was sent out to them?

The establishment is: Twenty-three officers and 569 other ranks. The strength is: Twenty-three officers and 538 other ranks. As the regiment went out in September, 1910, no draft, with the exception of seven men who went out in February, has yet been sent.

asked the Undersecretary for War whether any compensation was ever paid to the relatives of Private Francis Geraghty, a native of county Longford, who was killed in the Boer War in South Africa; whether he is aware that this man was the sole support of his father and sister; and whether any provision can even now be made whereby a grant will be made to his surviving relatives?

The Army Council neither had nor have any funds at their disposal for the assistance of the surviving relatives, other than widows and children, in such a case as this. The claim of Geraghty's father was referred in 1900 to the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation, who rejected his claim on ascertaining that he was not dependent on the late soldier, not having received any assistance from him for four years. The soldier's married sister and more distant relatives could not have been considered eligible for a grant in any circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the spread of cancer among workers with pitch is attributed to the anthracine contained in tar and pitch derived from gas works, in that tar and pitch derived from blast furnaces is free from anthracine, he will take this fact into consideration in the new Home Office regulations?

The fact that blast furnace pitch is much less liable to give rise to cancer is already recognised in the draft regulations, which have been issued by the Home Office, for the manufacture of patent fuel (briquettes) with the addition of pitch. Factories and workshops in which no pitch other than blast furnace pitch is used are specifically exempted from the regulations. It is not, however, certain that anthracine is the constituent of ordinary pitch to which the prevalence of cancer in the industry is due.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Frederick Tomlin, who alleges that he was induced by a falsely-stated licence, issued by the City Bench of magistrates, to acquire a licensed house in Fann Street, City of London, in 1902; and whether he will cause some inquiry to be held into this matter?

This case has been repeatedly brought to the notice of my Department, but the matter, as Mr. Tomlin has been informed, is one in regard to which I have no power to intervene; nor would any inquiry by me serve any useful purpose.