asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a statement that the National Insurance Bill in a nutshell was giving the working man 9d. for 4d.; and whether it is with his authority or knowledge that a statement to this effect is being circulated in the constituencies by means of leaflets?

I have more than once made a statement to this effect myself, but I know nothing of the leaflets to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can make any statement as to the progress of the land valuations under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in Scotland, and as to the date at which it is expected that these Scottish land valuations will be completed?

Approximately 8 per cent. of the valuations under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in Scotland have been already made. It is anticipated that the valuation in Scotland will be completed within a period of about five years from the passing of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give assurances that in addition to the protection of the people's food supply the Government will take immediate and effective steps to safeguard the transport of an adequate supply of fuel for the manufacturing and domestic requirements of the country. If the answer be in the affirmative, is he in a position to state the nature of such steps?

As I explained to the House yesterday, the Government will do all in their power to protect the transport of commodities, but they cannot give such an undertaking as the hon. Gentleman's question seems to suggest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now state the exact terms of the proposed new Clause of the National Insurance Bill providing for an alternative method of insurance for agricultural labourers and others in like employment which he promised during the Debate on Clause 4 of the Bill?

I am afraid that as the provisions of the Amendment promised on the occasion referred to are still under consideration, I am not yet in a position to comply with the hon. Member's request.

asked the Home Secretary whether he can state, for the information of the House, the causes which have led to the present strikes and outbreaks of disorder?

It would be impossible, within the limits of an answer to a question, to discuss either the social and economic causes of the present strikes and disturbances or the chain of events which has led up to them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the present position of negotiations for purchase by the Congested Districts Board or by tenants of the following estates in West Donegal, viz., Adair, Stewart-Bam of Ards, Stewart of Horn Head, Olphert, Hill, Earl of Leitrim, and Marquess Conyngham, distinguishing between different portions of an estate where these are being separately dealt with?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the owners of the Adair and Hill estates have stated that they do not propose to sell. The necessary maps and documents are being prepared for lodgment in the case of Miss Stewart's estate (known as the Ards estate), and also in connection with the Olphert and Earl of Leitrim estates. No reply has been received from Mr. Stewart, of Hornhead House, to the Board's inquiry whether he was willing to sell his estate. The maps and forms in connection with the Glenties section of the Marquis Conyngham estate (including Downstrands) have been lodged and an inspection will be made as soon as possible. The Board understand that maps and forms in connection with the Rosses section of the estate are being prepared for lodgment.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners signified over a year ago to Denis Murray, an evicted tenant on the Keane estate, county Cork, that he was noted for consideration in connection with the allotment of such untenanted lands as the Commissioners may acquire in the county; whether another evicted tenant in the same parish was recently offered a holding in Ballyclough; why was a similar offer not made to Denis Murray; and when may he expect to be provided with a suitable holding in place of the one from which he was evicted and which is now occupied by a planter?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Denis Murray for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the Keane estate, and now in the occupation of another tenant, and have noted his name for consideration in the allotment of such untenanted lands as may be acquired by the Commissioners. They cannot identify from the particulars given the other evicted tenant referred to by the hon. Member.

asked what further steps, if any, have been taken to complete the purchase negotiations of the M'Gillicuddy Eager Estate, Glencar, and to secure the restoration to their holdings of the evicted tenants on that estate?

The agent of the estate referred to informed the Congested Districts Board in April that he is in correspondence with the owner, who is in Australia, as to whether he is willing to sell his property through the Board. No further communication has been received from the agent since that date. As regards the evicted tenants on this estate I have nothing to add to my reply to the question of the hon. Member on 8th March last.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have had an opportunity of considering the statement put forward by Mr. Denis J. O'Connell, Caherciveen, with reference to the position of the tenants on the estate of Sir Morgan O'Connell, Ballycarberry; whether the tenants have been informed as to the result of the sale negotiations; and, if not, will steps be taken to give them the required information?

The Estates Commissioners have received a copy of the statement referred to in the first part of the question. The Commissioners have been in communication with the Congested Districts Board in reference to the sale of this property, and the Board are prepared to make an offer for the entire estate, provided the vendor is willing to sell to the Board, and the purchase agreements lodged in the direct sale proceedings at present pending before the Estates Commissioners are dismissed. The Commissioners are communicating accordingly with the vendor, and, pending the settlement of the question as to whether the property is to be dealt with by the Board or by the Commissioners, the Commissioners do not propose to take any action in reference to the matters referred to in the question.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board has taken any further steps to obtain the consent of Mr. Myles O'Mahony to the sale of his estate near Beaufort; and, in the event of an absolute refusal on the part of the landlord to sell, will the Board take immediate steps to exercise its powers of compulsory purchase?

Consideration of the question of purchasing this estate was postponed by the Congested Districts Board until their meeting, which has been fixed for to-day.

asked whether the untenanted lands on the Barrington estate, at Coolnahila, Murroe, county Limerick, have been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, how soon may it be distributed?

The Estates Commissioners cannot identify these lands as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts?

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if an inspection has been made of the lands of Ardvullen, Kilmallock, county Limerick, the property of Mr. Dickens, with a view to the purchase of the same for distribution among the deserving people in the district?

The tenanted lands on the estate of Thomas Dickin and others, county Limerick, are the subject of direct sale proceedings from vendor to tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that the advances will be made and the holdings vested in the purchasing tenants at an early date in accordance with their purchase agreements. No proceedings have been instituted for the sale of any untenanted land on this estate to the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Estates Commissioners were aware that a portion of the land claimed by Colonel Lowe, of Sunville, Ardpatrick, county Limerick, was tenanted until 1887, when the occupiers, who had been in possession of it for more than a century, were evicted because of the rack-rent; if they were, how did they decide in favour of this absentee landlord as against the general community; and what is the proper term or meaning of demesne lands?

The Estates Commissioners received applications from three persons seeking reinstatement in the lands of Sunville Lower which the vendor desired to re-purchase under Section 3 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and fully considered them before deciding, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them, to make an advance to the vendor for the repurchase of these lands. The Commissioners decided to take no action as regards two of these applications. In the remaining case the application has been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land to be acquired by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he has made further inquiries in reference to the holding on the estate of the late Sir John Arnott, at Coolfadda, Bardon, from which John Desmond was evicted, and for a portion of which a purchase agreement has been lodged in the name of Mr. James Craig, and in which he states he is residing on the same, and whereas he is not and never was; to ascertain if John Desmond was evicted for non-payment of rent and not as a town parks tenant; whether a fair rent was fixed by the county court judge on this holding in the name of John Desmond which, on appeal to the Land Commission, the tenant not contesting the matter owing to a family dispute, was dismissed; whether the interest of Miss Wheeler on this holding was purchased from her by John Desmond's father; whether the said Miss Wheeler was for a long time a charge on the ratepayers of the Bardon union, and how does the relationship of Mr. Craig to Miss Wheeler give him any claim to this holding; will he say why the Land Commission has taken no steps to have John Desmond reinstated in his holding; will the Land Commission make inquiries to ascertain if the agreement lodged in the name of the sub-agent, Mr. Craig, is really in the interest of the agent, Mr. R. E. Hodson, and in evasion of the provisions of Section 53 of the Irish Land Act, 1903; and whether, having regard to the provisions of this Section, the Land Commission will advance money to Mr. R. E. Hodson, the agent on this estate, for the purchase, in addition to the holding on which he resides, of the holding from which, at Coolfadda, the representatives of the late Daniel Murphy, deceased, were dispossessed on notice to quit since the 1st January, 1907, when the sale of the estate to the tenants was pending?

I have made further inquiries from the Estates Commissioners in reference to this matter, but they are not at present in a position to add anything to my replies to the hon. Member's questions on 16th May last as the estate has not yet reached its turn for inspection.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the estate of Fitzhenry A. Smith, Newtown, county Meath, will be ready for distribution this year; and, if not, whether he will state the cause of delay.

The Estates Commissioners are not in a position to say whether these lands, which have not yet been vested in them, will be distributed this year.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the total number of labourers cottages erected in county Meath since the passing of the first Labourers Act to the present time, and also the total amount expended for acquisition of sites and plots and other incidental expenses; and whether he will state the number to be erected under pending schemes, and the probable outlay?

On the 31st March last, the latest date up to which Returns are available, there were 2,077 cottages built, and 247 in course of construction in county Meath. The total amount of loans sanctioned was £442,721, of which £404,027 had so far been issued. On the same date new schemes were being made in four of the eight rural districts comprised in the county, proposing to provide 535 additional cottages, at an estimated cost of £106,000.

asked whether the borrowing powers of the Kilmallock Rural District Council have been exhausted; what rate per pound has this body levied on the rural district under the Irish Labourers Acts; how many cottages have been built by them; and how many are in the course of construction?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Return as to Labourers' Cottages (Ireland), presented to Parliament on 14th June last (No. 192), which gives the information required up to the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Ban-bridge, county Down, Rural District Council are seeking to raise the rents of labourers' cottages, under the first scheme from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 6d., under the second scheme from 1s. 2d. to 1s. 3d., under the third scheme from 1s. to 1s. 3d.; whether he is aware that the original rents have obtained for seven years without injustice to the ratepayers; and whether, as wages have not increased, the Local Government Board will order a local inquiry to be held before the proposed increases are approved of?

The figures given as to the present rents and proposed increases are correctly stated. The Local Government Board have been in correspondence with the rural district council as to the reasonableness of the rents, and the matter is still under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what is the number of first, second, and third division candidates summoned to each of the five training colleges for women in Ireland for the coming Session 1911–12; and whether a full inquiry will be made as to whether merit alone was the deciding factor in summoning students to training?

The Commissioners of National Education are not in a position to furnish the information requested in the first paragraph of the question, as the college authorities have not yet furnished the returns of candidates selected for admission to training. In the case of Marl-borough Street Training College, which is under the management of the Commissioners, the candidates (other than recognised teachers) who pass the King's Scholarship Examination are chosen in order of merit. In the other colleges candidates are selected by the college authorities from the list of those declared eligible by the Commissioners.

asked Whether full inquiries will be made by the Estates Commissioners into all the applications from evicted tenants on the Ventry estate, now in the hands of the Congested Districts Board; and whether an inspector will be sent down at once to thoroughly investigate all claims?

The Estates Commissioners have furnished the Congested Districts Board with particulars of all applications received from persons seeking reinstatement in holdings on the Ventry estate, which is the subject of proceedings for sale before the Board, and they will consider in due course what action, if any, should be taken in reference to the applications.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what percentage of marks was required to obtain first, second, and third division, respectively, at the last Easter examination for entrance to training colleges in Ireland; whether, considering that candidates have now to pay a fee of 10s. in order to be permitted to attend the examination, he will say why they are not supplied with the marks obtained by them at the examination; what is the maximum number of good service marks allowed to monitors who have satisfactorily completed their three years' course; and are those marks taken into account when determining the division in which they are placed?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the information requested in the first paragraph of the question is not supplied to the public. They do not consider it desirable to notify the marks obtained by candidates at the annual examination. The maximum number of service marks awarded to monitors on the completion of their course is 100. These marks are not included when determining the division in which a final year monitor passes at the King's Scholarship examination, but are included in determining the position in the order of merit in which such a monitor stands as a candidate for admission to a training college.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the purpose for which an additional grant of £3,000 has been voted for training colleges under private management; if this grant represents a reversal of the policy hitherto adopted; and if he will explain the reasons which have induced the Treasury to make this concession?

The additional £3,000 has been granted for the purpose of extending to the training colleges outside Dublin the same advantages as regards free housing which are enjoyed by the training colleges in Dublin, whether under public or private management. This ex- tension has often been recommended by the Commissioners of National Education, but it has not hitherto been found possible to carry it out. It does not involve any change of policy.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the total quantity of untenanted land acquired by and already distributed to evicted tenants and to other persons, respectively, in county Meath by the Estates Commissioners, and the quantity of land acquired or prices agreed upon and not yet distributed; and whether he will also state the quantity of land about which negotiations are at present pending but not yet completed?

The Estates Commissioners have purchased, or agreed to purchase, 7,536 acres of untenanted land in county Meath, of which 7,362 acres have been distributed. Negotiations are at present pending for the purchase of an additional 4,425 acres of untenanted land in the same county.

asked the Chief Secretary how the pension officer arrived at the annual income of John Lundon, Dromkeen, county Limerick, which enabled him to reduce the pension to one-half; is he aware that this applicant has only a few miserable acres of land; and, in view of the harsh circumstances of the case, will steps be taken to have him put on full pay and allow him back money?

The information in the possession of the hon. Member does not correspond with that given to the Local Government Board. The local pension committee found that the applicant was entitled to 5s. a week, and against this decision the pension officer appealed. It was represented to the Board that the applicant is not now, as stated in the question, the owner of the farm, but that he had assigned it to his son; and the Board estimated that his support and other privileges were worth at least £23 12s. 6d., and accordingly fixed the rate of pension at 3s. a week. It is not open to the Board to reconsider their decision.

asked whether the Local Government Board for Ireland will now reconsider all cases in which old age pensions, otherwise due, have been withheld on the ground of husband or wife being forced by specific infirmity, such as blindness, to go into a workhouse; and, if special application or appeal is necessary, whether the persons entitled, or local pension committees and sub-committees, will be so informed?

The cases to which the hon. Member refers appear to be provided for by Clause 4 of the Old Age Pensions Bill now before Parliament. In the event of this Clause becoming law persons previously disqualified on the ground stated will require to make fresh claims. The question of informing local pension committees and sub-committees will be considered in due course.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, when a decision may -be expected in the appeals pending with regard to the old ago pensions of Mr. Thomas Hindle and Mr. James Ash, both of Great Harwood; whether he is aware that these appeals are on the question of amount only, and that meanwhile no pension at all is being paid; and whether he can state the cause of the delay?

In the case of James Ash, I find that the papers are at present before the pension officer, to whom I have caused a communication to be addressed. In the case of Thomas Hindle, a further question has been raised as to his nationality; but I hope to be able to give a decision in the matter at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary what, if any, steps have been taken by the Government or its responsible departments towards the necessary extension and improvement of Rathmullan pier, county Donegal; whether he is aware that a survey was directed by the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture, and what was the report thereon; whether the execution of the works was transferred to the Congested Districts Board; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the responsible department will expedite the completion of the necessary improvements and extension?

An inspection of Rathmullan pier was made by the engineer of the Department of Agriculture, and the result was notified to the Congested Districts Board. The extension and improvement of the pier would involve a larger expenditure than the Board are in a posi- tion to provide. The work is one of those recommended to the Development Commission by the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary the reasons why the Irish Land Commissioners have refused to consent to the sub-division of the holding of Julia O'Herlihy, R.O., No. 79/8379, county Cork; whether it has been shown that this sub-division is desirable to protect the interests of certain orphans and others; and, seeing that £180 has been deposited for over two years as the purchase price of the holding, will he recommend to the Commissioners the advisability of reconsidering their decision in this matter?

The case in question is one which has come before the Land Commissioners for consideration in connection with the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts preventing the sub-division of purchased holdings. The Commissioners fully considered the entire circumstances of the case, but were unable to give their consent to the application for liberty to sub-divide the holding. The matter has been reconsidered on more than one occasion, but the Commissioners have seen no grounds for varying their ruling in the case.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland whether he is aware that an election for petty sessions clerk for the districts of Skull, Ballydehob, and Goleen was held on the 22nd June last; that the Lord Lieutenant has withheld his sanction to the person selected and ordered a new election; that the clerk of the Crown and peace, instead of at once taking steps to carry out this order, has left it to the justices to fix the time; and that the latter have deferred the election and compliance with the Lord Lieutenant's order till the 9th November next; whether he will regard this action as an evasion of the order and a non-compliance with their duty by the justices; and, if so, what steps he intends to take to enforce compliance?

There was, I understand, some question of postponing the election until November, for the convenience of the magistrates. But I am now informed that the election will take place on 14th September, and that notices were posted last Saturday to that effect.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board has come to any definite decision as to the provision of proper ferry accommodation between Valentia and the mainland in accordance with the suggestions which have been frequently placed before them; and, if so, when will the necessary steps be taken?

The question of providing ferry accommodation between Valentia and the mainland is at present under consideration of the Congested Districts Board. It cannot be stated when a decision will be arrived at.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can now state the result of the negotiations between the Congested Districts Board and the Knight of Kerry with reference to the purchase of his estate in Valentia?

The agent of the estate referred to has informed the Congested Districts Board that maps and documents -are being prepared. When these have been received the property will be inspected as soon as practicable, and the Board will then decide whether they will make an offer for purchase.

asked whether an application has been received by the Estates Commissioners from Denis Sullivan, Feighmane, Valentia Island, county Kerry, for reinstatement in a holding on the estate of the Knight of Kerry, from which he was evicted in the year 1906; and, if so, what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Denis Sullivan for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate of the Knight of Kerry, and now in the possession of his sister-in-law. The Commissioners will not interfere in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Jeremiah Gallivan was evicted from his farm on the Sugrue estate, Fermoyle, near Caherciveen, and that full particulars are in the hands of the Estates Commissioners; and whether steps will be taken to secure his reinstatement when the negotiations for the purchase of the estate by the Congested Districts Board are completed?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered Jeremiah Gallivan's application for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the Sugrue estate, county Kerry, and now in the possession of his nephew, and have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked what number of permanent officials are in Dublin Castle; what is the name, salary, and occupation of each individual; and what is the total cost of the up-keep of these gentlemen?

asked what number of permanent officials are in the Local Government Board; what are the salaries and occupations of each individual; and what is the total cost of their upkeep?

The Estimates laid each year before Parliament show the various appointments provided for and the numbers of persons in each class of appointment, together with the scale of salary attached. It does not seem that any useful purpose could be served, commensurate with the labour involved, by preparing a Return of the names of the persons employed.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many Catholics and Protestants respectively are entitled to sit as permanent magistrates on the bench at Bruff, county Limerick; and what are their names?

I am informed that there are eighteen persons holding the ordinary commission of the peace who have been authorised to attend the Bruff Petty Sessions, and of those seven are believed to be Roman Catholics and eleven to belong to other denominations. It is not the practice to state the religious denominations of individual magistrates.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether several hundred members of the Royal Irish Constabulary were imported to Liverpool to deal with the strikers; and, if so, who will bear the cost of their transport; and from which quarter of Ireland were they drawn?

No members of the Royal Irish Constabulary have been sent to Liverpool or elsewhere out of Ireland for the purpose indicated by the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what number of women are employed in the Royal Army Clothing Factory in Pimlico; what is the rate of wages paid to such women; and whether they are paid by time or piece?

During July the average number of pieceworkers was 1,191. The average weekly wage earned by these was £l 0s. 1¾d.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, on 22nd July, in the Troon Camp, an attempt was made to compel the men of the 7th Battalion Highland Light Infantry Territorials to do fifteen days' training instead of eight by refusing them their train tickets, although many of them were compelled by the exigencies of their employment to return to work; whether any threats were used to the men; and whether any instructions have been issued to the commanding officer not to grant leave to men who have reasonable excuse after eight days' training, or whether any other instructions with regard to exemption have been issued?

These men are liable under the statute to fifteen days' training, but 300 men applied to return home at the expiration of eight days' training. The commanding officer, in the exercise of his discretion under the Regulations, at first refused to grant leave, but subsequently permitted them to go. No threats were used to the men. No instructions have been issued to commanding officers to withhold leave from men who have a valid reason for asking for leave after eight days' training.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he will consider the question of introducing time service for promotion in the Royal Artillery, as is now the case with the Royal Engineers and the Indian Army?

I regret that I can add nothing to the previous answers on this subject.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, considering the fact that the present system of quarterly payments to reservists tends to expose the men to temptation and to bring discredit on the good name of the soldier, he will state what are the arrangements that can be made in case any man is wasting the money or spending it unwisely to have the payments made weekly instead of quarterly; and how far these arrangements can be made more general?

I find that the arrangements which can be made with boards of guardians or weekly payments apply only to pensioners, and not to reservists, and that no alteration can be made in the method of paying reservists without their consent. I will, however, have careful inquiry made as to whether reserve pay could not be paid monthly instead of quarterly. The main difficulty in this matter is that as the payments are now made quarterly in arrear it would cost an extra £200,000 in. the year in which it was introduced.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to the application made for the free discharge of Private Richard Edward Quinn, of the 1st East Lancashire Regiment, now stationed at Inkerman Barracks, Woking, Surrey, in order to enable him to help in supporting his mother, Mrs. Quinn, of Burnley, who, in consequence of the sudden death of her husband and daughter, has been left without other support; whether he has yet made any inquiries into the matter; and whether he can see his way to grant the discharge that has been applied for?

Yes Sir. A free discharge to Private Quinn was approved yesterday.

asked the Home Secretary if he can say whether forms were sent to all police pensioners giving them an opportunity of applying for duty with the Metropolitan Police at His Majesty's Coronation, or if they were only sent to a selected number of pensioners having regard to the limit in the number it was possible to employ; and, if so, will he state on what basis those who were given an opportunity to apply were selected, and whether any large number of pensioners were excluded from the opportunity of applying?

Forms were sent to all police officers who had resigned since 1st January, 1900, and had completed twenty-five years' service, with the exception of those who retired as superintendents or chief inspectors. The basis of selection was the ground of known suitability. As authority was given for 1,200 only to be reattested, many desirous of employment could not be accepted.

asked the Home Secretary if he has seen the report of an inquiry held at Halifax, on the 9th August last, into the circumstances attending the death from anthrax of Thomas Sutcliffe, a wool dryer, who had been employed by Messrs John Crossley and Sons, Limited, carpet manufacturers, of Halifax; if he has observed that Sutcliffe, before he fell ill, had been blending and raising a stack of dusty Persian wool, and that the report referred to mentions two other deaths which there is every reason to believe were caused by anthrax contracted at the same mill, although the disease was not recognised in either of the two latter cases; whether the steps necessary to protect workers in woolcombing factories against dust which he, in reply to a question put to him by the Member for West Bradford, on the 24th of November last year, acknowledged were necessary have been taken; what they were; and if Messrs. Crossley has adopted them?

I have received a report on this case, and have also seen a newspaper account of the proceedings at the inquest. It is the case, as stated in the question, that Sutcliffe, whose ordinary occupation was that of attending a drying machine and packing washed and oiled wool, was employed for a short time in the evening, two days before he was taken ill, in blending unwashed Persian wool. The question of the precautions necessary in regard to blending has been the subject of careful inquiry by the Factory Department, and the inspectors were instructed last March to press on occupiers the adoption of the following measures:—(1) Discontinuance of blending in underground rooms; (2) removal of blood-stained material before blending, and, in cases where a stack is raised by dropping wool through a trap-door into a room or bin below; (3) preliminary use of dust-extracting machines or, failing this; (4) either provision of enclosed bins which should not be entered by the workers until the dust has settled, and steam jets to control the dust in case of special risk, or provision of exhaust fans in the wall behind the path of the falling' material. These measures have for the most part been adopted by the occupiers, including the firm in question, who have provided bins in accordance with the fourth recommendation, though I am advised that the separation, of the bins might be made more effective. The whole question continues to engage the attention of the medical inspector. Of the other two cases referred to in the question, I am advised that one which was certified as pneumonia was probably anthrax, though the man was not employed apparently in blending, but that it is very doubtful whether the other was a case of anthrax.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the result of the decision of the Privy Council in the matter of the appeal against the Jersey Education Bill of 1909?

The petitions that were received were carefully considered, and the States of Jersey have been in- formed that the Bill should be amended in certain respects before His Majesty can be advised to approve it.

asked the President of the Board of Education, when the fund of £100,000 provided by the late President of the Board for the purpose of aiding the provision of school accommodation for Nonconformist children in denominational school areas became exhausted; and to what schools, in what education areas, and of what amounts, respectively, were grants made out of such funds?

Special grants for the building of new public elementary schools were last made in the year 1910-11, when a sum of £5,000 was voted by Parliament. The hon. Member will find an account of the payments made in respect of these grants up to 31st March, 1910, in the statement published by the Board of Education in 1910 [Cd. 5155]. The payments made subsequently to the issue of that statement represented mainly balances of grants previously awarded. The amounts were as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the number of chests of opium sold in Calcutta for export to China, and what was the price per chest in each of the months of April, May, June, July, and August this year?

The number of chests of opium sold in Calcutta with the option of certificates for China and the price per chest were:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the fact that great racial jealousy has lately been aroused in Ceylon by the taking away of one of the three seats on the Legislative Council of that island belonging to the Europeans and giving it to the native community, he will now consider the question of increasing the number of seats on that council by the addition of two extra members, one for the non-official Europeans and the other for the officials?

As at present advised, His Majesty's Government see no reason for making any further change in. the composition of the Legislative Council.

asked whether, in view of the necessity, under the British Guiana Constitution Ordinance, for the presence of at least two elective members, in addition to all the official section, to make a quorum, it is in accordance with the principles and intentions of the Ordinance that any measure should be carried by the vote of the official members alone and against the unanimous wish of the elective members, and consequently by a number less than a quorum?

Section 24 of the British Guinana Constitution Ordnance lays down that no business except that of adjournment shall be transacted at any meeting of the Court of Policy unless nine members are present beside the Governor or other presiding member, but assuming that the necessary quorum is present, it is specifically provided by Section 26 of the same Ordinance that every question before the court shall be determined by the votes of the majority of the members present.

asked whether the officer administering the Government of British Guiana, before introducing certain additional standing orders and rules in the Court of Policy, dealing with minor disorders, consulted the Home Government in regard to them before their introduction?

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

likewise asked the Secretary for the Colonies if he will obtain the opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether the additional standing orders, relating to minor disorders, as recently passed by the solid vote of the official section of the British Guiana Legislature, to whom they will not apply, and voted against by all the elective members to whom they will apply, are not ultra vires, in respect of Section 135 of Ordinance (1) of 1891; and whether, if in their opinion they are ultra vires, he will recommend His Majesty to disallow the same?

I have not received any official information with regard to the additional Standing Orders to which my hon. Friend refers, but it appears from a newspaper report that these Standing Orders were introduced in pursuance of a Resolution of the Combined Court, where there is an unofficial majority, that they are almost identical in terms with rules of the House of Commons in this country, and that there is no reason to think them ultra vires.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the practice of the officials of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company of beating, tying with ropes, and painting the heads of men aboard their vessels as stowaways; whether, seeing the men in question were there because they understood the practice of last year, whereby the harbour authorities shipped contract labour to Colon, was being continued, he will cause full information to be disseminated in such a way that there shall be no such mistakes in future; and whether he will take such steps as to put an effective stop to such practices of painting and similar forms of disfigurement?

I have received no complaints as to the treatment of stowaways on board steamers of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, but I shall be glad to facilitate inquiries into any specific case of alleged ill-usage which may be brought to my notice.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that, in a recent advertisement in the "Engineering News," the Barber Asphalte Paving Company, of Philadelphia, Pa., U.S.A., set forth in great detail the valuable properties possessed by Trinidad liquid asphalt for road-making, etc.; whether he is aware that this same company export this same article from Trinidad under the name of crude petroleum, so escaping the export tax on liquid asphalt; and whether he will cause full inquiry to be made?

I have not seen the advertisement in question, nor have I any official information as to the matter referred to in the latter part of my hon. Friend's questions, but the Governor is being asked for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any news of the concentration of troops in the Welle district of the Congo State; and whether he can give any information as to the objects of this concentration?

His Majesty's Consul reported on 2nd June last that 300 troops had been sent to the Welle, to quell a revolt caused, not by taxation in kind, but by the unwillingness of natives to accept money instead of cloth and salt. The disaffected chief surrendered, having been deserted by most of his followers, at the sight of the Belgian troops.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that three young people have recently died of phthisis in a dilapidated and insanitary two-roomed cottage at Cwmtwrch, Swansea Valley; whether he is aware that this cottage was occupied by no fewer than eleven persons; whether he is aware that the local council, at a meeting some few days ago, ordered the ejectment of the survivors without taking any steps to provide suitable accommodation for them; and whether he will take steps to compel the said council to build under Part III. of The Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890?

My attention had not been drawn to the matter referred to. I will communicate with the local authority on the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that 19,000 cases of preserved milk arrived in the Port of London on Tuesday and Wednesday last; whether such milk is produced under restrictions and conditions similar to those imposed upon dairy farmers in England; and whether any tests have been made recently as to the amount of butter-fat contained in such milk, and, if so, with what result?

I understand that 9,000 cases of preserved milk arrived in the Port of London on Tuesday and Wednesday of last week. Examinations made during the six months ending 30th June showed that the samples tested of condensed milk made from whole milk contained an average of 9.76 per cent. of fat and had been prepared from milk containing at least 3 per cent. of butter fat. The samples of whole milk powders contained on the average 30.1 per cent. of fat, and had been made from milk containing over 3 per cent. of butter fat. There is no evidence to show that the sources of these imported supplies are less satisfactory from a sanitary point of view than those of home produced milk.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the five directors of the so-called Irish Provident Assurance Company, having transferred from that company to themselves, as directors of the London and Provincial Assurance Company, some of the life policies illegitimately contracted with the former company, will, if allowed to retain those policies, be required by the Board of Trade to respect the obligations incidental to them; whether he is aware that the latter company has discontinued the practice hitherto followed of having the weekly premiums collected by an agent, and, without any sort of notice to the insured persons, now treats their policies as lapsed and their money as forfeited; and whether the Board will take immediate action to restore and protect the rights of those persons?

The hon. Member's questions are all based on the assumption that the Board of Trade has statutory powers of control over the business of assurance companies. I have endeavoured throughout to explain to the hon. Member that the Board of Trade has no such powers, and in particular the Board of Trade has no power of interference in any of the matters referred to in the hon. Member's question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the chief representative of the Labour Exchange Department in Ireland has been offered suitable premises at very moderate rents in Sligo; and whether, in view of the fact that a Labour Exchange has now been promised in Sligo for a long time, immediate steps will be taken to carry out the promise; and whether he can now definitely state when the exchange will be opened?

Suitable premises for a Labour Exchange have now been secured in Sligo, and plans for the necessary adaptation of the building for Labour Exchange purposes have been prepared. The exchange w ill commence operations as soon as these adaptations have been carried out. It is expected that the premises will be ready in about three months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many female temporary clerks are employed in the Accountant-General's office, Dublin; whether he is aware that Irish female clerks in London are delayed in obtaining transfers to Ireland by reason of the number of temporary clerks employed; and whether he can arrange in future that as vacancies occur they will be filled up, especially in the month of October, from the regular permanent staff?

The number is ten. With one exception they are employed, as occasion requires, as substitutes for officers absent on holidays or sick leave, or to provide for vacancies pending the appointment or transfer of established officers. Their employment in the latter capacity does not, however, lead to any such delay as the hon. Member suggests, as vacancies are at all times filled as soon as possible by permanent officers. I may say that none are at present employed against vacancies. One temporary clerk is employed to meet what appears to be a permanent growth of work; and the ques- tion of providing for this by an increase of the established staff is under consideration.

also asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that during the week ending the 29th ultimo the Controller of Telegraphs at Dublin timed with a watch whilst standing behind the operators at certain circuits their rate of sending and the rate at which the operator at the distant office was sending; whether he is aware that this officer disregarded the standard of working laid down by the Tweedmouth Commission for duplex and simplex circuits, and that the Department abolished the message test for the technical allowance on the ground of its unreliability; whether he is further aware that the Controller's presence under such conditions has made officers so nervous that they asked to be removed from the circuits so supervised; and whether he will see that such a system of supervision is discontinued and that public telegrams are not subjected to error by undue pressure being placed on the operators?

I am aware of the circumstances of the case. It is the duty of supervising officers to examine the sending and receiving of all telegraphists under their control in the interests both of the service and of individual operators. The Tweedmouth Committee laid down no standard of working for duplex or simplex circuits, but the hon. Member is right in saying that the message test for the technical allowance was discontinued some years ago. I find that one officer asked to be removed from the circuits under observation.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will say how many telephone call offices are in the counties of York, Lincoln, and Norfolk; can he say whether the local and trunk calls are charged to users at a uniform rate; and will he state the various rates of charges in the respective counties?

Most of the telephone call offices in these counties belong to the National Telephone Company, and it would be necessary to communicate with the company as to the number of such offices and the fees for local calls charged at them. The fees for trunk calls are uniform, and can be given. If the hon. Member has any particular cases in view I shall be glad if he will send me a statement of the facts.

asked the Prime Minister if it is the intention of the Government to pass the House Letting and Rating (Scotland) Bill through all its stages in the House of Commons during the Autumn Session?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture if he will state what applications for grants for fisheries' development, under the provisions of The Development Act, 1909, have been forwarded to the Board by the Treasury since 1st July, 1910, with the dates upon which the Board reported to the Development Commissioners upon them?

The following statement gives the information desired:—