asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state when it is intended to proceed with the further stages of the Old Age Pensions (No. 3) Bill?

Having regard to the progress made with the Old Age Pensions (No. 1) Bill, it is not proposed to proceed further with the Old Age Pensions (No. 3) Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed to give to pension officers in London, where rents are high, only the same rate of salary as will be given to officers employed at distilleries in small country villages, where rents are low and the duties less arduous; and whether pension officers, if required to work for more than eight hours a day, will be allowed overtime at the same rates as Excise officers who are not engaged on pension work?

The new service scale of salary will be common to all officers of Customs and Excise wherever employed. It is not proposed to pay overtime to officers in general stations, including those in which pension officers are employed, as there are no fixed hours of attendance therein; but every endeavour will be made to arrange the business in such stations so as to provide no more than a fair day's work on an average.

asked the grounds on which the Monegay pension sub-committee, county Limerick, disallowed a pension to Mrs. Catherine Watson, seeing that she was admittedly seventy-one years of age last May; whether the privileges she enjoys out of her son's farm do not bring her income to anything like £31 per annum; can he state the basis on which the pension sub-committee made the calculation that her income exceeded the statutory figure; and will he state what steps are open to Mrs. Watson in order that she may obtain the pension to which she is entitled?

An appeal was received on 17th instant by the Local Government Board from Catherine Watson, but the other papers in connection with the case have not yet been received. I am not therefore in a position to give the information desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General for Ireland, whether, as Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland, he will take any action for the protection of poor and inexperienced people against persons without means or legal qualification obtaining money as life insurance companies; whether he will take any action against the persons responsible for the policies submitted to him in which the whole lives of Denis Hickey and Michael Sullivan are insured with the so-called Irish Provident Assurance Company, whose articles of association preclude life insurance; if these cases are not conclusive, whether he will, for the information of many insured on different forms, say in what they fail; and, action being beyond the reach of those poor victims, whether any general redress is available to them?

I am not in a position to make any decision on the statements contained in the hon. Gentleman's question, but I am making other inquiries.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether the Estates Commissioners have received a claim for reinstatement from Mary Kiely, evicted tenant, on the Neville estate, near Macroom, county Cork; whether the facts in this case disclose that the original eviction was harsh and unjustifiable, and that the present claim is one which should be recognised; and will he state what steps the Commissioners intend to take to secure the restoration of Mary Kiely to a suitable holding?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered Mary Kiely's application, and, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them, they have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether an application has been received by the Estates Commissioners from Michael J. O'Sullivan, of Cappanacush, Templenoe, county Kerry, for reinstatement in a holding on the Mahony of Dromore estate from which he was evicted about the year 1884, and at present in the occupation of another holder; if so, what steps, if any, have been taken by the Estates Commissioners in the matter; and whether they will cause inquiries to be made with a view to Michael O'Sullivan's reinstatement?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Michael J. O'Sullivan for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by his father. O'Sullivan is already in possession of the dwelling house and two-thirds of the holding, the remainder being in the possession of another tenant under an agreement entered into by him with O'Sullivan in the year 1901. The Commissioners do not intend to interfere in the matter.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board has been in communication with Mr. Rupert Colomb with reference to the sale of his property in Dunkerron, near Kenmare; and, if so, can he state the nature of Mr. Colomb's reply?

The Congested Districts Board communicated with Mr. Rupert Colomb inquiring whether he was willing to negotiate for a sale of his property near Kenmare through them, but up to the present he has not intimated his willingness to do so.

asked whether, in view of the fact that on the Barclay estate, Clondrinagh, in the parish of Coolmeen, county Clare, abatement of rents has been refused and proposals to purchase on behalf of the tenants rejected, whereas the neighbouring estates of Carhureagh, Birrinfasla, Coolmen, and Derrynalicka have been purchased, he will consider that this is a case for the exercise of the compulsory powers of the last Land Act?

The Congested Districts Board have no information regarding the estate referred to, and no proceedings are pending before the Estates Commissioners for its sale under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked (1) whether Miss Degani, who has obtained an appointment in the National University of Ireland, is an English lady with powerful English connections; whether she has got the appointment after failing in the examination for it in competition with two Irish ladies who succeeded; whether the only qualifying diploma she has produced purports to be from the University of Padua; whether he is aware that the secretary of that university certifies that she never was given any diploma there and never studied there and never was examined there; whether, when charged with incompetence to teach Spanish, she refused to submit to any independent test in Spanish; whether she refuses to lecture in one of the subjects which she is paid for lecturing in; and, in view of the inportance of public confidence in the administration of this new university, whether the appointment of this lady will be cancelled and her position filled legitimately according to merit, found after advertisement and examination; (2) how long the Dublin Commissioners of the National University are to continue adopting appointments to professorships and lectureships made by persons outside their own body; at what date will the senate acquire power to make appointments to those positions; at what date, and by whom, the recommendation of "the governing body to appoint two highly qualified Irish ladies to lectureships in Italian and Spanish at £100 a year each was overruled and the joined lectureships given to Signorita Degani at £300 a year, with a promise that the position would be raised to a professorship at a salary of £500 a year; at what date this decision was communicated to the governing body and to the ousted Irish ladies; what minute the governing body made on the subject; and, if Signorita Degani possesses any qualifications for the position, will he say what they are and from what university or college; and (3) how it happened that at the time when the Dublin Commissioners of the National University advertised for two lecturers in Italian and Spanish at a salary at £100 a year each, and subsequently when they intimated inability to carry out this arrangement for want of funds, it was already publicly announced in England that Miss Degani, who had failed in the examination for both positions, had been, without any advertisement, given both at a salary of £300 a year, with a promise that her position would be made a professorship with £500 a year; and if he will state the date of this appointment, the reason for the secrecy, the Commissioners present, the documents or evidence on which they acted and rely to justify their action, the medium through which their decision was conveyed to Miss Degani, and the measures taken to prevent it becoming known in Ireland?

As I have already stated, in reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for East Down on the 8th instant, the Dublin Commissioners at first instituted separate lectureships in Italian and Spanish with stipends of £100 a year each, and advertised for candidates. After full consideration of the applications received, the Commissioners came to the conclusion that it was desirable to substitute for the two separate offices a single lectureship in the two languages with a stipend of £300 a year, and, having done so, they unanimously selected for the office Miss Degani, the candidate whom they deemed to be the most learned and suitable. Subsequently it became necessary to appoint professors in lieu of lecturers in a number of cases in order to comply with the provisions of the University Charter determining the mode of conducting examinations, and Miss Degani has accepted the pro- fessorship of Italian and Spanish in lieu of the lectureship which she previously held and at the same salary. Miss Degani is a lady of Austrian birth, who has taught and studied at Munich and Cambridge, and has also worked under the Board of Education in England. The appointment now in question was not made the subject of competitive examination, and the statement that she failed in examination is therefore absurd. The allegations with regard to her qualifications and teaching are equally unfounded, and appear to be based on the vindictive statements of one of the unsuccessful candidates. These statements were personally investigated by the president of the college, and the governing body at their last meeting unanimously expressed their confidence in Miss Degani's capacity to discharge all the duties of her office. The names of the Dublin Commissioners are a sufficient answer to the charges of incompetence, favouritism, and submission to outside dictation, which the hon. Member has thought fit to bring against them. The powers of the Commissioners expired on 31st July, and professors and lecturers in University College, Dublin, will henceforward be appointed as provided by the statutes of the college; and I trust that they will be appointed with the same independence of local jealousies that the Commissioners have shown in this case.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he can state the reason why the Local Government Board are not enforcing their sealed order of 1904, which directed the sanitary authorities to provide a sewerage system for Kilkee, West Clare, and stated that the work should be commenced within nine months from the date of the sealed order.

The sealed order referred to directed the council to begin to set about the work within nine months of the date of the order. The council formulated a scheme, and applied for. a loan for the purpose, but the Local Government Board were obliged to return it for amendment. The Board have been in constant correspondence with the council, with a view to prevent delay, and it is hoped that a suitable scheme will shortly be carried out.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War how often His Majesty's soldiers in the British Isles are vaccinated or revaccinated; whether such repeated vaccination or re-vaccination renders them immune from small-pox; if not, why is it performed; but if it does render them immune from small-pox will he say why the residence in the married men's quarters of the barracks of unvaccinated children can in any way endanger such thoroughly protected men?

With the exception of those bearing distinct marks of small-pox all recruits are vaccinated, unless in the case of a recruit joining from the special Reserve the operation is certified to have been successfully performed during his service in that force. Once a year, in March, medical officers are required to satisfy themselves that every man, woman, and child under their charge is sufficiently protected by vaccination. There has been only one admission to hospital for small-pox amongst the Army at home for the last five years, and that was in the case of a woman. It is well known that the period of immunity after vaccination or re-vaccination varies, and those individuals whose period of immunity commences to decline earlier than usual are liable to fall victims to the disease, as was the case with the woman mentioned. Accordingly owing to the chance of there being individuals present in barracks whose period of immunity is for various reasons declining or becoming evanescent, it is considered necessary that all persons living in or associated with barracks should be adequately protected against small-pox.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any explosives are supplied by Messrs. Kynoch, Limited, or by Messrs. Nobels, Limited, for the use of His Majesty's War Department; and, if so, what was the amount purchased from these firms, respectively, during the last financial year?

The former firm did not receive any order for explosives during the last financial year. The latter firm held orders, but as orders of this character are, in the public interest, treated as strictly confidential I regret that I am unable to disclose information as to their nature and amount.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Messrs. Lloyd, Dockhead, con- tractors to the department, have been in the habit of paying packing-case and box makers wages at the rate of 5½d. to 7d. per hour, whereas the current rate for this class of work is from 8d. to 10d.; whether this is an infringement of the Fair-Wages. Resolution of the House of Commons; and, if so, will he take the necessary steps to have the standard rate paid?

This question shall be investigated and the firm will be required to comply strictly with the terms of the Fair-Wages Clause in their contract.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has made further inquiries into the case of Mr. Hayzen, whose children were refused admission to the King and Queen Street school; whether he is aware that the London County Council representatives at the prosecution of Mr. Hayzen stated that the reason for the exclusion of the children was not because the children were verminous, but the refusal of the parents to allow inspection under the Children Act, 1908; whether the London County Council have power to exclude children solely on account of refusal to allow inspection; and whether, seeing that under the Children Act that twenty-four hours' notice must be given parents to cleanse verminous children before further action can be taken, he will say if such notice was given Mr. Hayzen; and whether he will cause an inquiry into this case to establish why these children were excluded?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With reference to the second part of the question, I have made inquiries at the offices of the local education authority and am told that the information on this point furnished to me from the same source and embodied in the reply given to my hon. Friend on the 13th July was correct. With regard to the third part of the question, I have no authority to interpret the law on this point; but Section 122 of the Children Act appears to give an absolute power to a properly accredited officer of the local education authority to examine the person and clothing of any child attending a public elementary school in the area of the authority. With regard to the fourth part of the question, I am informed by the local education authority that Mr. Hayzen was given the opportunity of presenting a medical certificate that the children were free from vermin as an alternative to having them examined, and refused to present any such certificate. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. The case has already been dealt with by the magistrates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the trial of Mr. Sam Lewis, of Buluwayo, who had picked out from a number of native newsboys one who his daughter alleged had made improper suggestions to her, marched him off to a retired place, and shot him dead; whether he is aware that the jury returned a verdict of not guilty; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have no information on this matter beyond what has appeared in the Press telegrams, but am expecting to receive a full report in due course from the High Commissioner, when the case will be fully considered.

asked the Lord Advocate if he can say what, if anything, is being taken as the annual value for rating purposes of that part of the bed of the River Leven between mid-stream and the riparian property to which it is claimed as appurtenant, the rights in respect of which formed the subject of litigation in the case of Campbell's Trustees v. John Sweeney recently before the Court of Session; and what is being taken as the annual value for rating of that riparian property, including that portion of the riverbed, leased by the said trustees to the North British Railway Company?

Inquiry has been made, but the Valuation Roll, so far as I have ascertained, is not so made up as to enable me to reply to my hon. Friend's specific questions in detail. I understand, however, that an entry as follows, "Foreshore and boathouse, £2," occurs in the Valuation Roll with reference to a strip of ground presently matter of dispute.

asked the President of the Local Government Board on what grounds he refused to sanc- tion the loan to the parish council of Gay-don for the improvement of the water supply of the parish?

From the information supplied to the Local Government Board, it appeared that the proposals of the parish council of Gaydon were outside the limited powers which a parish council possess in the matter of water supply. It was explained to the parish council that rural district councils are under an obligation to see that the parishes in their district have a proper supply of water and possess all necessary powers under the Public Health Acts for laying mains, distributing water, breaking up streets, and so on, and a copy of the correspondence was sent to the Southam Rural District Council accordingly. As it appeared, however, from the latest letter received, that the parish council had not approached the rural district council on the subject, I instructed one of my inspectors to confer with both authorities as soon as his engagements would permit. He hopes to do so next week.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that an upheaval in the tiled floor of St. Stephen's Chapel, in the Crypt of the House of Commons, has recently taken place in consequence of the growth of three mushrooms underneath it; whether it has been ascertained how the spawn of such mushrooms found its way below the closely-laid tiled floor of the chapel; and how it is proposed to prevent a similar occurrence in the future?

The lifting of the tiles is probably due to a very slight settlement in the floor of the chapel. There is no danger to the fabric, and the tiles will be relaid during the Recess.