asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it will be obligatory on teachers under the Insurance Bill who earn less than £160 per annum to insure themselves under its provisions; is there a distinction and, if so, what, between elementary teachers insured under the Teachers Superannuation Act and those who are not so insured; does the fact of an elementary teacher insured under the Superannuation Act ceasing to be an elementary teacher and becoming a secondary teacher make any difference to such a teacher's position under the Insurance Bill; is there any provision in the Insurance Bill expressly or impliedly preventing teachers with incomes under £160 a year from being insured under the Bill; may such teachers voluntarily insure under the Bill; if a teacher is excluded from the Bill because he or she is covered by the Teachers Superannuation Act, may such teacher insure under the voluntary Clauses of the Bill; and would such insurance curtail or interfere with advantages given under the Superannuation Act?

Under paragraph (c) of Part II. of the First Schedule to the Bill, elementary school teachers to whom the Elementary School Teachers Superannuation Act, 1898; or a scheme under Section 14 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, or the National School Teachers (Ireland) Act, 1878, applies are excepted from compulsory but not excluded from voluntary insurance. Teachers, elementary or secondary, who do not come under those Acts are on the same footing under the Bill as persons engaged in any other occupation. It is possible that teachers who come under the Act of 1898, and who insure voluntarily under the Bill, will suffer a deduction under Section 6 (1) (c) of that Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the case of societies formed by the workmen engaged by an employer or corporation contributed to proportionately by such employer or corporation, and whose benefits and general characteristics are such as may secure the approval of the Insurance Commissioners within the meaning of Sub-clause 6 of the new Section proposed to be added to the National Insurance Bill, will the State contribution be made as provided for in the general provisions of the Bill; and, if so, to what body, and by whom will it be administered?

The societies referred to under Sub-section (6) of the new Clause would be approved under the provisions of Clause 19 and would receive and administer the usual State Grant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether an answer may be shortly given to the claim advanced by the Devon Sea Fishery Committee on behalf of the crab-pot fishermen of the River Yealm, South Devon, to damages in consequence of destruction of fishing gear earlier in the year?

A copy of the letter addressed to the hon. Member on this subject in August last was forwarded to the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee. The Committee has written to the Admiralty again recently, and will receive an answer very shortly; but in the absence of any evidence that the damage was caused by His Majesty's ships I can hold out no hope that the claim will be admitted.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many officers and men respectively of the Territorial Force during the present year have attended camp for the full period of training; how many officers and men respectively have attended camp this year for a portion of the period of training; how many officers and men respectively, whose units have been called out for training, have failed to attend camp; and how do the figures relative to attendance at camp this year compare with the corresponding figures last year?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, if he will give the figures of the total exports of manufactures and produce for the Union of South Africa in the last completed year, also to South Africa for the years 1906, 1900, and 1895?

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies has asked me to answer this question. The following statement gives the information asked for by the hon. Member. I have thought it desirable to add particulars for each of the intermediate years:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state in how many of the annual series of Diplomatic and Consular Reports for 1910 and 1911 there is any reference to Ireland or Irish trade?

The number of direct references to trade with Ireland contained in Consular Reports issued in 1910 and 1911 is twenty-one.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Whiston Rural District Council have applied for tenders for the construction of drainage at Clockface, Bold; and, if so, have any dates been specified for the completion of the work?

Yes. Tenders are to be in the hands of the clerk to the council by the 8th proximo. I am unable to state what date has been fixed for the completion of the work.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that in Holloway there is an interval of nearly five hours between the first and second postal day deliveries; and will he take into consideration the desirability of making two deliveries daily between 8 a.m. and noon?

There is an interval of about four hours between the first and second deliveries in the Holloway sub-district. It would not be advantageous to make the second delivery earlier, and the circumstances are not such as would justify the establishment of an additional delivery. There are already seven deliveries—the same number as in th adjoining sub-districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is intended to proceed with the Pilotage Bill and to pass it into law this Session?

I am afraid that it will not be practicable to proceed with the Bill during the present Session, but I hope that the delay may be useful in enabling those interested to consider its provisions and communicate their views to me.