asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that William Clay, who was engaged at the British Museum for fifty-eight years, has recently been dismissed at the age of eighty owing to failing health and inability to perform his duties; that, although continuously employed, he was not technically on the establishment, and is therefore not regarded as pensionable by the Treasury; and, having regard to the long service of Clay, whose personal character is reported by the museum authorities to have been satisfactory, and to his inability, owing to family misfortunes, to put aside any savings, so that he is now without means, will he consider whether this is not an exceptional case which would justify the Treasury in authorising a pension or gratuity?

William Clay was at no time in receipt of a salary or wage from the British Museum, but was in the position of a tradesman, being paid by the trustees for work actually executed, for which he presented a monthly account. In these circumstances the Treasury has no power to authorise a pension or gratuity to him.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, in view of the fact that assistant clerks in the Customs Statistical Office were promised in Treasury Letter 14756/1899 a prospect of advancement not inferior to that enjoyed by similar officers elsewhere, whether he can state why, in view of this promise, the proportion of promotions from new class assistant clerks in the Statistical Office compares so unfavourably with the Savings Bank Department, Education Office, and other large Departments?

The Treasury letter conveyed no promise that the ratio of promotions to be made from the assistant clerks' grade in the Customs Statistical Office should correspond with that in other Departments. Promotions must depend, as my predecessor informed the hon. Member for the St. Patrick's Division of Dublin on 8th March, 1909, upon the circumstances of the different Departments.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that Mr. Chandler, a junior assistant clerk in the Customs and Excise Statistical Office, has been nominated for appointment to a junior clerkship in that office; that Mr. Chandler will thereby pass over the whole of the class of minor staff officers who are senior to him in position and many years of service and experience, and obtain an immediate increase of salary of £50; and if he will state what are the special qualifications possessed by Mr. Chandler above those of the minor staff officers which have secured for him this advancement?

Promotions of assistant clerks and minor staff clerks to the rank of junior clerk in the Statistical Office are made solely on the ground of exceptional merit. Mr. Chandler was selected for the recent vacancy on that ground, and in arriving at this decision consideration was given to the qualifications of all the minor staff clerks in the office.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether application is being made on behalf of some higher officials in the Board of Works and other Government Departments in Ireland for increases of salary in anticipation of the passing of a measure of Home Rule, under which they might retire at unduly inflated pensions; and, if so, can he say whether those applications will be acceded to?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Treasury has stated that officers denied on medical grounds the benefits of the Superannuation Act, 1909, would have their cases reconsidered if they secured acceptance as first-class lives by a good insurance company; if so, is he aware that a sorting-clerk and telegraphist at Liverpool, who has fulfilled these conditions, has been required to undergo a further medical examination by a practitioner nominated by the Treasury, conditionally upon the expense being borne by the applicant; that, the examination having taken place at the officer's own expense, the application was again refused as was also the request for a copy of the report of such medical examination; and, whether, as two medical men have reported in favour of the officer, and two, one the local medical officer to the Post Office and the other the nominee of the Treasury, have reported against him, some steps will be taken to allow the officer to benefit by the provisions of the Superannuation Act?

The Treasury undertook to look further into cases of the kind referred to, but gave no pledge beyond this. In the case of the Liverpool officer indicated, it was felt absolutely necessary to obtain further medical evidence. It was accordingly arranged that the officer should be examined by a practitioner who, though nominated by the Treasury, had no relation to the Department, and was selected solely as an independent and experienced physician. The report of the latter was adverse, and I regret to be unable to reopen the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that applications have been made to the Commissioners under Clause 46 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, to decide in what proportion the increased Licence Duty should be payable as between the licence-holder and the owner of the premises; and, seeing that in certain cases no decision has yet been obtained, although repeated applications have been made by both the parties interested, will he state what steps he proposes to take?

I am informed that in the few cases which have not yet been dealt with, the Commissioners will shortly be in a position to issue their determination. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, in which he thinks that undue delay has occurred, I will make inquiry.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in calculating the means of applicants for old age pensions, the total value of the furniture owned by them, when such value exceeds £50, is to be taken into account, or only the excess of value over £50?

In calculating the means of applicants for old age pensions, the total value of furniture owned by them, if such value exceeds £50, is taken into account, and not merely the excess of value over £50.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the fact stated in the First Report of the Road Board that, out of a total distribution up to 30th March, 1911, of £273,825, only £7,432 has been allocated to Ireland; and whether, having regard to the distinct undertaking by the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the funds were not to be distributed in proportion to the receipts and that the object of the legislation establishing the Road Board was the improvement of transport for the poorer and more thinly populated parts of the country, he will take any and, if so, what steps to secure a more equitable distribution of the funds, having regard to the exceptional circumstances of particular districts in Ireland?

The total amount of the grants made by the Road Board up to 30th June, 1911, is stated in Appendix 4 to their First Annual Report at £263,324, of which £7,432 was granted to county councils in Ireland, but this, as is also stated in the Report, is part of a total sum of £150,000 provisionally allocated for distribution in Irish Grants up to 31st March, 1912. This allocation has not been made on the basis of Irish contributions to the Road Improvement Fund, but approximately in the ratio of population. I am not aware that any undertaking was given by my right hon. Friend that in the administration of the Road Improvement Fund preference should be given to the poorer and more thinly populated parts of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will grant a Return showing the items and totals of the Votes passed in Committee of Supply, without discussion, under Standing Order, during the years 1906 to 1911, inclusive?

submitted the following numbers and amounts of Votes which had not been previously discussed passed in Committee of Supply under the Closure (Standing Order 15) in the years 1906 to 1911:—

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board have come to any determination on the appeal of the pension officer against the decision of the Mountmellick sub-committee, dated the 27th July, 1911, awarding a pension of 4s. a week to John Behan, Meelick, Rosenallis, Queen's County, in which case documents were placed before the Board showing that Behan was possessed of only seven acres of poor mountain land, and that his income from all sources did not amount to the statutory figure?

The Local Government Board determined on the 7th instant that John Behan, of Meelick, Rosenallis, was entitled to a pension at the rate of 4s. a week as from the 18th August last.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a pension of 5s. a week was, on the 31st January, 1911, awarded to Mrs. Kate Rourke by the Cloneygowan sub - committee, King's County; whether, upon appeal by the pension officer, Mrs. Rourke produced a certificate of marriage from the Rev. James O'Beirne, P.P., Killeigh, showing that the marriage took place on 30th November, 1872, and that Mrs. Rourke was then thirty-five years of age; can he say upon what grounds the Local Government Board disallowed the pension; and whether this case will be reconsidered by the Board?

There was no child named Catherine in the return of the family of the claimant's parents in the 1841 Census, whilst in the 1851 return Catherine was given as seven years old,

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the cause for depriving Denis Minton, of Corballymore, Kilnekle, county Galway, of an old age pension?

Three claims of Denis Minton have been before the Local Government Board on appeal. On the last occasion the Board upheld the decision of the pension sub-committee that Minton was not entitled to an old age pension on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit.

asked what steps, if any, have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the Murphy estate at Aglish, county Kerry?

The Congested Districts Board have communicated with the agent of the estate referred to inquiring whether the owner was willing to offer his property for sale through them, but up to the present the documents necessary for a preliminary inspection have not been lodged.

asked why the Day Estate at Cloumalane and Rockfield, county Kerry, purchased four years ago, has not been vested; and when is it hoped to have the sale completed?

If the hon. Member refers to the estate of C. E. Day, which comprises the lands of Cloghane, county Kerry, this estate is being sold direct by the landlord to the tenants, and the purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners in August, 1908. This estate has not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with, and having regard to the claims of other estates in priority to it the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached in its turn.

asked if the Congested Districts Board will take steps to purchase the Egan estates, Kileen, Glenflesk, county Kerry?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the Eager Estate, county Kerry. The necessary documents to enable the Congested Districts Board to have this estate inspected, with a view to deciding whether they will make an offer for purchase, have not yet been lodged. The Board have already communicated with the agent, and a further letter will now be sent to him.

asked if the Congested Districts Board will make an offer to purchase the Herbert estate, Currail, Glenflesk?

The Congested Districts Board have no information regarding the estate mentioned. If the property is offered to the Board they will have it inspected, and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the estate, situate at Carramore, Louisburgh, county Mayo, of Mr. Richard Kelly, who informed the Board two years ago that he was willing to sell the estate voluntarily; and what stage the negotiations for a sale have reached?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the estate referred to has been inspected, and the question of making an offer for purchase will probably be considered by the Board at their meeting in December.

asked the Chief Secretary whether William Gibbons, of Louisburgh, who was evicted from his house and land in Clare Island, county Mayo, by the Misses MacDonnell, applied to the Estates Commissioners within the prescribed time for reinstatement or for a new holding under the Evicted Tenants Act; and can he state why the Estates Commissioners have failed up to the present to deal with his application?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Gibbons' former holding appears to have been purchased by the present occupiers through the Congested Districts Board, and the Commissioners cannot interfere in the matter, and do not intend to provide Gibbons with a holding elsewhere. His application was not lodged within the period prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that labourers are doing joiners' work at No. 18 store, Portsmouth Dockyard, and that they are provided with tools by the dockyard authorities; and whether he will give instructions that this work must be done by skilled workmen and not by men who have not served their apprenticeship to the trade?

The men are not engaged on joiners' work, but on rough carpentry, such as the erection and alteration of racks in the storehouses, etc. The tools are supplied by the dockyard, as is usual in these cases.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that labourer G. Cheeseman, employed at the Chatham Dockyard, who was paid for a period of twenty-six weeks the skilled labourers' rate, 22s. a week, is now being compelled to refund at the rate of 5s. a week the difference between the skilled rate and the ordinary labourers' rate, 21s. a week, because he was paid the skilled rate in mistake; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to preventing the penalising of this man for a mistake for which he was not responsible?

The facts are as stated in the question of my hon. Friend. I am afraid I cannot take the view that the recovery of an overpayment is correctly described as "penalising." But having regard to the proportion which five shillings represents of the man's weekly rate of pay, instructions have been issued to reduce the rate of refund to one shilling a week.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the labourers employed by Messrs. Scott and Company, shipbuilders, Greenock, are not paid the current rate of wages and have now struck in consequence; and whether he will take steps to secure compliance with the Fair-Wages Clause?

For some time past, as my hon. Friend is aware, the question of compliance with the Fair-Wages Clause as affecting unskilled labourers on the Clyde has been the subject of consideration. With regard to the specific case referred to in the question, an officer of the Department is now in the locality making inquiry, and we are awaiting his report.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the present number of cadet units recognised by the several Territorial Force Associations; what is the number of cadets in each unit; how many units are now organised as battalions; and what number of unite are clothed in the universal field service or other recognised military uniform?

There are at present five squadrons, four batteries, and 257 companies of cadet units, of which the last-named are organised into twenty-nine-battalions, and eighty-three additional companies. On the 1st August last the total strength of the cadet force amounted to 14,399 all ranks; the details of each unit are not at the present moment available. There is no obligation for a cadet unit to wear field service or any other uniform, and no information regarding the present types of uniform adopted is at present available.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what number of other companies or organisations, e.g., Church Lads' Brigades or Boy Scouts, have units recognised by the various Territorial Force Associations?

All units recognised are included in the figures given in reply to Question 27. Amongst these the following have been recognised as cadet units:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he can say when the Highland Light Infantry Territorials will receive the essential machine gun tripods which were promised to be sent more than a year ago?

The tripods will be issued to the Highland Light Infantry Territorials in November.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there is dissatisfaction among officers and men of the Territorial Army in the Highland Light Infantry brigade; whether work that was formerly done by the paid staff is now laid on the shoulders of officers and sergeants (unpaid) and the permanent staff decreased; whether out-of-pocket expenses have increased; and whether, when they are ordered out into the country for regimental exercise and tours, the allowance paid is only about half of the cost?

I am not aware that there is dissatisfaction among officers and men of this brigade. Inquiries have been made and the units unanimously report that there is no such dissatisfaction. Certain instructional work formerly done by the paid staff is now undertaken by the officers and non-commissioned officers of the force, and it has always been intended that such work should devolve upon them as part of their ordinary duties in order to secure the higher standard of efficiency which is desired. It is not considered that out-of-pocket expenses have increased. The allowances granted for authorised regimental exercises and tours are sufficient to cover the expenses incurred.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received any complaint from the employés engaged upon the Glen Parva Barracks, Leicester, as to the rates of wages paid and the working conditions observed by the contractors for these works; whether he has made inquiries into such complaints; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

No such complaint has reached the War Office, but it is understood from inquiries made of the contractor that a question has arisen as to payment for walking time. The matter will be investigated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to make a general statement with regard to the raising of the minimum wage for adult workmen employed under the War Department?

The minimum rates of wage for adult unskilled labour at home stations have been carefully reviewed. Increases of from 6d. to 2s. per week have been given at various stations, with effect from 1st April last. Further additions up to 1s. per week have been granted in cases where the work performed, though of a generally unskilled character, involves some small degree of skill or responsibility.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War in what manner he proposes to make up the deficiencies in arms, clothing, and equipment for the various Territorial units in order that men joining on mobilisation to complete the establishment may be provided with the same?

I presume the hon. Member refers to trained men joining from the Territorial Reserve. It has recently been decided to allow men to join that Reserve who have served in the Regular Army or Special Reserve, and it is recognised that this involves accelerated provision of clothing and accoutrements in advance of the growth of the Territorial Force itself. Measures for this are under consideration. Ample reserves of arms already exist.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the maximum sum of regimental or other money that can, in accordance with the King's Regulations, be entrusted to an officer of below field rank?

There is no provision in the King's Regulations restricting the amount of money which may be entrusted to an officer of any rank.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to the warning uttered by the President of the British Association on 30th August concerning the exhaustion of the coalfields of this country; and whether the Government anticipate taking any steps tending to the conservation and lessened waste and export of this source of energy supply, having regard to the extent to which the nation's commercial position and the support of the industrial population are dependent on it?

I have seen a report of the address delivered by the President of the British Association, but I observe that the President's forecast of the probable duration of the coal supplies of the country does not take into consideration certain factors which have an important bearing on the question. In the first place, the president's estimate took no account of the large amount of coal in fields unproved at the time of the inquiry of the Royal Commission, nor of the amount of coal lying below the depth of 4,000 feet which the Commission took to be the present limit of workable coal, but which it may be found possible hereafter to exceed. These two sources the Commission estimated at over 39,000 and 5,000 millions tons respectively, or together nearly half as much as the amount of coal estimated to exist in the proved coalfields. In the second place, the president's estimate was based on the assumption that the output of coal would continue, at any rate for some time, to increase at the same rate as in the past. The Commission, on the other hand, considered that at a time not far distant the rate of increase of output would become slower, to be followed by a period of stationary output, and then a gradual decline. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's question, no recommendation was made by the Royal Commission, who reviewed the whole subject at length, as to action with a view to preventing waste in the working and using of coals. The suggestion which Sir W. Ramsay is reported to have made, that Parliament should impose a penalty on wasteful expenditure of energy supplies, would involve an amount of control over the industries of the country which, under present conditions, it would be impossible for any Government to undertake. The Commission looked forward to the introduction of considerable economies in the future; and I am advised that both in the working and in the using of coal progress is being made in this direction. As regards the question of the export of coal, the Commission reported that the witnesses whom they heard were generally of opinion that "the maintenance of a large coal export trade is of supreme importance to the country and essential to the prosperity of the coal-producing districts," and the Commission saw "no present necessity to restrict artificially the export of coal in order to conserve it for our home supply."

asked the Home Secretary whether he will lay upon the Table of the House or otherwise make public the communications which passed between his Department and the local authorities relating to the employment of the military in connection with the recent strike?

Yes. I will lay them on the Table of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Sidney Groom, eight and a-half years old, who was sent to a reformatory school by the magistrate at the Old Street Children's Court, on 29th September, to remain there until he is sixteen years of age, his offence being that he was guilty of secreting himself in railway trains and travelling from London to Sheffield, Nottingham, Exeter, and other places; that, apart from this mania for travelling, he was reported to be a good boy at school and at home; that he was taken to the Children's Court by the father in the hope that a short detention would cure him, and his parents are greatly distressed at the long period of detention; and, in view of the fact that he is an only child, will he consider the advisability of consulting the wishes of the parents and reducing the period of detention to six or twelve months?

The facts are as stated, except that the boy was sent, not to a reformatory, but to an industrial school, and that the rules of the industrial school provide for release of boys on licence after a few months. The boy is not likely to be detained more than six months—possibly less if he does well at the school.

asked whether it is still the intention of the Government to proceed with the Shops Bill in the present Session; and, if so, is any curtailment of its provisions intended?

The Government have every hope of passing this Bill into law during the present Session. The question whether the Clauses to restrict Sunday trading should be included in the Bill is, however, under serious consideration at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister when legislation may be expected carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion.

The Board of Trade are considering the recommendations of the Royal Commission, and are consulting the other Departments interested, and hope it may be possible to introduce a Bill on the subject before long.

asked whether the Government propose to proceed with the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill this Session or to drop it.

I will make an announcement as to this and other Bills at an early date.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will make the colouring of milk a penal offence under the Milk and Dairy Bill which he is about to introduce?

The point is under consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the prevalence during the past year in certain districts in Yorkshire of the disease known as anterior polyomyelitis; and whether, in view of the character of the disease and its serious after-effects, he will cause investigations to be made into the nature of the disease, with a view to discovering the best means of cure and of avoiding its spread?

My attention has been drawn to the prevalence of acute polyomyelitis not only in certain districts of Yorkshire, but also in several other counties, and three of my inspectors have for a considerable time past been engaged in investigations relating to it, the results of which, along with information as to the pathology of the disease, will be published in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General if powers are being delegated to the secretary, Dublin, other than those granted to his subordinate surveyors; and, if so, whether they will include the making of Irish contracts for stores and the control of the engineering and stores departments in Ireland?

The Secretary in Dublin has wider powers than those conferred on the surveyors; but they do not include the making of contracts for stores for use in Ireland or for the control of the engineering and stores departments.

asked when an appointment will be made to the vacant post for a civilian superintending engineer for the North of Ireland, or if, despite the protests made against the employment of Royal Engineers on Post Office engineering work, the whole Post Office engineering service in Ireland has now been placed under the control of a Major of the Royal Engineers on active service?

It has been found conducive to efficiency in the service to treat Ireland as one superintending engineer's district. That superintending engineer will be the Royal Engineer officer who has hitherto been in charge of the southern district in Ireland. I am not unmindful of the assurance which I gave to the hon. Member on the 15th March last, and care will be taken that the proportion of civilian to military appointments to the engineering staff in Ireland shall not be reduced.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will be in a position to announce the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the grievances and claims of postal, telegraph, and telephone workers?

I am sending to-day a communication on this subject to the National Joint Committee of Postal and Telegraph Associations, through whom the request for the appointment of a Select Committee has been made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to grant the return standing in the name of the hon. Member for the St. Stephen's Green Division of Dublin.

Yes, Sir.