asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the position under the National Insurance Bill of a local provident medical association providing medical attendance for about 1,600 members resident in the district at a small weekly payment?

I would refer the hon. Member to Clause 14 (4), which makes provision for utilising such associations in certain circumstances for the purposes of medical benefit under the Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expectation of life of a man or woman on becoming entitled to an old age pension; and what capital sum payable now represents the Government's liability?

The expectation of life at age seventy is for a man about eight years and for a woman about eight and three-quarter years. The capitalised value of the future liabilities of the Exchequer in respect of old age pensions has not been calculated, and such calculation would, I understand, involve actuarial problems of considerable difficulty.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, in spite of repeated searches, no record can be found in the Census reports of Denis Cronin, Doon, Tahilla, a claimant for an old age pension; and whether, in view of the other evidence submitted, his claim will now be allowed, seeing that it was approved by the local committee more than two years ago?

The family of Denis Cronin's parents was traced in the Census Returns of both 1841 and 1851. In the former year there was no child named Denis mentioned, and in the latter Denis was given as being six years old. He is, therefore, about sixty-six years old at present, and not yet entitled to a pension.

also asked the Chief Secretary, can he state what has been the result of the inquiry into the claim for an old age pension made by Mrs. Mary Lyons, Quaybawn, Glenbeigh; and can he state when she will be entitled to receive the pension?

No appeal in the case of Mrs. Mary Lyons has come before the Local Government Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has yet been able to obtain from the officials the returns of local contributions to technical schemes and estates in the Land Judge's Court, ordered by this House last March; and, if so, when those returns will be available?

The first-mentioned return was presented to Parliament on 30th ultimo. The second return was presented on 14th August, and has, I understand, been circulated.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Director of Public Prosecutions in Ireland, in view of the opinion of the Irish Court of Appeal that the policies of the Irish Provident Assurance Company must be regarded as life assurance policies, of the additional evidence to the same effect placed in his hands, and of the continued operations of four similar companies now collecting money from poor people in Ireland, proposes to institute a prosecution or to take any action to stop those operations and have their victims indemnified?

The Attorney-General informs me that proceedings for the winding up of the Irish Provident Assurance Company are now pending in the Chancery Division of the High Court in Ireland, and that inquiries are being made in that matter into the operations of the company and the conduct of the directors. The Attorney-General must await the result of these proceedings in order to be in a position to say whether a criminal prosecution, if any, should be instituted, and against whom. The Irish Government is not aware that any similarly constituted company is carrying on operations similar to those of the Irish Provident Assurance Company, which have been declared illegal. If this be the case the Attorney-General will be glad to get particulars.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a resolution from the tenantry of the Percival estate, situate in Templehouse, Bally-mote, union of Tubbercurry, county Sligo, pointing out that a state of discontent prevails in the locality by reason of the fact that all the surrounding estates have long ago been purchased under the operation of recent Acts, and calling on the Congested Districts Board to take immediate action in regard to the purchase of this estate; and, if so, whether, in the interests of the peace of the districts, steps will at once be taken by the Board to acquire this property, compulsorily or otherwise?

The Congested Districts Board have received a copy of the resolution referred to. The agent for the property was written to, but the estate has not so far been offered for sale through the Board. The question of compulsorily acquiring this estate has not been considered by the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the estates of Owen Phibbs, Esquire, of Seafield, Sligo, comprising the townlands of Kilamonagh, Ardcotton, and Carricknagat, near Cullooney, county Sligo, and of Miss Charlotte Cooper, of the Croft, Carysfoot Road, Buscombe, Surrey, comprising the town-lands of Knockmullen and Cartron, also situate near Cullooney, union of Sligo, still remain unsold, although the tenantry on these estates have made repeated offers for the purchase of their holdings during the past six years, which offers were always refused; whether the Congested Districts Board have yet approached these landlords with a view to purchase; and, if so, can he say with what result?

The estates referred to have not been purchased by the Congested Districts Board, who have been informed by the tenants that they have approached the owners regarding a sale. The Board communicated with the agents for these properties, and informed them that they were willing to negotiate for a sale, but so far no replies have been received. The Board will make a further effort for the purchase of these estates.

asked how many applications have been received by the Estates Commissioners under Sub-sections (2), (3), and (4) of Section 20, 9 Edw. 7; have any sales been effected under this Section; and, if so, will he state when?

The Section to which the hon. Member refers is a definition Section, and applications are not lodged under it. The Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say how many cases now pending before them, a very large number of which have not been reached in their order of priority to be dealt with, are governed by the Section.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Majesty's ship "Egeria" has lately been sold out of the service; whether the Vancouver branch of the Navy League applied for the loan of the "Egeria" for the purpose of establishing a training ship for boys of good character, and the Admiralty replied that they could not loan the vessel, and that if the Navy League wanted her they could buy her; whether the Navy League raised a fund of £1,000 and tendered this sum to the Admiralty for the vessel; whether the Admiralty refused this sum and stated that the vessel would be offered for sale by public auction; and whether, if the vessel has been sold, he will state the name of the firm that bought her and the price paid?

The reply to the first four parts of the question is in the affirmative. To the last part the reply is that the ship was purchased at an auction sale by the Vancouver branch of the Navy League, as the highest bidder, for £1,416, which will probably prove more advantageous to all concerned than a loan of the vessel under the usual conditions. It may be added that the League state that their training would be for the Merchant service, and not for the Navy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the hardship that may be suffered by sailors under the King's Regulations (Addenda, 1911), Article 768, which provides that if any person in possession of good conduct badges is convicted by civil power of drunkenness, disorderly conduct, or other offences on shore, or if his case is dealt with by an order under the Probation of Offenders Act, the captain is to cause him to be deprived of one good conduct badge; if, however, the circumstances are considered to be exceptional the forfeiture may be remitted, with the approval of the commander-in-chief or other flag officer whose flag is flying; whether under this Article it is possible for a person to be convicted on shore of an offence such as riding a bicycle without lights or some other relatively trivial offence, and therefore to be deprived of one good conduct badge subject only to the remitting of the forfeiture by the commander-in-chief; and whether he will consider the propriety of limiting the offences ashore for which a sailor is to be deprived of a good conduct badge to offences of a serious and disgraceful character, and of specifying such offences in the King's Regulations?

The regulation was framed in general terms in order to allow of a representation being made to the nearest Flag Officer in any case in which, in the captain's opinion, a hardship would be inflicted by a literal adherence to the rule. This is considered to be better, in the interests of the Service, than to attempt to define the actual offences. No cases of hardship have been represented.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the weight of the Maxim gun in use in the German, French, Russian, and British Armies, respectively?

The information is as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Orme's case was considered at the time of the Imperial Conference, which was the course suggested in the Australian Parliament?

No, Sir. I am informed the case was not raised at the Imperial Conference.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, having regard to the fact that Mr. Orme, a citizen of Australia, was imprisoned and deported from South Africa during the war, that his trial by a field court-martial was illegal since he was not under the command of the officer in command of the troops on the spot, and that the findings of the court-martial were not confirmed against Orme, he will reconsider the whole case?

This case has been fully considered, and there is no intention of reopening it. It would take too long to explain the case fully to the House within the limits of an oral answer, but I shall be glad to send to the hon. Gentleman, if he desires it, a statement of the facts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War when are the non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial contingents present at the Coronation ceremonies to have the medal awarded to them?

The issue of the medal to the representatives of the Territorial Force units has been almost completed.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War whether he can give the number of men, recruits or otherwise, in the British Army, at home or abroad, who went into hospital on account of vaccination or re-vaccination, or sickness consequent on vaccination or re-vaccination, in the years 1900 to 1910?

No statistics prior to 1907 are readily available. The figures for subsequent years are as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Messrs. G. H. Glenny and Sons, of Erith, who have the contract for the military buildings at Swanley, have sub-let some of the joinery work; if so, is that in accordance with the terms of their contract; and whether they have failed to carry out the conditions to exhibit the schedule of wages in their works.

I understand that this building is being erected for the Kent Territorial Force Association. The War Office has no official knowledge of the terms of the contract, nor has it any direct control over the work. Any inquiries which it is desired to make should be addressed to the secretary of the association.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can explain the statement on page 41 of the Annual Report of the Sanitary Commissioner with the Government of India for 1909 that none of the women with the European troops in India who were attacked by smallpox during the year 1909 had been revaccinated, in view of the statement on page 203 of the Army Medical Department Report for 1906 that in October of each year all men, as well as women and children, are inspected, and those revaccinated who do not show either satisfactory marks or records of vaccination; and whether, if the women in question were, in fact, not revaccinated, he will state how it was that they escaped the operation at the last annual inspection of their vaccinal condition?

It may be presumed that at the inspection in question no renewal of vaccination was considered necessary, either because the women bore marks which were considered satisfactory marks of vaccination or because there was a record of revaccination in their cases.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that our military rifle is inferior to that of other great Powers, and in view of the fact that the pointed bullet used by foreign Powers makes a much more severe wound than the bullet used in our rifle, he can say when our new rifle and bullet will be issued to our Regular and Auxiliary troops?

The commencement of the issue of the re-sighted rifle and the new ammunition will shortly be proceeded with.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the preparations for mobilising the Territorial Army made within the last two months, he can say in how many regiments it was found that there were not enough rifles and uniforms if the regiments had been filled up to full strength?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply to a similar question on this subject put on Monday last by the hon. Gentleman the Member for the Lewes Division of Sussex.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of recent experience of the sudden outbreak of war and in view of the youth and want of training of so many members of the Territorial Army and of the increasing shortage of numbers, he can say whether the Government are taking any steps to provide an Army for Home defence which may be of some use against invasion when the Regular Army is abroad?

It is considered that the present arrangements which the Government have made for the defence of the country against invasion are adequate.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the effect of the competitive musical festivals carried on by private enterprise in many parts of the country upon the standard of musical training in schools; whether some local education authorities have expressed their willingness to make small grants towards the expenses of such festivals, but have been advised that they have no power to do so; and whether the Board will do anything to facilitate the making of such grants, where the local authorities wish to make them, in view of the fact that such festivals can only be maintained by raising subscriptions in the localities?

The Board are aware of the relations existing in some parts of the country between public elementary schools and musical competitions, and have under consideration some of the effects of those relations. No case of the kind referred to in the question has come to the Board's knowledge. If the hon. Member is aware of any such case and will give me the facts I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, after the lapse of ten years, summonses against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts have been obtained at Eastbourne by the vaccination officer through the pressure of the Local Government Board Inspector; whether there has been any case of small-pox in the town during that period; what is the total number of children in the town legally exempted from vaccination under the Vaccination Acts, 1898 and 1907; and what special circumstances, if any, prompted the action of the Board?

It is the duty of the vaccination officer to take proceedings to secure compliance with the Vaccination Acts, and the Board's inspector, at his last inspection of vaccination in this union, reminded him of this duty. The Board understand that the vaccination officer has recently obtained summonses against certain persons who have not complied with the Acts. During the last ten years there have been two cases of small-pox in Eastbourne. The total number of children in the Eastbourne Union who have been legally exempted from vaccination from the time of the passing of the Vaccination Act, 1898, to the 31st July, 1911, is, according to the Board's records, 5,640. Some five-sixths of these have been children residing in the town of Eastbourne.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government propose to legislate on the subject of the care of the feeble-minded, and, whether or no, upon the lines of the recommendations of the Royal Commission whose Report was issued in 1908; and, in either case, when he hopes to introduce the measure embodying the proposals?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which the Prime Minister gave to-day to questions on the same subject addressed to him by the hon. Member for the Tewkesbury Division of Gloucester and the hon. Member for Cheltenham.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Liverpool Overhead Railway Company are fining their employés amounts ranging from 6d. to 2s. 6d. in consequence of the men refusing to come on duty with insufficient rest, in some cases the men being called on duty after five hours' rest and after a turn of duty of thirteen hours and fined for their refusal to comply with such inhuman conditions; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of things in the interests of both the men and the travelling public.

My attention has not previously been called to this matter, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with instances showing the excessive periods of duty and insufficient intervals of rest of which complaint is made, and the grades of men concerned, I will inquire into these matters.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can give the valuation and expenditure per head of the population of each of the thirty-eight secondary education districts based on the Census Returns for 1911?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the table contained in the answer to a question by the hon. Member for North-West Lanark. From the figures given therein those desired are easily deducible.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can give the separate factors of distribution upon which the Scottish Education Department has based Column 3 B of the table appended to the minute providing for the allocation of the balance of the Scottish Education Fund, dated 1st August and laid upon the Table on 7th August?

The factors of distribution upon which the amounts in Column 3 B of the Table appended to the Minute of 1st August, 1911, are based, are shown in the following Table:—

asked the Lord Advocate the amount of salary paid to each sheriff principal in Scotland, excluding the Lothians and Lanarkshire; and the number of appeal cases undertaken by each during the year 1910, distinguishing those heard viva voce and those in which written pleadings only were taken?

The salaries paid in 1910 to the sheriffs principal, other than the Sheriff of the Lothians and Peebles and the Sheriff of Lanarkshire, are set forth in the first column of the annexed table. With regard to the second part of the question, the judicial statistics for 1910 are not yet available, but so far as they can be ascertained, the number of appeal cases disposed of by the several sheriffs, other than the two excluded, in that year are set forth in the second column of the table. It would be impossible to make the distinction asked without an excessive amount of trouble and delay.