asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether conferences have taken place between himself and representatives of the Prudential Assurance Company, Limited, with reference to that company taking part in the administration of the National Insurance Bill; if so, whether he is aware that in several cases during the past few weeks actions have been brought against the company by holders of policies in its industrial insurance branch, claiming the return of premiums on the ground that the policies were obtained by fraud and forgery, and that the company has repaid such premiums together with the costs of the actions; whether he is aware that several other actions of a similar character have been brought successfully against the company in recent years, and that in one case the documents were impounded by the judge; and whether, in these circumstances, he will take steps to prevent the Prudential Assurance Company becoming one of the approved societies under the proposed Act?

My right hon. Friend met in conference representatives of friendly societies and other bodies interested in the Bill, including a representative of the Prudential Assurance Company. As regards the allegations made in the second part of the question, he has no information beyond that supplied to him by the hon. Member. Certain conditions are laid down in the Bill with which it is necessary to comply in order to become an approved society; subject to these conditions it will be for the Insurance Commissioners to deal with individual applications for approval.

asked whether any arrangement has yet been made in the insurance scheme whereby branches in Scotland of the large affiliated orders whose central offices are in England, which have sufficient membership of their own, will be given the status of approved societies without severing the connection with the order; and, if so, will he say what the arrangement is?

As was stated last Monday by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary for the Home Department, the Government intend to put down a new Clause enabling a district or group of branches to deal with its surplus apart from the central fund of the society of which it forms part. It is hoped that this arrangement will meet the requirements of the Scotch branches to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Chancellor whether he proposes to amend Part II. of the First Schedule of the National Insurance Bill so as to leave outside the provisions of the Bill the persons employed by any company or firm who are already insured on better terms and for better benefits than those provided by the Bill, and particularly the workmen employed in such profit-sharing undertakings as the South Metropolitan Gas Company?

I will refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Baronet the Member for Wandsworth on 14th August last.

asked to whom the sickness benefit will be paid in the case of the sickness of a female domestic servant receiving board and lodging from her employer; will it be paid to the employer in part satisfaction of his expenses or to the servant; and, in the latter case, will the amount have to be deducted from the monthly wages paid by the employer?

The sickness benefit will belong, as in every other case, to the servant who is insured. It will, however, be open to the employers of domestic servants to take advantage of a new Clause which my right hon. Friend proposes to move, if they will make themselves legally responsible for the payment of wages to their servants for six weeks per annum in sickness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take with regard to the receiving and consideration of applications for appointments under the National Insurance Bill?

No, Sir. It would be premature to do so at present. No applications will be either considered or recorded until public notice has been given of vacancies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the National Insurance Bill, whether a man, who is insured by his trade union for 10s. a week and is also in some approved society other than his union, will be entitled to receive the full 10s. a week from the approved society as sickness benefit, first if his wages average 25s. a week, and secondly if they average 19s. a week?

In both cases he will receive the full 10s.

asked if, in the event of a soldier or sailor receiving a pension on leaving the Service bringing him in a sum of money weekly in excess of what he would be entitled to receive under the national insurance scheme, whether the money he had previously contributed out of his wages during the time he was in the Service would be handed over to him on leaving or be absorbed by the State for the general purposes of the national scheme?

No, Sir. He would be able to take his full transfer value into an approved society if he became a member of such a society or into the Post Office fund. If the state of his health on discharge was such that he could not obtain admission to an approved society, he would be permitted to leave his transfer value in the special Army and Navy fund, and he would then be entitled to the benefits provided by that fund. These will be considerably extended if the Amendments to Clause 36, which my right hon. Friend is about to put on the Paper, are adopted. In no case could the value of his contributions be absorbed in the manner suggested in the question, as the special fund will be earmarked to soldiers and sailors.

asked the Chancellor if it is his intention to prescribe a limit of members as a condition of approval of societies under the proposed national insurance scheme; and, if so, whether he will allow honorary members to be included in the qualifying number?

It is not proposed to prescribe any limit of members as a condition of approval.

asked the Chancellor whether, in reply to a deputation from, the National Farmers' Union and Scottish agriculturists which waited upon him on 4th July in reference to the National Insurance Bill, he stated that in the case of confined men in agricultural employment whose full wages are paid during periods of sickness, the payment of the sick benefit of 10s. per week should in his opinion go to the employer; and, if so, whether he proposes to put down an Amendment to this effect?

My right hon. Friend's proposals in this connection are explained in the White Paper circulated yesterday, to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the National Insurance Bill, where, as in Notts, the wages paid to agricultural labourers in regular employment amount to considerably more than 15s. per week during six months of the year, and to less than such amount during the remaining six months, and on the average throughout the year exceed such amount, the contribution of the employer will, under Schedule 2, remain constant at 3d. per week, or whether it will vary according to the amount of the seasonal remuneration of his employés?

The employer's contribution is calculated on the rate of the wages actually paid during the days in respect of which payment is made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, according to the provisions of the National Insurance Bill as it stands at present, the disablement benefit is payable only to those who are for the time being completely disabled and unable to earn any wages; whether he proposes to put down any Amendments in regard to this matter on the Report stage of the Bill; and, if so, whether he will at an early date circulate amongst Members for their information a draft of any such proposed Amendments.

If the hon and learned Member has read the Debate in Committee on Clause 8 (1) (c) of the Bill, to which I referred him in my answer last Monday he will have found that my right hon. Friend promised to substitute for the definition of disablement as it stands that proposed by the hon. Member for the Ross Division of Herefordshire, namely, "totally unfit to follow any remunerative occupation." But he does not think it necessary at the present stage to pledge the Government to adopting the ipsissima verba of this formula.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of a daughter remaining at her home to do domestic service for her parents and receiving in addition to her board and lodging a small remuneration, she will have to become an insured person; and whether her parents will have to pay towards the fund in the same manner as they would if they employed a person unrelated to themselves?

Under the Bill as it stands at present, if a money wage is paid and a contract of service exists, the relationship between the parties is immaterial.

asked whether, looking to the fact that boys under sixteen years of age who are insured in juvenile branches of friendly societies receive benefits during sickness, some benefit will be given to Post Office contributors of the same age, many of whom are bread-winners in the family?

No distinction is made by the Bill in this respect between boys who are members of approved societies and boys who are deposit contributors. The provision excluding persons under sixteen from sickness and disablement benefit has been omitted in Committee on the understanding that the House will take the position of these persons into consideration at a later stage.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that at the present time the resident magistrate, county inspector, and three district inspectors in charge of county Longford are members of the Protestant communion, whereas ninety per cent. of the population of Longford is Roman Catholic; and whether, in view of a vacancy in the police officership of one of the districts, opportunity will be taken to see that a Roman Catholic is put in charge?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by him on the 28th March last.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the grounds on which a man named Walker, and his wife, of Coolarty, county Longford, both of whom are nearly eighty years of age, have again been refused an old age pension; whether it has been decided by his department to refuse the evidence of admittedly older persons in such cases; and, if not, will he direct the Local Government Board to send one of their inspectors to interview these poor people and take evidence on the spot as to their age?

If the name of the man referred to is Thomas Walker the Local Government Board upheld the decision of the pension sub-committee in each case not to allow the pension on the ground that the claimant had not attained the statutory age. The claimants only assert that they are seventy-two years old, not eighty, as stated. The reasons for the Board's last decision in the case of Thomas Walker are the same as those given in my reply to the hon. Member's question on 20th February last. In the case of Bridget Walker her name did not appear in the Census Return of her parents' family in either 1841 or 1851, and not other satisfactory evidence was produced. The statements of belief referred to in the question did not, in the circumstances, satisfy the Board that the claimant was seventy years of age. The Board, having decided the appeals of the claimants, have no further power in the matter.

asked on what grounds Mary Flanagan, of Buckhill, Dromahair, county Leitrim, was refused an old age pension, having regard to the fact that she produced a certificate of her marriage, which took place fifty-nine years ago, and also certificates and affidavits proving her to be over seventy-two years of age?

The Local Government Board disallowed Mary Flanagan's claim in January last on the ground that she had not attained the statutory age. Her marriage took place on 11th February, 1861, less than fifty years prior to the date of the sub-committee's decision to allow her a pension, not fifty-nine years ago as stated.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the principal teacher of Ballyronan National school, Roll No. 56, county Antrim, who was promoted to a higher grade for satisfactory service on 1st April, 1910, has not yet received his grade salary, although Rule 105 (a) of the Commissioners states that teachers promoted from a lower to a higher grade receive on promotion the salary fixed for the grade to which they are promoted; and whether it is the intention of the Government to allow the Commissioners to pay to this teacher the arrears due to him, which up to 30th September amounted to £5, or is he to be deprived of his just earnings?

It is presumed that the hon. Member refers to Ballysnodd National School, Roll No. 56, county Antrim. Mr. Samuel McElroy, principal teacher of this school, was promoted to the first grade from the 1st April, 1911, not 1st April, 1910, as stated in the question. He cannot at present receive the salary of this grade owing to the limiting numbers in the grade.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Estates Commissioners have not yet approached the owners of the Boyd estate, at Duncormack, county Wexford; and, seeing that the Estates Commissioners received some months ago a memorial signed by the tenants on the Duncormack, Scotsland, and Weneytown portion of the estate praying them to approach the landlords with a view to the acquirement of these town-lands, on which there is a large area of untenanted land that could be distributed with much advantage to the district, if he will inquire if the Commissioners have taken any steps in this matter, and, if so, what progress has been made?

The Estates Commissioners have received the memorial referred to, and are at present making inquiries into the matter.

asked how it is that Constable Napier, of the Longford police station, has been advanced to the rank of acting sergeant, although only fifth in the list for promotion; whether the four other officers passed over are Roman Catholics; and, if so, will an inquiry be made into the influences used to get Constable Napier his undue promotion?

Constable Napier was promoted because he was believed to be the most eligible of the men recommended. I must decline to discuss the grounds of that decision.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will be prepared to grant loans for motor fishing boats to fishermen in Wicklow town, who may wish to apply for them, in the same way that leans have been granted for this purpose in other fishing districts?

The Department are prepared to entertain applications for loans for motor craft and other fishery purposes so far as their funds will admit.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he can state the terms on which loans for motor boats are granted to fishing districts in Ireland; and if he will inquire as to the desirability of granting loans for that purpose to fishermen in Ballyvaughan and other places on the Clare coast?

Ballyvaughan and certain other parts of the county Clare are congested districts, and the question of making loans in these districts is one for the Congested Districts Board. In regard to the non-congested parts of the county, the Department are prepared to entertain applications for loans for motor boats and other fishery purposes so far as their funds will admit.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he is aware that the harbour at Arklow stands in need of the expenditure of a further sum of money to make it secure for the fishing industry of the place; and whether the matter will engage the early attention of his Department?

The Department are not aware that the needs of the fishing industry require at present further expenditure on the harbour at Arklow, but the ordinary trade of the place could no doubt be much benefited by further expenditure; and in this connection it is understood that the Harbour Board contemplate making an application to the Development Commissioners. The Department are prepared to support such an application.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will ensure that in the allocation of the £50,000 granted for the aid of Irish fisheries, representations with regard to the dangerous rock at the entrance to Ardglass Harbour will receive due consideration; and, seeing that this obstruction in the way of fishing boats was on one occasion pointed out to him and that he was so impressed with the necessity of having it blasted away that he promised, when funds were available, to have it done, whether he will now take the required steps?

Ardglass is a Royal harbour in charge of the Commissioners of Public Works and the question of its improvement or maintenance is a matter for that Department.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he will give an assurance that in the allocation of the £50,000 granted to the Department for the aid of Irish fisheries, representations made to the Department with reference to the lack of harbour facilities at Portavogie, Donaghadee, and Bangor, will receive equal consideration with that which has been promised to Kilkeel?

The Department's suggestions regarding the allocation of the grant of £50,000 are the subject of correspondence with the Development Commissioners; and, under the circumstances, it is impossible at the present time to make a statement respecting the ports referred to in the question. Everything depends upon the needs of the fishing community and the funds available.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether he can state the cause of the delay in the reconstruction of Rathlin Harbour; and what is the present position with regard to it?

The plan of the Department's proposals for the improvement of the landing accommodation at Rathlin was submitted to the Antrim County Council in July last. It is understood that the matter is under the consideration of that body.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) can he state when the statistics of Irish imports and exports for the year 1910 will be published; and whether he is now in a position to give the total value of the external trade of Ireland for 1910?

The Report is in the printers' hands, and will, it is hoped, be ready for presentation in the course of the next fortnight.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the dirigible balloon at Barrow is to be again repaired or if the principle of lighter-than-air machines has been abandoned by the Admiralty in favour of the purchase or construction of aeroplanes?

The subject is under consideration.

asked whether the change of title of the members of the clerical staff is one of the matters about which the Treasury and Admiralty are not in agreement; and, if not, will he state why the change from writer to clerk cannot at once come into operation?

I am not prepared to make any statement as to particular recommendations in the Report of the writers' committee not yet promulgated.

asked whether principal writers at the dockyards, who act as secretaries to the constructive and engineering managers, are eligible for appointment as secretaries to admiral superintendents?

The answer is in the negative.

asked on what date the last communication was sent from the Admiralty to the Treasury in connection with the staffing committee's report; and is there any prospect of a settlement before Christmas?

The last written communication was made from the Admiralty to the Treasury on the 28th January last. I hope the questions still at issue may shortly be settled, but I am not in a position to give the assurance asked for in the last part of the question.

asked whether the recommendations of the Admiralty based on the staffing committee's report, which are favourable to the staff and which are not in need of Treasury concurrence, or which the Treasury have already agreed to, will be promulgated at once; and, if so, will be ante-dated to the date the original Admiralty proposals were made to the Treasury?

All the recommentions which were favourable to the staff, and agreed to by the Treasury, have already been promulgated, and antedated to the date on which they received Treasury sanction.

asked whether it is contemplated to fill any of the present vacancies on the directing staff of the naval store department from the writing staff?

The question is now under consideration.

asked whether the compressed air cylinder which exploded recently at Portsmouth was of American manufacture, and if one other such cylinder is in the Service; and, if so, if it can be found and re-tested?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The remaining cylinder will be destroyed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the trial pressure of the compressed air cylinder which recently exploded at Portsmouth took place in the open factory to the danger of all the men in that factory; and whether, for the future, special arrangements can be made to have such experiments carried out under more suitable conditions?

This matter is receiving careful attention, and any alteration in existing regulations which may be found desirable to ensure the safety of all concerned will be made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the rank and pay of commissioned warrant and warrant officers of the Royal Navy can be altered as follows, so that all deserving warrant officers who have been recommended for advancement may be promoted to the rank of chief warrant officer automatically, on the attainment of fifteen years' seniority as warrant officers; and that the pay of chief warrant officers so promoted shall be the same as that now paid on attaining fifteen years' seniority, with biennial increments after the first two years of 1s. a day, and 6d. a day for every subsequent two years?

It is not intended to alter the rank and pay of commissioned warrant officers and warrant officers in the manner suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, prior to giving evidence at the recent trial of the Imperial Cold Storage Company against the Government, there was any negotiation with or representation to Colonel Morgan that he would be in anyway rewarded for his assistance in the matter?

Colonel Morgan was remunerated for his services in connection with the trial at an agreed rate per day. Beyond this arrangement no negotiation with or representation to him was made that he should be rewarded for his assistance.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, considering that the average time for promoting to the rank of captain is now approximately ten years for the Infantry and eight and a-half years for the Cavalry, whilst in the Royal Garrison Artillery it is estimated that the last of the second lieutenants gazetted in 1900 will have completed fifteen or sixteen years' service be fore being promoted to captain, he will consider the advisability of making in next year's Budget some provision to alleviate the effect of the present block in promotion in the latter corps, either by giving promotion to all subalterns on attaining twelve years' service, or, failing that, by giving annual increments of pay pending promotion to all lieutenants of over twelve years' service?

The whole question of promotion in the Royal Garrison Artillery is still under the consideration of the Army Council. I am not at present able to add anything to the replies which I have previously given to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state what steps are taken with regard to the forty-one officers and 6,703 non-commissioned officers and men of the Territorial Army who were absent without leave from the annual training in camp this year?

Officers who are unable to give a satisfactory explanation for their absence are called upon to resign their commissions. Non-commissioned officers and men are liable to be dealt with under paragraph 253 of the Territorial Force Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, as a result of the committee of inquiry now sitting at Simla, the transference of officers from the British to the Indian Army has ceased; whether he is aware of the consequent inconvenience and loss to those officers who, owing to lack of private means, only entered the British Army with a view to early transference to the Indian Army and who are now being compelled into debt while awaiting transfer; and, if so, will he state whether he will take steps to remedy the alleged grievance?

The Army Council is not aware of any intention of the Indian Government to cease taking transfers from British units serving in India to fill vacancies as they occur.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether soldiers in receipt of a lodging allowance are obliged to surrender this and enter quarters when such become vacant; and whether lodging allowance or residence in barracks is reckoned as part of their pay?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Paragraph 265, Allowance Regulations, lays down conditions as to the date of such surrender. As regards the second part of the question, lodging allowance does not form part of the pay, but is given for the specific purpose of hiring accommodation outside barracks where available public quarters do not exist.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Bombay Municipal Corporation have passed recommendations for the introduction of compulsory revaccination in Bombay; whether the Government of Bombay have expressed any intention of giving effect to these recommendations; and, if they have done so, whether the India Office will at once communicate with the Government of Bombay and advise that the proposals should be dropped, seeing that two Parsi medical members of the Bombay Corporation were of opinion that such action would be most unwise in view of the present discontent?

The Secretary of State is aware that the Bombay Municipal Corporation have resolved to recommend to the Bombay Government that it should undertake legislation for the introduction of compulsory revaccination into Bombay city. He has no information as to whether the recommendation has been made or as to the views of the Bombay Government. He is not prepared to make the communication suggested, as if legislation should be proposed, the constitution of the enlarged Bombay Legislative Council secures that full consideration is given to local opinion. There were no dissentients from the resolution passed by the Bombay Municipal Corporation. The two Parsi members referred to in the question were against compulsory revaccination in 1908, but this year reported in favour of and voted for its adoption.

asked the President of the Board of Education if it is his intention to introduce legislation to prevent Nonconformists teachers being excluded, on religious grounds alone, from head teacherships in State-supported schools?

I am aware of the difficulty at present existing, referred to in my hon. Friend's question. I regret I do not see my way at present to the introduction of legislation to remedy this particular grievance. The proper time to deal with it will be when the Government introduces legislation to deal with the other difficulties created by the Act of 1902.

asked the President of the Board of Education if it is his intention, under the powers which he possesses, to offer small scholarships to the boys and girls of working people of proved ability, to enable them to continue their educational career beyond the time at which such youths usually go to work for wages?

The proposal in the question raises large financial and administrative questions with which it is not possible to deal by means of question and answer. I may say, however, that the provision of such scholarships needs knowledge of local circumstances and is more naturally a function of local education authorities than of the Board of Education, and my hon. Friend will be glad to know that such scholarships are already provided, to some extent, by the local education authorities. So far as education in secondary schools is concerned, the Board's grants are largely directed to securing, in part, the object of my hon. Friend and the Board have in view.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to press forward, with a view to passing this Session, the Asylums Officers (Employment, Pensions, and Superannuation) Bill, which now stands re-committed?

I am afraid that there is no reasonable prospect of the Bill in question being passed into law during the present Session.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has considered the report of a Departmental Committee, dated January, 1909, dealing with the question of machinery and engineering staffs in Poor Law institutions; whether any steps have been taken by his Department in the direction of adopting the recommendations contained therein; and whether he will acquaint the House with the nature of such steps?

I have given the Report of the Committee my consideration, and steps have been taken in the direction of some of their suggestions. In particular, the recommendations of the Committee as regards special kinds of plant have been usefully borne in mind in deciding on proposals submitted to me by guardians. I have not found it necessary at present to appoint a special engineering inspector for Poor Law purposes as recommended by the Committee, as the services of the existing staff of engineering inspectors, who are constantly travelling about the country, have been available for the purposes contemplated. I have reason to believe that the suggestions contained in the Committee's Report have been of assistance to boards of guardians in connection with engineering work under their control.

also asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in some Poor Law institutions situated within the same curtilage or in near proximity to each other separate engineering plants are used for warming and other services; whether the principle of centralisation could be adopted in such cases; whether he has received any applications from boards of guardians asking for approval of centralisation schemes; and whether he proposes to give favourable consideration to such application?

The question whether a scheme of centralisation is desirable depends upon the local circumstances, but I may say that I have sanctioned arrangements of this kind in some places, and that I am strongly in favour of such an arrangement where it can be carried out with economy.

asked the percentage of the emigration from this country to the United States and the British Dominions oversea, respectively, for the years 1909, 1910, and 1911 up to 30th September?

The percentage of the emigration from this country to the United States of America and the British Dominions oversea, respectively, during the periods mentioned, is as follows:—

Year.	United States of America.	All parts of the British Empire out of Europe.
1909	40.8	59.2
1910	31.6	68.4
1911 (nine months)	20.2	79.8

These proportions are based upon the excess, as shown by the returns issued by the Board of Trade, of passengers of British nationality who left the United Kingdom for the places referred to, over the passengers of British nationality who arrived from such places. I should add that the figures for the current year are subject to revision.

asked the President whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the recent small-pox outbreak in London a boy of five years of age died of small-pox, whose certificate of successful vaccination in infancy has been obtained; and whether he will explain why, in spite of this fact, the Metropolitan Asylums Board have issued statistics regarding that outbreak which show no vaccinated deaths from small-pox in children under ten years of age?

I learn that one boy of five died of small-pox during the recent outbreak in London. The information recorded as furnished on his admission to the hospital was that he had been twice unsuccessfully vaccinated. No marks of vaccination were found on him.

asked the reason why Mr. John Yallop, at the Wood Green Urban Council audit on 6th September last, was refused the right of inspecting the correspondent books connected with the audit; if he can state the section of the Public Health Act under which the vestry clerk acted in refusing the inspection of all books at the audit; if he can state the cost of the incorporation inquiry at Wood Green, and whether any part of the cost was borne by the rates; if any part of the cost has been borne by the guarantors; and if any portion is due to the rates?

I am informed by the clerk to the Wood Green Urban District Council that, on 6th September last, when the books and accounts of the council were on deposit for the inspection of persons interested prior to the audit, as required by Section 247 of the Public Health Act, 1875, Mr. Yallop requested inspection of all the correspondence of the council, and that he subsequently obtained a summons against the clerk for refusing to allow inspection of all correspondence relating to any payments made by the Council on account of the expenses of the application for a Charter of Incorporation. I am informed that the summons was dismissed by the justices. As regards the costs of the application for a Charter of Incorporation, the amount expended from the rates is £545. Two hundred pounds of this was allowed by the district auditor in the accounts of the council for the year 1908–09, and £345 was disallowed by him at the next audit, and an appeal against his decision is now before me. The guarantors appear to have paid £265 as part of the expenses, and nothing has been contributed from the rates towards this sum.

asked whether, in view of the Reports made by Professor F. J. Lloyd in 1907 and 1909 to the British Dairy Farmers' Association to the effect that condensed machine-skimmed milk is unfit for consumption by infants, and ought to be so described on the tin containing it, and of the report made by Dr. Coutts on the 8th September last to the like effect, he proposes, at an early date, to issue regulations prescribing the conditions under which such milk shall be sold, and requiring the tins containing it to be conspicuously labelled in the mannner suggested?

Various suggestions which have been received from different quarters consequent on the issue of Dr. Coutts' Report are now under consideration in my Department.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what changes, if any, have been made during this year in the United States duties on wood pulp and paper; whether, under these changes, any countries enjoy tariff advantages over the United Kingdom; and, if so, whether any steps are being taken to ensure that equal tariff advantages are granted to the United Kingdom?

By virtue of one of the provisions of the United States Act dealing with the proposed reciprocity with Canada, wood pulp, and paper valued at not more than 4 cents. per pound made of wood pulp (other than wall paper), were admitted into the United States free of duty if of Canadian origin on certain conditions with regard to the absence of export prohibitions or duties in Canada. These provisions took effect on 26th July, 1911, with regard to articles manufactured from wood pulp originating in certain portions only of the Dominion of Canada. Inquiry is now being made whether those provisions are being continued in operation, and as to whether there is any practical discrimination against the manufactures of the United Kingdom.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any further steps have been taken by him to secure a guarantee for the installation of the trunk telephone system from Mullingar, to which it at present extends, to Longford; whether he is aware that repeated promises have been made by his predecessors to inquire into and arrange this matter; and, if he has not already inquired into it, will he now direct an inquiry as to the cost, the amount of guarantee required, and the time when this matter may be finally determined one way or the other?

I am in active communication with the Treasury in the matter; and hope soon to be in a position to give the Longford Urban District Council a definite reply.

asked whether, in the event of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurring in a pedigree herd or flock, compensation for slaughter would be paid upon the pedigree value or upon butchers' value?

Compensation for animals slaughtered by order of the Board on account of foot-and-mouth disease is based on the actual value, which is not necessarily butcher's value.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is watching the progress of the growth of sugar beet in Norfolk and its sale to the factories in Holland; if he is aware that a number of Dutchmen have been employed to dig the roots under contract; and if he proposes to publish an account of the results of the experiment when concluded?

I am watching these and similar experiments in the cultivation of sugar beet with interest. I am aware that Dutch labourers have been brought to Norfolk to demonstrate the method of lifting sugar beet. I do not propose that the Board should attempt to report on the experiments, since they have not sufficiently detailed information for the purpose, but I will consider whether an account of them could be published in the Board's Journal.