asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to complaints as to the inadequacy of the pensions at present provided for teachers in Ireland; and whether he can give any assurance that steps will be taken to improve the pension conditions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for South Sligo on Wednesday.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have yet considered the applications for free grants made by John Floyd, Patrick M'Laughlin, Patrick Gallin, Michael Carlin, and John Kelly, reinstated evicted tenants on the estate of James B. Delap, Killygordon, county Donegal; if not, can they name an early date on which these applications will be considered, as the applicants have no means of stocking their farms or of rebuilding their houses which had been demolished; is he aware that civil bills for the recovery of interest in lieu of rent were served on Patrick M'Laughlin and John Kelly for periods during which they were not in occupation of their holdings, and that decrees were granted in October last against Patrick M'Laughlin and John Floyd for non-payment of interest in lieu of rent; whether, considering that these men were put in possession of bare farms which had largely gone out of cultivation, and that, owing to want of farming capital they have been unable to meet the sums payable as interest, he will have legal proceedings stopped and expedite the consideration of their application for grants?

The Estates Commissioners have directed inquiries to be made as regards the cases of these tenants with a view to considering the expenditure, if any, to be sanctioned to assist them in working their holdings. The estate was sold by the owner direct to the tenants, and the purchase agreements signed by the parties provided for the payment of interest in lieu of rent from the dates mentioned in them. This interest is collectable under Statute by the Land Commission and payable to the owner, who, however, has intimated that he is prepared to accept two years' interest in satisfaction of all interest due by the reinstated tenants.

asked whether the Royal Irish Constabulary code prohibits members of the force from writing to the Press concerning matters affecting the service; whether its provisions in this connection have recently been relaxed or cancelled; and whether, in view of recent circulars issued by the Inspector-General to the district inspectors directing them to request the police to contribute to a magazine in which he appears to be interested, instructions will be formulated defining within what limits the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary are free to write concerning police affairs to any public print?

The provisions of the Constabulary code which prohibit communications with the Press concerning official matters have not been relaxed or cancelled. They do not apply in any way to the contributions which have been made by members of the force to the magazine in question, and no further instructions on the subject are required.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Government has sanctioned the use of official authority, time, and postage in forwarding the circulation and sale of a monthly print entitled the "Royal Irish Constabulary Magazine"; whether circulars concerning this publication have been posted On His Majesty's Service; whether the Inspector-General has been authorised to instruct his officers to use their influence and authority to persuade the constables in their command to subscribe and contribute; and why, if the police desire such a journal, its purchase is not in every respect as voluntary as other papers they may desire to buy; and whether he will state the manner arranged by the Inspector-General for the collection of subscriptions and the rank of persons appointed to collect and forward news?

I understand that the magazine in question is issued with the voluntary co-operation of members of the force of all ranks. No expenditure of official time or postage is or has been incurred in connection with it, nor has pressure been put upon anyone to subscribe. Those who desire to have the magazine are invited to send their subscriptions to the printer.

asked if any, and how much, untenanted land is included in the sale of the Miss Croke and Lady Dyer estate, at Ballybuckin, county Limerick; and how soon may the tenanted places be vested in the tenants?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the vendors, who are including in the proceedings for sale 110 vivid acres of untenanted land which they offer for sale to the Estates Commissioners. The Commissioners expect that this estate will probably be dealt with next year.

asked whether Mr. D'Arcy, of Newforest, county Galway, has lodged with the Congested Districts Board maps and other necessary papers with a view to a sale of his estate situate in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo; and, if so, what stage the negotiations between Mr. D'Arcy and the Board have reached?

The necessary maps and documents for a preliminary inspection of the estate referred to were lodged on the 6th instant, and the Congested Districts Board will have the property inspected, and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the regulations as to giving every tradesman at Portsmouth an equal opportunity of entering the dockyard and soliciting business on board His Majesty's ships are still in force; and, if not, will he state what is the purport of the new regulations?

If any tradesman who is a British subject and of good character applies for permission to enter Portsmouth Dockyard for trading purposes, his application receives fair and equal consideration. The admission of traders to ships rests, as the Noble Lord is aware, with commanding officers, and the numbers admitted have doubtless sometimes, to be restricted. I am not aware of the existence of specific regulations on this subject.

also asked the dimensions of the large coaling lighter at Portsmouth; what was her cost; how much coal she can carry; what her draught is; whether she can be towed from one port to another; and whether she can coal two ships at the same time?

The coaling depot in question holds about 12,000 tons of coal, and cost £152,500. She can coal two ships at once, but was not designed for being towed from one port to another.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a dispute is threatened in the coalfield of South Wales owing primarily to the refusal of the mine owners to pay the trade union rates to colliers working abnormal places; and whether, under these circumstances, he will cause the Fair-Wages Resolution to be inserted in all coal contracts given out by the Admiralty, and thus ensure compliance with the expressed will of the House of Commons?

I gather from the Press that several important wages matters, including rates for abnormal places as well as a general minimum wage, have been under discussion between mine-owners and their employés in South Wales, but I do not know what particular point is regarded on either side as the primary issue. As the hon. Member is aware, wages in the South Wales coalfield are settled by agreement between federations of colliery owners and employés, and are largely dependent on the selling price of coal. The agreed wages form the recognised rates of the district, and in these circumstances it has always been considered that no purpose could be served by the inclusion of the Fair Wages Clause. As regards colliers working in abnormal places, it is quite impracticable for the Admiralty to create appropriate rates. Neither the old nor the new Resolution has at any time appeared on the contracts with the collieries. The Fair Wages Advisory Committee considered this point when the 1909 Resolution was passed, and reported that they regarded it as unnecessary to insert the Fair Wages Clauses in contracts with collieries. In many years' dealings with the collieries, no wages complaint has ever been addressed to the Admiralty, and the experience of the Department does not suggest any necessity for change of policy in the direction suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state for what public purpose he was accompanied by the reporter of the "Daily Mail" on his trip in a submarine on Monday last?

The hon. Member's amiable assumption is without the slightest foundation. On the contrary, instructions were given that no reporters should be allowed to approach the submarines or enter the submarine depôt on the occasion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to introduce a loan with the object of strengthening the Navy?

I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Devonport on Tuesday last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the dates on which the following German ships were ordered and laid down: "Helgoland," "Thuringen," "Moltke," "Goeben," "Oldenburg," "Friedrich der Grosse," "Kaiser," "J," "Ersatze Hagen," "Aegir," "Odin," "Weissenburg," "K. Friedrich Wilhelm," "S," and "K"?

We have no official information regarding the "Oldenburg" and "S," beyond the date of delivery from the shipyard of the former, which is Spring, 1912. As regards the remaining ships, there is nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member on 4th and 12th July.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give the dates on which the United States battleships "Texas," "Nevada," "New York," and "Oklahoma"; the Japanese battleship-cruisers "Haruna," "Kirishima," and "Hiyei"; the French battleships "France" and "Paris"; and the Austrian battleships of the "Viribus Unitis" class, now building, were first commenced on the slips?

The "Texas" was commenced in February, 1911, the "New York" in May, 1911, but the keel of the latter was not laid until 11th September. The date of the laying of the keel of the "Texas" is not known. The "Nevada" and "Oklahoma" have not yet been ordered. The "Haruna," "Kirishima," and "Hiyei" have not yet been laid down We have no official information regarding the "France," "Paris," or "Viribus Unitis" class.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will explain why the senior privates of the various battalions from Lancashire who were on duty guarding the route of the Royal procession of His Majesty's Coronation have not been awarded coronation medals?

No private soldier in any unit has received the medal unless he was the private with the longest total service in the unit as a whole: the grant is made irrespective of whether he was present at the coronation ceremonies or not.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the making up of military clothing by his contractors is carried out at a low rate of pay; whether complaints have been addressed to the War Office on this score; whether a request from the military uniform tailors' union has been made for a minimum rate of pay to be inserted in all contracts; and whether any steps are being taken to improve the conditions of tailors and tailoresses working for Government contractors?

The wages paid in the tailoring trade, including the uniform trade, no doubt leave much to be desired, and have from time to time been the subject of representations. With the object of affecting some amelioration in the conditions of workpeople engaged in the Army uniform trade a clause stipulating for the payment of a minimum wage has been one of the provisions of War Office clothing contracts for over two years, and has, I hope, produced an appreciable result. It is perhaps unnecessary to add that when the Trade Boards Act comes into operation in this industry, it will be obligatory upon Army clothing contractors, as upon others, to conform to the rates of wages which may be prescribed by the Trade Board.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will state how many members of Colonial cadet corps and Home cadet corps were present in London at the Coronation ceremonies; how many Coronation medals were issued to members of Colonial cadet corps and to members of Home cadet corps; and whether, in view of the fact that the Home cadets present attended at their own expense and performed similar duties to the Colonial cadets whose expenses were paid for them, ha will state what were the considerations with reference to which the issue of the medal to Colonial cadets was carried out and which were held not to apply in the case of cadets attached to the Home Forces?

As regards the Home Cadet Corps, fifty cadet officers and 500 other ranks were present in London. Fifty-seven medals were allotted for issue by county associations to the most deserving officers of recognised cadet units. The cadets were fed free while in camp, and given free travelling and an allowance to cover the cost of feeding en route when travelling over ten miles to Chelsea. As regards the Colonial Cadet Corps I have nothing to add to the infor- mation which I gave in reply to a question put by the lion, and learned Member on the 31st ultimo.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that Patrick Collins, of 19, Windmill Street, Limerick, late private in the 75th Regiment, has made a claim for the Indian Mutiny medal and bar; whether this old soldier's claim has been considered; and, if so, and the claim has been proved to be correct, will the medal and bar be granted?

The claim of Private Patrick Collins to the Indian Mutiny medal has been carefully considered; but as the medal was granted only to those who served in the field and were actually under fire, and as he did not take part in any action, he is not eligible for the medal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that skilled labourers doing the work of tally and ledger keepers at the Weedon ordnance factory are still only in receipt of 19s. per week, with an extra-duty pay of 2d. per day; and whether these men are to receive any benefit from the concessions granted some months since?

The men referred to are paid as stated. The case of these and all other skilled labourers at home stations is under consideration and any increase granted will have effect from 1st April last.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War upon whom would fall the duty of protecting vital points on our home railways from possible destruction or damage by explosives during the period immediately following a declaration of war by or against this country and while mobilisation is proceeding?

It is not considered expedient in the interests of the public service to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will grant a Return of the number of officers and other ranks in the Territorial Force now employed in Government Departments, and in dockyards, arsenals, and Army clothing works, as well as in privately owned ordnance factories?

As regards the War Office and Admiralty, the information could be readily obtained. As regards the other Government Departments and the numerous private firms which are concerned in the supply of warlike stores, the information could only be obtained with considerable trouble. I do not think that the Return would be of sufficient public interest to justify the labour which it would involve.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state how many elementary schools in the county of London possess school gardens in which practical work is done by the scholars?

The special grant for practical instruction in gardening is paid in respect of two schools in London. I have no definite information as to the amount of practical work which is done by scholars in such gardens as are attached to, or available for, other London schools.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state whether, seeing that Mr. Justice Stephen laid down that parents could in certain eventualities keep their eldest daughter at home from school, he will allow the parents to sign a certificate to this effect instead of having to attend before magistrates, often at long distances from their own homes?

The question of whether there is a reasonable excuse for non-attendance at school is one to be decided by the magistrate before whom the case comes, and the Board have no power to interfere in the matter. As a matter of general policy, however, it is, I think, undesirable that such matters should be decided without the magistrate having the advantage of seeing the parents and the child.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the Caerphilly school case; whether he is aware that this school is a Church charity, and that in 1906 the Board of Education refused to sanction a scheme for its use proposed by the trustees, and that after years of litigation the Courts decided a few days ago that the scheme put forward by the National Society on behalf of the trustees should be proceeded with; and if he can say how much has been expended in costs in fighting the proposals of the trustees of this Church school?

Soon after the closing of the Caerphilly national school the trustees applied to the Board for a scheme. Before this, however, the Glamorgan County Council, as local education authority, applied for a certificate enabling proceedings to be taken in the High Court by the Attorney-General upon their relation, producing in support of their request an opinion of the late Mr. F. Vaughan Hawkins, a gentleman of the highest standing and great experience in cases of charitable trusts. The differences between the proposals of the trustees and those which the local education authority intended to place before the Court are too intricate to be dealt with within the limits of an answer to a question. The Board are prohibited by Section 5 of the Charitable Trusts Act, 1860, from exercising the jurisdiction vested in them by that Act in any case which by reason of its contentious character they may consider more fit to be adjudicated on by any of the judicial courts. In the circumstances it appeared to the Board that this case was highly contentious, and involved important questions, which were fit to be adjudicated upon by the Courts. The Board have not been represented in the proceedings which were conducted down to and including the trial by the relators, but more recently by the Attorney-General ex-officio. I have no knowledge as to the amount of the costs which have been incurred. It has been decided to appeal from the judgment of Mr. Justice Swinfen Eady.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India has to ask the consent of his Department to the purchase of motor cars in connection with the Durbar; whether this consent was given without any recommendation as to purchasing cars of British manufacture unless foreign cars were found better in quality or price; and whether in future his Department will make this recommendation with regard to purchases?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second, also in the affirmative; with regard to the third, the Secretary of State is not prepared to give any such general pledge as is suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has received from His Majesty's Consuls in European and Asiatic Turkey with regard to the distribution of arms among the Mussulman population and the consequent fear of possible massacre among Turkish and European subjects?

His Majesty's Government have no information of any distribution of arms among the Mussulman population of European or Asiatic Turkey.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the British Government has joined with the Governments of France, Russia, and Austria-Hungary in assuring the Bulgarian Government that they are convinced of the non-aggressive intentions towards Bulgaria of the Turkish Government; and, if not, whether he will state the reasons for abstention?

His Majesty's Government did not join the other Governments in assuring the Bulgarian Government that they were convinced of the non-aggressive intentions towards Bulgaria of the Turkish Government, as they understood that the Bulgarian Government were fully satisfied with the assurance given by the Turkish Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a telegram has been received at the Foreign Office from the Porte, calling attention to the killing of numerous non-combatant Arabs in the oasis of Tripoli by the Italian soldiery, as stated in a communication to the Porte received from Reschab Bey, commander of the Turkish forces in Tripoli; if so, what reply has been given to this telegram; and whether any representations have been made to the Italian Government in respect to the alleged indiscriminate massacre of the native population in Tripoli by the Italian soldiery in consequence of the order of General Caneva authorising the troops to shoot all Arabs who could reasonably be suspected of having borne arms against the Italians?

I have received communications from the Turkish Ambassador on this subject. With regard to the attitude of His Majesty's Government, I would repeat what I said to the hon. Member for the Colne Valley on the 2nd inst., namely: The military operations of the Italian Government in Tripoli are a matter in which His Majesty's Government cannot interfere, and any other attitude would not be consistent with the Declaration of Neutrality that they have issued.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange for a committee to inquire into the working of the vaccination laws during the last fifty years in the United Kingdom and other countries and the small-pox outbreaks in those countries; and whether such a committee, if appointed, could investigate the returns as to vaccination of every district in the United Kingdom and compare this with the amount of small-pox and the vaccinal conditions of the patients, and also ascertain the sanitary and social condition of the districts in which such outbreaks occurred?

I do not consider that an inquiry on the lines indicated would be justified at the present time.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that Dr. Hall, Poor Law medical officer at Leigh workhouse, was reported to have stated at an inquest held on two children who died about thirteen days after vaccination with Government lymph, that the recommendations of the Local Government Board were that Poor Law children should be vaccinated within seven days from birth; whether these recommendations were made by the Local Government Board; and, if not, whether he will consider the desirability of informing all Poor Law medical officers of the present views of the Board in the matter of vaccinating I workhouse children at -such an early age?

The Local Government Board have made no recommendation to the effect suggested. They have always held the view expressed by the Royal Commission on Vaccination, that, although under favourable conditions vaccination may be carried out within a few days of birth, the practice is to be deprecated unless there is at the time obvious danger of small-pox contagion, or unless the parent specially requests that the operation may be performed. My medical inspectors have been instructed to communicate this view to boards of guardians and their officers when needful, and I do not think it necessary to make any general communication to Poor Law medical officers on this subject.

asked what is the present population, either ascertained or estimated, of the United Kingdom and Great Britain respectively?

The estimated population, at the middle of the present year, of the United Kingdom was 45,311,078, and of Great Britain 40,935,610.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the alteration made in the postal arrangements in the neighbourhood of the village of Ballynacargy, county Westmeath, has given much local dissatisfaction, especially that part dealing with the delivery of letters at Miltown, Ballynacargy, national schools; and if he can see his way to restore the service which existed prior to February, 1911?

I am having inquiry made in the matter and I will communicate the result to the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeal in the recent case of R. v. Ellsom in which they regretted that they had no power under the Criminal Appeal Act, 1907, to order a new trial, but were compelled simply to quash the conviction in all cases where they decided that it had been wrongfully obtained, even though the wrong were only technical; and whether, seeing that the same opinion has been expressed on many occasions by the judges of the Criminal Appeal Court, His Majesty's Government will consider the propriety of passing a short amending Act, to give the court the necessary power to grant a new trial in appropriate cases?

The hon. Member is wrong in assuming that the Court is compelled to quash the conviction in cases where a technical mistake has taken place for the Act (Section 4 (1) paragraph (2) provides "that the Court may, notwithstanding that they are of opinion that the point raised in the appeal might be decided in favour of the appellant, dismiss the appeal if they consider that no substantial miscarriage of justice has actually occurred." In the case of Rex v. Ellsom there appears to be no doubt that the misdirection went to the root of the whole case, and was not merely a technical matter. The proposal to introduce legislation to enable the Court of Criminal Appeal to grant a new trial in appropriate cases is now under the consideration of the Government.

asked the number of days on which each Lord qualified to sit for the hearing of appeals in either House of Lords or the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat during the last legal year?

The number of days on which each Lord qualified to sit for the hearing of appeals in either the House of Lords or the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council during the last legal year is as follows:—

asked the number of appeals at present set down for hearing in the House of Lords and Privy Council, and the number of days which are proposed to be given to the hearing of appeals before Christmas?

The number of appeals set down for hearing in the House of Lords is 30; and in the Privy Council, 29. I cannot give definite information as to the latter part of the question, but if the usual practice is followed there will be about twenty-two days on which appeals will be heard in the House of Lords between the present date and Christmas, and about twenty-eight in the Privy Council.

asked the number of Lords at present qualified to sit for the hearing of appeals in the House of Lords and the Judicial Committee, respectively?

The number of Lords at present qualified to sit for the hearing of appeals in the House of Lords is fourteen, and in the Privy Council fifteen. In addition to the above there are twenty-three judges who have held, or are holding, high judicial office, who are qualified to sit on the hearing of appeals in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he can state the number of insane under care in Scotland per 100,000 of the population in 1880 and 1910, respectively?

The proportion of insane under care in Scotland per 100,000 of the population was 257 in 1880 and 378 in 1910. The latter calculation is based on the Census of 1911.