asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in making appointments to the clerical staff necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the National Insurance Bill, he will offer appointments in the first instance, to volunteers or selections from the Civil Service; and whether he will make arrangements as soon as practicable to throw open these appointments to competition in preference to recruiting them by means of patronage?

Under Clause 41 of the Bill it is for the Insurance Commissioners to appoint their staff and I cannot give any guarantee as to the details of the arrangements before the Commissioners are themselves actually appointed.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Members of Parliament are already being pressed to use their influence in connection with the making of appointments? If the Government would make an announcement on the subject forthwith that the claims of everybody would be considered, the appointments might be all the better.

I am well aware that Members of Parliament have received a great many communications. I have received a considerable number myself, but a number of days ago the announcement was made that no application would be even recorded until the Bill was passed.

Does it follow from what the right hon. Gentleman has said that the Government will have no control over the appointments by the Insurance Commissioners?

I think my answer was perfectly explicit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Members of this House will have any influence whatever in obtaining posts for applicants under the National Insurance Bill if it becomes an Act; and, if not, will he take any means to announce to possible applicants that they need not apply to Members of the House?

I have every sympathy with the object that prompts my hon. Friend's question, but, as I have just explained to the hon. Member for Taunton, it will be for the Insurance Commissioners, who do not yet exist, to make these appointments. At present it is obviously useless to apply either to hon. Members or to anyone else.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any Members of this House will obtain posts under the Bill?

I do not know of anyone.

Will the Government consent to these posts being filled by an impartial Committee, so as to insure the appointment of those best qualified, and not merely those whose qualification is that they are supporters of His Majesty's Government?

I agree with the hon. Member that support by Members of the Government or Members of this House is not in itself a qualification and ought not to be considered.

What are to be the powers of the Treasury?

The appointments will be made by the Commissioners.

Surely these appointments are subject to the approval of the Treasury?

I do not recollect any provision to that effect.

This discussion should have taken place in Committee on the Bill.

It was guillotined.

asked whether medical men sitting as members of the local health committees will be allowed to practice under the National Insurance Bill, namely, receive fees for service on attendance upon sick persons?

Membership of a local health committee, which is a purely honorary position, will not debar a doctor either from private practice or from attending patients under the insurance scheme.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he considers it wise procedure that medical men should fix their own rate of pay?

No, Sir; but I do not think they have that right.

Is it true that the health committees will have power to decide as to what persons shall be treated under the Bill?

A health committee will not be composed entirely of doctors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the exact manner, under Clause 36 of the National Insurance Bill, in which seamen invalided out of the service will receive medical and sanatorium benefits on discharge; whether seamen who contract tuberculosis during service will receive full sanatorium benefits; and in what manner provision is to be made for the building of sanatoria?

The "exact manner" in which these persons will receive their benefits will be governed by regulations to be made by the Insurance Commissioners after consultation with the Admiralty and Army Council. The answer to the second part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part of the question I will refer the hon. Member to Clause 47 of the Bill

asked whether, in accordance with the Eighth Schedule of the National Insurance Bill, a workman, who is regularly employed by different employers in each week, will have to pay separate contributions of 2½d. each; and whether the same conditions will be imposed on each of the employers?

Under the 8th Schedule to the National Insurance Bill, as amended by Standing Committee, a workman will be required to pay 1d. for each engagement under a separate employer if the period of employment does not exceed one day; 2d. if the period of employment exceeds one day, and 2½d. if the period of employment exceeds two days but is not more than a week. Similar contributions will be required from the employer. I may, however, draw my hon. Friend's attention to Clause 75 of the Bill as amended in Committee. Under this Clause an employer may make an arrangement in respect of labour engaged by him through a Labour Exchange to treat for the purposes of his contribution the intermittent employment of the same workman as continuous employment. Under the same Clause a workman may treat as continuous his intermittent employment by the same or different employers who have availed themselves of this Clause.

asked whether, under the provisions of the National Insurance Bill, an insured person who had been sentenced to a term of five years' penal servitude would, on release, be liable to pay any portion of the arrears which had accrued?

Interruption of employment owing to imprisonment will not be treated differently from interruption of employment due to any other cause.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the total loss incurred by an insured person previous to release does not involve a very substantial addition to the penalty?

He is no worse off than anyone else who has omitted to pay his contribution.

Even if he has to pay both the employer's and the employé's contribution?

If there is no employer, obviously the insured person cannot get the employer's contribution paid for him.

Is he better off than any other member of the community?

Certainly not. He is neither better nor worse off.

May I ask whether the insurance fund during the five years has not been freed from all liability?

Yes, I think that is so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by a meeting of insurance agents within the county borough of Merthyr Tydfil protesting against assurance companies and collecting societies being allowed to form approved societies under the National Insurance Bill, unless there is provision made for compelling such companies and societies to observe trade union conditions as though they were contractors to whom the fair wages resolution would apply; and whether, between now and the Report stage of the Bill, he will consider whether he can insert a Clause to this effect?

My right hon. Friend is unable to adopt the suggestion made by the hon. Member; the object that he seeks to attain hardly falls within the proper scope of an Insurance Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an agreement with representatives of industrial assurance societies to exclude death benefits from the scope of the National Insurance Bill; and, if so, if he will state the date when the agreement was made and the terms of such agreement?

My right hon. Friend gave this pledge in a letter addressed to a correspondent on the 1st December, 1910, and published in the Press at the time. Its terms were as follows:—

"The proposed benefits do not include the provision of a funeral benefit or any immediate money payment on the death of a contributor or his relatives.… The whole of this field will still be left open to existing agencies."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the doubt which exists as to the desire of the people of the United Kingdom to see the Insurance Bill passed into law, he will arrange for petition papers to be placed in every post office in the United Kingdom on which signatures can be placed either for or against the Bill by persons affected?

The answer is in the negative.

Will the poll of the people already taken in South Somersetshire be taken as a test?

asked under what provision of the National Insurance Bill approved societies can be prevented from borrowing money on the security of such portion of the reserve values as may be credited to them but not entrusted to them for investment?

Clause 28, Sub-section (4).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the case of those persons now employed by doctors as collectors who will be deprived of their employment if the National Insurance Bill is passed by Parliament; and, if so, whether it is his intention to take steps to secure compensation for them?

I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer that I gave to him on Monday.

asked whether the three halfpence per person per week paid by the State for the first sixteen years under the National Insurance Bill will pay the whole or more than the whole expense of the administration of the First Part of the Bill; and, if more than the whole of the expense of the administration, how much will be left of the State contribution to be applied towards sickness, medical, and sanatorium benefit?

The State's contribution is two-ninths of the benefits and cost of administration in the case of men and one-fourth in the case of women. The estimated amount of the administrative expenses of societies which are chargeable against contributions is about one-eleventh of the total cost of benefits and administration. Administrative expenses incurred by the Government are to be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in a great many cases, the crofter, whose total income is estimated to not exceed 1s. 6d. per day, but who has no employer, will have to pay the whole of the contribution to the National Insurance fund; if not, where is the contribution to come from; and whether he is aware that the crofter cannot afford to find even 4d. a week?

Crofters will not be compelled to insure; those who cannot afford to pay 7d. every week may yet gain the full benefit of all that they contribute, together with the State contribution of two-ninths of the cost of administration and benefits, if they join the deposit insurance; Sub-section (9) of Clause 58 gives the local health committees in Scotland power to vary the benefits which they will receive.

May he vary the contribution?

That question is covered by my answer. He can contribute a smaller amount.

asked whether assurance and other companies who may establish branches, as approved societies under the National Insurance Bill, will be permitted to give benefits not provided by the Bill from their outside accumulated funds, in order to use them as decoys for the purpose of obtaining members from friendly societies and trade unions who are prevented by Clause 55 from giving like benefits?

No profit can be made out of a branch established as an approved society, and companies will have no inducement to spend money in the manner suggested, from which they can get no adequate return.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state what are the total expenses connected with the preparation, printing, issue, and service of the documents known as Form IV. to occupying owners, and of Form VIII., which have recently been declared illegal by the Court of Appeal; how many of such forms have been issued or printed; what is his estimate for the issue and preparation of altered and improved Forms VI. and Forms VIII. in substitution of the documents condemned, and of the approximate amount of legal expenses incurred by the Treasury in defending these forms; and whether he will take steps in future to obtain competent legal advice upon the legality of forms so issued, in view of the fact that the Master of the Rolls described Form VIII as waste paper?

No separate record has been kept of the expense of issuing the particular forms referred to. Twelve million two hundred and sixty thousand Forms IV. and 850,000 Forms VIII. have been printed, but I am unable to give the precise number of such forms that have actually been issued. No estimate has been framed for the issue and preparation of improved forms in substitution of any that were issued in circumstances that have been held to make them invalid. Competent legal advice would be taken in connection with any new issue. The approximate amount of legal expenses incurred by the Treasury in legal proceedings connected with the forms referred to in the question is £1,100.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me whether the expense of the preparation and issue of these forms has been many times more than the product of the land taxes?

No, Sir, I cannot give the hon. Gentleman the information.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me to what use all these forms were put before they became all these tons of waste paper?

I am not prepared to admit that they are all tons of waste paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state in how many cases legal proceedings have been taken by the Government in respect of Form IV., and what is the total expenditure incurred by the State in connection with such proceedings; in how many cases the Government have been successful; and whether it is their intention to refund the expenses to which individuals have been put in defending themselves against inquiries made on forms now declared illegal?

No legal proceedings have been taken by the Government in respect of Form IV.; the second, third, and fourth parts of the question do not therefore arise.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is not a fact that the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated that he would take into consideration whether the Treasury would pay the costs of this test case?

That question does not arise out of the answer.

asked whether 2d. commission was paid on each of the eleven million copies distributed in Great Britain of Form IV. (Land Valuation), now declared to be invalid and unauthorised; what expense had been previously incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, paper, ink, parcelling, addressing, and forwarding of these forms in addition to the above commission of more than £91,000; and to whom this commission was paid?

The remuneration paid to the officers by whom Forms IV. were distributed, who in England were for the most part Assessors of Taxes and in Scotland Surveyors of Taxes or Land Valuation Assessors, varied with the amount and character of the work that they were required to perform and included all office expenses. In addition an expenditure of £8,000 was incurred on printing and paper.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me the other details asked for on the question with reference to the expense of preparing the form and the payment of 2d. per copy for distribution?

I cannot give any more information than I have given now.

rose.

Hon. Members will see that there are 120 questions on the Paper.

asked whether the late inspector of gas to the corporation of Sevenoaks has been offered and accepted an appointment as land valuation officer at High Wycombe; and what examination, if any, he had to pass before being appointed to said post?

I have been unable to verify the suggestion of the hon. Member that an inspector of gas has been offered an appointment as land valuation officer.

May I ask, arising out of that—

The right hon. Gentleman has given a most explicit answer to the question. If the hon. Member requires any additional information, all he has got to do is to put a question down.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the decision of the High Court in connection with the two forms known as Forms IV. and VIII., he is in a position to state the methods that will be adopted in Ireland for ascertaining from owners, on whom the forms have not yet been served and returned, the preliminary information that will be necessary to enable the land valuation authorities to serve a provisional valuation of total and site value in respect of each Irish hereditament?

The recent decision of the Court of Appeal does not affect Form IV. as issued in Ireland; as regards Form VIII. the question of its revision is under consideration.

Is Form IV. issued in Ireland then?

Yes; I gave the figures the other day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the total costs of the issue of Forms IV. and VIII. has been; and whether he proposes to introduce legislation making their return duly filled up by those to whom they are sent compulsory?

As regards the first part of the question, no separate record has been kept of the cost incurred in connection with the particular forms mentioned. I am not yet in a position to make any statement as regards the action to be taken as a result of the decision of the Court of Appeal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the discontent existing among clerks to surveyors of taxes in regard to inadequacy of pay, absence of proper provision for old age and infirmity, and unsatisfactory arrangements as to sick leave, he will reconsider his decision to make no further concessions?

My right hon. Friend is not prepared to reconsider his decision.

asked the numbers of members of registered clubs in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively; and what number of clubs are registered in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively?

The latest volume of licensing statistics shows that on the 1st January, 1910, there were 7,294 registered clubs in England, and 242 in Wales, making a total of 7,536. There is no information available as to the numbers of the members of the clubs. As regards Scotland and Ireland, the matter is one for the Scottish and Irish offices respectively; but I may say that I understand that there are no collected figures for those countries similar to those for England and Wales.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether His Majesty's Government will carry out the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on swine fever and of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation, that the cost of administration of the swine fever orders should be borne by the Exchequer?

As I explained to the hon. Member for the Newport Division of Shropshire on Monday, the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Local Taxation which was embodied in the Report of the Departmental Committee refers only to the expenses incurred by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. The payment out of the Exchequer of administrative expenses incurred by local authorities in the discharge of their statutory duties would obviously be attended with many difficulties, and no proposals of this character are included in the Committee's Report.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether Section 6 of the Swine Fever Order of 1911 secures the sufficient disinfection of persons who handle swine in markets, fairs, and sale yards; and, if not, whether he will so amend the order that this precaution may be taken?

The order does not provide for the disinfection of persons who handle swine, other than castrators, and it would be very difficult to devise or enforce effective provisions for the purpose. I shall, however, be glad to give the matter further consideration when the final Report of the Departmental Committee is received.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has yet received any information to the effect that the Bureau of Animal Industry at Washington have decided not to admit the importation of live stock from Great Britain into the United States of America until the origin of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been satisfactorily traced; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The Board have received no official communication on the subject, but I have reason to think from information which has reached me during the past few days that some misunderstanding as to the position has arisen, and I am in communication with the representatives of the United States Government on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, since it was stated in the last Report of his Intelligence Department that the Board possesses no power to take any action in connection with the bee disease, he will take the necessary steps to acquire by legislation powers similar to those conferred upon the Department of Agriculture in Ireland?

I understand the hon. Member to refer to the passage in the Report which concerns the Isle of Wight Bee Disease. The Bee Pest Prevention (Ireland) Act, 1908, does not confer any powers for dealing with outbreaks of that disease, and our information with regard to it is far from complete. I am, however, considering what steps it may be desirable or possible to take with regard to the control of bee diseases generally, and I propose during the recess to communicate with the leading authorities on the subject.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this disease has now spread to the North of Scotland, and that the Board of Agriculture have not made the slightest attempt to stop it.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, in giving the statement in the Board's journal on Animal Diseases on the Continent, such terms as Höfe, Foyers, Etables, Cours, Communes, alpages-paturages, etc., can be Anglicised so that the information given in this statement may be more readily understood by those not well versed in the technical phraseology in use on the Continent?

I will consider what can be done to meet the hon. Member's suggestion, with which I am in sympathy. It is not always possible, however, to give a precise English equivalent for these technical terms, and a translation which is only approximately correct is liable to be misleading.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board pay full compensation for animals slaughtered under an order of the Board when an an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurs; and, if not, what value is given?

Section 15 (2) of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, provides that the Board shall pay compensation for animals slaughtered in connection with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease as follows: (1) Where the animal slaughtered was affected with foot-and-mouth disease the compensation is to be the value of the animal immediately before it became so affected; (2) in every other case the compensation is to be the value of the animal immediately before it was slaughtered.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) whether he will now state if the recommendation sent in by the Board to the Development Commissioners with regard to fishery development covers the claim of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Development Commissioners for a grant for scientific work, or whether the recommendation was for a grant for policing purposes mainly or solely; and (2) whether the Board of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland have been promised the sum of £50,000 for fishery development; whether no decision has been reached as regards the similar application of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee, despite the fact that the application of the latter body was forwarded to the Treasury before the Irish claim; and if he will state the reasons which have led to a delay of more than fifteen months in the settlement of this question?

The recommendations of the Board referred both to policing and to research work. If the negotiations of the Board with the Development Commission are successful, I hope to be able to secure substantial assistance for the research work of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee. I am not aware what grant, if any, for fishery development has been made from the Development Fund to the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. I hope to be in a position to to make a further statement with regard to the subject matter of these two questions shortly.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say approximately what sum he hopes to hand over to these Commissioners?

No; I could not state the exact sum at this stage.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any idea of the date?

Negotiations are proceeding, and I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked on whom the expense falls in those cases where the local authorities have not included in the rent for small holdings the annual instalments for the repayment of the purchase moneys; how many local authorities have so acted; and what per- centage these local authorities bear to the whole of the local authorities who have purchased land for small holdings?

If the instalments of sinking fund are not included in the rent they would be chargeable on the rates. Three county councils out of the fifty-five who have purchased land for small holdings have adopted this course.

Which are the county councils who bought land and paid for it out of the rates, instead of out of the small holders' pockets?

There are only three on the list as to which we have any definite information. I should be glad if the hon. Member will give me notice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, in approving schemes in future, see that the instalments for purchasing land are not placed upon the county rate?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question.

asked approximately the cost to the Board of Agriculture of administering the various Acts with reference to the diseases of animals; and what saving would be effected in the event of a separate and independent Board being set up for Scotland?

The aggregate cost of the administration of the Diseases of Animals Act in Great Britain, excluding the compensation paid for animals slaughtered and miscellaneous expenses such as disinfection, etc., is estimated at, say, £51,000 during the present financial year. The staff is at present interchangeable as between England and Scotland as necessity arises, but the salaries and expenses of the officers permanently stationed in Scotland amount to £3,750, and this may be taken to be the amount by which the Board's Vote would be reduced, so far as administrative expenses are concerned, if this part of the work of the Board were transferred to a separate Scottish Department.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for West Perthshire (Marquess of Tullibardine) has just said that the Board of Agriculture is not doing its duty in Scotland?

asked whether, in the event of a separate Board of Agriculture being set up for Scotland with full power to administer the various Acts referring to diseases of animals, there will be a Scottish representative in the Government to answer specially questions referring to the administration of such Board?

The answer to my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, if the plague of foot-and-mouth disease or rinderpest broke out in Scotland, the whole energy of his Department would be set apart to stamp out the disease, and that the cost would be borne entirely by the Board over which he presides without any reference to locality?

Yes, Sir.

Does that mean an affirmative now or an affirmative in the future?

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to proceed further with the Trade Unions (No. 2) Bill; and, if so, when?

asked whether it is intended to proceed further with the Shops Bill this Session?

I hope to make a statement next week as to the business to be taken during the remainder of the Session.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Noble Lord has emphatically stated in the country that the Government have dropped the Trade Unions Bill?

I am obliged for the information.

asked the Prime Minister whether, as First Lord of the Treasury, he has instructed the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to levy Income Tax for the year beginning 6th April, 1911; and whether in fact such levy has been made and still continues to be made; if so, why he has directed or permitted the Commissioners to levy taxes which there is no authority to levy by any Act of Parlia- ment; and how long is it proposed to continue thus to levy Income Tax and Tea Duty?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue are acting, as regards Income Tax, on the Resolution passed by the House on the 17th May last and on the provisions of Section 30 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1890.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware of any instance of a Court having decided that a Financial Resolution of this House, without any enactment of Parliament, authorises the collection of the tax for eight months?

The hon. Member asks me a legal question. Perhaps he will be good enough to give me notice.

asked if, during the recent railway strike, practically the whole of our regular troops were engaged in support of the civil power at a time when the international situation was most grave; and, if so, whether the Government have under consideration any proposals which will prevent a repetition of such a state of things?

A large body of soldiers serving with the colours, but no Reservists, and not (as suggested in the question) "practically the whole of our Regulars" were for a few days in August engaged in support of the civil power. In regard to the latter part of the question, I cannot say more than that the whole subject is receiving the careful attention of the Government.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the first part of the question is based on a statement in "The Times" of Monday, and repeated widely throughout the country yesterday?

I am not responsible.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has power to verify assertions made by those societies as inducements to poor people to entrust money to them; if so, whether he will ascertain and state the particulars of the alleged assets and of the amounts collected by the United National Friendly Assurance Collecting Society and Ireland's Life Assurance Collecting Society, respectively, and of the use made of the £600 advanced by the Guardian Bank to enable one of its officials to run the latter society as its chairman?

The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies has no power to verify statements made by societies except where information is required for the purposes of the Friendly Societies Act, 1896—as, for instance, in connection with an inspection made on the application of the statutory number of members under Section 76 of the Act. The Chief Registrar has no official knowledge of the relations of the Guardian Bank to Ireland's Life Assurance Collecting Society, but a letter has been received from the managing director of the bank stating that money has at no time been advanced by the bank for the purpose suggested, and that the bank does not act as guarantor for the society.

Does the letter state that the Chief Registrar would be allowed to test that statement?

The hon. Member must give me notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether that Board has power to check, and does in cases to to which its attention is called check, balance-sheets and statutory returns of companies; what measures, if any, are taken to prevent directors of several companies lending the credit of a shifting balance to one company for one purpose and to another company for another purpose; what the liabilities of the National United Insurance Society, Limited, now amount to as compared with its available cash assets; whether the advances made to customers by the Guardian Bank include £600 advanced to enable one of its officers to set up an organisation for collecting money from poor people under the name of Ireland's Life Assurance Collecting Society; and whether the Board has any power to deal with such exchanges of money for purposes primâ facie illegitimate?

The statutory returns of companies made to the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies are checked by him so far as is necessary to see that they are in order for filing. The Board of Trade have no power to audit the balance- sheets of companies which are filed with the Registrar, but Section 26 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, requires such balance-sheets to be audited by the company's auditors. The Board of Trade have no control over the lending of money by a company, and have no official information as to the persons to whom or the purposes for which money has been advanced by the Guardian Bank, Limited. I have, however, received a letter from the Guardian Bank, Limited, in which it is stated that money has at no time been advanced by that company for the purpose suggested in the hon. Member's question. The National United Insurance Society, Limited, is registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, and I am informed by the Registrar of Friendly Societies that according to the Statutory Return for the year 1910 the liabilities, other than the liability in respect of share capital, amounted on the 31st December, 1910, to £1,439. As I informed the hon. Member on the 15th November, the return showed that the cash at Bank and in hand on the 31st December, 1910, amounted to £287, in addition to the other assets of the society.

asked, having regard to the statement in the last Annual Report of the Board of Trade that certain moneyless persons setting themselves up as an insurance body had obtained £17,000 in small sums from poor people and spent practically the whole of it in payment of salaries to themselves, thus defrauding the poor, what precautions, if any, are taken by the Board to prevent such conduct or to warn the public against it even in cases brought under the notice of the Board?

The company to which the hon. Member refers was registered in the year 1898 for the purpose of carrying on a bond investment business. One of the objects of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, was to extend the provisions of the Life Assurance Companies Act to such companies, and a deposit of £20,000 is now required before incorporation from every company which has power to carry on bond investment business.

Has the Board of Trade no power to require this performance from persons who carry on life insurance business without being registered as a company at all?

Perhaps the hon. Member would give notice of that question.

asked whether the deposit required by the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, as a condition precedent to doing life insurance business, has become obsolete through desuetude; whose duty is it to enforce that requirement; why it has not been enforced against the persons who, under the name of the Irish Provident Assurance Company, carried, on what the Irish Court of Appeal has held to be life insurance business; and, seeing that the same persons continue to carry on the same business with the same machinery under the same name merged in another name, whether this public identification of those persons by themselves makes their property under the other name, or their private property, liable for their contracts and breach of Statute under the name now submerged?

The provisions of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, which require a deposit of £20,000 from every company carrying on life assurance business within the United Kingdom, are in operation, and compliance with those provisions is enforced by the Board of Trade. Any evidence with which the hon. Member can furnish me that any company is now carrying on life assurance business without having made the deposit shall receive my careful consideration. As the hon. member has already been informed, the decision of the Irish Court of Appeal was that the Irish Provident Assurance Company, Limited, had carried on business of a nature prohibited by the memorandum of association; but on the information in my possession, I am not satisfied that the company has ever carried on life assurance business as defined by the Life Assurance Companies Act, 1870. If the hon. Member refers in the latter part of his question to the London and Provincial Assurance Company, Limited, I may inform him that the deposit of £20,000 has been made by that company, but the question of liabiltiy in respect of contracts is one which the Courts of Law alone have power to determine.

asked whether the total amount of the grants made by the Road Board up to the 30th June, 1911, to Wales and Monmouthshire was £12,841; and whether the Secretary to the Treasury will state how much of the total sum of £1,161,344 credited to the Road Board Fund from Motor Spirit Duties and motor car licences in respect of the years 1909–10 and 1910–11 was derived from Wales and Monmouthshire?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked (1) the number per thousand of the population in receipt of old age pensions in the boroughs of Dudley and Hanley; (2) the number per thousand of the population in receipt of old age pensions in the counties of Wick-low and Waterford?

The figures for all counties, county boroughs, etc., in the United Kingdom will be found on pages 81–86 of the Second Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Cd. Paper 5,827). Figures are not available for Hanley, which is included in Stoke-on-Trent.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he could give the number of paupers relieved during September, 1911; whether he would state how that number compared with the previous month; and especially would he give the figures for Central London in the matter of outdoor paupers?

According to the usual weekly returns, the number of indoor and outdoor paupers in England and Wales on 30th September, 1911, was 642,752, being 3,885 more than the number on 26th August, 1911. The number of outdoor paupers in the unions forming the Central District of London on 30th September, 1911, was 1,359, or twenty-three more than on 26th August, 1911. The numbers for each week in the two months are shown in the published monthly Returns.

Does the right hon. Gentleman still adhere to his statement that the removal of the pauper disqualification for old age pensions has been a great benefit as regards Poor Law relief?

I do.

Outdoor?

I do. The hon. Member simply compares one month with another. If he had compared the month this year with the corresponding month of last year he would have found that there were 131,000 fewer paupers, and that in London we have the lowest total for ten years, of outdoor relief the lowest on record, and of indoor pauperism the lowest for six years.

asked if it is the practice in the Statistical Office of the Customs service to employ minor staff officers, being the class next below junior clerks, to act in the positions of the latter when absent on holiday or through sickness?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked if it is proposed to hold the next examination for entrance to the Customs and Excise Department under new regulations and conditions; and, if so, will the right hon. Gentleman use his good offices with the Civil Service Commissioners with a view to allowing the next impending examination to be carried out in accordance with existing regulations and conditions, so as to inflict as little hardship and inconvenience as possible upon candidates who have now almost completed their preparation for the examination?

asked if the Civil Service Commissioners have received petitions pointing out to them that they will inflict serious hardships on hundreds of intending candidates for the forthcoming examination for assistants in the Excise and Customs if they adhere to their suddenly announced intention to alter the regulations by reducing the age from twenty-two to twenty-one years, and making a language compulsory; and if, in view of the impossibility of getting up a language between now and the 20th February, when the examination takes place, the right hon. Gentleman will ask the Commissioners to modify the alterations so far as concerns the next examination?

In answer to those questions I must refer the hon. Members to the answer I gave on the 13th instant to the hon. Member for North Fermanagh.

asked if Mr. Chandler, a junior assistant clerk with fourteen years' service and a salary of £150 per annum, has been nominated for a junior clerkship in the statistical office of the Customs service at a salary of from £200 to £300 per annum; and, if so, will the Secretary to the Treasury say why all the senior assistant clerks and the entire class of minor staff officers, who rank above assistant clerks and enjoy salaries of from £190 to £220, have been superseded?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. Chandler was promoted because, in the opinion of the Board of Customs and Excise, he was better qualified for the particular post than the men referred to in the second part of the question.

asked why so small a percentage as 31,38 of ex-Service men are employed in the British Museum as messengers and attendants, etc., and whether the Secretary to the Treasury will issue instructions that the percentage of ex-Service men should be raised to 50 per cent. as soon as possible as vacancies occur; and whether he will undertake to employ more ex-Navy and ex-Army men in this and other public buildings instead of constables of the police forces, who would thereby be set free for ordinary duty?

Attendants in the British Museum perform duties in the several departments requiring considerable technical knowledge and often of a clerical nature; for this reason it is not thought possible to recruit them from ex-Army and Navy men. Of the total of 155 attendants only three have served in the Navy or Army. The messengers and commissionaires are, however, more largely drawn from this class. The Treasury is alive to the desirability of substituting pensioners for police in public buildings subject to the requirements of the public service.

asked what was the amount of the duties on motor car licences collected by local authorities in Scotland under the Finance Act of 1910; and what amount was paid to the authorities who are responsible for the collection of the duties?

In Scotland the administration of the Motor Car Licence Duties is vested in the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, and not I (as in England and Wales) in the county councils and county borough councils. Particulars of the amounts collected in Scotland during the financial year 1910–11 will be found on page 64 of the Second Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Cd. 5827).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the event of the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, being superseded by Part II. of the National Insurance Bill, he will give consideration to the service and experience of the clerks and officers of the Metropolitan distress committees?

I am afraid that I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board to the hon. Member for West Ham (South) on 20th November, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked whether it was proposed to continue the Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905, in the event of Part II. of the National Insurance Bill passing into law?

I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject at present.

asked whether the milk imported from foreign countries (where it is known contagious diseases exist) is examined bacterially and otherwise to see there is no contamination and that the milk is pure and free from disease?

Samples of fresh milk imported from abroad continue to be taken by my officers for bacteriological examination in regard to tubercle and examination as to general cleanliness of the milk. During the past autumn twenty-eight samples of fresh milk have been taken from consignments arriving from France and Holland, which have been the only sources of this supply. No tubercle has been found in the thirteen samples so far reported upon, and no exception can be taken to the milk on the grounds of its general cleanliness.

Is it examined before it is allowed to be retailed in this country?

Yes, and it is subject to examination by local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the delay in the granting of registered numbers in the designs branch of the Patent Office is causing considerable loss and inconvenience to traders; and will he take immediate steps to accelerate the present procedure?

The registration of designs at the London Office has fallen a little into arrear during the last few weeks owing to the illness of one of the searchers, but every effort is being made to bring the work speedily up to date. At the Manchester Branch Office for Textile Designs, the applications have increased so largely that the present staff, although recently enlarged, has not been able to keep pace with them. A further addition to the staff is now being made with a view to overtaking the arrears.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of George Mudd, carpenter, who sued his trade union for compensation for loss of tools through fire and received a verdict of the jury in his favour, but on the union raising the defence that they were an illegal society lost the case, the judge expressing his regret that he had no option but to give judgment against him; and whether the Government intend to amend the law to cover such cases?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I understand that there is a case pending bearing on the point of law raised in the hon. Member's question, and until the case is finally decided I am unable to give him a definite reply.

asked what is the estimated membership of the trades unions in the United Kingdom; how many trades unions are registered and how many are unregistered; how many publish, and how many do not publish, balance sheets; what is the average weekly contribution of the members of all trades unions, registered and unregistered, and what is the estimated total income; and what is the estimated amount paid for administration expenses, out-of-work and strike pay, political expenses, Parlia- mentary representation, and burial benefits, respectively?

The total membership of all the 1,153 trade unions existing in 1910 was 2,435,704; and of these unions 538, with 1,886,629 members, were registered. I am unable to give the other particulars in the form asked for by the hon. Member, but a great deal of information with regard to trade unions will be found in Command Papers 4651 and 5703 and in Parliamentary Paper 171-III. of 1910. Later information is given in the Board of Trade Labour Gazette for December, 1910, and August, 1911, of which I am sending the hon. Member copies. A new edition of the Board of Trade Report on Trade Unions is now being prepared.