asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a woman will be appointed as a member of the Scottish Insurance Commissioners under the National Insurance Bill?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the representatives of approved societies on the local health committees are to be elected by the whole of the members of the approved societies in the country or district, to be allotted to the individual societies in proportion to their numbers and elected by the members of individual societies, or to be appointed by the executives of the societies, either collectively or individually, or, if by none of these methods, by what method are these representatives to be elected or appointed?

This matter will be governed by regulations to be made by the Insurance Commissioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how he can explain the statement in the copy of memorandum on sickness and invalidity insurance in Germany that the charge for accident compensation per person employed in the wool and worsted trades in the United Kingdom amounts to 1s. 1d. per head, whilst the expenditure incurred per person employed by the Mutual Association in Germany amounts to 5s. 1¼d.; and can he state whether benefits are correspondingly greater in Germany than in the United Kingdom, or whether accidents are proportionately more numerous?

The higher cost of accident compensation per person in Germany is no doubt due mainly to the different system under which employers insure themselves against liability in that country and to the different principles of compensation adopted. A comparison of the frequency of accidents in the two countries would entail special inquiries which I am not in a position to make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer out of State funds to the land valuation whether he can give the total amount paid staff in salaries and grants previous to 31st March, 1911, and the total sum incurred up to that date for rent of offices and other incidental expenses connected with the collection of information concerning Increment Value Duty, Reserve Duty, and Undeveloped Land Duty; and whether he can give the same figures, respectively, for the six months ending 30th September, 1911?

The sums expended for the year to 31st March, 1911, and the six months to 30th September, 1911, respectively, are as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state what is the annual amount of public money at present paid, either as salary or as pension, to the fourteen Members of the House of Lords who are qualified to sit for the hearing of appeals either in the House of Lords or on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council?

The aggregate amount provided is £75,042 6s.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the teacher lately appointed to teach science in the Galway Technical Institute had the highest qualifications of all the candidates; if so, what were those qualifications; and, if not, on whose recommendation was he appointed?

The Department of Agriculture, on consideration of the qualifications of the candidates, forwarded to the Committee of the Institute the names of six of the applicants, including that of the gentleman appointed, whom they were prepared to recognise. The question as to which of the six was most suitable rested with the Committee, and was decided by them.

also asked whether two of the chief inspectors under the Board of National Education, Ireland, who, owing to their inability to examine in the Irish language, have been hostile to its teaching, are now about to retire; and whether their successors are to be chosen from among the Irish speakers in the service?

One chief inspector has retired under the age regulations of the Civil Service. The Commissioners of National Education have not yet made arrangements for the appointment of his successor.

next asked the Chief Secretary whether the Board of National Education have brought under his notice the fact that teachers classed as first-of-first in 1900, and officially reported as excellent from that date to the present time, have, owing to a rigorous enforcement of a new rule of average attendance not applying to third-class teachers, suffered a diminution of income, and are in consequence now paid no more than third-class teachers; whether this discouragement of high-class teachers has the concurrence of the Board; and, having regard to the practice general in the public services of not allowing a new rule to reduce the income of high-class and satisfactory officials, whether he will have the benefit of this practice extended to the teachers in question?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that under the rules in force prior to 1900, teachers in receipt of first class salaries were liable to reduction of salary if the average fell below thirty-five for two consecutive quarters. Under the new rules, teachers in receipt of first grade salaries are liable to a reduction of salary when the average attendance falls below thirty-five for one calendar year. The Commissioners are unable to determine what the new rule is to which exception is taken.

asked the Chief Secretary how long District Inspector Walsh has been in control of the police force in Listowel; how many prosecutions there have been in that period against licensed traders, and how many convictions; how many cases have been stated by the magistrates for the opinion of the superior courts, and with what result; whether District Inspector Walsh deals extensively in horses and employs the men under his charge in connection with these transactions; whether he is aware that a public meeting of the inhabitants of Listowel was held in June, 1910, and passed a resolution protesting against the action of the police authorities; and, having regard to these matters, whether he will cause an inquiry to be held?

The Inspector-General informs me that District Inspector Walsh has been stationed at Listowel for about two years. During that period there have been seventy-nine prosecutions against licensed traders, and twenty convictions. Two cases were stated for the Supreme Courts, in one the decision of the magistrates was upheld, and in the other no order was made. The district inspector does not deal in horses. I am aware that a meeting was called in June, 1910, for the purpose indicated in the question, the resolution referred to, however, was not proposed, and the meeting fell through. I see no grounds for any inquiry.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a copy of a resloution adopted unanimously by the committee of management of Mullingar District Asylum, asking the law to be amended so as to allow the boarding-out of a certain class of patients in Ireland, as in England and Scotland; whether he will introduce a short Bill for this purpose in the present Session; and, if not, whether facilities will be afforded for such a Bill introduced by an unofficial Member?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for South Longford on Thursday last.

asked the Chief. Secretary if the sum of about £4,000 and interest which was to the credit of the county of Tipperary under the Irish Reproductive Loan Fund, and which, under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, was placed at the disposal of the Congested Districts Board, but applicable only to the county of Tipperary, has been expended in whole or in part; how much of that sum and accumulate interest is now to the credit of that county; if this sum is now unexpended would the same be available for the improvement of the navigation of the River Suir from Carrick-on-Suir to Clonmel, as recommended by the Royal Commission on Canals and Inland Waterways; and, if any legislation is necessary for that purpose, will the Government provide the same?

The capital of the Irish Reproductive Loan Fund, including the sum standing to the credit of county Tipperary under the Fund at the time of the passing of the Irish Land Purchase Act. 1891, which was by Section 35 (5) of that Act placed at the disposal of the Congested Districts Board has been spent by the Board, or has been appropriated in connection with the Board's operations in the counties to which the Fund was applicable. No portion of the sum is, therefore, now available for the purpose mentioned in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the tenants on the estate of Charles Lloyd, Lisheen, Templemore, county Tipperary, purchased the holdings in 1905; and whether he can state what are the reasons for the delay in carrying out the sale and in vesting the holdings in the tenants?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the agreements entered into by the tenants for the purchase of their holdings direct from the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, were lodged with the Commissioners in February, 1906. The estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, but the Commissioners hope to be in a position to deal with the property during the financial year commencing 1st April next.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the number of extra police at present stationed in Holy-cross, county Tipperary; whether the ratepayers of the county are required to contribute to their cost; and, if so, what amounts are charged to the North and South Ridings respectively; and whether, considering the peaceful state of the district, he will have them withdrawn and save further expense to the ratepayers and the Treasury?

There are no extra police employed in either of the Ridings of Tipperary.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the allowance towards their expenses home, heretofore granted to members of the Royal Irish Constabulary on retirement from the force, has been discontinued, and, if so, will he explain why; and whether any instructions have been issued to this effect by the Royal Irish Constabulary authorities?

Grants on retirement towards the payment of expenses home are still paid to all county and district inspectors, head and other constables who joined the force previous to 18th June, 1883, but under the provisions of Section 11 of the Constabulary Act of that year no member of the force appointed after the date mentioned is eligible to receive such a grant. Officers and men who joined the force since 18th June, 1883, cannot be subscribers to the Constabulary Force Fund, and hence the cause of their not receiving these grants.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any steps to remedy the state of congestion complained of in the memorials which they have received from the tenants on the following estates: Colonel Trant, Dove, Thurles, Earl of Normanton, Bishopswood, Dundrum, Going Minors, Ballyphilip and Ballymonty, Thurles, county Tipperary?

The Estates Commissioners will in due course consider what action they can take in reference to the matters complained of in the memorials referred to.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the increase in the number of His Majesty's seamen, principally serving on destroyers and other small craft, who now frequent the port of Harwich, he will consider the advisability of providing a suitable sailors' home for the men; and whether he is aware that a suitable building, the disused Great Eastern Railway Hotel, is immediately available on favourable terms for such a purpose?

The question is now under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of War whether he can give the number of men aged under eighteen, nineteen, twenty, and twenty-one years, respectively, now serving with the Guard or Line Battalions of Infantry; how many of the above on mobilisation it is proposed to replace by Reservists; and, in the case of such Reservists, what will be the number of men who have attained the age of twenty-nine years or over?

On November 1st there were 2,556 men under eighteen, 6,957 under nineteen, and 10,506 under twenty. No figures for men under twenty-one are available. As regards the rest of the question it is not considered in the interests of the public service to publish any detailed information concerning the probable composition of units on mobilisation.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether any report was received from Major Brownlow Stuart, or from any other responsible officer, with regard to the occurrences at Llanelly on the afternoon of 19th August; and, if any report was received, will he lay it upon the Table?

A report was received by telephone on that date from the officer commanding the troops at Cardiff. I shall be glad to communicate the contents of the report to the hon. Gentleman if he so desires.

asked the President of the Board of Education if his attention has been called to a proposal to close the Ightham (Kent) council school and convert it into a Church of England school; if he is aware that the vicar of the parish declared at a public meeting that the proposal originated with the Board of Education; if he is also aware that 130 parents in the parish have signed a petition in favour of the maintenance of the council school; and if the Board will take steps to see that these parents are not forced to send their children to a denominational school?

My attention has been called to this matter, and I have seen a newspaper report of a statement made by the rector that the first move in the matter originated with the Board of Education. This statement apparently rested on the fact that the Board of Education pressed the local education authority to improve the premises of the council school, and, so far as it suggests that the proposal to close the council school and convert it into a Church of England school originated with the Board of Education, it is inaccurate. I understand that a petition in favour of the continuance of the council school has been extensively signed, but I have not yet received a copy of the petition. On the facts at present before me I do not think I could sanction the discontinuance of the existing council school, whether in the existing premises or in new premises which it would be the duty of the local education authority to provide if their tenancy of the existing premises is terminated. Apart from other considerations, it seems a pity, from a ratepayer's point of view, that the local education authority and the trustees of the school buildings have not yet been able to come to an arrangement which would enable the council school to be continued in the existing premises.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board have had under consideration the application of the Carnarvonshire local education authority made in January last to the Treasury for a grant from the Development Fund in aid of the establishment of a farm institute at Madryn Castle; and when the local authority may have the Board's decision in the matter?

The Board recently issued a circular which set out the general lines upon which grants would be made from the Development Fund in aid of the establishment of farm institutes. For reasons there given I cannot deal with applications from local education authorities until the regulations governing the payment of grants are published. These regulations are in an advanced state of preparation, and I shall publish them as soon as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an order has recently been issued prohibiting boxing contests in His Majesty's Navy; and, if so, whether he will state the nature of such order and upon whose authority it was issued?

No order has been issued prohibiting boxing contests in His Majesty's Navy. Probably the hon. Member has in mind instructions which were recently issued that men should not be allowed to accept engagements to appear in any regular public performance for hire. These instructions are not intended to prevent men taking part in entertainments or boxing contests under Service management at canteens or sailors' homes, or when their services are given gratis, with the approval of their commanding officers, at entertainments of a charitable or philanthropic nature.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of failures by insurance companies, as representing insured employers under the Workmen's Compensation Act, to duly pay the weekly compensation as awarded or agreed upon, thus causing expense to the workman in levying an execution to compel payment; and, as the procedure relating to costs in such cases is governed by the county court rules, and there is no provision whatever under the county court scale for granting costs upon the issuing of execution, will he take action to remedy this defect?

No representations to this effect have previously reached me. I am investigating the circumstances in the case referred to, and I am consulting the Lord Chancellor on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the circular issued from the Home Office on 21st June, 1911, with reference to preventive detention; and whether the provisions of Section 10 of the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908, were kept in view in framing paragraph 2 (c) of the circular?

The answer to both questions is in the affirmative.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on 2nd November last a deer was hunted to death by the Warnham staghounds, dying of exhaustion, after a long run, in a stable at Dorking, to which it had been dragged by the hunt servants; and whether he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation in order to bring such cases within the provisions of the Protection of Animals Act?

I have seen a newspaper report of this case. I am sorry that I cannot add anything to the reply given on the 16th March by my predecessor to a question of my hon. Friend, except to remind him that his own Act for the Protection of Animals, which comes into force next year contains provisions which are directed against some of the worst scandals which have occurred in the hunting of captive animals.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state why a black person, believed to be a West Indian, was prosecuted for occultism, or the like, while other persons are permitted to openly advertise their dealings with futurity; and if, in consideration of the evils attendant, he will consider whether the attention of his Department and the police should be conferred on all persons alike?

The decision to prosecute in any case is of course not affected in any way by the question of whether the offender is black or white. It turns on considerations which have been stated by my predecessor in reply to questions in this House. I would refer my hon. Friend in particular to the answer given to him by the late Home Secretary on 15th May last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the sentence on George W. Meynell at York Assizes on 14th November, who was sent for six months to hard labour and ordered to receive twelve lashes with the cat at the beginning of the sentence and twelve more after three months' imprisonmnt; and whether he will follow several recent precedents and remit the second instalment of flogging?

The prisoner is entitled under the Criminal Appeal Act to bring his case before the Court of Criminal Appeal for a revision of his sentence, and in the meantime I can say nothing with regard to the possibility of action on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to proceed further with the Shops Bill this Session?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any further reports with regard to the kidnapping of natives and the illicit supply of arms and liquor in the New Hebrides; and what steps he proposes to take to put a stop to the cruelties still perpetrated there?

The High Commissioner for the Western Pacific has just visited the New Hebrides, and I hope to receive a full report from him on the questions raised by the hon. Member in a few weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether under existing treaties the consent of this country is required before Turkey can agree to cede Tripoli to Italy?

The obligations of Great Britain, in conjunction with other Powers, in regard to the Ottoman Empire, are laid down in Article 7 of the Treaty of Paris of the 30th of March, 1856, confirmed by Article 63 of the Treaty of Berlin of the 13th of July, 1878, which will be found in Parliamentary Paper, Miscellaneous, No. 2, 1898. The effect which these treaties may be considered to have upon the possession of Tripoli is one to be discussed between the Powers that are parties to them, and pending such discussion I cannot say what view may be agreed upon respecting them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any information as to the intention of the United States Government to send a regiment of troops to Ching-Wan-tao for the purpose of keeping open the line of communication from Pekin to Tientsin?

I understand that the United States Government are considering the question of sending troops from Manila to guard the railway to Shanhaikuan, if necessary, in co-operation with the British and other foreign troops on the spot.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he is aware that at a public meeting held at Colchester on Saturday, 11th November, and attended by, amongst others, some twenty-eight small holders on the Salvation Army colony at Boxted, a resolution was unanimously passed to the effect that this public meeting, having heard the evidence from various small holders of the Boxted colony of the mismanagement of the Boxted scheme by the Salvation Army, considers the affair warrants a full public inquiry, and furthermore demands that steps should be taken to see that the Salvation Army officers concerned do not evade their responsibilities towards these men, who have left their homes and their employment and have been deceived by false promises, and have not been given full opportunity to justify the scheme; and whether, in the interests of the small-holding movement generally, he will take steps to ascertain whether the Salvation Army have adhered to their contract with the men or to what the failure of this experiment in small holding is due; also (2), whether he has received a letter signed by eighteen small holders on the Salvation Army small holding colony at Boxted, near Colchester, Essex, asking for a public inquiry into the conditions prevailing at Boxted; and whether he is prepared to cause such an inquiry to be held or has taken steps to ascertain whether or not there is need for such an inquiry in the interests of the small holders?

I will answer this and the following question together. I have received a letter from eighteen small holders of the Herring Booth Land Settlement, asking for an inquiry into the management of the scheme. The matter does not lie within my province, but it may be within that of the Charity Commission; and I understand that if specific complaint is made to them, the Commission are prepared to look into it and consider whether, under the terms of the scheme, they have power to take any action on the lines desired.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the gratuity sanctioned to the 321 vaccination officers, mainly at the instigation of the Local Government Board, was equal to the amount of the loss sustained in consequence of the working of the Vaccination Act and Order, 1907, by those 321 officers; and whether the 279 vaccination officers who have been paid increased fees are now receiving an income approximate to the average of that received by them for the five years 1903–1907?

Speaking generally, the arrangements which the Board have sanctioned in these cases have been those which the boards of guardians have proposed.

asked what was the total cost of Poor Law administration, including the expenditure out of loans, for the year ended March, 1911?

The expenditure during the year ended 31st March, 1911, of local authorities in England and Wales on the relief of the poor and purposes connected therewith, amounted, so far as it was met otherwise than out of loans approximately to £15,016,000, and, so far as it was met out of loans to £354,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Great Southern and Western Railway Company had sufficient notice of the increase in the number of waggons required at Thurles Station on the occasion of the last November fair; whether he is aware that it is usual for cattle and horse dealers to give notice to the station-master or his representative as to the probable number of waggons required by them, and that, in consequence of the failure of the previous fair in October, consequent on the railway strike, an increase in the number of waggons of stock compared with last year was to be expected; whether he is aware that the traders of Thurles district have repeatedly complained of the facilities for dealing with every class of goods traffic at the station; that the corn merchants cannot get sufficient waggon accommodation to send away corn; that similar complaints have been made in Tipperary and other stations; and that the railway companies are bound to convey goods and live stock within a reasonable time, and to provide sufficient rolling stock and other accommodation to meet the requirements of the public; and whether he will cause further inquiries to be made and take such other steps as may be necessary to this state of affairs, and prevent inconvenience and disappointment to the dealers, traders, and merchants?

As the hon. Member was informed a few days ago, the company state that they furnished 40 per cent. more waggons than last year for the Thurles Fair. I have, however, asked the railway company for their observations on the hon. Member's present question, and I will communicate with him on receipt of their reply.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will alter the ago limit for extra hands at the Post Office during Christmas time so as to include men up to at least fifty years of age, seeing the difficulty which middle-aged men have in obtaining employment?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on this subject to the hon. Member for the Brentford Division on the 8th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether instructions have been recently issued to superintendents in charge of post offices that any auxiliary hands that may be engaged for extra work at Christmas are to be engaged through the medium of Labour Exchanges; whether applicants to superintendents considered suitable are given a ticket which they are obliged to take to the Bureau to be exchanged there for another ticket, which the applicant then returns with to the superintendent and is taken on for temporary employment; and whether he will state the reason for this procedure?

Instructions in the sense indicated by the hon. Member have been issued for the guidance of postmasters. Applicants known from previous trial to be suitable are referred to the Labour Exchanges in the provinces, with a special recommendation that they may be included in the lists of officers to be supplied to the Post Office. This arrangement is made in order that all the extra hands required for Christmas pressure may be recruited through the recognised channel, as it is very desirable that the Labour Exchanges should have cognisance of all forms of casual labour. In London, applicants who have been employed before, are, if suitable, taken on direct by the Post Office; but they are requested to fill up a form for the information of the Labour Exchanges.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that unestablished assistance is being employed at the Croydon post office while established vacancies are left unfilled; whether this arrangement is a temporary one and, if so, what is the nature of the temporary pressure of work involving such assistance; whether he is aware that on a previous occasion temporary assistants were employed at the same office for years continuously; and whether he can assure the House that so soon as the alleged pressure is removed the unestablished assistance will be dispensed with and the established vacancies filled if necessary?

I am making inquiry and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an officer, a Mr. W. O. Harsent, who has served his department for nearly twenty-five years in an unestablished capacity, during fourteen years of which period he performed duties now carried out by a promoted officer, has recently undergone an operation, while he is now qualified for admission to an established appointment; whether he is aware that the officer in question was ordered to be reduced 3s. per week in wages as a condition of his being allowed to take up the appointment, although the wage he was receiving was proper to the class to which he was appointed; and whether he will take steps, in view of his many years of service, to restore him to the scale of pay he has been deprived of?

The reduction of Mr. Harsent's wages was in accordance with the Treasury rule that, subject to the minimum of the scale, a deduction of 10 per cent. must be made from the pay of an unestablished officer on appointment to the establishment. This deduction is made in view of the superannuation and other benefits pertaining to an established appointment, and I have no power to waive it. I may add that before Mr. Harsent was placed on the establishment he was informed how his pay would be affected, and he requested that his appointment might be proceeded with.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the charge for rural telephone service on the Continent is generally lower than that laid down for the British Isles, and that the party-line system has been abandoned as impracticable in Finland and replaced by the double line system; and whether he can see his way to modify his proposals in respect of the rural telephone service in this country?

I am aware that in some parts of the Continent the charge for a telephone service is lower than in this country. The information which I have on this subject is contained in Parliamentary Paper Order No. 316, of 14th April, 1910. I have no information as to the abandonment of the party line system in Finland. The possibility of modifying the conditions applicable to the provisions of rural party lines is at present under my consideration.

asked the Lord Advocate if he can state the names of the officials of Scottish boards who have been called to London from Scotland on Government business during this Autumn Session, specifying the number of occasions and the number of days absent from their work in the case of each official?

In connection with the National Insurance Bill the Vice-President and the medical member of the Scottish Local Government Board were in London during the Autumn Session; and one member, with the agricultural adviser, of the Congested Districts Board was in London in connection with the Scottish Landholders Bill. I am not in a position to state the precise number of days during which these officials were absent from Scotland, but while in London they were, of course, discharging official duty.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the duties of sheriff principal in respect of hearing appeals have become superseded by the practice of passing the sheriff principal and making appeal direct to the Court of Session; whether all the other or administrative duties of sheriff principal are in fact per formed by the sheriff substitute, with the sole exception of the duties regarding the Northern Lights Commission, Prison Board, and Fishery Board; and, if so, have His Majesty's Government decided; that the administrative duties in question are such as to warrant the retention of the office of sheriff principal?

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

asked the Lord Advocate whether he will state the nature of the illness on account of which Mrs. Ruby Cameron, recently sentenced to a term of penal servitude, has been released from prison?

Mrs. Cameron was released because she was certified to be suffering from illness which renders her quite unfit for prison discipline, and is likely to necessitate at an early date a very serious and dangerous operation.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, when work was resumed, after the recent interruption, upon the erection of the new offices of the Board of Agriculture; and when is the work likely to be completed?

Tenders for the superstructure have been delivered, but none has yet been accepted. If no unforeseen delay occurs, the work will probably be completed early in 1914, the date already given to the hon. Member for the Wilton Division on 24th October.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the hoarding which surrounds the Royal Artiltery memorial opposite the Duke of York's steps is intended to remain as a permanent addition to the Mall, and, if not, when the hoarding will be removed?

The First Commissioner of Works has no intention of retaining this hoarding longer than is necessary for the fixing of tablets to the memorial. He has again urged the Memorial Committee to expedite the work.