asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a workman employed by a wholesale bootmaker to make parts of boots in the workman's home, and who employs his sons or others to assist him, is a master under the National Insurance Bill as now amended?

The question depends on the details of the arrangements made between the various parties, and does not admit of a general reply.

asked whether a medical man who serves on a health committee under the National Insurance Bill will, under the proposed regulations, be able to remain upon the panel of doctors appointed by the same health committee?

Yes, Sir. Any duly qualified medical practitioner has the right to be included in the panel, which it is not quite accurate to describe as "appointed" by the health committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received a resolution from the Oldcastle Teachers' Association, of which Mr. W. J. De Vere is chairman, and Mr. Michael Tuite honorary secretary, asking for the immediate reform of the Irish teachers' pension scheme; and will he say if this matter is having his attention, and when he will be likely to be able to announce the result?

The hon. Member has kindly furnished me with a copy of the resolution to which he refers. As I have already explained, I cannot undertake to give consideration to this matter until the Insurance Bill has become law.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Catherine M'Gill, of Dundalk, had an old age pension sanctioned for her as from 18th of last August; that she has not since received her book; and will he explain the cause of the delay in the matter, and say whether the arrears due to her will be paid at once?

The pension to which Kate M'Gill became entitled on 18th August, 1911, was withheld in accordance with No. 35 of the Old Age Pensions Regulations, 1911, for the recovery of a debt due to the Crown under Section 9 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908. The debt has now been recovered, and directions have been given for the issue of a book to the pensioner.

asked the Chief Secretary whether in June last, he was aware, in connection with the stoppage of the old age pension of Mrs. Anne Butler, owing to her being in Kilkenny Union Hospital for a serious ailment, that the master of Kilkenny Union and one of the medical officers, Dr. Buggy, were personally before the committee in respect of this and six other cases of hospital patients whose pensions were sought to be stopped, and that the committee were satisfied, on the medical officer's testimony, that these patients were suffering from various serious and definite ailments, and that the entry debility, stated by the pension officer to appear in the hospital books, had been entered only probably by routine; will he say on what grounds the Local Government Board refused, or failed to have regard to, such medical testimony; whether their decision would be favourable to Mrs. Butler's continuance of pension if they had found her to be suffering from the definite ailment testified by the doctor attending her; and whether, having regard to the position of hospital patients who are deprived of old age pensions unless paying full average cost for their maintenance, which in many cases exceeds 5s. per week, without any decision of any court that treatment and maintenance in a union hospital is outside the exemption of medical relief in the Old Age Pension Act, and also to the inability of unions in Ireland to enforce payment or just payment of maintenance out of old age pensions in cases where hospital patients should make such contribution, he will afford facilities for having the law authoritatively ascertained in the one respect and altered in the other?

The answer to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. The Committee held the view stated, but it appears that the ailments referred to were of a chronic and permanent character, and there is nothing to show that the entries in the books were made as a mere matter of routine. Having regard to the nature and circumstances of the cases the Local Government Board I held, on the principles laid down in their circular letter of 30th December, 1908, that the medical relief was subsidiary to ordinary maintenance. In these circumstances the answer to the next portion of the question is in the negative. The legality of the Board's decisions can be challenged in the courts. I cannot hold out any hope of an amendment of the law to the effect indicated in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of first-class teachers at present in the service of the Commissioners who have had their salaries reduced owing to the average of their schools falling below thirty-five; if a fall in average from thirty-five to 34.4 is deemed sufficient reason for reducing the teachers' salary by 20 per cent., and for dismissing the junior assistant of the school in addition; and if he is prepared to recommend to the Treasury that a swing of ten in attendance be allowed in these cases as in the case of assistant teachers.

The information asked for in the first part of the question is not available. The hon. and gallant Member appears to me, and I do not wonder at it, to be confusing two different things—namely, the averages which determine the number of teachers in a school and the averages which determine the grading of individual teachers. The so-called swing conceded by the Treasury this summer relates solely to the number of teachers who can be recognised in a school, and has nothing to do with their grading. The only junior assistant in Irish national schools is a junior assistant mistress, who can be appointed to any school where there is an average attendance of thirty-five, and, once appointed, need not be withdrawn until the attendance falls below thirty. As regards grading, no teacher in a school in which the average attendance is under seventy is eligible for promotion to the first division of the first grade, and no teacher in a school where the average is under fifty is eligible for promotion to the second division of that grade. In either case an average attendance of thirty-five is necessary to warrant the continuance of first grade salary. In reckoning the average attendance no notice is taken of a drop of less than half a unit. No change in the rules appears to be required.

asked the Chief Secretary when A. S. Lough was appointed an inspector in the Estates Commissioners' Department; what is his present salary; is he paid any allowances; where has he been working for the years 1909–10 and 1911; will he say how many evicted tenants this gentleman has been instrumental in reinstating; were any of them given grants, and, if so, how much; and can he say the number of non-Catholics reinstated by this inspector?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Mr. Lough was appointed an inspector in 1907. His present salary is £500 per annum, which includes subsistence allowance. During the period mentioned in the question he has been principally engaged in the counties of Armagh, Cavan, Donegal, Fermanagh, Lei-trim, and Monaghan. The work in connection with the reinstatement of evicted tenants is part of the work of the general staff of the Commissioners, and it is not possible to say how many cases have been dealt with by any one inspector. The approval of applicants for reinstatement is solely within the discretion of the Commissioners, who have no knowledge of their religious beliefs.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application to be allowed to purchase their houses and plots of land from about forty tenants who at present are all in occupation of uneconomic holdings on the Wade estate, situate at Clonabraney, county Meath; whether they have also received a request that the untenanted land on the estate be acquired for the enlargement of their small holdings; and what action has been taken, or will be taken, before the advance for the purchase of the estate is sanctioned?

This estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings under the Land Purchase Acts. The Estates Commissioners have recently received the communication referred to, and it will be considered when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the Sugrue estate, Prior, near Caherciveen, has not yet been purchased, steps will be taken to secure the reinstatement of Timothy Sullivan, an evicted tenant?

The Estates Commissioners have received an application from Timothy Sullivan for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the Sugrue estate, county Kerry, and now in the possession of another tenant, and have noted Sullivan's application for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there is any Clause in the Bill of 1909 whereby the Land Commission are empowered to grant money to tenant farmers repayable in a certain number of years for the purposes of building, etc.?

Section 30 of the Irish Land Act, 1909, enables the Estates Commissioners, where they deem it expedient to expend money on the improvement of a holding on an estate the subject of direct sale proceedings before them under the Land Purchase Acts, to make the sum so expended repayable as part of the purchase annuity payable by the purchasing tenant. In ordinary cases where loans are required for buildings on holdings, application should be made to the Commissioners of Public Works, who have power to make such loans under the Land Improvement (Ireland) Acts repayable by annuities.

asked if the estate of Colonel Hare, at Doon, county Limerick, will be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners this year, and what is the cause of the delay?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners. Having regard to its position on the principal register of direct sales, and the prior claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when the turn of this estate will be reached, but when reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as practicable.

asked if the estate of the governors of Erasmus Smith's schools, in county Limerick, will be dealt with this year; and, if not, how soon it will be dealt with?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners. Having regard to its position on the principal register of direct sales, and the prior claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when this estate will be dealt with.

asked whether the Ponsonby estate at Clounanna, Gahichswell, has yet been dealt with by the Estates Commissioners, and if a bog on this estate, which has always been the property of a tenant named Lillis, has now been taken possession of by the late agent of the property, Mr. Peter Fitzgerald; and, if so, will the Estates Commissioners cause an inspection to be made and see that the rights of the man are not taken away, and that the part of bog which he has always enjoyed will still be left him?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with. From the documents lodged the Estates Commissioners cannot find that there is any tenant named Lillis on the lands of Clounanna, but the matter referred to in the question will be inquired into when the estate is being dealt with.

asked when the property of Major O'Kelly, Mucklow, county Galway, will be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the estate of Major A. D. D. Kelly, county Galway, for the sale of which to the Estates Commissioners formal proceedings have been instituted. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when they will be able to deal with this estate.

asked when the Sugrue estate, Johnstown, county Cork, will be vested in the tenants; when were the purchase agreements signed by the tenants; and has the final inspection of the different holdings yet been made?

This estate is being sold direct by the owner to the tenants under the Land Purchase Acts, and has not yet been reached in order of priority to be dealt with. The Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be so reached. The majority of the purchase agreements were lodged with the Commissioners in October, 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number and names of the schools in Irish-speaking districts in which junior pupils have little or no knowledge of English and in which a bilingual programme (Irish and English as media of instruction) is in operation, and in which a programme on a wholly English basis is in operation; and also state the number of model schools under the direct management of the Commissioners of National Education, the number in which Irish is taught, the number of pupils attending the model schools, the number learning Irish, the number of hours per week Irish is taught, and the time of day it is taught?

The following are the 138 national schools situated in districts which, according to reports received from the Board's Inspectors are Irish-speaking, and in which junior pupils have little or no knowledge of English and a bilingual programme (Irish and English as media of instruction) is in operation:—

asked when fees for the teaching of Irish for the year ending 30th June, 1911, will be paid to national teachers who, although they had not obtained certificates, taught Irish successfully in accordance with programme, and obtained favourable reports from the National Board inspectors who examined their pupils?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that when instruction in Irish is given by a teacher who has not a certificate of competency from the Commissioners or from some recognised authority, such as one of the colleges for the teaching of Irish, fees are paid on receipt of the inspector's report, provided the instruction given has been satisfactory; but the teacher is warned that fees will not be paid in future unless he procures a certificate of competency. In the case of a teacher who, after due warning as above, has failed to procure the required certificate the payment of fees is, as a rule, refused.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the number of meetings held by the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, since 1905; the number of them attended by each of the present Commissioners, giving dates of appointment of those appointed since 1905; whether continued failure to attend the meetings is a cause for superseding a Commissioner; and, if not, what is a cause, with whom rests the power, and who has the right on cause arising to move that power?

Since 1st January, 1906, 258 meetings have been held by the Com missioners of National Education. The Commissioners inform me that they do not think it desirable to give details as to the attendance of individual members of their body, as they consider that no useful purpose would be served by furnishing this information. The years of the appointments of the Commissioners are to be found in Thom's Directory for 1911, page 870, with the exception of the Right Rev. Doctor Day, D.D., Bishop of Clogher, who was appointed in 1911. With regard to the last paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the then hon. Member for East Kerry on the 31st July, 1907.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Patrick O'Neill was evicted in 1879 from his holding on the Lionel Hewson estate, near Caherciveen; and can he state what action has been taken by the Estates Commissioners to secure his reinstatement?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered Patrick O'Neill's application for reinstatement in a holding on the Hewson estate formerly occupied by him, and now in the possession of another tenant, and they have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Michael Keating was evicted from his farm on the Sugrue estate, Prior, near Caherciveen, at a time when his rent was £22 10s. and the valuation £7 15s.; and can he state what steps have been taken to secure his reinstatement or to provide him with a suitable-holding?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the case of Maurice Keating who applied for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate of Colonel Sugrue, county Kerry. Keating's former holding is in the occupation of another tenant, and the Estates Commissioners, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action in the matter.

asked what steps, if any, have been taken to secure the reinstatement of Cornelius Doyle, Cappaganeen, in the farm from which he was evicted on the Mahony estate, Dunloe?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered Cornelius Doyle's application for reinstatement in a holding on the Mahony estate, county Kerry, formerly occupied by his father, and now in the possession of another tenant who has purchased it under the Land Purchase Acts, and they have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether John M'Avinue, who was a joint tenant with his father, Patrick M'Avinue, on the Kells estate, county Cavan, and duly evicted, will be reinstated or given a farm elsewhere; is he aware that one of the joint evicted tenants has been given a farm on the J. B. Little estate, county Cavan; and will he say if there is any reason for refusing land to the other joint evicted tenant, who is better able to work land than the tenant already provided?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Patrick M'Avinue for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the Kells estate, county Cavan, and, after inquiry and consideration, gave him a holding on the Little estate, in lieu of that from which he was evicted. They subsequently received an application from his son, John M'Avinue, who states he was a joint tenant with his father at the time of the eviction in 1879. John M'Avinue's application was not lodged within the period prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and the Commissioners do not intend to take any action in the matter or to provide him with a holding.

asked how many applications under the Evicted Tenants Act were on the provisional list for county Limerick on the 1st January, 1909; are any of the names which were on the list at that time now struck off; if so, how many, and for what reasons; and how many evicted tenants in Limerick are still to be provided for?

The statistics of the Estates Commissioners do not give the figures asked for in the first paragraph of the question. Applications provisionally noted are further considered by the Commissioners before holdings are allotted, and on such further consideration they may decide, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them by Statute, not to allot holdings in cases in which they consider it is not desirable to do so. There are eight evicted tenants in county Limerick who have not yet been provided for.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the fact that on the 17th instant, during a lull in the storm, a small boat put off from Rathlin Island for Bally-castle to fetch a coffin for a person recently deceased, and, in attempting to turn the boat, one of the crew was swept overboard and drowned; and whether, in view of the need for proper boating accommodation between Rathlin and the mainland, he will take steps to provide this without further delay?

The question of providing boating accommodation has been the subject of discussion between the Antrim County Council and the Department. The plans of the Department for a pier at Rathlin Island have recently been approved of by the Council, and those for Ballycastle are at present under the consideration of that body. No avoidable delay will take place in connection with the matter.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what are his intentions regarding the carrying through, or otherwise, of the Butter Bill?

After consultation with those interested in the matter, the Butter Bill has been finally prepared, and will be introduced at the first available opportunity if it can be treated as a non-contentious measure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ascertain, under separate heads, what quantity of butter, new milk, and cream have been sent over from Ireland to Great Britain from the beginning of the year to 1st November; what has been the average per cwt. or per gallon, as the case may be, charged by the railway company; and if separate returns could be given for each Irish county?

The information asked for is not available. In the year 1910 the exports from Ireland to Great Britain of the commodities mentioned were: Butter, 698,907 cwts.; milk (whole and separated), 5,836 cwts.; cream, 13,809 cwts. Returns are not received by the Department of exports from each Irish county. The average cost of transit could not be ascertained without an expenditure of time, trouble, and money, which, in the view of the Department, would not be justified in the circumstances.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men are there who have served in the Seamen Pensioner Reserve and Royal Fleet Reserve, as now established, between fifty and sixty-three years of age, who are being paid the 5d. a day augmentation from Greenwich Hospital funds?

The number is 1,570 approximately.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men are there between the ages of fifty-five and sixty eligible for the 5d. a day augmentation from Greenwich Hospital funds who were unable to join the Seamen Pensioner Reserve or Royal Fleet Reserve as now established; and how many men are there eligible who are not receiving the augmentation although they have attained the age of sixty?

It is not possible to give the figure asked for in the first part of the question. As regards the second part of the question, the total number of pensioners over the age of sixty eligible for but not in receipt of the Greenwich Hospital augmentation of 5d. a day is 1,650.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if it is the intention of the Government to reoccupy Belturbet military barracks with troops; if not, will he state the reason, as Belturbet military barracks is one of the healthiest in Ireland, built on the banks of the Erne River, and until lately occupied by Cavalry, Infantry, and Artillery; and, should the occasion arise, would the Government be willing to sublet it to a company to establish works which would give employment to the town?

The barracks are dismantled and under the present scheme for the distribution of troops in Ireland it is not proposed to quarter troops there permanently. As regards the last part of the question, any proposal such as is suggested would receive due consideration.

asked whether the Territorial artillery who were combining with a brigade of Yeomanry in field operations on Salisbury Plain during August were unable to get their guns out of camp, as the horses were in too poor a condition to draw them?

It appears on inquiry that a certain batch of forty-one horses was, with the exception of four, wholly unfit at the time for the work required, and that one gun had to be left behind in camp on one of the two days on which the horses were to be used. Steps have been taken to prevent a recurrence of such an incident.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been called to the repeated complaints of the butter traders of Limerick into the manner in which the Great Southern and Western Railway Company are constantly delaying consignments of butter for the English markets, so that very often this perishable produce has to be sold below its marketable value, and the consequent injury to this trade; whether the Board of Trade propose to take any steps to secure that the railway companies shall fulfil their obligations; and (2) whether his attention has been called to a number of complaints made by Irish pig-buyers against the Irish railway companies owing to the delay in forwarding pigs consigned to the English markets and the consequent loss to the owners on account of the deterioration of the animals, whereby the loss per head on the animals thus delayed amounts to as much as 5s.; and whether, seeing the amount of damage done to this trade by the action of those railway companies, the Board of Trade will take the matter up with the view of compelling those companies to give a better service and a quicker delivery, so as to ensure that the pigs will reach the English markets within the proper time?

The Board of Trade have received occasional complaints with regard to the pig traffic, but more recently with regard to butter. I have no compulsory powers in the matter, but I am always ready to communicate with the railway company concerned if the particulars of any case of hardship are brought to my notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the Birkbeck Bank litigation, whether his attention has been called to the speech of the Right Hon. Herbert Gladsone, as reported in Hansard, vol. 28 (4th Series), p. 408, that the Government had considered very carefully the question of exempting the Birkbeck Building Societies from the Building Societies Bill of 1894, which was then before Parliament, and had come to the conclusion that it would not be right to force them to become incorporated societies, and had therefore decided to insert a provision to enable the then well-known banking business to be continued; whether, at the time of this decision, the Government had notice that the bank was ultra vires and illegal, whether he can ascertain whether any such notice was ever given to the Governors of the Bank of England who have twice financially assisted this institution; whether the Board of Trade were aware of any illegality in the business of the Birkbeck Bank when the Official Receiver obtained the sanction of the Court to the distribution of 10s. in the £ to the depositors in priority to the shareholders; and whether he will take steps to have reviewed by the Court of Appeal the decision of Mr. Justice Neville that the business of the Birkbeck Bank was ultra vires and illegal, and that the 63,776 depositors had notice of such illegality?

I have read the speech referred to, and although at the time the speech was delivered the Government were aware of the business carried on by the Birkbeck Permanent Benefit Building Society, there had not then been any decision of the Courts that such business was ultra vires. I have no reason to think that any specific notice that the business was ultra vires was ever given to the Governors of the Bank of England. When the Official Receiver obtained the sanction of the Court to the distribution of 10s. in the £1 to the depositors, the Board of Trade were aware that questions might arise as to the priorities of the different classes interested, but the assets were sufficient to provide for this payment whatever the ultimate decision might be. The recent decision of Mr. Justice Neville was given on an application by the Official Receiver to determine the rights of the different classes, and as all classes were represented on the application, I do not propose to take steps to appeal from the decision. If the decision had been in favour of the depositors, they would only receive 6d. in the £1 on the amount of their claims more than they will receive in the present circumstances, but it is open to the representatives of any class who may not be satisfied with the decision to appeal.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an official statement was recently made to a deputation from the Postal Telegraph Clerks Association that, at the Bristol office, the average number of messages per operator per hour was among the highest in the kingdom; whether this result has been attained by considerable delay to telegraph work; whether, notwithstanding the employment of thirty season assistants, telegrams have been delayed from thirty to sixty minutes on a number of days in this office; whether he is aware that the sick absence of a total staff of 220 was in August 365 days, in September, 332 days, and in October 325 days; and whether, in the interests of the staff and the public, he will make urgent and personal inquiry into these matters?

I have no reason to think that there is any considerable delay to the telegraph work at Bristol, and my information is that the work is as well done there as at any other office, but I will have inquiry made on this subject, as well as on the question of sick absence to which the hon. Member refers, and will communicate the result to him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the case of Louis Lewis, of 177, Elthorne Road, Upper Holloway, who six years ago, whilst employed as an auxiliary postman in the Holloway district, was knocked down by a postman riding a bicycle and, after nine weeks' illness, as a result of the accident, was obliged to retire from the service; if he is aware that Lewis, who had been a Post Office servant for twenty-three and a-half years, received as compensation only £12 from the Rowland Hill Fund and has found it difficult to earn a living since leaving the service; and will he, in recognition of the length of service and the circumstances which terminated it consider whether some compensation or allowance might properly be given either by way of a money grant or a small pension?

Neither Mr. Lewis nor the postman who collided with him was on duty at the time of the accident referred to, so that no responsibility for the occurrence rests on the Post Office. As a result of the injuries sustained by Mr. Lewis it was, unfortunately, necessary to proceed with his retirement; and, as he had been employed on part-time duties only, he was not entitled to any award under the Superannuation Acts, nor was it practicable to make him a compassionate grant from public funds, as he was not considered to be in necessitous circumstances at the time of his retirement. I regret that I cannot see my way to assist him now, but the question of making him a further grant from the Rowland Hill Benevolent Fund can be considered next year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial signed by the people and their local representatives around the district of Colmanstown, county Galway, asking for a telegraph office there; and, as they are prepared to bear any additional expense, will he comply with their request?

No memorial has yet reached me, but I will have inquiry made.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee applied to the Treasury in July, 1910, for a grant in aid of their scientific and development work in the sea fisheries under the terms of the Development Act of 1909; whether such application was referred by the Treasury to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and, if so, on what date; whether the Board has sent in to the Development Commissioners any and what claim for a grant in aid of the scientific and development work of the joint committee and, if so, on what date; and, if not, whether he will state why this has not been done, and when it is expected that the Board will be able to state definitely whether any grant in aid of the scientific and development work of the joint committee will be made or not?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The original application of the Committee was referred to the Board by the Treasury on the 13th July, 1910, and an amended application was received by the Board on the 26th November, 1910. On the 10th June last the Board submitted to the Treasury a general scheme for the development and improvement of the English fisheries by means of grants from the Development Fund. The scheme contemplated an annual expenditure of £15,600 for research and experiments, out of which sum it was proposed to make a grant to the Lancashire and Western Committee, in aid of the work referred to in their application. I am still in communi- cation with the Commissioners with regard to the scheme, but I recognise the urgency of the matter, and I have reason to believe that it will be possible to make some arrangement very shortly which will enable me to assist the Committee to continue the work upon which they are engaged.

asked the President to the Board of Agriculture whether he can state who is the present president of the International Council of the Fishing and Hydrographical Exploration of the I North and Neighbouring Seas; whether any meeting of the international council has been held since July, 1910; whether he can state what is the present position of I the investigations in which the international council have been engaged during the past nine years; and what are the results, if any, of such investigations?

The president of the Council is Mr. W. E. Archer, C.B., the Assistant Secretary in charge of the Fisheries Division of the Board. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The Reports, which have from time to time been presented to Parliament, a list of which I shall be glad to supply to the hon. Member, and the various publications of the Council, which can be consulted at the Offices of the Board, will furnish full information as to the present position, and the results of the investigation could not conveniently be given within the ordinary limits of an answer to a question.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the scheme for placing the memorial to King Edward VII. at Hyde Park Corner, indicated in the drawings on view in the Tea Room, has yet been considered by the memorial committee?

The reply is in the affirmative. It will be further considered at the meeting of the committee I this week.