asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will furnish a statement, at the earliest possible date, showing the estimated value in pence per week of each of the benefits included in Part I. of the National Insurance Bill?

The hon. Member will find this information on page 4 of the White Paper [Command 5885].

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new officials will be required to carry out the provisions of the National Insurance Bill?

I am afraid I am not at present in a position to give an estimate. As I have already pointed out to the House, this is a question that rests primarily with the Insurance Commissioners, who do not yet exist.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the National Insurance Bill, what is the estimated cost of the Bill to the State in respect of England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively, when the scheme is in full operation; how many persons are estimated to come under the Bill as Post Office contributors; whether separate accounts will be kept with regard to each individual depositor or subscriber to the National Insurance Fund through the Post Office; and whether the State will keep individual accounts in respect of depositors or subscribers to the National Insurance Fund through the friendly societies?

I hope to publish to-day or to-morrow the figures asked for in the first question. As regards the second question, the hon. and gallant Member will see from the Actuaries' Report of 3rd May that they estimated the number of deposit contributors compulsorily insured at the inception of the scheme at 882,000, but said that it was impossible to form an estimate of any value as to how this number would vary in future years. The answer to the third question is in the affirmative, and to the fourth in the negative

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the position under the National Insurance Bill of a member of the Territorial Force as regards contributions from himself and his employer when he is in camp for training; whether, in case his employer does not pay contributions in respect of such persons when he is in camp for training, such person will himself be liable during that time to pay 7d. per week instead of 4d.; and whether, in case of his omitting to pay such contributions, he will be deemed to be in arrears in respect thereof?

In such circumstances, where a member of the Territorial Force is being trained and is in receipt of pay out of moneys provided by Parliament for Army services, the State is for the time deemed to be the employer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the position of curates on stipends of less than £160 per annum under the National Insurance Bill; and, if they are employed persons under the Bill, who is the employer, and what contributions will have to be paid respectively?

Whether such a person is liable to compulsory insurance depends on whether he is employed under a contract of service. If so employed the weekly rates of contribution are 4d. and 3d. respectively. If he is not under a contract of service he is entitled to become a voluntary contributor by paying 7d. a week if he enters insurance within six months of the commencement of the Act, and is below the age of forty-five, or, if at a later date, at a rate appropriate to his age.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a copy of the resolution unanimously passed lay a joint conference in Cork of the corporation, county council, harbour board, rural district council, board of guardians, the Incorporated Chamber of Commerce, the United Trades and Labour Council, and the District Trades Association, urging upon the Government the desirability of extending medical benefit to Ireland under the National Insurance Bill, and also of exempting refuge homes and Magdalen asylums from its operations; whether he has observed that the Belfast Trades Council also have issued a manifesto declaring it to be an almost universal feeling that exclusion from medical benefits will render the scheme both useless and unpopular in Ireland; and whether, in view of the numerous other expressions of Irish opinion in the same sense, and of his own declaration that if there was a strong desire that the subject should be reconsidered he would not insist, he will now reconsider his decision not to re-commit the Bill for this purpose?

I see no reason to alter the opinion, which is undoubtedly held by the majority of Irish representatives in this House—that Ireland as a whole does not wish for the inclusion of medical treatment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the apprehensions of professional accountants, especially those who are acting as public auditors under the Friendly Societies Act, and the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, he is prepared to make a declaration that the position of the professional accountants and public auditors will not be prejudicially affected under the National Insurance Bill?

I am not in a position to go further in this direction than was indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Everton on the 13th November.

asked the Chancellor whether he has received a communication from the medical profession of Belfast intimating their willingness to accept for Ireland the medical benefits under the National Insurance Bill on similar lines to those applying in England?

I have received a letter from the Belfast Division of the British Medical Association to the effect that at a largely attended meeting of medical practitioners of the association it was unanimously recommended that they favoured the inclusion in the Bill of medical benefits for Ireland under the same conditions as in England.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state whether, under the National Insurance Bill, the employer or the servant keeps the stamped card in the event of the servant being discharged; and, in the event of the discharged servant accusing the employer of never having stamped the card, what protection the latter has?

The servant keeps the card. A dispute of the sort contemplated by the hon. and gallant Member would be governed by ordinary principles of evidence; the most important evidence being the presence or absence of the stamp, or its traces, upon the card.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can arrange that the premiums payable under the Insurance Bill may be paid annually, quarterly, or weekly, at the option of the employer and the employed, and that, if paid annually or quarterly in advance, a liberal discount be allowed so as to encourage the payment of such premiums in advance?

The rules as to the payment of contributions under Part I. are set out in the Third Schedule to the Bill. The ordinary rule is that the deductions should be made from the wages that relate to the same period as the deductions, whether it be weekly, monthly, or longer, at the time the wages are paid; and it is not intended to encourage their payment at other times.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the cost of printing the 12,260,000 copies of Form IV. that were issued, and the cost of the paper used?

The cost of printing the forms in question was about £1,100, the cost of paper about £3,200, and the cost of the envelopes in which the forms were distributed £3,700.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state, under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, the number of objections lodged against provisional valuations, and the number of amended provisional valuations rendered in consequence of informal objections before the sixty days have expired in which notice of objection can be given?

I regret that the information asked for by the hon. Member is not available.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have taken any and, if so, what steps to improve the landing place for fishing boats at Cooskinney, Valentia, by blasting the rocks and levelling?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that an Inspection Committee visited this place and reported against the proposed work, which will not be undertaken at present by the Board.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board is now in a position to say what practical steps have been taken to provide proper ferry facilities between Valentia and the mainland, in view of the fact that their engineer has presented his report, and that the application has been placed before them continually for many years past?

The Congested Districts Board are not willing to go to the expense of establishing a ferry for any kind of vehicles between Valentia Island and the mainland, but, if such a proposal would meet the wishes of the islanders, the Board would be prepared to consider the question of assisting in providing a steam ferry capable of taking cattle as well as passengers.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that no part of the additional grant made to the University of St. Andrew's, along with grants to the other three Scottish universities, for the year 1911–12 has yet been paid and that no intimation of approval of the scheme for expenditure of the grant, which scheme was sent to the Treasury on 16th March last, has been received, notwithstanding that in a latter dated 2nd September last to the principal of the university, in which certain information was asked for, it was stated that payment of the first quarter's grant will be made after the fresh returns now called for have been received and found satisfactory, and that the instalments will thereafter be paid quarterly at the same dates as former grants; that the returns so asked for were prepared and sent to the Treasury, and receipt of them was acknowledged on 12th September last; that three quarters of the grant are now overdue, and that the University of St. Andrew's having incurred considerable expenditure on the faith of receiving the grant, has suffered much financial inconvenience owing to the delay in payment; and whether he can give any reason why the first three quarters of the grant should not be paid?

It is the case that no part of the additional grant has yet been paid to St. Andrew's University or to the other Scottish universities for this financial year. The Treasury has hoped to receive from all the universities an intimation that a uniform inclusive fee had been agreed upon, before making payment of the additional grant, of which the institution of a uniform inclusive fee was a condition. This has, however, not yet been received, and I understand that the universities are not yet in full agreement on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a cattle drive recently took place on land purchased by the Congested Districts Board on which the Board had taken in stock from outsiders because the tenants on the property had not sufficient cattle to stock the land, and that the tenants drove away all the cattle of the outsiders in all directions, after cutting the tails of many of them; and will he state whether the Board propose to replace the cattle, and if any arrests have yet been made of the perpetrators of this outrage?

The police authorities inform me that there is no evidence to show that a cattle drive took place in the circumstance stated in the question. Cattle, the property of farmers in the locality, were placed on the lands recently purchased by the Congested Districts Board on Saturday evening, and on Monday morning were found straying in the directions of their homes. They were again placed on the lands, and are still there. None of the cattle were injured, and the owners do not intend to apply for compensation.

also asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Bartholomew M'Donagh was shot in the back on Sunday night, 19th November, and was found by the police doctor to have about 100 pellets in his back, and that he is now lying in the hospital in a critical condition; is he aware that M'Donagh was employed by Martin Conroy, of Ballintemple, Galway, who purchased a farm adjacent to his own holding, and was for this reason boycotted by his neighbours, and that the only offence against the wounded man is that, though warned, he continued to work for Conroy; and will he say if any arrests have been made of the perpetrators of this crime?

The police authorities inform me that on Sunday, 19th November, Bartholomew M'Donagh, a labourer in the employment of Martin Conroy, was shot at from behind, being hit with a full charge of No. 5 shot. He is at present in hospital, and he is progressing favourably. Conroy has never been boycotted. The motive of the crime is a matter of opinion. No arrests have been made up to the present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to recent prosecutions of parties in Kilrush, West Clare, for leaving cars in the street while the drivers are doing business in adjacent houses; whether he knows that if the traffic were increased fifty-fold there would still be no congestion nor detriment in the streets of Kilrush; and whether instructions will be given to cause these prosecutions to cease?

The police authorities inform me that no such prosecutions have taken place. Persons have recently been prosecuted for leaving carts in some of the public streets at Kilrush without a horse or other animal being harnessed to them, thereby causing serious inconvenience and obstruction to traffic.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer to Lord Clanricarde for the purchase of his Galway estate; and, if not, what is the reason of the delay?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, an offer which is now in course of preparation will be made shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, though the tenants on the Bantry estate of the Earl of Kenmare have purchased several years ago, their holding have not yet been vested in them; and whether he can state approximately when they will be so vested?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner, and will be dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners hope that it may be possible to deal with it during the financial year commencing the 1st April next.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board have purchased the Leahy and Leigh White estates, situate in the Castletown Bere and Glengariff districts, and that, though a considerable time has elapsed since the purchases, the tenants are still paying the full rents; and when will the annuities commence to be paid in lieu of rents by the tenants?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the terms for purchase for the greater portion of these estates were provisionally agreed to in May last, but as the owner of the Leigh White estate has not yet lodged the maps and other necessary particulars, no formal agreement to purchase has yet been entered into, and the Board cannot say at present when the estate may be vested in them. In the case of the Leahy estate, the maps and other particulars have been lodged, and it is expected that the formal agreement for purchase will shortly be entered into. The annuities cannot begin to be paid until after the purchases have been completed.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners received within the specified time an application under the Evicted Tenants Act from John Cassidy, Aghagaffart, Irvineston, county Fermanagh, for reinstatement in his holding on the Aikens estate; whether the Commissioners so far back as 1907 promised to reinstate Cassidy; and will he ask the Commissioners to consider the case and announce their decision without further avoidable delay?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Cassidy's application was received in March, 1907, and his name was provisionally noted for consideration. He appears to be in occupation of his former holding, and his case will be considered when the estate on which the holding is situate comes before the Commissioners as the subject of proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts. Cassidy has been so informed on several occasions.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board will take steps to acquire compulsorily the Going estate at Ardeegallivan, Headford, as the district is poor and the tenants have repeatedly asked for sale, but without any effect?

The Congested Districts Board have communicated with the owner with a view to the purchase of this estate, but have not yet received a definite reply. A further communication will be addressed to him. For the present, therefore, the question of compulsory acquisition will not be considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state what is the state of the negotiations for the purchase of the Cooper estate at Ballinrea, Douglas, county Cork?

This estate is being sold direct to the tenants by the owner. Having regard to its position on the principal register of direct sales, and the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached by them, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board for Ireland have received a memorial from the fishermen on the shores of Bantry Bay, which was endorsed by the members of public boards, justices of the peace, etc., and that it was set forth in that memorial that a fishery pier is necessary at Gerhies, Bantry, and that the want of such pier imperils the lives of the fishermen; and whether the Congested Districts Board intend taking action with a view to the construction of such a pier?

The memorial referred to has been received. The Congested Districts Board cannot at present undertake to construct or contribute towards the construction of a pier at Gerhies, as there are other places which are considered to be more in need of such accommodation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, having regard to the decision of the Government to institute an inquiry into the cost of living, and the fact that the Chief Commissioner of the Dublin Metropolitan Police has authorised the preparation of a memorial asking for an increased rate of pay for that force, he will permit representations to be made on behalf of the Royal Irish Constabulary with reference to the sufficiency or otherwise of their present scale of remuneration?

The scale of pay of the rank and file of the Royal Irish Constabulary was revised so lately as 1908 by an Act of Parliament based on the recommendations of a Departmental Committee, which went very carefully into the whole matter. It is too soon to reopen the question.

asked whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken to secure the reinstatement of Denis Currane in the farm at Coomavanna, on the F. G. Williams estate near Mastergeehy, from which he was evicted?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a similar question on this subject asked by him on 25th November, 1910, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether further inquiries will be made into the application of Mrs. Julia Dunleavy, of Milltown, county Kerry for reinstatement

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application for reinstatement from Julia Dunleavy, whose case does not come within the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act.

(whose name did not appear), asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the date of each application and the amount applied for as grants from the Development Commissioners by the county councils and colleges of Wales, including Monmouthshire, excluding applications to the Road Board; and whether he will in each case indicate whether such application is now before the Commissioners or is still being considered by the Department of Agriculture?

The following particulars give the information so far as it is available:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state the number of temporary clerks appointed in 1910, prior to November, and the number that were appointed in 1911, prior to June, in the General Valuation Office; and whether the examinations for these posts were conducted independently of recommendations or outside influence?

The number of temporary clerks appointed in 1910 prior to November was twenty. The number appointed in 1911 prior to June was six. The examination for these posts were conducted independently of any outside influence.