asked whether a certificate from a duly qualified medical practitioner not on the list of an approved society, or on the list published by the local health committee would be accepted by an approved society or a local health committee as proof of disease or disablement so as to entitle an insured person to benefits?

This is a matter for the societies and committees themselves to determine.

asked, in the case of outworkers not exempted from the provisions of the Insurance Bill being also members of friendly societies, who will have to meet the charge when an extra levy is made by the friendly society, having regard to the fact that, where the wages earned are less than 9s. a week, a 1d. of the contribution is to be made by the Government and the remainder by the employer?

The insured persons will have to meet the cost of the extra levy in such a case, whether they ordinarily pay a contribution or not, as they are responsible for the proper management of their societies.

asked why a man receiving 3s. a day and paid daily, and thus receiving 9s. a week, should pay 4d., whilst the man who works by the week and gets 9s. should pay nothing under the Insurance Bill?

I do not follow the hon. Member's arithmetic. Three shillings a day is 18s. a week, not 9s. a week. If he means that the man only works three days a week in every week, then he has three free days for other employment or occupation.

Suppose a man can prove he does not work more than three days a week, what is his position then?

The figures are fixed for the purpose of determining the contribution between employer and employed.

What would happen to a man who worked one day in the week? Would he be obliged to pay a full week's contribution, both for sickness benefit and unemployment benefit?

That was a question to be discussed when dealing with the Bill, and that question has been discussed.

I really would like to know. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that outside there is very great confusion in the minds of the workers as to whether the contributions are to be levied on daily wages or weekly wages? Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us if that is in the Bill?

The proportional contributions from employer and employed depends upon the rate of wages calculated by the different rules very clearly set out in the Bill.

That means for one day there is to be a deduction?

Yes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us in the case of a man who only gets work two days a week and only receives 6s. per week, will he have to pay the full 4d. or will he come under the same Clause as people who only get 9s. per week or 1s. 6d. per day?

There is no secret about it; it is very clearly stated in the Bill. I thought every Member of the House knew what the provisions of the Bill were.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have asked this question before and never got an answer?

The hon. Member ought not to ask questions which are answered on the face of the Bill and were settled by the House after very full discussion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that I had a distinct promise from the Chancellor of the Exchequer that casual labourers would be specially considered to meet the very point raised in the question?

No, Sir, I am not aware of that.

asked whether hop-pickers, berry-pickers, potato-lifters, and others employed on casual work of such a nature can be dealt with under Schedule 1, Part II., Clause (i) of the National Insurance Bill?

The paragraph in question is intended to meet the case of employments which are in their nature subsidiary to other employment, and not a principal means of livelihood. The employments in question, though temporary in their nature, may be adopted as a means of livelihood, but the question would be one for the Insurance Commissioners to determine upon the facts.

May I ask what the ideas of the Treasury are upon the subject as foreshadowed in their letter of the 3rd November, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated their position had not been overlooked, and that their position was under consideration?

I should be very rash to answer the Noble Lord's question, not having the letter before me. I confess I have not even seen it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will announce the names of the Insurance Commissioners for Ireland to the House of Commons before they are given to the House of Lords or to the Press?

If my right hon. Friend is in a position—as he certainly hopes to be—to make this announcement while this House is in Session, he will adopt the procedure indicated by the hon. Member.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication as to when this announcement is likely to be made and what specific conditions will guide the Government in making the appointments?

Notice should be given of this question.

Does the right hon. Gentleman give me a promise that the House will be first informed of those very important appointments, because the House of Commons is, I think, getting tired. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order."]

May I ask why, as no difficulty was found in naming the Commissioners for England, there should be any difficulty in the case of the smaller country at a time when the House has still some control over them?

I am aware of no difficulty, but I would remind the hon. Member that the arrangements with regard to England were made months ago, but the arrangements with regard to Ireland, Scotland, and Wales were made much later.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the probability that young working men and women will lose their employment if the higher rate of contributions by the employer under the Second Schedule, Part I., of the National Insurance Bill applies to persons over twenty-one only; and whether, to obviate this result, he will consent to the age limit being lowered to eighteen years?

I do not agree with the Noble Lord in his estimate of probabilities, and I cannot adopt his suggestion.

asked what will be the additional cost of the Welsh Commissioners and of the administration of Welsh contributions under Clause 76 of the National Insurance Bill; whether the Treasury will establish the Welsh Office in North or South Wales; whether he will give the House the names of the Welsh Commissioners before the House loses control of the Bill; and whether he has been actuarialy advised that Wales will gain financially by the separation of the Welsh and English funds, or whether the average sickness in Wales is higher or lower than the average sickness in England?

That is a question which I do not feel called upon to answer. The additional cost of the Welsh Commissioners and their staff may be roughly estimated at £5,000 to £6,000. I am not yet in a position to answer the second question. I will try to comply with the request made in the third question. The answer to the fourth question is in the negative. As regards the last question, average sickness in Wales is higher than average sickness in England.

Am I to take it from that negative answer that it is a fact that Wales will not gain by the separation of the fund? And may I ask also whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer received the representation from the General Federation of Trades Unions protesting against the separation of Wales and England?

I think notice ought to be given of the latter part of the question, but with regard to the other part I think it must be obvious that any separation must entail some expenditure.

May I ask whether the whole additional cost of £5,000 or £6,000 a year will fall upon the Welsh contributors, or will it be paid by the State?

Is there any truth in the rumour that the Welsh, Scotch, and Irish Commissioners are not to be appointed, and that that system is to be abandoned?

I have not heard the rumour; the cost of the administration falls upon the State.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has been advised as to whether Wales will gain or lose by the separation?

I answered that question. I pointed out separation must involve necessarily a little additional expenditure.

Will the additional expenditure be Treasury expenditure or will it come out of the Insurance fund for Wales?

There must be some Treasury expenditure, but, of course, other parts of the expenditure must come out of the funds of the Commissioners.

Will the cost of the Welsh Central Office come out of the funds provided by Imperial expenditure?

That is the question the hon. Member asked me a few minutes ago, and to which I replied.

asked whether, in view of the whole day having been given to the discussion of the establishment of separate Scottish Commissioners and a separate Scottish fund under the National Insurance Bill, he will secure that there shall be some time given for the discussion of Clause 76, establishing a separate Commission and fund for Wales, which was passed with eighteen other new Clauses without any discussion or explanation?

It does not rest with my right hon. Friend to allocate among the various topics arising under the Bill the time given for discussion by the Resolution of the House.

asked whether employment as a foreman is reckoned as manual labour under section (g), Part II., First Schedule, of the National Insurance Bill: and, if not, whether a mechanic who was promoted at the age of fifty, after having paid contributions for more than thirty years, to the position of foreman at three guineas a week would cease to be an employed contributor?

The answer would depend upon the circumstances of the particular case, but the contributor would in any case be entitled to continue in insurance as a voluntary contributor.

asked whether a charwoman who is a married woman may be exempt from the provisions of the National Insurance Bill as an outworker under the First Schedule (j)?

I do not see how a charwoman can be brought within any ordinary definition of an outworker. A charwoman is not liable to compulsory insurance unless she has regular employment.

asked (1) whether a charwoman who works two days a week for 2s. a day and dinner will be reckoned as a person whose wages or other remuneration exceed 2s. a working day, and will, consequently, contribute 3d. on the first day she is employed, or as a person whose weekly earnings are 5s. (4s. in money plus two dinners, say 1s.), and whose average daily wages are consequently 10d., and whose employer will, consequently, have to contribute 5d., but who will not herself have to make any contribution; and (2) what contribution a charwoman who gets a day's work on Monday, but does not know whether she will get any other employment or not during the week, and whose rate of pay is 2s. and dinner, will have to make, and what contribution her employer will have to make and, if she gets one other or two other days' work during the week with different employers, how the contributions of the different employers are to be adjusted; and how they will be adjusted if she gets five days' further employment after Monday with a different employer to the one who employed her on the first day?

I will answer this and Question 36 together. All the points of detail involved in these questions are left to be determined in accordance with regulations made by the Insurance Commissioners.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the charwoman referred to in this question will be treated as an employed person, and therefore will be compulsorily insured?

I have dealt with that in my answer. I said she is not liable unless she has regular employment.

I wish to know whether a charwoman would, in the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman, be in regular employment by being employed two days a week?

The only charwoman mentioned in this question is the charwoman who is a married woman. [HON. MEMBERS: "No."] The hon. Members must give me notice. It is a very difficult question to answer at a moment's notice.

asked, in the case of a girl whose home is in the country and who is in service in London, and who is ill and is sent home by her mistress, whether she can command the attendance of a doctor in the district where her home is situate; whether if she is unwell, but not definitely ill, she can, as a preventive measure, command the service of a doctor in the district in which her mistress's house is situated; and, if her mistress sends her home when ill, who is responsible for her railway fare and other expenses of her journey, and for any bad results that may be due to her travelling?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative; the last has no connection with the Insurance Bill.

asked the Attorney-General if his attention has been called to the action of a London paper in publishing a letter protesting against sickness insurance for domestic servants, and professing to be written on behalf of forty-seven servants employed at Hamblin's Hotel, Old Brompton; whether he is aware that no such hotel exists and that the forty-seven servants are purely imaginary; and whether he proposes to call the attention of the Public Prosecutor to the matter?

My attention has been called to the letter in question, and, so far as I am aware, there is no such hotel in existence; and the forty-seven servants on whose behalf the protest is said to have been written are the product of some person's imagination. I do not, however, propose to take any steps in the matter.

Is it not the fact that newsboys have frequently been prosecuted for crying false news in the street, and if that is so ought not the noble proprietor of this newspaper to be proceeded against?

asked whether the views of the Government in regard to a separate insurance fund for Scotland have been in any way modified; and whether communications have been addressed by the Treasury on the subject to any of the Scottish representatives in this House?

My right hon. Friend's action in this matter was based on the desire of the majority of Scottish Members of this House, which, so far as he is aware, has undergone no change.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer to the second part of my question, whether communications have been addressed by the Treasury to any Scottish representatives in this House?

I have answered that point by implication in answering the first part of the question, because the question implies that these communications dealt with the first part of the question.

The question I put to the right hon. Gentleman is not with regard to any communications with the Scottish Members. I ask him distinctly, have there not been circular communications from the Treasury to a certain number of Scottish Members since the Debate?

I cannot say that I have seen any such circulars.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state whether a majority of English Members were consulted as to the arrangement for England?

This House consists of a majority of English Members, therefore the answer will be in the affirmative.

Is twenty-four a majority of seventy-two?

I am sorry to say that I do not understand the Noble Lord's conundrum.

I think hon. Members who ask supplementary questions really ought to have some regard to the rights of other hon. Members.

asked whether steps will be taken immediately after the passing of the Insurance Bill into law to increase or extend sanatoria throughout the country to meat the needs of those who will be entitled to immediate sanatorium benefit under the Bill; and if he can state the nature of the steps which will be taken?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The precise nature of the steps to be taken depends upon the Insurance Commissioners and the Local Government Board.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman will allow the South Somerset outworkers to come under the National Insurance Bill voluntarily instead of compulsorily?

If these persons were employed contributors before marriage they can continue as voluntary contributors during marriage, otherwise no married woman can be a voluntary contributor, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to make an exception in favour of a class of persons whom the hon. Member desires to exempt from the compulsory insurance.

asked the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland the population is so poor and scattered, he will take steps to provide for the necessity of giving a Grant-in-Aid to the local insurance committee, to be used by them to secure effective enjoyment of all the benefits of the scheme for the insured persons and fair mileage fees for doctors?

asked whether he is aware that in many districts in the Highlands and Islands it will be impossible for the insurance committees to supplement their resources by the levy of a rate, and that many persons compulsorily insured will be unable to obtain medical attendance or the other benefits provided by the Bill; and whether he will take steps to secure a special grant to meet this state of affairs?

also asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that in many districts in the Highlands and Islands it will be impossible for the insurance committees to supplement their resources by the levy of a rate, and that many persons compulsorily insured will be unable to obtain medical attendance or the other benefits provided by the Bill; and whether he will take steps to secure a special grant to meet this state of affairs?

The difficulty pointed out by my hon. Friend has been met to a certain extent by the insertion of Sub-section (9) of the Scottish Clause; and the new Clause passed last night giving power to vary benefits in certain cases; and, before arriving at any conclusion as to the desirability or otherwise of special grants, it seems necessary to wait for the results of these provisions.

asked whether moulders engaged in the making of casting's in steel, brass, manganese, or other metals are included in the Sixth Schedule of part 2 of the National Insurance Bill?

As at present advised, I am of opinion that steel founding would be covered by the term iron founding in paragraph 5 of the Sixth Schedule, as amended in Committee. The other classes of workmen referred to in the question would appear to be included only in so far as they are employed in connection with mechanical engineering or any other of the insured trades specified in that Schedule.

I should like to know whether steel ingot makers will be included?

I think not.

asked whether sick leave of more than twenty-four days at full pay has been granted to any established clerk to surveyors of taxes, and, if so, in how many cases and the duration of the leave in each case; whether similar treatment has been refused to other established clerks to surveyors; and, if so, will he state the reasons for the refusal?

Since December, 1910, sick leave of more than twenty-four days on full pay has been granted to five established clerks to surveyors of taxes, the duration of the leave being 168, 61, 166, 124, and 48 days respectively. In two of these cases, namely, the second and fifth, sick leave on half-pay was granted for further periods of 47 and 51 working days respectively. In one case the Commissioners of Inland Revenue refused an application for extended sick leave beyond the ordinary allowance because in their opinion the special circumstances justifying departure from the ordinary scale did not exist.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is now prepared to state that adequate compensation will be given to local authorities for the loss of rateable value arising out of the transfer to the Government of the undertakings of the National Telephone Company on 1st January, 1912?

The Treasury have undertaken to make contribution in lieu of rates on transferred telephone plant, but the exact basis of the contribution is still under consideration.

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform us whether this decision is likely to be arrived at soon?

Yes, Sir; I do not see any reason to expect any great delay in arriving at a decision.

asked if the bankers and other collectors of Income Tax are paying over the tax as collected or are retaining it in hand, as was done in the case of the Budget of 1909–10, when it was delayed by the discussion in Committee until almost as late a period in the financial year as the present Budget?

I have no reason to suppose that bankers and other paying agents are not paying over the Income Tax, as collected, in the ordinary course.

Does the right hon. Gentleman anticipate that there will be any arrears this year belonging to the late Budget?

No, Sir; but that is not a question which should be put as a supplementary question.

asked if the Government proposes to defend the action commenced against the Commissioners of Income Tax and the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Mr. Thomas Gibson Bowles?

I presume the hon. Member refers to the action commenced by Mr. Bowles against the Attorney-General, the Special Commissioners of Income Tax, and their clerk. The reply to the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) why the banking statistics of Ireland to June, 1911, prepared by the Department, contain no account of the National Thrift Bank or of the Guardian Bank; and whether he will ascertain and state the facts of public interest concerning those two institutions?

The National Thrift Bank appears to have been the personal concern of an individual who was recently prosecuted on behalf of the Crown and sentenced to imprisonment for obtaining money under false pretences in connection with that concern. The other bank mentioned in the question is not one of those coming within the scope of the Departmental Report referred to.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman can state the percentage of sugar in the sugar beet grown in Ireland this year; and how it compares with the percentage of sugar in beet grown in Germany, France, and Norfolk in England?

Analyses of beet grown in Ireland are being made, and I shall be happy to communicate the results to the hon. Member as soon as they are available, with any comparative information obtainable.

asked the Lord Advocate whether it is the intention of the Local Government Board for Scotland to issue a Memorandum on the operation of the Housing and Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, in Scotland, similar to the Report issued some days ago by the English Board?

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

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether he will consider the desirableness of introducing legislation to amend the constitution of the Board of Trade by the addition of one member who has had practical experience in trade; (2) whether he will consider the desirableness of introducing legislation to amend the constitution of the Board of Agriculture by the addition of a practical farmer to its membership?

No, Sir; I am not prepared to introduce the suggested legislation in either case. Both the Departments referred to have at their disposal the best expert advice, and it is not, in my opinion, desirable to divide the responsibility of the Head of the Department.

asked whether the financial provisions of the Bill conferring full self-government upon Ireland will be based upon statistics and analysis of the financial relations between Great Britain and Ireland since the Act of Union, ascertained by one of the parties and withheld from the other; whether any information on the subject will be given apart from the proposals in the Bill; and, if a separate statement of the particulars forming the basis of those proposals is to be submitted to the House, whether any representative Irishmen will be empowered to verify those particulars before they are produced?

As I have already said more than once, I am not in a position at this stage to make any statement as to the provisions, financial or otherwise, of the Bill in question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the second paragraph of the question which relates to matters outside the Bill?

No, Sir; I cannot answer that question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information regarding the proposed adoption by the French Government of what are popularly known as "blind" lighthouses, in which Hertzian waves are used instead of light; and, if so, whether he has considered the advisability of establishing stations thus equipped at such points on the coasts of the United Kingdom as are especially beset by fogs?

I am informed that the French lighthouse authorities propose, during the course of next year, to commence making experimental trials at certain stations of Hertzian wave fog signals, which are presumably the "blind" lighthouses referred to in my hon. Friend's question. The initiation of proposals in regard to light- houses rests with the general lighthouse authorities. I am informed by the Trinity House that they are following this subject with interest, and that in response to their request the French lighthouse authorities have undertaken to supply them with information as to the progress and results of their experiments.

Will that information be available to Members of the House?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that two wrecks have occurred within the last month off the Island of Islay, one at Oa and one at Kilchearn, four of the crew being lost, and that wrecks have often occurred in former years; and whether he will take steps to provide as soon as possible a rocket and life-saving apparatus for use on an emergency by the natives in Islay?

My attention has been called to the wreck of the Norwegian steamer "Ena" on 20th October last, and to the wreck of the Russian barque "Ocean" on 4th November, with the unfortunate loss of four lives. No casualties attended with loss of life have been reported to the Board of Trade as having occurred on the coast of Islay during the past five years, except the case of the "Ocean." The Board of Trade will consider whether it is necessary, and, if so, practicable, to place a rocket life-saving apparatus on the island.

Is the hon. Member aware that some time ago a number of boats were washed ashore on this island, which looked as if a ship had foundered and gone down there?

If he hon. Member will give me precise details they will be considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Advisory Committee of the Board of Trade has yet come to any conclusion regarding the rates of wages to be paid at Dowlais?

I am informed that the Report of the investigators who were deputed to make the inquiry to which my right hon. Friend referred, in answer to my hon. Friend's question on 13th November, will in a few days be laid before the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee.

May I ask whether the Board of Trade is aware this dispute was settled two months ago, but that, owing to the dilatory action of the Advisory Committee, the Government contract is still being withheld from the firm; and whether something cannot be done to accelerate their action?

If my hon. Friend will send me details they will be considered.

I have sent them scores of times.

asked the total number of trade disputes in the United Kingdom, involving either the lock-out or strike of workmen, reported to the Board of Trade during the period from January, 1901, to the end of December, 1906, and from January, 1907, to date, respectively, with the total number of workmen involved for the two periods?

The number of disputes from January, 1901, to December, 1906, was 2,670, involving, directly and indirectly, 951,598 workpeople at the establishments affected. During the period of January, 1907, to the end of October, 1911, the corresponding figures were 2,660 and 1,972,562.

asked if it is a fact that the Board of Trade have acquired premises for a Labour Exchange at Oswestry, but have not informed the local authority where it is situated; and where it is situated, and when it will be opened?

Negotiations are proceeding for the acquisition of suitable premises in Oswestry, and I hope that it will shortly be possible to state the address and probable date of opening of the Exchange.

asked if the Local Government Board Health Commission, which sat in Belfast in 1907, the Royal Commission on Sewage Disposal in their Seventh Report, and the Select Committee of the House of Commons, which dealt with the Belfast Corporation Bill this Session, all recommended the reclamation of the sloblands on the county Down side of Belfast Lough, and which they regarded as dangerous to the public health of the city, and if, notwithstanding these recommendations, the Board of Trade are about to execute a conveyance to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners of that portion of the sloblands on which the nuisance exists in the greatest degree, without any covenant binding them to reclamation, although the Belfast Corporation have urged the Board of Trade to insert such a covenant, and, failing that, have expressed their willingness to apply to Parliament for authority to reclaim this area if conveyed to them, on the terms that the corporation should sell to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners, at a price to be fixed by arbitration, such portion of the area, when reclaimed, as the commissioners may require for harbour purposes; and what action it is proposed to take?

I am aware of the documents mentioned by the hon. Member. Negotiations for the sale of the slob-lands under the management of the Board of Trade to the Belfast Harbour Commissioners were commenced some years before any of the recommendations as to reclamation were made, but the question of the sale and reclamation of such lands or part thereof has been the subject of correspondence between the Board of Trade, the Belfast Corporation, and the Belfast Harbour Commissioners for some time past, and the position is very much as indicated in the question. Correspondence, however, is still passing on the subject, and before executing a conveyance to the Harbour Commissioners the Board may find it desirable to invite representatives of the corporation and the commissioners to discuss the matter with them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the narrative described as a School History of England, by C. R. L. Fletcher and Rudyard Kipling, is in use in any schools under his control, i.e., supported directly or indirectly by rates or special grants of public money?

The Board do not keep a list of the books provided by local authorities and governors in schools aided by rates or grants, and I cannot, therefore, give the information asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in considering alterations to the Teachers' Superannuation Act, 1898, he will endeavour to make it possible that those teachers who did not accept the Act may be included in its regulations on payment in a lump sum of contributions that would have been payable had the Act been accepted by them?

In the event of reconsideration of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, I shall be happy to consider the hon. Member's suggestion together with any other suggestions that are put before me.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a request from the Southall-Norwood Urban District Council to provide telegraphic facilities at the New Dudley Road Post Office; whether he is aware that such office is three-quarters of a mile from the nearest telegraph office, and is, moreover, situate in the heart of the factory district of Southall; and, if so, whether he can see his way to grant this boon to the locality?

I regret to find that, as the Southall-Norwood Urban District Council were informed on 2nd September last, the establishment of a telegraph office at the Dudley Road Post Office, Southall, would not be warranted by the local circumstances. The nearest telegraph office—that in King Street—is only 550 yards distant, and the factories to which the hon. Member refers are connected with the telephone system, and can dictate and receive their telegrams by telephone direct to the Southall Head Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the mail steamer "Glencoe," on the Mallaig and Portree route, was built in 1845, and that during the week ending Monday, 6th November, it was unable to leave Kyle of Lochalsh pier for Mallaig owing to stress of weather, and that on Tuesday, 7th November, two Highland cows on board were pressed through the bulwarks and fell overboard; and whether he will take steps to secure the provision of a more seaworthy and safer steamer for mail and passenger traffic?

It is believed that the steamer "Glencoe" was built about the date mentioned, but I understand that it was reconstructed at a subsequent date. The steamer is under contract to carry mails between Portree and Kyle, but the Post Office has no control over the voyage between Kyle and Mallaig—the route on which the incidents mentioned are stated to have occurred. The mail service is performed by the steamer in accordance with contract requirements, and, so far as the mail service is concerned, there would be no justification for the provision of a more powerful steamer.

Has the right hon. Gentleman nothing to do with this part of the mail service?

asked the Postmaster-General whether at present the mails for Tarbert, South Harris, lie overnight at Portree; and will he consider the advantage of having a direct service from Kyle of Lochalsh to Tarbert, in the Island of Harris?

I am aware that mails from the mainland for Tarbert lie overnight at Portree. A direct service to Tarbert from Kyle of Lochalsh could not be afforded except at additional expense, which would not be justified by the amount of correspondence. There is already a heavy loss on the Harris postal service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial, dated 13th May, 1910, from the United Kingdom Postal Clerks' Association, relative to the transfer of work from the class of sorting clerks and telegraphists to that of postmen at Chippenham; whether any inquiry has been made into the matter; and whether he is able to accede to the requests contained in such memorial?

I duly received the memorial to which the hon. Member refers. The representations made therein related to arrangements in force, not only at Chippenham, but at a large number of offices; and the various questions involved are under the consideration of a special Committee. I hope to receive the Committee's Report shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that parcel post rates from this country to the United States are higher than those from Germany; and whether he is able to take any action in the matter?

I am aware that the postage on parcels sent from the United Kingdom to the United States of America is at present somewhat higher than the postage charged on parcels sent from Germany to the United States of America, and I have been in negotiation with the United States Post Office for some time past, with the view of effecting a reduction of the rates from this country. I am glad to announce that the negotiations have been successful, and that, as a result, the rates on parcels sent from the United Kingdom by the official service will be reduced on 1st December. The present rates are: Up to 3 lbs., 1s. 6d.; up to 7 lbs., 2s. 6d.; up to 9 lbs., 3s. 6d.; and up to 11 lbs., 4s. 6d. The future rates will be: Up to 3 lbs., 1s. 3d.; up to 7 lbs., 2s. 3d.; and up to 11 lbs., 3s. 3d.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether that compares favourably with the charges for German parcels?

Yes, that compares favourably with the German parcels.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received any complaints of the present system of requiring postage stamps to be affixed to letters and postal packets on the ground of the burthen thus imposed, and of the impropriety of thus requiring private persons to become imperial tax-gatherers; and what steps he will take in the matter?

The public affix several thousand million stamps to letters and other documents each year without complaint so far as I am aware, except occasionally with respect to the adhesiveness of the stamps. I propose to take no steps in the matter except to continue my efforts to improve the adhesiveness of the stamps.

asked whether the inspecting officer who inquired into the strike of girls at the Peel Connor Tele- phone Works, Manchester, while the firm were carrying out a Government contract, asked the girls to submit their view of the trouble; and, if not, will an inquiry be again undertaken and the girls' evidence taken in the matter of the reduction in wages which caused the strike?

I find that the girls who struck work were not asked to submit their views. I am sending an officer to make a further investigation, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member without delay.