asked the Chancellor what, in the event of the Insurance Bill becoming law in its present form, will become of the sum standing to the credit of a domestic servant in the event of death after having been an insured person for ten years under the scheme, or in the event of emigration after having been an insured person for ten years, or in the event of marriage after having been an insured person for ten years; and can he say if the ultimate fate of the accumulated premiums of such a person will be in any way affected by reason of the fact that no sick pay or medical benefit has been derived owing to the employer having himself made provision for his servants' illnesses?

In the first case the value of the servant's insurance is absorbed into the funds of the society; in the second case, if she joins a similar society in the country to which she emigrates, she takes her transfer value with her. In the third case, two-thirds of her transfer value is either given to her in the form of special benefit, or, at her option, used to secure the continuance of her insurance at a reduced rate of contributions and benefits, the remaining one-third being granted to give her the right to immediate insurance at the full rate in the event of becoming a widow. As regards the last part of the question, if servants do not wish for sickness benefit they can form their own societies and use the money thus saved to establish a superannuation fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will extend the concessions promised to the wives of South Somerset outworkers to girls and widows?

My right hon. Friend does not think it desirable to take the action suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in View of the expression of feeling by members of friendly societies, more especially in rural districts, for approved societies to be allowed to provide death benefits out of their surpluses, he will reconsider the point on the Report stage of the National Insurance Bill and will recommend that, should a division be taken, hon. Members should be free to vote on non-party lines?

I must remind the hon. and gallant Member that I am bound by a definite pledge on this subject.

asked whether a charwoman who is employed regularly once a week or once a month by the same mistress will become an insured person under the National Insurance Bill; and, if so, what will the rate of her contribution be?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The rate of her contribution will be 6d. a week, payable by the first employer in the week, or by such other person as the Insurance Commissioners may by regulations determine.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, at present, if a man leaves his lodgings and goes into a hospital he gets his sick pay, which is sufficient to enable him to keep on his lodgings while he is in hospital, and help him to a convalescent home afterwards, but that, under Clause 14 (b) of the National Insurance Bill, if he has no dependent, his sick benefit goes to the local insurance committee, so that he has none of this money with which to keep on his lodgings or get to a convalescent home; and whether he proposes to make any Amendment to the Bill to meet such cases?

The principle of sickness benefit is that it should assist a man to maintain himself and his family while incapacitated by illness. If he is being maintained without expense to himself, and has no dependents this principle does not apply. I may remind the hon. Member that the money thus saved to the committees will be used largely in contributions to hospitals and similar institutions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state the percentages of the duty charged upon retail liquor licences for the years 1908–9, 1909–10, and 1910–11 collected in England (including Wales), Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, distinguishing between on-licences and off-licences; and (2) whether he will state what amounts have been received since the 31st March, 1911, in respect of duties on liquor licences by way of surcharges for the year 1909–10, and for the year 1910–11; what repayments have been made since the 31st March in respect of duties charged as liquor licences for each of those years respectively; and to what extent the yield of the duties on liquor licences for those years, as stated in the Second Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise, has been increased or diminished?

I am afraid that I cannot at present give any figures that would not be incomplete, and possibly misleading, owing to the number of cases, where the values are not yet finally settled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any preliminary statement in reference to the proposed scheme of pensions for Irish national teachers will be circulated amongst Members of this House; and, if so, can he state when this information will be available?

I regret that the prolongation into an Autumn Session of the discussions on the Insurance Bill has delayed the fulfilment of my promise on this matter. As I have repeatedly stated, I adhere fully to that promise, and will give careful consideration to the question as soon as the Insurance Bill has become law, but the hon. Member for Monaghan will understand that it is impossible for me at the present stage to give a definite reply to his inquiries.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Treasury sanction has as yet been given for the proposed increase in the staff of the Land Registry of Ireland; and whether, in view of the urgency of the case, consequent on the amount of the arrears which has accumulated, he will take steps to see that this matter is dealt with as expeditiously as possible?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 29th ultimo to the hon. Member for the St. Stephen's Green Division of Dublin.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners will, in the exercise of their statutory powers, intervene and prevent the breakdown of the sale of Captain Smyth's Coole estate, Westmeath, owing to a question of bog, how much bog is comprised in that estate; how much of it is offered to the purchasing tenants; what is to be done with the remainder of it; and whether the Commissioners would purchase the entire estate, attach equitable portions to the holdings, and vest the remainder in the county or district council in trust for people within reach of it?

This estate is being sold direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1909. As I have already informed the hon. Member the question of the provision of turbary for the tenants is engaging the attention of the Estates Commissioners, and the owner has consented to the allotment of turbary to tenants in need of it. The Commissioners are not prepared to purchase the estate, which, as already stated, is the subject of direct sale proceedings between the owner and the tenants under the Land Purchase Acts. At this stage of the proceedings they are not in a position to make any statement in reference to the other matters referred to in the question.

asked whether any account is being kept of the process in progress in Ireland since 1903 of landlords, preparatory to sale of their estates, felling all the trees and planting none in their stead; and whether any measures are to be taken to check this destruction of shelter and ornament and promote the planting of trees?

Accounts of the acreage under woods and plantation are published from year to year in the agricultural statistics, but there is no power to interfere with the felling of timber on estates which are not the subject of proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts. Where an advance has been made, or a purchase agreement entered into since the passing of the Act of 1909, the proprietor of the holding is prohibited by law from cutting timber necessary for the ornament or shelter of the holding without the consent of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have dealt with the case of Mrs. Burke, of Castlemaine, county Kerry, evicted tenant on the Godfrey estate; and will he explain what is the cause of the delay in making her a grant?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Mrs. Burke purchased her holding as tenant in occupation in connection with the sale of this estate by the owner direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and her holding was vested in her under that Act. The Commissioners have decided not to take any action in reference to her application for a grant.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Congested Districts Board will carry out the sale and settlement of the Taaffe and Laven estate, of Fox-borough, alias Poleshannagh, Clooney- guin, Elphin, county Roscommon, now managed for the Board by Mr. Timothy Rorke; and, seeing that all the tenanted holdings on the estate are uneconomic, whether they will be enlarged by the distribution of the untenanted grass farms on the estate?

The Congested Districts Board made an offer for the purchase of the estate referred to in April last, but it has not yet been accepted.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Congested Districts Board are negotiating with the proprietors of the Perceval estate, in the county Sligo, and what prospect there is of an immediate arrangement for purchase; and whether he is aware of the amount of the rents at present demanded from the tenants?

The Congested Districts Board communicated with the agent regarding this property, but so far it has not been offered for sale through them. There is no prospect of an immediate sale, and the Board have no information regarding the rents at present demanded from the tenants.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet completed their negotiations with Sir Jocelyn Gore Booth for the purchase of his untenanted lands in county Sligo, including the Seven Cartrons portions of the property?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet completed negotiations for the purchase of Sir Jocelyn Gore Booth's estate, comprising tenanted and untenanted lands in the county Sligo. The estate which is the subject of negotiations does not include the Seven Cartrons portion of the property, which the Board are informed is part of the owner's demesne, and which he does not intend to sell.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have received representations from the tenants of the Straford or Lewis estate, situate at Castleconnor, county' Sligo; and if he will state what steps the Board have taken to acquire this estate?

The Congested Districts Board have received communications from the tenants asking them to purchase the estate referred to. Mr. O'Sullivan obtained the necessary forms on which to furnish particulars of the estate some time ago, but they have not yet been lodged with the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will say how many of the 9,000 evicted tenants said to be still unprovided for under either Land Acts or Evicted Tenants Acts, have been noted for favourable consideration; when is it expected that all these will have been settled; and what his intentions are regarding the remainder who, mostly for technical reasons, have not been so noted?

A large number of persons who sent in applications for holdings as evicted tenants were found on inquiry to be outside the provisions of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Evicted Tenants Act. In addition to the 3,000 evicted tenants who have been reinstated or provided with new holdings, 500 applications have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land as opportunities arise. The Commissioners are of opinion that these cases include all persons whose claims deserve consideration, and are suitable to work land, and they are not prepared to reconsider the other cases in which they have decided to take no action.

asked the Chief Secretary how many plots for labourers' cottages have been acquired by the Cootehill (No. 2) Rural District Council, county Monaghan, and on which no cottages have as yet been erected; will he give the dates on which the schemes covering these sites were initiated; the dates on which the sites were acquired; what income has been received by the council in respect of these sites since their acquirement; and will he urge the Local Government Board, in view of the demand for cottages in this district, to make representations to the Cootehill (No. 2) Rural District Council to proceed immediately with the erection of the cottages?

The Local Government Board have ascertained from the Clerk of the Council that twenty-six sites have been acquired on which cottages have not yet been erected, but on five of these plots cottages are in course of erection. The scheme was initiated on 14th February, 1907, and twenty-four plots were acquired between December, 1909, and August, 1910, the remaining two being acquired in January and July last respectively. The council have received no income in respect of the sites. The delay in building the cottages is due to the council's inability to find contractors, notwithstanding repeated advertisements. In the circumstances the Board will suggest to the council the propriety of having the works executed by direct labour under the supervision of their engineer, and a clerk or clerks of works as has been done in other districts where similar difficulties have been experienced.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether certain Queen's scholars who were in training during the sessions 1898–1900 were, on first appointment as teachers under the National Board, paid at a higher rate of salary than £56 per annum plus residual capitation grant, and, if so, were the Commissioners of National Education surcharged by the Auditor-General the extra amounts paid these teachers; and whether he can state for what reasons these teachers were paid this higher rate of salary?

The Commissioners of National Education are not in a position to make a statement in regard to this question unless the names of the teachers referred to and the schools in which they were serving are furnished to them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many of the 32,000 men of the Territorial Army absent from camp this year, were prevented from attending owing to leave being refused by their employers?

I regret that there are no statistics available at the War Office to enable me to give the required information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War by what procedure, whether by correspondence or by conference, the Government, in concert with the county associations, is now considering the whole question of the recruiting of the Territorial Force; when he expects to have arrived at definite conclusions on the matter; and whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a committee to report on the various suggestions which have been made?

The county associations were invited by a circular letter to make suggestions on the question of recruiting for the Force. The various suggestions received are now being considered, and definite conclusions will shortly be reached. Frequent conferences have taken place between the various departments concerned, and deputations have been received from representative bodies, and I do not therefore consider that a special committee is necessary at present.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War: (1) Whether he has received any communications from the commanding officers of the London Territorial Forces calling attention to the impossibility of married men attending camp for a fortnight until some better provision than 1s. per day is made for the maintenance of their wives and families; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter? (2) Whether the War Office are considering the question of a revision of the scales of pay for members of the Territorial Forces; and whether it is proposed to make any provision to enable poor men to become members without making them pay a toll on their wages for so doing? (3) Whether the War Office has received complaints from the London Territorial Forces of the difficulty of some members of the Force finding the fares for attending drills and ranges; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter? And (4) whether his Department have had their attention drawn to the possibility of shrinkage by lack of recruiting in the numbers of the Territorial Army; whether the failure to secure recruits is entirely due to the fact that to join the Territorial Army means a financial liability to every poor member; and whether his Department are considering some alteration in the scales which will make it unnecessary for a recruit to pay for belonging to the Territorial Army?

Various proposals, including those suggested in my hon. Friend's questions, for encouraging recruiting in the Territorial Force have been received from county associations, and are now being carefully considered. I am not therefore at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state hew many effective aeroplanes are now owned by the War Department; how many of them are of English and French manufacture; and how many of each sort have been purchased since 1st January, 1911?

There are twelve effective aeroplanes at present owned by the War Department, and three more are under reconstruction in the factory. Of these, nine are of English and six are of French manufacture. Seven aeroplanes of English and four of French manufacture have been purchased since 1st January, 1911.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether any inquiries have been made into the complaints of the workmen engaged upon the Parva Barracks, Leicester, with reference to breaches of the Fair-Wages Resolution of the House of Commons by the contractors; and, if so, with what result?

This case has been investigated. Some of the points raised were of a debatable character, but there is reason to hope that a satisfactory agreement will be secured on all of them. The correspondence is not quite completed.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether his attention has been drawn to a recent statement, made by the manager of a British firm engaged in sword manufacture, that the swords purchased by officers in our Army are frequently weapons wholly or in part of German manufacture, exported to this country and sold at a price at which it is not possible for home manufacturers to compete; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to stop this practice; and (2) whether, in view of the fact that the requirements of the commissioned ranks can be easily supplied by the Government Small Arms Factory, he will issue instructions to officers commanding units that all swords shall be obtained either directly from a Government factory or, in the alternative, that no swords shall be deemed to comply with the regulations without bearing on hilt and blade an approved stamp denoting that they are of British manufacture and up to the required Government standard?

In reply to these questions I would remind the hon. Member that officers pay for their own swords. It is not considered desirable to place any restrictions on officers as regards the source of supply of the equipment which they purchase with their own money.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the prize fight which took place at Wrexham barracks on the 22nd instant under the patronage of the officers of the regiment stationed there; and whether he will discourage such practices?

Nothing is known in the War Office concerning this matter. I am causing inquiries to be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can state how many men have been enrolled in the Volunteer Police Force; if he is aware that over 90 per cent. of the men are non-union men; and if it is the intention of the employers to use the men not only to protect their property, but to work in the places of the men who may be out on strike?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme. The so-called volunteer police force is a private organisation, over which I have no control, and as to whose numbers I have no information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the approximate number of men displaced by the recent railway dispute in Ireland is as follows:—Tralee, 12; Belfast, 76; Dundalk, 61; Amiens Street, Dublin, 72; North Wall, Dublin, 16; Broadstone, Dublin, 31; Kingsbridge, Dublin, 52; Sallins, 9; Limerick, 22; Limerick Junction, 4; Kilkenny, 1; Maryborough, 5; Rosslare, 13; Mallow, 6; Waterford, 13; Kilmallock, 2; Portarlington, 1; Rathduff, 2; Kildare, 2; Cork, 13; total, 413; whether the railway directors undertook, as the basis of the settlement of the dispute, that 90 per cent. of the men should be taken back at once and the remainder as soon as possible; whether he is aware that distress prevails in the families of the men who have not been taken back; whether he is aware that the men not taken back forfeit the whole of their contributions to the companies' sick and benefit funds, into which some of them have been paying for twenty-nine years; and whether, seeing that public opinion in Ireland is in favour of the reinstatement of these men, and in view of all the circumstances and pending a general settlement of the whole question, the Board of Trade will exercise its influence to bring about an immediate reinstatement of these men.

I am not aware whether the facts are as stated, and I fear I cannot intervene in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he took to secure that the workmen's representatives on the central trade board for the tailoring trade were really representative of the workmen?

The trade unions were invited to suggest names of representatives, and investigators were also sent to the various districts to obtain names of suitable representatives of workers, including home workers. All the names suggested were carefully considered by the Board of Trade, and every effort was made to secure that the workers' side should be really representative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Great Northern Railway Company have so altered their working arrangements at Derby that locomotive men working the 5 a.m. train to Stafford are kept continuously employed for nearly twelve hours without any opportunity for partaking of food; and, as this is calculated to impose undue strain on the men working important trains, if he will take steps to enable the men to have an opportunity of partaking of food during the day?

I am asking the company for information on this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend on receipt of their reply.

asked the Postmaster General whether he would explain why, although the sorting staff at Cork conveyed the irregular conduct of a now reduced assistant superintendent to the postmaster, it was left to the staff to show the Postmaster-General the condition of affairs; and whether, if the staff again complain of being victimised in regard to promotion or in other ways, he will give his personal attention to their complaint?

The representations made to the Postmaster in May, 1910, by the staff at Cork were duly reported to me. The existing rules relating to the submission of memorials provide for access to the Postmaster-General when the staff of any office desire to appeal against local decisions.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of complaints received from the public regarding errors in the transmission of telegrams at the Cork post office caused by the employment of casual workers during the past twelve months; and whether any steps are being taken to put an end to the state of things which has given rise to those complaints?

No separate records are kept of errors made by telegraphists employed temporarily in the Cork post office, but there is no reason to suppose that they are more numerous proportionately than those of other members of the staff. Care is always taken to engage efficient telegraphists for temporary work.

asked the Postmaster-General if he could now state the result of his inquiries as to the number of married women employed in salaried sub-offices who are the wives of established officers in receipt of fixed wages and with the prospect of pension; and whether he would take steps to ensure that such employment would not prevent the creation of established posts in the offices concerned?

As stated in the letter forwarded to the hon. Member by my directions on the 11th September last, out of 830 female assistants employed at salaried sub-offices, twenty-three are the wives of established officers and twenty-two of this number are the wives of the sub-postmasters. The hon. Member will see that the employment of this small number can have no appreciable effect on the creation of established appointments.

asked the Postmaster-General whether in the proposed assimilation of the districts of superintending engineers and of surveyors the comparative claims of Birmingham and of Nottingham to be the headquarters of the district have been taken into account; and, if so, whether he will state what are the preponderating reasons why the headquarters should not be fixed at Birmingham?

Birmingham—with a few surrounding towns—forms a separate district, under the control of a postmaster-surveyor. It is not included in one of the large provincial surveying districts. For this reason the retention of the superintending engineer of the provincial district at Birmingham, would be directly opposed to the present policy of placing the surveyor and superintending engineer of each district in the same town, wherever this course is reasonably practicable. Nottingham is found to be the most convenient centre for the district as a whole; all the circumstances of the case have been fully considered.