asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if an undertaking has been entered into by the Treasury that the co-operative societies will be approved societies under the National Insurance Bill; and whether any undertakings or understandings can be entered into before the Insurance Commissioners have issued their regulations?

No undertaking can be given by the Treasury. It is a question that must be decided under the Bill by the Insurance Commissioners.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the National Insurance Bill, a proportion of the amount standing to the credit of a deposit contributor will pass to his next-of-kin should he die before the age of seventy; and whether, in the event of his living beyond that age, his representatives will receive nothing?

The answer to the first question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative; it is immaterial for the purposes of the question whether death takes place before or after the age of seventy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to a letter addressed to the Inland Revenue Commissioners by the county treasurer of Somerset, and dated 19th June last, on the subject of Income Tax on land acquired for small holdings; and when a reply to the letter may be expected?

The subject of the letter referred to, which affects other counties as well as Somerset, has necessitated extensive inquiry. A letter has-now been addressed to the Somerset county council treasurer on lines of which he had already been orally informed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when a county council hires land for the purpose of small holdings and lets it to applicants at an increased rent, the increase being due to-charges for management and other expenses, Income Tax is charged to the council on the the whole of such increased rent; whether the council is allowed to-deduct from the rent paid to their landlord the whole amount of tax so paid, provided it does not amount to more than 1s. 2d. in the pound on the rent payable for the year?

As regards the first part of the question, it is understood that the General Commissioners are in practice assessing the whole rent paid to the county council in the circumstances set forth in the question. As regards the second part, the amount of tax which the council is allowed to deduct from the rent paid to the landlord is a matter between the council and the landlord; but, in the event of any difference arising between them on the subject, the Commissioners for General Purposes in the district are required by Section 160 of the Income Tax Act, 1842, to adjudicate in the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether county councils are allowed,, in accounting for the Income Tax deducted by them from interest paid to their lenders on general county account, to take credit for all Schedule A Tax which they have been called upon to pay in respect of small holdings, both as regards lands rented (when the tax paid exceeds that which can be deducted from rent paid to the landowner) and lands purchased out of loans advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners'?

All interest paid to the Public Works Loan Commissioners is allowed as a set-off against any assessable income of the council. Whether the tax payable under Schedule A should be set off against the tax deducted from interest depends on the circumstances of each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in the absence on leave of a surveyor of taxes in a district in which there is no established officer among the surveyor's staff, the district is in the virtual charge of the unestablished temporary first clerk, the district surveyor merely attending for a few minutes each week to sign the more important papers; that for the rest of the time the unestablished temporary clerk opens all correspondence, including that relating to special assessments, checks the notices of charge by special commissioners with the assessments, posts these notices to the persons concerned, and reports to that effect to the special commissioners; that the unestablished temporary clerk has access, in the surveyor's absence, to every document in the office relating to special as well as ordinary assessments, has to interview all callers, and generally has to manage and oversee all business transacted in the surveyor's absence; and, if so, whether, in view of the nature of these duties, consideration will be given to the claim of these clerks for establishment and conditions of service similar to those of clerks of the second division of the Civil Service?

In a district where there is no established officer on the staff of the Surveyor of Taxes, leave of absence is granted to the surveyor only at seasons when the bulk of the confidential and responsible work can be held over until his return. Urgent cases arising during his absence are dealt with by the neighbouring surveyor, who attends as often as is necessary for this purpose and for the purpose of supervising the general routine work of the office. As regards special assessments, the normal practice is that only established clerks should deal with them, though it may, of course, happen that in a case of emergency an unestablished clerk, who like all clerks to Surveyors of Taxes, is sworn to secrecy, might be called upon to deal with such a matter. During the surveyor's absence an unestablished clerk would have access to all documents other than special assessments and confidential documents which the surveyor is required to keep locked up. In the same circumstances the unestablished clerk would certainly interview callers and, if he were able to, would give the information they desired; otherwise he would arrange for them to call again on the surveyor's return. Having regard to the nature of their duties and to the qualifications required of these unestablished clerks, who have not entered the service by such an examination as has been passed by all second division clerks, I do not consider that the claim referred to in the last part of the question is a good one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that, of 827 men clerks to surveyors of taxes 230 only are on the establishment, and that the only provision now existing for the superannuation of the unestablished clerks is that they are promoted to the established list as vacancies occur; whether he will state the number of such vacancies normally occurring during the next ten years; and whether, having regard to the number of such vacancies and to the number of clerks in each class, and to the ages of the unestablished clerks, he will consider the advisability of making more adequate provision for the superannuation of the latter?

I am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. As regards the second part, the number of vacancies in the established classes normally occurring during the next ten years will be between sixty and seventy. As regards the third part, I am unable to advise any alteration of the existing terms of service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the arrangement of the scales of pay of clerks to Surveyors of Taxes, Class D having a minimum salary of £52, an annual increment of £5 5s. and £6 10s., and a maximum of £78 and £104; Glass C a minimum of £78, an increment of £6 10s., and a maximum of £130; Class B a minimum of £78, an increment of £6 10s. and a maximum of £156; Class A a minimum of £104, an increment of £6 10s., and a maximum of £182; whether he is aware that, by reason of the overlapping of the maximum and minimum salaries, the majority of clerks are promoted from the lower to the higher classes without any immediate increase of pay; whether he is aware that many clerks refuse promotion when it is offered to them without increase of pay owing to their inability to meet the extra expenses which promotion usually entails, particularly in the cases of clerks transferred from country to London districts; will he state the object of the overlapping arrangements of the salaries; whether the same system applies to any other, and, if so, which officers in the Inland Revenue department; and will he, in view of the fact that the maximum salary attainable by the majority of clerks is £130, and that the highest possible maximum of £182 can only be reached after not less than twenty-one years' service, consider the desirability of rearranging the scales of pay on a basis more in accordance with the general acceptation and application of the term promotion, and more commensurate with the confidential and important duties which clerks to Surveyors of Taxes carry out?

I am aware of the arrangement of the scales of pay of clerks to Surveyors of Taxes and of the fact that, by reason of the overlapping of the scales, promotion does not necessarily mean an immediate increase of pay. Only in a small proportion of cases do clerks refuse promotion, and, while I cannot say that in no case the cause may be that mentioned by the hon. Member, I am satisfied that in the great majority of cases the refusal is due to other causes. The overlapping system applies to Second Division clerks, minor staff officers, warehousemen, and stampers in the Inland Revenue Department. That the maximum of a class should not be limited by the minimum of the class above it is in the interests of those who may not be considered suitable for promotion. I am not satisfied that there are any grounds which would justify or make desirable an alteration of the system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether all the Scottish universities have now adopted the principle of an inclusive fee; what fee has been adopted in each case; and whether this represents an increase in the amount of fees hitherto paid by poorer students; and whether any of the Scottish universities have indicated an unwillingness to accept this proposal?

All the Scottish universities have accepted the principle of an inclusive fee. A conference of representatives of the universities met in July last, and agreed upon a scale of fees for certain courses. Three of the four University Courts have intimated to the Treasury their acceptance of the proposals of the conference. I understand that Edinburgh University Court are in favour of certain alternative proposals. It would take too long to state in detail the various rates of fees. The fact that the University Courts have settled the rates of fees appears to me to be a sufficient answer to the suggestion that the interests of poorer students will be prejudiced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Treasury intimated to the Scottish universities that the increased grant would be conditional upon them adopting the principle of an inclusive fee; and whether this condition was made before or after this House had sanctioned the grant?

The date of the Treasury letter intimating the decision of the Treasury on the Report of Lord Elgin's Committee was 14th July. 1910. The Supplementary Estimate making the increased provision for that year was voted in Committee of Supply on the 19th July and reported on the following day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the superintending valuer of the West Riding Division has stated that the deduction of a sum for the cost of clearing a site is only to be made if it would be necessary to incur the cost of divestment in order to realise the amount of money placed upon the land in the valuation as full site value; and whether he will say if this instruction has been issued with his sanction?

The statement attributed to the superintending valuer for the West Riding Division is in accordance with the views of the Board of Inland Revenue as to the effect of the provisions of Section 25 (4) (e) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer who was the last person to hold the office described in the List of Rules, Orders, etc., issued on 4th December, as Clerk of the Pipe; what was the amount of the perpetual pension he enjoyed in lieu of fees; how much was paid to him when his pension was commuted in 1906; whether he holds any office under the Government at present; and, if so, what salary is being paid to him?

The amount of the perpetual pension granted in 1835 as compensation for the abolition of the office was £62 9s. 8d.; the sum for which this was commuted in 1906 was £1,683 12s. 3d. The last person to hold the office in question was a Mr. R. Harrison, who purchased it in 1798. He does not hold any office under the Government at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects that the register of annual licence values prescribed by Section 44, Sub-section (2), of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, will be completed; and whether it will be completed in time to be made the basis of duties to be collected for the financial year 1912–13?

Pending a decision on an appeal to the High Court on a question which has arisen as to the proper method of arriving at the annual licence value of licensed premises, it has been deemed expedient to suspend the making of the valuations. I regret that for this and other reasons I see no prospect of the register being completed in time for it to serve as the basis of duties to be collected for the financial year 1912–13.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the percentages of the amounts of Liquor Licence Duty collected in England (including Wales), Scotland, and Ireland respectively for the years 1908–9, 1909–10, and 1910–11?

If the total amounts of Liquor Licence Duty levied in the United Kingdom be apportioned between England (including Wales), Scotland, and Ireland respectively, the percentages are as follows for the years 1908–9 and 1909–10:—

——		England.	Scotland.	Ireland.
		Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
1908–9	…	83.49	8.84	7.67
1909–10	…	89.61	5.64*	4.75
* In Scotland the higher duties on Retail licences were charged for only five months of the year 1909–10.

Final figures for the year 1910–11 are not yet available, owing to the number of cases in which valuations are still outstanding.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Blake estate, situate at Cormeen, Moynalty, county Meath, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and what action has been taken?

This estate is the subject of proceedings in the Land Judge's Court, and the Estates Commissioners have forwarded a request to the Land Judge, under Section 7 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, with respect to it. They understand that the particulars and documents-necessary to enable them to make an offer for the purchase of this estate will shortly be lodged with them, when the matter will be further considered by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state if purchase agreements have been lodged on behalf of a tenant named David Farrell, on the Nicholson estate, near Carlanstown, Kells, county Meath; whether the same tenant has already received advances for the purchase of other holdings; and whether the Estates Commissioners will have an inquiry instituted, and a Return issued, giving the various amounts advanced or applied for by this tenant and the respective estates upon which he applied?

No agreement signed by a tenant named David Farrell for the purchase of his holding on this estate has been lodged with the Estates Commissioners. An agreement signed by a J. P. Farrell has, however, been lodged, in which it is stated that he has not applied for or obtained any advances for the purchase of any other land under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners will, before sanctioning advances for the purchase of the Headfort estate, county Meath, consider the application of the residents of Kells for an advance to purchase their houses in the town held from the same landlord?

There are three estates of the Marquis of Headfort pending for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act (1903). The Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say whether it would be possible to make any advances in respect of the town holdings in the event of the parties agreeing as to terms, and lodging purchase agreements in respect of them.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the Brereton estate, comprising the townland of Carrowpadden and the village of Easkey, county Sligo; and what is the present state of the negotiations?

The Congested Districts Board have been in communication with the owner of the estate referred to, but it has not so far been offered for sale through them.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will explain on what grounds the Congested Districts Board have demanded one year's rent from the tenants of the Palmer estate, county Sligo, before the terms of sale have been settled between the Board and the tenants, and the rights of the tenants defined as to turbary and other matters?

The rents are being collected by the Congested Districts Board in accordance with the terms of the agreement entered into between the Board and the owner pending the legal vesting of the estate in the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have had offers from the proprietors of the Brinkley and Worthington estates, situated near Easkey, county Sligo, for the sale of these estates to the Board; and when he expects the sale to be completed and the resale to the tenants carried out?

The estates referred to have been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable. If terms are agreed upon for the purchase of these properties the resale to the tenants will be carried out without avoidable delay, but prior to resale to the tenants a considerable time will first be occupied in carrying out improvements.

asked if he will state what estates in county Sligo have been purchased by the Congested Districts Board since the passing of the Land Act of 1909; and also the estates which have been offered for sale to the Board and those which the proprietors have refused to sell to the Board, giving in each case the name of the proprietor and the local name of the estate and, where purchase has been effected, the terms of purchase?

The information asked for is not available, and could not be procured without an expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its public utility.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether the tenants on the Percival estate, county Sligo, have approached the Congested Districts Board with a request that the Board should purchase this estate; whether the Board are negotiating with the proprietor; and, if so, when is the sale likely to be completed and the land re-sold to the tenants?

The tenants on the estate referred to have approached the Congested Districts Board with a view to the purchase of the property by them. The Board have communicated with the agent of the property, but so far it has not been offered for sale through them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have been applied to by the tenants in Lower Rosses and district, county Sligo, with a request for the purchase of the Middleton estate for the relief of the acute congestion which prevails in the district; whether he is aware of the fact that the tenants who desire to have this estate purchased have at present holdings ranging from three to five and a-half acres; and whether he can state what steps the Board will take in order to have these uneconomic holdings enlarged and the estate purchased?

The Congested Districts Board have received memorials from the tenants regarding the estate referred to. The Board have been in communication with the owner, but the estate has not so far been offered for sale through them. Further inquiries will be made in this case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware of the negotiations for a sale proceeding between the tenants of the Tottenham estate, Easkey, county Sligo, and the Congested Districts Board and the proprietor, Colonel Tottenham, of Ballycurry, county Wicklow; whether Colonel Tottenham has refused to sell it to the Board; whether there is part of this estate in the occupation of bailiffs comprising uncultivated land which might be made available for the tenants of small uneconomic holdings; and whether, in the circumstances of this case, the Board intend to put into operation the compulsory provisions of the Act of 1909, so as to force a direct sale by Colonel Tottenham to the Board?

The Congested Districts Board have been approached by the tenants of the estate referred to, with a view to the purchase of the estate by them, and have communicated with Colonel Tottenham on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet sent a valuer to the Streedagh estate, Grange, county Sligo; and if he can state when the purchase negotiations are likely to be completed and carried through and the untenanted portion of the estate divided up amongst the tenants?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the inspection of the It. W. Jones estate, Streedagh, has been commenced, but has not yet been completed. The purchase of the property will be considered by the Board as soon as practicable, and if terms of purchase are agreed upon the untenanted land on the estate will be distributed without avoidable delay.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the progress of negotiations in regard to the small estate in West Clare of which the owner is Francis O'Donnell, now resident in New Zealand, and the agent, Charles O'Keane, Hermitage, Ennis, county Clare; and whether steps will be taken, in view of the unanimous desire of the tenants for a settlement on a reasonable basis, to expedite this matter?

The Congested Districts Board have been in communication with the agent of the estate referred to, and are giving the matter their attention.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Loughrea section of the Earl of Clan-carty's estate was purchased by the tenants four years ago; that the purchase agreements were signed by the tenants on the understanding that the Grallagh, Dalys-town, grazing farm would be handed over to the Estates Commissioners for distribution amongst the tenants on the estate; and whether he can state when the Commissioners expect to be able to deal with this estate, with a view to allay the great anxiety in this district?

If the hon. Member refers to the estate of the Earl of Clancarty situated near the town of Loughrea, it is not being purchased by the tenants from the owner, but is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903. The lands of Grallagh are not on this property, but 265 acres of the lands of Aille are included in the sale to the Commissioners, and this may be the farm referred to by the hon. Member. The estate will be dealt with in its order of priority, but the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state, approximately, the amount of land in each county in the hands of the Congested Districts Board which was not divided or allotted at the 1st of January, 1911, and the amounts in the respective counties unallotted at the present time?

What may be called the balance of untenanted land in hand is always changing, fresh land being bought and grants of untenanted land being made to tenants. According to a rough estimate the following figures answer the question:—

Country.		Amount of Land Unallotted, 1st January, 1911.	Amount of Land Unallotted, 6th December, 1911.
		Acres.	Acres.
Donegal	…	22	6,923
Leitrim	…	150	3,666
Sligo	…	279	4,475
Roscommon	…	7,466	15,025
Mayo	…	12,132	21,266
Galway	…	2,674	16,251
Clare	…	67	2,784
Kerry	…	1,487	10,965
Cork West	…	0	0

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have received an application from Miss A. L. M'Cormick, Ballinvine, Collinstown, the only survivor of a joint tenancy consisting of herself, her mother, and brother, who were evicted from the land of Diamor, Crossakiel, county Meath, by John L. Battersby, Bobsville, Crossakiel, for reinstatement in her former holding or an equivalent holding; whether the Commissioners are aware that the father of the landlord who evicted them, and acting on his son's behalf, expressed his willingness in writing to negotiate with Miss M'Cormick regarding her reinstatement, and that the negotiations were frustrated by the intervention of Mr. G. A. Rotherham, who entered into occupation of the farm; whether the Commissioners will approach Mr. Rotherham with the view of compensating him and restoring Miss M'Cormick; and, if not, what action they propose to take in the interests of justice to Miss M'Cormick?

The Estates Commissioners have received the application referred to. The holding was held under lease, and on its expiration the landlord resumed possession. The Commissioners cannot interfere in the matter.

asked whether an evicted tenant named Smith, formerly on the lands of Gravelstown, owned by Mr. Mitchell and Lord Howth, has applied for reinstatement; and whether any action has been taken in his case?

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application for reinstatement from this person.

asked the Chief Secretary whether an application was received from James Connolly, of Cullamore, county Tyrone, by the Estates Commissioners for a free grant to enable him to rebuild his dwelling-house which was allowed to fall into ruin during the seven years after his eviction when he was out of possession of the holding; and, if so, will he state what inquiries the Estates Commissioners made into this case, and what decision was arrived at by them?

The Estates Commissioners from the particulars given cannot trace the receipt of any application from the person referred to in the question as an evicted tenant.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that one of the occupants of the labourers' cottages on the estate of Colonel Fitzhenry Smith, situate at Newtown, county Meath, is an evicted tenant named Tully; whether they are aware that he is willing to comply with any statutory obligations necessary to qualify him for a plot of the estate; and if his case will be favourably considered?

The Estates Commissioners have not received any application, for reinstatement from the person referred to. An application has been received on his behalf for a parcel in which it is stated he is a labourer. At this stage of the proceedings, the Commissioners are not prepared to reply to the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that advertisements have been published in certain newspapers offering school appointments to the highest bidders; and whether the Commissioners of National Education propose to take any steps to bring this state of affairs to an end?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they are not aware that advertisements of the nature indicated have recently been published in the Press, but if the hon. Member will be good enough to furnish particulars of any case inquiry will be made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that there are cases in which teachers who have been promoted to a higher grade as far back as April, 1910, have not yet received the salary of their grade; and whether it is the intention of the Commissioners of National Education to pay the salary of the higher grade from the date of promotion?

I would refer the hon. Members to the replies given to the numerous questions asked on this subject.

asked whether one of the inspectors under the National Board was recently dismissed because he was a member of a Protestant missionary society; what rule did he violate; and does the same law apply to Protestants and Roman Catholics with regard to being members of religious associations?

The answer is in the negative.

asked how many masters promoted by the Commissioners of National Education, Ireland, to each section, respectively, of first grade during the two financial years ended 31st March, 1910, and 1911, have not yet been paid their increments and arrears; how many masters have been advanced to each section, respectively, of first grade during the current financial year, and how many of these in each section, respectively, have not yet been paid their increments; what sum is saved to the Treasury in consequence; and on what grounds is a preference made in paying these men?

The following Table gives the information asked for in the first two paragraphs of the question:—

Date of Promotion.	Grade to which promoted.	Number of teachers who have not yet received grade salaries.	Number of cases to be considered at next meeting of the Commissioners for award of salaries.
1st April, 1909	1 (1)	3	3
1st April, 1910	1 (1)	12	1
1st April, 1910	1 (2)	27	8
1st April, 1911	1 (1)	4	—
1st April, 1911	1 (2)	20	—
Total	…	66	12

A sum of about £750 would be required to provide for the arrears of salary to 31st December, 1911, of the fifty-four teachers still affected by the limitation of the standard numbers in their respective grades. As regards the final paragraph, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his similar question on 4th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that every possible effort has been made to trace the record of age of Mrs. Mary Brewer, Old Road, Cahirciveen, who is an applicant for an old age pension; and whether, in view of the fact that no record of her family and of herself can be found in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, that the local pension committee has unanimously approved of her claim, and that she has submitted all the evidence in her power, he will have special inquiry made into her claim by detaching an inspector, if necessary, to judge the genuineness of her claim?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. As I have already stated, the claimant's parents were traced in the Census Return of 1841, but there was no child Mary recorded as being in the family, so that she was apparently born after the 6th June, 1841. The Local Government Board have already given their decision on Mrs. Brewer's latest claim, and have therefore no power to reopen the matter as suggested.

asked whether the name of Bernard Kelly, who was granted a pension by the Ballinamuck sub-committee in May of this year, which was objected to by the pension officer, has yet been placed on the list of old age pensioners in county Longford?

Bernard Kelly's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board in July last on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence of his having attained the statutory age.

asked whether Owen Martin, who was granted a pension of 5s. weekly by the Ballinamuck, county Longford, sub-committee, but deprived of the same on appeal in April last, has since been granted his pension; and, if not, on what grounds is he deprived of the same?

A further claim made by Owen Martin was disallowed by the Local Government Board in October last on the ground that there was no satisfactory evidence of his having attained the statutory age.

asked whether John Coyle, of Granard, who had enjoyed an old age pension, but was deprived of the same in January last, has been yet restored to the list of old age pensioners in the Granard sub-district; and whether, seeing that this man is over the prescribed age, he will now be restored to the pension of which he was deprived?

So far as the Local Government Board are aware, John Coyle has not been granted a pension since he was deprived of it in May last. The Board have no evidence that he has attained the age of seventy years, and in any case they have no power in the matter as no appeal is at present before them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of labourers' cottages in Cork county in which the applicants made representations asking to be provided with the additional half-acre allotment; and how many of such applications were rejected by Local Government Board inspectors after holding local inquiries?

The records of the Local Government Board do not show the number of cases in which tenants of labourers' cottages may have applied to rural district councils for additional half-acre allotments. The number, however, of additional plots proposed in the schemes submitted to the Board by the rural district councils in county Cork is 3,775, the number not finally authorised being 1,355.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the total cost of administering the Dairies and Cowsheds Orders in Ireland; in how many rural district councils is the Order in force, and the number and value of cattle slaughtered under the provisions of the Order, specifying the number suffering from tuberculosis of the udder; and in how many cases have the owners of these animals been compensated?

The exact cost of administration could only be obtained by circularising the various local authorities, but the approximate charge for salaries paid by them in connection with the Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milk-shops (Ireland) Order, 1908, is from £10,000 to £12,000 a year. The Order applies, without the preliminary of adoption, to every rural as well as urban district in Ireland. The Order embodies no provision authorising the slaughter of cattle.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the fact that the employés at the Royal Ordnance Factory will, in addition to receiving present benefits, where the same would not be received as a benefit under the National Insurance Bill, be getting a rise of 6d. a week in lieu of benefits heretofore received, he will explain if an all-round rise in wages to the extent of 6d. will be made as and from 1st July, 1912?

Allowance has already been made for the reduction in the valuation of privileges to 6d. in the £ in the recent reassessment of the minimum wage for unskilled labour and of certain grades of skilled labour. Such other adjustments of wages as may be necessary on this account will be duly made.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief concerned has yet furnished a full report on the recent firing of live shells into Bembridge, and if he is now in a position to make any statement to the House on the subject; and what steps he proposes to take in future to prevent such occurrences?

From the report furnished it appears that during practice from two 6-inch howitzers with lyddite shell, which had been empties and filled with pitch and a blowing charge of 6 lbs black powder, at a target on rocks, fragments of the shells fell over 800 yards to the left of the line of fire. It is understood that this was due to underestimating the danger area of a partially-filled shell bursting on rocks. The question of increasing the safety zone is being carefully considered in order to prevent any possibility of a recurrence of such an incident.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is proposed to bring before the House of Commons for consideration the draft scheme of the county of Glamorgan Intermediate and Technical Fund; and whether his attention has been called to Clause 60 of the said scheme, by which it is proposed to authorise the school governors to dismiss headmasters without assigning cause, and giving them no opportunity of defence?

The question whether the scheme for the Glamorgan Intermediate and Technical Education Fund, framed under the Endowed Schools Acts, 1869 to 1889, shall be brought before the House of Commons does not rest with the Board of Education but with the bodies or persons to whom power is given by the Acts to petition that the scheme be laid before Parliament. Clause 60 of the scheme, as at present drafted, is in the form usually adopted by the Board, and is in accordance with the Acts of Parliament. Under it, except where six months' notice is given, the headmaster will have an opportunity of defence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the expediency of abolishing the prison service confidential report, seeing that the system is liable to lead to abuses, as prison governors may-submit confidential reports to the Home Office concerning the conduct of their subordinates without affording the latter any opportunity of knowing the charges against them or of pleading in their own defence?

It would be impossible efficiently to carry on the prison service or any other service if persons in the position of prison governors were not allowed to communicate confidentially their opinion to their official superiors of those for whose conduct and efficiency they are responsible. Disciplinary action is, however, never taken except upon formal reports to which officers have the opportunity of replying. Reports as to character and efficiency are absolutely essential to guide the Commissioners in their selection for promotion, etc., and it is obvious that these would not ordinarily furnish matter for reply, e.g., when it is reported that an officer is lacking intelligence, self-reliance, etc. The reports are far more often favourable to officers than adverse, and no well-conducted and efficient officer has anything to fear from them.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will consider the question of arranging a pension, scheme for prison officers on a contributory basis similar to that of the Metropolitan. Police; whether he is aware that under the existing pension system in the prison, service it is impossible for a subordinate officer to obtain a two-thirds pension; whether he is aware that a prison warder retiring at the age of sixty, after thirty-three years' service, has a pension of 12s. 7d. per week only; and whether he will consider the desirability of providing a larger pension after so many years of physical and mental strain?

The pension scheme for prison officers is the same as for all other members of the Civil Service. It would require legislation to put them on a different footing, and I am not prepared to propose or to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer to propose such legislation. I could not say that such a case as the hon. Member suggests is impossible, but it is certainly not typical. Prison officers retiring after thirty-three years' service would usually be entitled to pension of a considerably higher amount, and if they have accepted the Superannuation Act, 1909, as nearly all have, they would also receive a lump sum on retirement.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received an application from political prisoners now in Holloway Prison requesting that they be allowed the use of writing materials in order to continue their occupations as writers or authors; and what reply, if any, has been sent to them?

I have received petitions from certain prisoners at Holloway now under sentence, either for wilful damage or for assaulting the police, to be allowed the use of writing materials in prison; but I do not think it desirable to comply with the application. The question was carefully considered when the rules for this class of prisoners were settled, and, in view of previous experience, it was not thought expedient to allow the privilege. I think this decision was right, and should be adhered to.

asked the Under-Secretary for India what is the cause of the heavy mortality from small-pox amongst children under ten years of age in India, namely, about seventy per cent. of the total deaths from that disease, in view of the fact that about 8,000,000 primary vaccinations are carried out amongst children in India every year?

The explanation which the hon. Member desires may possibly be found in the fact that while the number of births in British India averages about 8½ millions a year, the number of children under one year of age annually vaccinated is less than 4,200,000, and the total number of children between 0 and 6 years annually vaccinated is only 7¼ millions. The unvaccinated infantile population is thus very large. In the five years ending 1909 the number of small-pox deaths of children under the age of ten in India averaged 74,600 a year, the total small-pox deaths of all ages averaging 111,200.

also asked the Under-Secretary whether any attempt is made to ascertain the vaccinal condition of the children attacked by and dying from small-pox in India; and, if not, whether he will take steps to endeavour to secure that such a record shall be kept in future and

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT showing the Actual Average Pay received by Established Officers borne on the undermentioned Classes during the years specified (partly estimated).
Class.	Average Pay—Weekly.
	1885.		1891.		1897.		1903.		1905.		1908–9.		1910.
London—	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
Sorters (Male)	28	5	32	10	33	10	40	8	45	8	49	7	50	7
Telegraphists, Central Telegraph Office (Male)	28	10	32	4	37	6	40	2	44	10	49	3	50	10
Telegraphists, Central Telegrarph Office (Female)	22	10	23	9	22	5	24	0	25	10	29	0	29	8
Counter Clerks and Telegraphists (Male)	34	5	36	1	39	5	42	6	45	3	48	2	49	0
Counter Clerks and Telegraphists (Female)	21	11	23	6	25	7	26	10	27	8	30	1	31	9
Telephonists*	—		—		—		13	5	15	1	†		19	9
Postmen	25	1	25	1	26	7	29	1	30	0	32	10	33	1
Rest of United Kingdom—
Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Male)	27	2	28	7	33	1	33	2	35	5	37	9	38	2
Sorting Clerks and Telegraphists (Female)	19	10	19	3	21	0	22	1	23	3	25	9	25	9
Telephonists*	—		—		—		15	9	16	11	†		19	5
Postmen	19	10	22	5	23	5	24	6	25	9	†		27	5
The average pay shown above includes all money allowances except trip allowances and payments for duty on Sundays, Christmas Day, Good Friday and Bank Holidays. It does not include payments for overtime on week days, nor allowances in kind, such as uniform.
* In calculating the average pay of Telephonists no distinction has been made between Established and Unestablished Officers. † Not ascertained.

So far as is known the answer to the first question is in the negative. In the conditions which exist in India any such attempt would necessarily be restricted to municipal or other similar areas having small-pox hospitals or an efficient medical inspecting agency. The hon. Member's suggestion will be brought to the notice of the Government of India.

asked the Post-master-General if he will state for each of the years 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, 1900, 1905, and 1910 the aggregate of the weekly wages paid to postal servants excluding boys, the number of men employed, and their average earnings?

I regret that it is not possible to prepare a return in the manner desired by the hon. Member, but I append a statement of such figures as are available, which will probably be of some service.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the wisdom of introducing legislation enabling the Government, on behalf of the State, to purchase some part at least of the railway system of this country under the Act of 1844, instead of giving the railway companies power to increase their rates for merchandise and passengers; if so, will he state to the House why he prefers the latter method?

Railway companies already have the power to fix and vary passenger fares and rates for merchandise within the statutory maxima, subject in the case of rates for merchanise to an obligation to justify an increase if challenged before the Railway and Canal Commission. All that is now proposed is to make it clear that an increase in the cost of labour due to the improvement of conditions for the staff would if established be a valid justification for a reasonable increase of charges within the legal maxima if challenged before that Court. The purchase by the State of the whole or a portion of the railways involves many other considerations, and I do not see how it is in any way an alternative to the above proposal.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the ratio of expenditure to gross receipts of railway companies of the United Kingdom for the years 1870 and 1908?

Complete statistics for all the railways of the United Kingdom were first available in 1871. In that year the ratio of expenditure to gross receipts was 47 per cent. The corresponding ratio in 1908 was 64 per cent.

asked to what extent the prices of necessary materials for the building of railway plant and the working of railways in the United Kingdom has changed during the period 1888 to 1908?

The wholesale prices section of the Fourteenth Abstract of Labour Statistics (Cd. 5041), gives index numbers showing the course of prices of a large number of articles, including coal, metals, wood, oil, and other materials, during the period mentioned. If my hon. Friend desires further information I shall be glad to give whatever is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the total value of articles, wholly or mainly manufactured, consigned from the United Kingdom to Australia and New Zealand collectively, and what was the total value of articles, wholly or mainly manufactured, consigned to Germany in the year 1910; and what was the estimated population of Australia and New Zealand collectively in the year 1910, and what was the estimated population of Germany in the same year; and (2) what was the total value of all goods, produce, and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported to Germany in 1910; what was the total value of all goods, produce, and manufactures of the United Kingdom exported to Australia and New Zealand collectively in the year 1910; and, in these exports, what was the percentage of articles wholly or mainly manufactured exported to Germany, and to Australia and New Zealand collectively?

The following Statement gives the particulars relative to the exports from this country to Germany and to Australia and New Zealand which the hon. Member requires:—

——	Value of the Exports (United Kingdom Producer in 1910.
	Consigned to Germany.	Consigned to Australia and New Zealand.
	£	£
(1) Exports of all articles (including "articles wholly or mainly manufactured")	37,020,568	36,305,083
(2) Exports of "articles wholly or mainly manufactured" only	26,009,765	32,668,773
	Per cent.	Per cent.
Proportion of "articles wholly or mainly manufactured" included in the exports of all articles	70	90
	No.	No.
Estimated population	64,794,000	5,474,000

asked the Post-master-General if he will explain why the complaint as to the narrow counters and small accommodation at Longford post office made some months ago, and promised to be remedied, has not yet been attended to; and if it is now intended to carry out the changes at all?

I am sorry that it has not yet been practicable to carry out the proposed scheme of alterations; but the matter will have early attention.

asked the hon. Member for Southampton, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, before any steps are taken to place any of the class termed architectural assistants engaged in the Office of Works on the established list, the desires of all who are so eligible will be ascertained, so that all of the class shall have an opportunity, if they so desire, of being placed upon the established list?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked whether the Treasury regard the technical certificate of the Board of Works Commissioners, granted to each member of the architec- tural assistants, as being equivalent to the certificate granted by the Civil Service Commissioners to the class engaged upon similar work and termed assistant architects; and if it was intended to carry the same privileges of establishment, equivalent pay, superannuation, and regular annual increment?

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is the duty and the practice of local education authorities, when forwarding plans relative to non-provided elementary schools for approval by the Board of Education, to express their consent to or dissent from such plans?

It is, I think, very desirable, and from an administrative point of view almost essential, that local education authorities should express their opinions on plans relating to voluntary schools when they transmit them to the Board of Education, and this is their almost universal practice. But I am not aware that it is legally obligatory upon the authorities to express their assent or dissent, or, indeed, to express any opinions.