asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of piece-workers taking holidays, during which period they are not paid for their services, they will be required during that period to pay their employer's contribution under the National Insurance Bill as well as their own; or whether the employer will have to pay both contributions; or upon whom will the legal liability fall?

No contribution is required when no services are rendered, and no remuneration has been received in any week.

asked what would be the position of a person who contributes to a general sick fund in a house of business; whether that person will be able, if ill, to draw the amount allowed her by the business fund as well as the 7s. 6d. under the National Insurance Bill, provided she pays both contributions?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he has received any communication from the Irish national teachers in Ireland requesting a reform of the pension scheme; whether the teachers have asked that the pensions of Irish national teachers who have served the full term of service should be raised to two-thirds of the annual emoluments paid them by the National Board at the date of their retirement, provided in all cases that no pension allowance be less than that for which premiums have been paid by the pension recipient; that, in cases where teachers are compelled to retire through breakdown, either mental or physical, or through other causes over which they have no control, a bulk sum consisting of one year's salary should be granted to each compulsorily retired teacher who has given five or ten years' service, and to those who have given longer periods of service a disablement pension, consisting of one-sixtieth of annual income for every year of service, should be allowed; that, on the completion of thirty- five years' service by men and of thirty years' service by women, retirement upon the fraction of full pension, calculated as above stated, should be optional to all teachers; and that teachers who have retired on pensions should participate to the fullest extent in any improvements that may be made in the existing pension scheme; and whether he can state what steps he proposed to take to meet these demands; (2) whether dissatisfaction exists among national school teachers at the amount of the pensions given to them when they retire from active service; and whether he will state what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

In answer to the hon. Member, I would refer him to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for North Monaghan on the 29th of November.

asked what was the total cost of the printing of the new Ordnance Survey of Ireland; whether this is entirely paid out of Irish funds; and what credits have been given for amounts received as the proceeds of the sale of maps during the last ten years?

I shall be glad to communicate to the hon. Member the information for which he asks in the first and third parts of his question. The whole cost of the Ordnance Survey of Ireland is paid out of Imperial Funds.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the evidence given at the coroner's inquest on the body of Michael O'Leary, corn porter, Wexford, and of the verdict of the coroner's jury, he will have further inquiry made into the facts and circumstances surrounding the deceased's death and the conduct of the police in Wexford on Thursday, the 7th September last?

The Irish Government do not propose to hold any further inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Michael O'Leary or into the conduct of the police in Wexford on the 7th September last. There has been already a full investigation at the inquest held by the coroner of the county of Wexford, and I am satisfied that the police did not act in excess of their duty.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state on what basis the Local Government Board (Ireland) calculates that Robert Brattin, of Ballagh, East Half, barony of Innishowen, county Donegal, has an income of £65 per annum; and why his wife is refused an old age pension?

Robert Brattin's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board in January, 1910, on the ground that his means exceeded £31 10s. a year. His wife's claim does not appear to have come before the Board on appeal.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention had been called to a circular recently issued by the Commissioners of National Education to the authorities of the training colleges, authorising them to give preference to students of intermediate schools when filling up vacancies for King's scholarships; and, if so, will he state what is the date of this circular and explain why was it not made known to the national schools; whether, seeing that the official list placing the candidates in first, second, and third divisions was published in the Irish School Weekly of 17th June, 1911, he will say whether a subsequent list was sent to the training college authorities which differed materially from the list issued to the public; whether he will say if the examination fee of 10s. charged to the candidates would pay for the expense of publishing the marks in book form, as is done in every other public department, and what object is served by withholding from the candidates all information about the marks obtained by them at the examination; whether he is aware that the Irish National Teachers' organisation has repeatedly called for the publication of the marks; and can he state what percentage of marks was required to obtain first, second, and third divisions at the last Easter examination?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that no circular has been issued to the authorities of the training colleges authorising them to give preference to students of intermediate schools when filling vacancies for King's scholarships. On the 22nd May, 1909, the Principal of the Church of Ireland Training College was informed that in the selection of successful candidates for training the Commissioners are strongly in favour of a preference being given to candidates who have passed the intermediate examinations creditably. The official list of successful candidates at the King's Scholarship Examination supplied to the Press immediately upon the completion of the marking of the papers only arranges the candidates in order of examination numbers according to the division obtained in the pass list, whereas in the lists subsequently supplied to the training colleges the candidates are arranged in strict order of merit. In determining the position of the candidates in the order of merit lists for the colleges, the service merit marks awarded to monitors and pupil teachers in their final year of service are taken into account. These marks are not considered when deciding the division in the pass list. The Commissioners have made no inquiry as to the cost of publishing marks in book form. They do not consider that it would be in the interests of either the candidates or the colleges to issue such a publication. Applications for the publication of these marks have from time to time been received from various sources. The information asked for in the final paragraph of the question is not supplied to the public.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can say if the Congested Districts Board will carry out the sale of the Palace land, Elphin, Shankill, and Kilvoy, about 1,000 acres of lands, for distribution to the adjoining tenants in the locality and managed by Mr. James Fagan, auctioneer, Elphin, for the past three years, or if the lands are yet offered to the Congested Districts Board as promised by the owner and manager two years ago?

The Congested Districts Board are in communication with Mr. A. O'Connor, the owner of the lands referred to, regarding a sale, but so far the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection have not been lodged with the Board.

asked the date on which the Ferguson estate, in the parish of Rasharkin, county Antrim, was sold to the tenants; and what is the cause of the delay in completing the sale.

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the advances in respect of eighty-one holdings on this estate were made, and the holdings vested in the purchasing tenants on the 1st November. The remaining seven holdings in respect of which advances have not yet been made will be dealt with as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture by what means he ascertains the weekly prices of the butters sold in the English markets from Ireland, France, Denmark, and other countries; is he aware that, according to the returns which have been issued during the past months—it may be said year—the prices of Irish firsts and seconds fall far below Danish and French, and whether such indicates that Irish butter is somewhat inferior to foreign butter? Is he aware that the Irish creamery managers, by whose hands the Irish butter is manufactured, sold, and delivered, absolutely deny that Irish butter is inferior in quality, and likewise assert that its price in the English markets, both last year and this year, is equal to Danish or French, notwithstanding the reports of the Agricultural Department to the contrary? And in view of such conflicting statements, will steps be taken to see that the average prices are found on just lines to all parties, and that no preference will be given to one above the other, as the fact of quoting Irish butter below the others causes very serious injury to Ireland, and more especially when it has been asserted and proved that such quotations are wrong?

The prices given in the Board's weekly return of market prices relate to actual transactions, and they are supplied by specially selected market reporters, who have no other interest than to make accurate returns. They are constantly visited by inspectors of the Board, and I am satisfied as to the general trustworthiness of their reports. If the hon. Member desires to challenge any particular quotation and will furnish me with particulars, I shall be very glad to make inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he was now able to state the results of his inquiry into the allegations made against Messrs. Vickers, Sons, and Maxim, John Brown and Sons, and Thomas Firth and Sons, all of Sheffield, that they do not observe the fair contracts clause on work for the War Office in the employment of engineers and joiners; whether, before arriving at any conclusion, he fully consulted the men's organisations; if so, whether the evidence they tendered was in any important points contradictory to that of the employers; and, if so, would he state in what particulars they differed?

When the original representations were received from the Sheffield District Engineering Trades Union, the Union was given the opportunity of furnishing further particulars. The whole of the information received, both from the employers and the trade society, was very fully considered. As regards the woodworkers, it has been decided that the Fair Wages Clause does not require that the employment of woodworkers in manufacturing operations in the steel and engineering works of Sheffield shall necessarily be regulated by the rules recognised by employers and trade societies in the local building trade, as the conditions of employment and the character of the work differ so greatly. As regards the metal workers, it appears that there has not been any uniform wage or scale of wages recognised or generally prevailing in the Sheffield steel and engineering trades, and that workers have been paid according to their skill or competency, on the analogy of the principle recognised in the general agreement of October, 1907, with the Employers' Federation. In these circumstances there does not seem to have been an infringement of the Fair Wages Clause. It is, however, stated in a recent communication from the Union that the question of the wages to be paid to fitters and turners on attaining the age of twenty-three has been discussed with the employers, since the date on which representations were made to the War Office, and that an agreement has been arrived at. Further inquiry will therefore be made as to the precise scope of this settlement and the extent to which it may affect the situation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether appeals have been made to the Board of Education by bodies of managers in the county of Anglesey in September last for a direction to the local education authority to maintain the non-provided schools of the county in accordance with the legal decision given in the Swansea case; and, if such appeals have been received, when the reply of the Board may be expected?

asked (1) whether the Cardiganshire education authority differentiate in their treatment of non-provided and provided schools, thereby violating the Education Act of 1902, as interpretated by the House of Lords in the Swansea case; whether the managers of certain schools appealed in October last to the Board of Education thereon; and whether the Board are now prepared to give the necessary instruction to the local education authority; (2) whether in the county of Glamorgan frequent applications had been made by teachers in non-provided schools to the county education authority that they might be paid salaries granted by that authority to teachers of like service and qualifications in council schools; whether, although the local authority had received reports from their officials justifying the applications, no steps had been taken by the local authority to give effect to the provisions of The Education Act, 1902, as interpreted by the House of Lords; and whether the Board were now prepared, having regard to the application made on the 21st June last, to advise the local education authority that the question of law having been finally determined, they should now proceed to give effect to the Act of Parliament; (3) whether the Merthyr education authority had refused to pay to teachers in non-provided schools salaries equal in amount to those paid to teachers of similar qualification and experience in provided schools; whether the town clerk of Merthyr had advised the local authority that, having regard to the decision of the House of Lords in the Swansea case, the local authority should now pay the same rate of salary in all schools; and whether the Board would be prepared to advise the local authority in accordance with that report?

I am afraid I must ask for further notice of these subsequent questions. I am fully aware of the importance of the points raised, but I have not had time yet to consider them, and cannot undertake to do so within the few hours given me to reply to these questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had recently received any information from the medical officer of health of Islington with reference to the recent complaint as to caramel wrapping carried on under insanitary conditions; whether he is now satisfied that the sweets in question were of a class commonly spoken of as caramels; and whether he proposes to take any further action in the matter?

I have received a report from the medical officer of health for the borough of Islington, from which it appears that there is a divergence among manufacturers in the use of the word "caramel," and that some makers describe as caramels the kinds of sweets in question in the present case. The point, however, does not affect the action the Home Office is taking in the matter, as the draft orders under Sections 107 and 116 of the Factory Act are being framed to apply to the manufacture of sweetmeats generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what allowances for expenses of removal are made to junior members of the Diplomatic Service on transfer from one post to another; whether such allowances are adequate to cover the cost of transporting household effects; and whether any compensation is paid to those members who are moved at short intervals to meet the cost of installation in their new post; and whether he will call for a Report showing what is done in this respect in the German, Austrian, French, and Italian services?

Travelling expenses are paid and £1 a day is allowed for subsistence whilst travelling. First and second secretaries can charge for a servant and for one-third of the travelling expenses of their families. Since 1904 more liberal treatment has been given in regard to heavy luggage, but the transport of household effects is not included. Furnished quarters are provided at a few posts, but otherwise no provision is made for installation. The French Government give allowances of £48 to secretaries for this purpose. Full information has been obtained as to the practice in Germany as well as in France, and it is understood that similar rules are in force in other countries.

asked the Foreign Secretary whether the Diplomatic Service is open only to persons with a private income of at least £400 a year; whether this stipulation equally applies to the Foreign Office; and, if not, how the difficulty of transfer from service at home to service abroad is overcome; and whether such transfers are considered desirable in the interests of efficiency or not?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 27th ultimo to the hon. Member for West Leeds. The answer to the second part is in the negative. With regard to the remainder of the question, such transfers are voluntary and difficulty docs not arise. Generally speaking, it is considered desirable to encourage temporary transfers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that split duties for telephonists at the Hull office are regarded as a punishment, and officially stated to be a deterrent from misbehaviour, he will direct that officers who have not misbehaved themselves shall be relieved of these duties; whether he will state if the Hull office has a monopoly of this form of punishment; and whether the retention or extension of this system has his approval?

As I have already informed the hon. Members, split duties are not created for the purpose of punishment. They are duties which the exigencies of the Service render necessary to a certain extent. They are not confined to the Hull office. I do not see sufficient reason, as at present advised, for prohibiting the procedure in question.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any difference exists between the class of duties performed by the lower grade of women supervisors and that of male overseers of the Central Telegraph Office; and, if not, how the disparity in their respective hours of duty is justified?

There is not much difference in the duties. The disparity is justified upon grounds of physical strength.

asked the Attorney-General, whether he was aware that, notwithstanding the amount of the ad valorem fees payable under the rules of The Land Transfer Act, 1897, on the first registration of property in the county of London, the fees payable are still larger on any subsequent dealing of registered property by way of assignment or mortgage; and will he explain why higher fees are charged, having regard to the fact that the work in connection with the registration is completed when the property is first registered and that the work should be nominal on subsequent registration, and why the recommendation of the Royal Commission, made in January last, in favour of reducing the registration fees has not been acted upon?

The report of the Royal Commission on the subject of fees, as in all other respects, is still under consideration. With regard to the rest of the question I am unable to accept the description given or suggestions made in reference to this matter by the hon. Member, but my reasons and explanations could not properly be given in answer to a question.