asked whether the English Commission has made it a condition of supplying the services of an official lecturer to explain the National Insurance Act that the meeting shall not be open to the Press; and whether he will permit the Press to be present at all future meetings if the organisers of the meeting do not object?

As I explained yesterday, the confining of lecturers and conferences in England to members of the organisations who convened them was at the request of representatives of friendly societies and trade unions. No objection will be raised if at any particular conference those organisations ask for the presence of the Press.

asked if the official lecturers appointed by the Insurance Commissioners to explain the Nationial Insurance Act will hold meetings of the Post Office deposit contributors to explain to them the provisions of the Act and the advantage they will enjoy under it?

No, Sir. No Post Office deposit contributors exist until after the passing of the Act, and one of the main objects of any information given is to induce as large a proportion as possible of those who will be insured persons to join or form apprpved societies.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will place in the Vote Office this week copies of the instructions issued by the National Insurance Bill Commissioners?

If the hon. Gentleman will inform me what instructions he refers to I shall be glad to answer his question.

asked why the cost of the collection of Land Values Duties other than Mineral Rights Duty cannot be distinguished from the cost of collecting the Inland Revenue generally; and if there is any reason why the so-called Land Values Duties cannot be divided in the prescribed returns of income supplied to the "London Gazette" under separate heads?

The work of assessment, collection, account and correspondence in connection with the duties in question is largely performed in the same branches of the Inland Revenue Department and by the same officers as deal with other heads of revenue, and the proportion of time and labour attributable to it cannot be distinguished from that spent on other work of the Department. With regard to the second part of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer given to him on the 28th November last by my hon. Friend the Member for the Shipley Division.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if it is in accordance with instructions from the Inland Revenue authorities that the surveyor in charge of the first Brighton district has written to a lady, in connection with her claim for repayment of Income Tax, calling for inspection of bearer securities in respect of which one of the leading joint stock banks had given certificates of deduction of Income Tax; and if, having regard to the trouble and risk of loss attached to the transmission of bearer securities through the post, instructions will be given to all surveyors of taxes to be satisfied with the former practice of accepting the certificates of established banks?

There has been no change in the matter of accepting the certificates of established banks and it could only be in very exceptional circumstances that the action referred to in the question can have been taken. I will enquire into the case and communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will state for England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, the amount required to pay old age pensions and the expenses of pensions committees for the year ending 31st March, 1913?

The hon. Member will find an estimate of the amount required in the financial year 1912–13 in Class VI. of the Civil Service Estimates, which was circulated on the 19th instant. The total of £12,200,000 there given may be roughly allocated as follows:—

England and Wales	…	£8,299,000
Scotland	…	1,237,000
Ireland	…	2,664,000

asked the Chancellor whether he can give any estimate of the approximate number of old age pensioners in Ireland at the end of five, ten, and fifteen years?

I have no materials-for framing any reliable estimate of the numbers for which the hon. Member asks.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to a resolution of the Thomas-town sub-committee of the Kilkenny county pension committee, protesting against the hardship caused to old age pensioners obliged by illness to go temporarily into the local infirmary or hospital by the stoppage of their pension, under the recent amending Old Age Pensions Act, before the question is entertained by the committee, and calling attention to one typical case of a pensioner who on leaving the infirmary had, through the stoppage of his pension, to return to the workhouse as an ordinary inmate, thus incurring fresh disqualification for the pension, and being thrown unfairly for support on the ratepayers though able, if paid the pension, to support himself outside the workhouse; whether he is aware that the matter of old age pensions relatively to hospital treatment is exciting dissatisfaction in many different parts of Ireland; and whether he will take steps to ascertain the views of the responsible local authorities, and make such changes in the administration of the Old Age Pensions Acts in this respect as will meet the reasonable demands of the old age pensioners themselves and of the ratepayers' representatives?

A resolution to the effect indicated in the question has been received. No promise of further legislation on the subject can be given.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will have further investigation made into the claim for an old age pension made by Charles M'Carthy, Renroe, Emlaghmore, near Caherciveen, county Kerry.

This claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on 1st January, and they have no power to re-open consideration of the case.

asked on what grounds an old age pension has been refused to Mrs. Mary Griffin, Old Road, Caherciveen, whose claim has been frequently approved by the local pension committee?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his previous questions on this subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that John Wilson, of Knockmanoul, county Fermanagh, claimed an old age pension in September, 1910, and was recommended by the pension officer for a pension of 3s. a week, and that on such recommendation his case was considered by the pension committee of the county Fermanagh, who knew his circumstances and the house and locality in which he lived, and who decided that he was entitled to a full pension of 5s. a week; is he aware that this decision was reversed on appeal by the pension officer against the granting of a higher pension than 3s., when the Local Government Board decided that his yearly means exceeded £31 10s., and that he was not therefore entitled to any pension; had the Board before it that the claimant's only means were £100 in the bank at 2½ per cent., and his free support and residence in the house of a relative, who is a farmer; on what basis did the Local Government Board decide that his support and residence in an ordinary farmer's house were value for over £29 10s. a year, in face of the opinion of the pension officer who visited the claimant and saw his residence and knew the ordinary circumstances of his living; is he aware that in the month of December last Wilson applied for a review of the decision and was again disqualified on the same grounds; and will he state what system of valuation the Board adopt in such cases as to value of board and residence?

The facts are as set out in the question, except that it should be stated that John Wilson's recent claim was in the first instance disallowed by the Fermanagh county pension committee, and subsequently by the Local Government Board on appeal. In disallowing Mr. Wilson's first claim the Board had before them a report from one of their inspectors who visited claimant, and it appears that the farm in question comprises sixty acres of land, of which twenty-five acres were under tillage, and the remainder were being used for grazing. On the farm the inspector found eleven cows, eleven yearlings, seven calves, two horses, one foal, four pigs, and a hundred fowl. The house is a very commodious and neatly furnished residence, and the total valuation of the house and land is £86. Taking these circumstances into consideration, in conjunction with the fact that the claimant had £100 standing to his credit in the bank, the Board could not regard him as entitled to any pension.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the pension officers in the Clifden, Roundstone, and Spiddle districts of Connemara are able to speak the Irish language; and, if not, will he recommend the replacement of these officers by men who have a knowledge of the language, which is spoken almost exclusively by the claimants for old ago pensions?

I am making inquiries, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what account are placed the salaries of Members that are returned or not drawn?

The salaries of Members that are returned or not drawn constitute a saving on the Vote for the House of Commons, which is ultimately surrendered to the Exchequer.

asked whether the Estimates for the year will provide for additional grants to Scotland for the purposes of education and the superannuation of teachers; and, if so, to what extent?

asked the Chancellor whether, in view of the statement by the Secretary for Scotland that an additional Treasury Grant is to be made towards the superannuation scheme for teachers in Scotland, he can say if the amount will be definitely announced before 1st April, when, as is expected, the scheme will be brought into operation?

As was stated in reply to numerous questions last Session, my right hon. Friend is carefully considering the whole problem, and hopes to provide additional Grants for superannuation allowances of teachers in the whole of the United Kingdom. But I fear the matter is not yet sufficiently advanced to permit of provision being made in the Estimates that are now being presented, and I cannot now state the amount that it will be possible to devote to this purpose in Scotland.

asked whether the Estimates of the year will provide an additional grant to Scottish local authorities to meet the increased cost of the police service?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that valuers appointed under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in making valuations in the North of Ireland for the purpose of arriving at assessable site value, while allowing a deduction for a perpetual rent issuing out of the land, will not allow as a deduction a rent of a similar amount issuing out of land and payable for a term of 10,000 years, and that owners of land held for a term of 10,000 years are being called upon to pay Undeveloped Land Duty on the full site value without being allowed any deduction in respect of rent, while owners of land held in fee simple at a similar rent are exempt from such payment; and whether he will introduce legislation to remove the inequality?

I will refer the hon. Member to the answer given yesterday to a similar question put by the hon. Member for Chelmsford.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, where persons served with notice by the Special Commissioners of Income Tax to make a return for super-tax purposes are prepared to swear on oath that their total income for super-tax purposes is below the amount on which super-tax is charged, he will release such persons from the obligation to make a return of their incomes?

My right hon. Friend does not see his way to accept the hon. Member's suggestion. It frequently occurs that through an incomplete understanding of the correct method of computing the income, returns of income under £5,000 are made in cases where, after investigation of the return, liability to the super-tax is found to exist.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been directed to the complaint of the Irish Temperance League that in many cases magistrates cannot be got to convict publicans for breaches of the licensing law, even on the clearest evidence; and whether the Irish Government will revert to the practice of not appointing publicans to the magisterial bench?

The Lord Chancellor has seen a newspaper report of the proceedings referred to of the meeting of the Irish Temperance League. The practice has been not to appoint publicans to the magistracy, but in particular cases a departure has been made under exceptional circumstances calling for it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that fishermen in the North of Ireland have suffered severely since the introduction of steam trawlers; and whether he is prepared to entertain the suggestion that there should be a close season for steam trawlers from November till March each year?

The Department of Agriculture are not prepared to recommend that a general close season for steam trawling off the Irish coast from November to March should be adopted or enforced, but if reasonable evidence be submitted to them that the operations of steam trawlers in any locality have an injurious effect generally upon the fisheries of that locality, the Department are prepared to consider the question of holding an inquiry into the matter. At present steam trawling is prohibited in the inshore waters off the entire North coast.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is in a position to state when a Grant will be made out of the Development Fund for the improvement of fisheries in North Antrim; and what the amount of the Grant is likely to be?

I am not in a position to make any statement in this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that at the quarterly meeting of the Leitrim County Council, held on the 15th November, 1911, on the motion of a brother of a rate collector, the poundage fees were increased above the amount for which tenders had been received; that the county council, at the same meeting, largely increased the salaries; and that they succeeded in preventing any report of their proceedings from being published in the local papers, with the result that the ratepayers were given no opportunity of protesting; and what action the Local Government Board will take in the matter?

The Leitrim County Council at their meeting referred to increased the poundage fees of some of their existing poor rate collectors by raising the rate of payment to 4d. in the £ of those collectors whose previous rate of payment was below that figure. I have no information as to the alleged relationship of the proposer of the motion, nor as to whether a report of the proceedings appeared in the local newspapers. The Board have sanctioned the increases as they are satisfied that a collector paid at a lower rate could not be expected to devote sufficient attention to his duties, and, generally speaking, the scale of payment in this county was far below that of other counties in Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary if Mr. Carroll is the legal tenant of Maxtown Farm, Callan, county Kilkenny; if so, whether he can state the date he was declared tenant; and whether the Estates Commissioners have power to purchase the said farm and divide it into small holdings, giving the descendants of the former evicted tenants priority of claim in any such division?

The Estate Commissioners are unable from the particulars given to identify the case referred to by the hon. Member. They have no power to acquire land except in fee simple.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to a speech delivered by the hon. Member for South Mayo, who is a member of the Congested Districts Board for Ireland, at a meeting of the United Irish League, at Ballindine, county Mayo, in which he advised that illegal pressure should be brought to bear upon local landlords in order to force them to offer their estates to the Congested Districts Board at an under value; whether he is aware that after this speech all the graziers in the neighbourhood were visited by gangs of men, members of the United Irish League, and were compelled to surrender the grazing farms which they had, in many cases, held for a number of years, and that threats have been made that if the lands are stocked by the owners their cattle will be driven; and whether, considering that the hon. Member for South Mayo has already been warned on one occasion that certain speeches made by him should not have been made by a member of the Congested Districts Board, it is his intention to remove the hon. Member from the Board, or, if not, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

I have written to the hon. Member for South Mayo on the subject of his speech at Ballindine, and he has undertaken either to refrain from such speeches in future or to resign his seat on the Congested Districts Board. I am informed by the police, who were present, that the deputation from the Ballindine branch of the United Irish League, which visited the graziers, did not use any intimidation, and that no open threats of cattle driving have been made.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will direct the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the case of Mr. John Morrissey, an evicted tenant, of Bree, county Wexford, with a view to its being dealt with as soon as possible?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from John Morrissey for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the Wilton Estate, county Wexford, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the fact that the stripping and re-slating of roofs at the Royal Victualling Yard, Grove Street, Deptford, has for some years past been carried out by bricklayers; and, if so, will he state why these men have been employed to carry out this work in preference to competent slaters?

I find that bricklayers have been employed on certain small odd jobbing work, which included slating, at Deptford. The work did not warrant the employment of slaters, but men of this trade would be employed for any extensive work.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can see his way to grant an increase of pay to the stoker ratings of the Royal Navy?

It is not proposed to increase the pay of the stoker class.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many docks taking battleships and battle cruisers of the "Dreadnought" type there are on the East Coast of England and Scotland; and how many docks capable of taking battleships and battle cruisers of the "Dreadnought" type there are in Germany?

The following are the graving docks on the East Coast capable of receiving battleships and battle cruisers of the "Dreadnought" type:—

Chatham—No. 9 Dock will receive battle cruisers "Invincible" and "Indefatigable."

Hebburn—Palmer's Dock, battleships "Dreadnought" to "Colossus"; battle cruisers "Invincible" and "Indefatigable." All these ships can be docked only under certain conditions of draught.

There are, in addition, the docks building at Rosyth, which will be capable of receiving any ship in His Majesty's service. The number for Germany is seven. But this number cannot fairly be compared with British docks available on one particular coast.

asked whether any protest has been received by the Admiralty from the Federal Government of Australia concerning the condition of several vessels of the Australian squadron, notably the third-class cruisers "Psyche," "Pioneer," "Pegasus," and "Prometheus;" and what steps will be taken to send out a modern type of ship for the Australian squadron as stipulated in the naval agreement of 1903 expiring at the end of next year?

No, Sir; the Admiralty has not received any such protest. The present Australian squadron will be replaced by the Australian Fleet Unit, consisting of entirely new ships of the best types, by the end of the coming financial year.

asked what steps are being taken, in view of the opening of the Panama Canal, to adapt the defences of the British West Indies, and especially Jamaica, to the new conditions?

I have nothing to add to my reply on this subject to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth in November last so far as naval interests are concerned.

asked the result of the inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair Wages Clause by Messrs. A. and J. Inglis, Point House, in the pay of their labourers?

I am communicating with the firm in connection with the inquiry to which my hon. Friend refers. I will advise him later as to the result.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether he can now state the number of non-commissioned officers of the Army Pay Corps employed at Whitehall and Woolwich; whether any of them are required to take work home after office hours; and, if so, what allowance is made to these officers for this extra work?

The number of noncommissioned officers of the Army Pay Corps employed at Woolwish is twenty-seven, and at Whitehall is thirty-six. The normal hours of attendance are from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., with the usual mid-day interval. No non-commissioned officer is required to take work home after office hours.

asked the actual price paid by Government for the freehold property acquired for the extension of the Victoria Barracks at Windsor, and also the total cost of the erection of the buildings?

For the freehold property, including costs, etc., £40,124; for the erection of the buildings, besides £3,100 for improving the married quarters, £54,500.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will furnish a return of the recent census of horses in the different counties, showing how many of each class of horses are required, in which counties the supply exceeds the demand, and in which counties the demand cannot be met; further if he will state what provision will be made to train the horses for light draught which have never been in harness and by whom, in the event of mobilisation, such horses will be trained?

The classification of horses has not yet been completed. The horses taken for light draught will be horses already trained to harness and in working condition.

asked whether some battalion trainings of Territorial battalions have been fixed by the officers commanding divisions on dates which have been objected to by the officers commanding the battalions and the Territorial associations, on the ground that it is impossible for many of the men to leave their civilian employment on those dates?

There is no official information concerning any such cases, but if my hon. Friend will supply me with detailed information I will make inquiries into them.

asked the total number of all ranks of the Yeomanry, Volunteers, and Militia on 1st January preceding the passing of the Territorial Forces Act, and the total number of all ranks of Territorials and Special Reserve on 1st January, 1910, 1st January, 1911, and 1st January, 1912?

The total numbers of all ranks of Yeomanry, Volunteers, and Militia, on 1st January, 1907, and of the Territorials and Special Reserve on 1st January, 1910, 1911, 1912 were as follows:—

		All Ranks.
1st January, 1907	Militia	88,301(a)
	Yeomanry	25,382(b)
	Volunteers	245,937(b)
	Total	359,620
1st January, 1910	Special Reserve.	70,486*
	Territorial Force	271,737†
	Total	342,223
1st January, 1911	Special Reserve.	63,758*
	Territorial Force	266,852†
	Total	330,610
1st January, 1912	Special Reserve.	61,951*
	Territorial Force	265,911†
	Total	327,862
(a) Does not include Supernumerary or Seconded Officers.
(b) Includes Supernumerary and Seconded Officers, but Chaplains are excluded.
* The figures for the Special Reserve include attached officers, also Category (b) officers and men, but exclude Militiamen remaining, the Reserve Division of Militia and the Malta and Bermuda Militia.
† The figures for the Territorial Force do not include the Isle of Man Volunteers, Seconded Officers, Officers of the R.A.M.C, General Hospitals and Sanitary Service only available on Mobilisation, nor Officers of the Officers Training Corps and Unattached List.

asked what was the cost of the use of the military in connection with the recent railway strike; and what amounts were paid to the railway companies?

I regret that I am unable to separate the military expenditure in connection with the railway strike from that connected with other labour troubles which happened about the same time.

asked whether a decision has yet been come to in regard to the question of enabling residents in Ireland, who are qualified and wish to do so, to join the National Reserve?

The matter is still under consideration.

asked whether further reductions in the Garrison Artillery are contemplated; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to mitigate the further set back in the promotion of subaltern officers which would be thereby entailed?

There will be a reduction of one only; but I may add that the question of promotion in this branch is being carefully considered.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that the military correspondent of the "Times," in the issue of 2nd February, quotes a table as to the strength of the Regular Army on 1st October, 1911, purporting to be taken from page 26 of the General Annual Report, and that that Report has not yet been laid before Parliament; and how the military correspondent of the "Times" obtained access to a Report which is not yet available to Members of Parliament?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The military correspondent of the "Times" obtained the information from the War Office. He was not aware that the figures he quoted had not previously been published, and, by a misunderstanding, this fact was not brought to his notice by the Department concerned. I should add that the figures quoted were not in any sense secret or even confidential; they would, of course, have been supplied to any Member of this House who had applied to me for them. It is regretted that, owing to the misunderstanding to which I have referred, the figures were thus published before they were formally laid on the Table of this House.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Education of the Blind and Deaf that an annual Grant of £10 per head be paid, and that the Government Grants are the same now as in 1894 and amount to only about 25 per cent. of the total cost per child in the case of day schools and about 13 per cent. in the case of residential schools, and that the late President of the Board stated in the House on 22nd April, 1910, that he hoped to be able to give further assistance to such schools, and that he further stated in the House on 29th June, 1911, that the question was still under consideration, he is now able to make any definite pronouncement on the matter?

I understand that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The sum involved is substantial, and I regret I am not at this moment in a position to say anything with reference to the assistance the hon. Member desires, but I am personally looking into the question of the adequacy of the existing Grants, and will bear in mind the claims urged by him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that a child boarded out by the Newhaven Board of Guardians in the area of the Southampton education authority has been refused admission to the public elementary school in the parish in which he is residing on the ground that the Newhaven Board of Guardians decline to pay a fee for such education; whether he is aware that there is no Act of Parliament which makes it compulsory on boards of guardians to pay the cost of educating boarded-out children residing in another county; whether he is aware that the East Sussex education authority, in which Newhaven is situated, do not charge for the cost of educating boarded-out children from other counties residing in their area, and that, in the case mentioned, owing to the action of the Southampton education authority, sanctioned by the Board of Education, the child is at present receiving no education whatever; and will he state what action he proposes to take in these cases?

Guardians were specially empowered by the Elementary Education Act of 1900 to contribute to the expenses of local education authorities in respect of the maintenance of a public elementary school attended by boarded-out children. In view of the hardship to local education authorities caused by requiring them to provide accommodation for Poor Law children from other areas than their own, we are inclined to consider it reasonable for a local education authority to exclude a child boarded out by guardians of a union outside their area unless the guardians are willing to contribute to the maintenance of the school to which the child is sent. We have been informed of the facts in this case, and have explained our attitude to the guardians and are hoping to hear from them further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the fact that a man may not marry his deceased wife's half-niece, to whom he is not a blood relation, but may marry the mother of such a person; and whether he will introduce legislation to remedy the effect of the laws regulating marriages?

The law is as stated in the question, but I cannot promise to introduce legislation on the subject at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the increase in coal consumption during the last forty years, and of the circumstance that in any event the duration of the known and workable fields is limited and their exhaustion at the present rate of consumption can be approximately determined, the Government are satisfied to rest on the opinion of the Royal Commission that the rate of increase in output would become slower, to be followed by a stationary period, and then a decline, as affording sufficient ground for assuming that no steps are necessary for the conservation of this source of energy, instead of regarding it as an indication of increasing difficulty in maintaining the supply; or, having regard to the vital national importance of industrial energy supply, will the Government consider the suggestion of Sir William Ramsay, the president of the British Association, that a small commission should be appointed, sitting permanently, to inquire and keep the Government advised as to the rate of exhaustion and probable further duration from time to time, and as to what, if any, steps should be taken in the light of further knowledge to conserve and utilise remaining supplies to the best advantage of the nation?

I do not think anything would be gained by appointing a permanent Commission to inquire continuously into the total amount of our coal supply and its rate of exhaustion. Those are questions which cannot be dealt with piecemeal, but require a thorough and exhaustive investigation of the whole situation. Such an investigation was made by the Royal Commission which reported in 1905, and a long interval of years should be allowed for the accumulation of fresh data before another inquiry of the same kind is undertaken. But whether our coal supply will last for another 400 years, or will at the present rate of consumption be exhausted in 200 years, I recognise the importance of economising that supply, and I am considering whether a Government inquiry could with advantage be made in two directions: First, what measures are possible to prevent waste in the getting of coal—e.g., by wasteful methods of working or by levying unnecessary barriers between royalties; and, secondly, what economies can be effected by stopping waste in the consumption of coal and by its more scientific use in the production of energy.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the Draft Regulations issued in accordance with the Home Office Report of the Bronzing Inquiry (1910) have now been many months in print; and whether, considering that the season for printing Christmas cards and other work in which bronzing is largely employed has already begun, he can now see his way to issue the regulations without further delay?

The draft regulations were issued in March of last year. A large number of objections were received which necessitated further inquiry and, as a result, it was decided to make certain modifications in the draft. The amended draft was issued, in accordance with the procedure laid down by the Act, on the 8th of this month. If, as is hoped, the amended draft is accepted by all parties, the regulations will be made immediately on the expiration of the statutory period of twenty-one days which is required to elapse after the issue of the draft. Should, however, objections of substance be taken, a statutory inquiry will be necessary.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the total cost of the administration of the Removal Laws (Law of Settlement) in England and Wales for the twenty-five years ended March, 1911?

The desired information is not available except for the ten years 1901–2 to 1910–11. The expenditure of boards of guardians on settlement and removal expenses in that period was £216,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what is the purpose of the present mission to various European countries of Mr. Richard Grigg, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner in the Dominion of Canada; and whether that mission is in any way concerned with the Canadian trade agencies in foreign countries?

Mr. Grigg is about to leave the service of the Board of Trade to take up a post under the Canadian Government. In the circumstances the Board of Trade have allowed him, while on leave in Europe, to make some inquiries at the request of the Canadian Government. The Board have no knowledge of the subject of these inquiries, which occupied only a short time. Mr. Grigg has now returned to his ordinary duties, which will terminate shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General how many women are employed in the money order department, Manor Gardens, Holloway; and if he can give any forecast of the number of positions at present occupied by women clerks which will be replaced ultimately by the new grade of assistant women clerks at a lower rate of pay?

The authorised number of women is at present 1,134, divided as follows:—

1	Lady superintendent.
1	Deputy-superintendent.
5	Assistant superintendents.
22	Principal clerks.
66	Women clerks (first class).
530	Women clerks (second class).
75	Girl clerks.
22	Female assistant clerks.
402	Women sorters.
1	Superintendent of typists.
9	Female typists.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a supervising vacancy is still left unfilled in the Manchester Trunk Exchange; whether this duty has been covered for a considerable period by an officer receiving substitution pay; whether the appointment was held in abeyance in consequence of the transfer of the National Telephone Company's staff; and whether, in view of the fact that the reorganisation of the staffs is now complete, he will order that the vacant appointment shall be filled?

The reorganisation of the Manchester Exchange is not yet complete, and at the present time I am not in a position to alter the arrangement which I explained to the hon. Member in reply to his question on 19th July last.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board are going to continue to collect information for their market reports and crop statistics in Scotland, or whether this will be handed over to the Scotch Department, seeing that the market reports and crop statistics in Scotland are of great value to the English farmers who buy from the Scottish farmers, and also the Scotch farmers require the English reports for their guidance?

I have been in communication with my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland on this subject, which will receive further consideration when the Board of Agriculture for Scotland has been constituted. In the meantime the information will be collected as heretofore.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Report of the Departmental Committee on Forestry in Scotland has been presented; and, if so, when it will be available for the information of Members?

The Report has been received. It will be presented to Parliament and is expected to be available for the use of Members in about a fortnight.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Development Commissioners have intimated their intention to give any Grant towards improving harbours or slips in Arran; and, if not, has an engineer from the Scottish Office inspected and reported on schemes for which applications for Grants have been made; and, if so, what is the nature of his reports?

The schemes referred to by the hon. Member have been inquired into and a report has been received. This is now under consideration and will be referred to the Development Commissioners in due course. It would be contrary to practice to indicate at this stage the nature of the report.