asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to include copies of the explanatory leaflets which he intends to issue in the memorandum which is being prepared in connection with the work of the National Health Insurance Commissioners?

The request for the White Paper is urgent, and I hope to circulate it to-day. No explanatory leaflets have yet been issued, and therefore they cannot be included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the general anxiety on the part of those who wish to form approved societies under the National Insurance Act, he can give a date for the issue of the model regulations prepared by the Insurance Commissioners; and whether, in view of the prevailing ignorance of the provisions of the Act, the explanatory leaflets promised by the Insurance Commissioners will be issued immediately?

With reference to regulations to be made under the National Insurance Act, I beg to refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Salisbury on the 19th February. If, however, the hon. Member refers to the model rules for guidance of approved societies, these rules have now been received from the printer, and will be issued as speedily as possible. The work of preparing explanatory leaflets is proceeding with all possible despatch.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the area under tillage in Ireland during the year 1911 showed an increase over the previous year; if so, amongst what particular crops was this increase distributed; to what special causes, if any, does he attribute this increase; can he state approximately the proportion of tillage in the country to the actual arable area; and whether he is aware that the smallholders are, as a rule, the most extensive cultivators of the soil.

The total area under tillage, including first year's hay, in Ireland in 1911, as compared with 1910, shows an increase of 2,900 acres, but while that was the net increase there was a decrease of 33,500 acres in oats, 9,800 acres in barley and bere, 2,500 acres in wheat, 4,500 acres in turnips, 1,700 acres in potatoes, together with other small decreases. The only large increases were in the case of flax, 20,600 acres, and first year's hay, 25,000 acres. The probable cause of the increased acreage under flax was the good prices obtained for the crop in 1910. The area tilled in Ireland in 1911 is estimated to be approximately one-fifth of the total extent of arable land in the country. According to information collected for the year 1907, which is the latest that has been obtained, it would appear that the proportion of the area tilled to the total area is greater in the smaller holdings.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a resolution from the secretary to the Kerry Council, unanimously passed by that body, calling attention to the insufficiency of funds to meet the requirements of intermediate education in Ireland, and to the increase in the number of students entering for examination, and also to the status and inadequate financial treatment of Irish intermediate teachers; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have not received a copy of the resolution referred to. The matters referred to in the latter part of the question are occupying my attention, especially as regards the very difficult position of Irish secondary teachers, but I am not in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a memorial has been received by the Estates Commissioners, signed by fifty-eight small holders in the district whose average valuation does not exceed £7, requesting the Commissioners to refuse their sanction to the sale of the tenanted portion of Lord Castletown's estate at Grangetown, Queen's County, unless the untenanted land is sold to them for distribution amongst the uneconomic holders in the locality; and can he say what decision the Commissioners have arrived at in the matter?

The memorial referred to has been received and will be duly considered when the estate is being dealt with in its order of priority.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have received applications from local people for the Barlow estate, situate at Drumrone, county Meath; and, if so, having regard to the fact that it is the only untenanted land likely to be available in the parish in which it is situate, their memorial will be considered in priority to the claims of outsiders?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the lands of Posseckstown, on the estate of Miss Margaret Isbella Barlow, county Meath. These lands, comprising some 154 acres of untenanted land, have been acquired by the Estates Commissioners, who have distributed same, and the parties concerned have been put in possession of the lands allotted to them. All applications received for allotments were fully considered before the lands were distributed by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary at whose request a number of extra police were recently drafted into the Westport district, county Mayo; how the expenses of the extra force are chargeable; and whether, having regard to the present peaceful state of the district, he will advise the withdrawal of such extra force forthwith?

An extra force of police was drafted into Westport recently owing to disorder in the district, and not at the request of any person. The question of the area upon which the expense of the extra force should be charged will be considered by Government. The responsible police authorities are not prepared to recommend the withdrawal of the extra force at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board for Ireland had received a report of thirty-two cottages in the Corboy division, Longford union, Ireland; what action has it taken in this matter; are some of these labourers' cottages half constructed for the past two winters; what class of material is used in their construction; and did the Local Government Board inspector pass a cottage in the same union a few years ago that is estimated to cost £50 to repair at present?

As the hon. Member has already been informed by the Local Government Board, the Board's architects had inspected these cottages, and had reported that in two cases the walls had been built to a considerable height, and then allowed to stand exposed to the weather for several months. The materials composing these walls are stones and mortar, and it appears that owing to exposure the mortar had lost its bonding power. Inspections by the Board's architects are made for the Board's guidance in authorising advances of instalments of loans, and they are not intended to relieve the local authorities and their engineers from the responsibility of seeing that the works are properly executed in accordance with the approved plans and specifications. It does not devolve on the architects of the Local Government Board to pass cottages as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, prior to February, 1910, the tenancies of labourers' cottages in the Macroom rural district were in every instance monthly tenancies; whether the amount of rent charged in these cases was 3s. 4d. a month; whether the regulations of February, 1910, prescribed for the future weekly instead of monthly tenancies; was the rent charged for these weekly tenancies 10d. a week or £2 3s. 4d. a year, whereas for similar cottages and allotments under the monthly letting the rent was 3s. 4d. a month or £2 a year; did the regulation of 1910 accordingly increase the rent by 3s. 4d. a year; and can he state the meeting of the district council at which the regulations were adopted?

Prior to 1910 some of the tenancies were monthly and others weekly, and the rents varied according to the scheme under which the cottages were provided and the extent of the garden allotments. The Regulations of February, 1910, provided for weekly tenancies, the rents being as already stated in the reply given to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 20th instant. The Regulations expressly stipulated that existing letting agreements were not to be affected. The Council adopted these Regulations provisionally in February, 1910, and finally on the 6th August of that year, and the approval of the Local Government Board thereto was given on the 11th October.

asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland, if he is aware that the Longford pension officer has objected to an old age pension granted to John Farrelly, of Lenaboy or Carnan, barony of Ardagh, and county Longford, granted to him by the Ballinalee sub-committee, pension No. 2,235; and will he see that this man receives a pension?

John Farrelly's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the 4th January, and the Board have no power to re-open consideration of the case.

asked on what grounds the Local Government Board refused a pension to Maurice Foley, of Bally-velly, Tralee, seeing that he is entitled only to an annuity of £5.

If the claimant referred to is Maurice Foley, of Lenamore, Bally-longford, his claim was disallowed on appeal by the Local Government Board on the ground that his maintenance was worth more than £31 10s. a year.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Dublin Trades Council and other trade societies and a large public meeting in Dublin passed resolutions asking for the release of P. T. Daly; and whether, in view of those manifestations, he will reconsider the matter?

I have seen the resolutions referred to. With regard to the second paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 22nd inst.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if the issue of extra equipment for training recruits at the depots is being considered, as the web equipment cannot last the time required where it is in continual use, as at the depots?

There is no information to show that the web equipment becomes prematurely worn out when used at depots, and the question of extra issues is therefore not being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is now in a position to state the number of battalions and approximate total number of men of the Territorial Force who did not complete their full course of ball-firing musketry practice during 1909, 1910, and 1911, respectively?

supplied the following figures:—

1. Musketry year 1908–09:—
Battalions which tested and qualified 75 per cent. or more of their strength	46
Battalions which tested and qualified 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. of their strength	73
Battalions which tested and qualified less than 50 per cent. of their strength	79
Battalions which tested none	7
1909–10:—
Battalions which tested and qualified 75 per cent. or more of their strength	77
Battalions which tested and qualified 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. of their strength	84
Battalions which tested and qualified less than 50 per cent. of their strength	43
Battalions which tested none	1
1910–11:—
Battalions which tested and qualified 75 per cent. or more of their strength	118
Battalions which tested and qualified 50 per cent. to 75 per cent. of their strength	67
Battalions which tested and qualified less than 50 per cent. of their strength	22
Battalions which tested none	nil.

2. Total number of men of the Territorial Force (Yeomanry, R.E. field companies, and Infantry) who did not complete their full course of ball-firing practice:—

1908–09	…	…	…	…	30,153
1909–10	…	…	…	…	15,865
1910–11	…	…	…	…	15,372

A larger reduction would have been shown in this year but for Paragraph 361 (3) T.F. Regulations, under which men in their first year of service may qualify on miniature ranges.

asked the Under-Secretary if he can withdraw the old pattern cap entirely from use by the Special Reserve?

The reply is in the affirmative. Provision has been made accordingly in the Estimates for 1912–13.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the arrest of the captain of the steamship "Benhead," at Sulina, for refusing to sign a clean bill of lading for a damaged cargo and demanding a re-survey; whether it is the fact that the owners of the ship have been called on to pay £4,000 to the Roumanian authorities as a condition of the release of the vessel; whether any report has been received from the British Minister; and, if so, whether he will lay Papers on the subject?

I would point out to the hon. Member that the master of the "Benhead" was not arrested for refusing to sign a clean bill of lading. He was tried and found guilty on a charge of using, in the presence of witnesses, insulting language to the Roumanian port authorities at Sulina, and sentence of twenty-five days imprisonment was passed upon him. An appeal against the sentence was lodged, and has, so I am informed, been postponed until April at the master's request. The master meanwhile is not suffering detention of any kind, and has, I believe, left the country. The facts of the case in connection with the detention of the vessel are briefly as follows:—Whilst a cargo of Indian corn was being shipped on the "Benhead," at Sulina, the master, suspecting that a portion of the grain was in an unfit condition, stopped loading and demanded a survey. The surveyors appointed by the British Vice-Consul pronounced the grain fit for shipment. As soon as the news reached the charterer that loading operations on the "Benhead" had been suspended, he pleaded an infringement of the charter party, and put in a claim for damages against the owners of the vessel for £4,000, and as there was nothing but the ship to distrain upon, he caused a sequester to be put upon her. In order to take such action the charterer had to pay into Court one-third of the amount of the damages claimed. Had the owners seen fit to pay the £4,000 into Court at once the case would have followed the usual legal course, the vessel would have been released, and the charterer would have had to pay the owners' heavy damages, had they been able to prove that his claim against them was in any way frivolous or unfounded. The money so paid into Court would, moreover, have been repaid with interest. As a matter of fact, the owners have since paid the £4,000 into Court, and the case will be decided by law. The master of the "Benhead," dissatisfied with the finding of the survey conducted under Consular auspices, called upon the Roumanian authorities to hold a second survey, with the result that, despite a sour odour from a portion of the maize, it was considered fit to travel. The master thereupon signed bills of lading, with the annotation upon them of the result of the second survey, and these bills were accepted by the charterer. As the owners had not paid into Court the sum required by law to free the ship, she remained sequestered at Sulina, although fully laden. The charterer thereupon had recourse to Article 575 of the Roumanian Commercial Code, and, after depositing in Court half the freight of the "Benhead" to her destination, as fixed by contract, demanded that the cargo on board should be discharged. The Court issued the necessary order, against which the owners appealed. The appeal was given against the owners, and the discharge of the grain loaded on the vessel was proceeded with. The entire proceedings connected with this case were carried out in strict accordance with the law of the country, and there is no evidence of any illegality having been committed. I have received numerous reports on the case from His Majesty's Minister at Bucharest, who has throughout been watching the case closely. I see no reason at present for the intervention of His Majesty's Government in the matter, and I do not think it necessary to lay Papers, on the subject, at any rate at this stage.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the cost of the education of boarded-out children is usually paid by the union from which they are sent or by the education authority in whose area they are being educated?

Usually, I believe, boarded-out children are admitted to the local elementary schools without fee.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if, in view of the statement made by his predecessor on 16th March, 1909, that the German power of constructing "Dreadnoughts" is almost, if not fully, equal to our own, he will state on a comparable basis the time occupied in building those British and German vessels already completed, from date of laying down to commission, giving any necessary proviso as to allowance for collection of material prior to laying the keel, time occupied in trials before full commission, etc.

The information asked for by my hon. Friend is shown in the following tabular statements:—

BRITISH.
Ship.	Date of			Time occupied in trials before commissioning. (Days.)	Time occupied in Building.
	Order to commence. (1)	Laying down. (2)	First commission. (3)		(1) to (3).	(2) to (3).
"Dreadnought"	8-7-05	2-10-05	11-12-06	61	1 yr. 5 months.	1 yr. 2 months.
"Bellerophon"	30-10-06	3-12-06	20-2-09	72	2 yrs.4 months.	2 yrs.3 months.
"Temeraire"	30-10-06	1-1-07	15-5-09	73	2 yrs. 7 months.	2 yrs. 4 months.
"Superb"	26-12-06	6-2-07	29-5-09	66	2 yrs. 5 months.	2 yrs. 4 months.
"St. Vincent"	26-10-07	30-12-07	3-5-10	81	2 yrs. 6 months.	2 yrs. 4 months.
"Collingwood"	26-10-07	3-2-08	19-4-10	52	2 yrs. 6 months.	2 yrs. 3 months.
"Vanguard"	6-2-08	2-4-08	1-3-10	96	2 yrs. 1 months.	1 yrs. 11 months.
"Neptune"	14-12-08	19-1-09	11-1-11	63	2 yrs. 1 months.	2 yrs.
"Hercules"	1-6-09	30-7-09	4-7-11	120	2 yrs. 1 months.	1 yrs. 11 months.
"Colossus"	1-6-09	8-7-09	8-8-11	129	2 yrs. 2 months.	2 yrs. 1 months.
"Orion"	*3-8-09	29-11-09	2-1-12	73	2 yrs. 5 months.	2 yrs. 1 months.
* Date of preparing to build.

GERMAN.
Ship.	Programme year.	Date ordered. (1)	Commissioned for trials. (2)	Completed trials. (3)	Difference between (1) and (2).	Difference between (1) and (3).
"Nassau"	1906–7	*Aug., 1907	Oct., 1909	May, 1910	†2 yrs. 2 months.	†2 yrs. 9 months.
"Westfalen"	1906–7	*Aug.,1907	Nov., 1909	May, 1910	†2 yrs. 3 months.	†2 yrs. 9 months.
"Rheinland"	1907–8	Apl., 1907	Apl., 1910	Aug., 1910	3 yrs.	3 yrs. 4 months.
"Posen"	1907–8	Apl., 1907	May, 1910	Aug., 1910	3 yrs. 1 months.	3 yrs. 4 months.
"Ostfriesland	1908–9	Apl., 1908	Aug., 1911	Sept.,1911	3 yrs. 4 months.	3 yrs. 5 months.
"Helgoland"	1908–9	Jun., 1908	Aug., 1911	Dec, 1911	3 yrs. 2 months.	3 yrs. 6 months.
"Thüringen"	1908–9	Jun., 1908	July, 1911	Sept., 1911	3 yrs. 1 months.	3 yrs. 3 months.
* Date keel was laid			† From date keel was laid.
The above Table relates to facts, and is not necessarily a measure of capability.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what is the present position of affairs in regard to the movement for the unification of the various British possessions in the West Indies and South America?

I am not aware of the existence of any movement for the unification of the British West Indies. Various proposals for federating the West

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will state the numbers of second division clerks and assistant clerks (new class), respectively,serving in his Department on 1st January, 1912?

The number of second division clerks (excluding temporary clerks) was 29; and the number of assistant clerks (new class) was 46.

asked the Home Secretary if the number of orders made to commit debtors to prison for non-payment of debts is increasing; and if he can give the numbers of the persons imprisoned for debt under such orders in each of the past three years?

The figures are as follows:—

Year.			County Court Debtors.
			Orders of Commitment made.	Debtors Imprisoned.
1901	…	…	179,045	8,494
1902	…	…	192,331	9,530
1903	…	…	197,418	10,544
1904	…	…	195,013	11,096
1905	…	…	216,523	11,427
1906	…	…	217,889	12,014
1907	…	…	201,305	9,235
1908	…	…	195,983	9,157
1909	…	…	193,950	8,919
1910	…	…	202,098	8,198

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that there are not sufficient free places in the public elementary schools at Grantham to accommodate the children, where there are about fifty children who cannot be provided with such accommodation; and what he proposes to do in the matter?

In August last the Board wrote to the local education authority urging upon them the need for more adequate provision of elementary school accommodation in Grantham. Subsequently the Board were informed that a sub-committee had been appointed to consider the whole question of school supply and that the decision of the local education authority would be communicated to the Board early in February. The Board have not yet received the proposals of the authority, but a communication was sent them yesterday asking that they should be submitted without further delay.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state the average sugar contents, also the coefficients of purity, of the juice of the sugar beets grown last year by the six agricultural colleges in accordance with the Memorandum issued by the Board?

The Board have obtained from the Government Laboratory analyses of the juice of the sugar beets grown at seven institutions. The names of the institutions and the sugar content of the crops grown thereat are as follows, namely:—

	Per cent.
South-Eastern Agricultural College, Wye	17.3
Midland Agricultural and Dairy College	16.5
Harper Adams Agricultural College	17.7
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester	19.8
Seale Hayne College	15.8
Agricultural Institute, Ridgmont	18.3
Essex County Technical Laboratories (Woodham Ferris)	16.0

The co-efficients of purity were not ascertained. A full report of these experiments in the cultivation of sugar beet is in the Press, and will be issued shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what has been the total amount of land acquired for small holdings under the Small Holdings Act, 1908, by all the county councils in England and Wales during the six months ended 31st December, 1911, the six months ended 30th June, 1911, and the corresponding periods in 1909 and 1910?

As the answer involves a statement of a statistical character I hope the hon. Member will allow me to circulate a statement with the Votes, which will give the hon. Baronet the information for which he asks so far as it is available.SMALL HOLDINGS AND ALLOTMENTS ACT, 1908.

Voluntary Schemes submitted to the Board for approval:—
For period of six months ended	Land acquired.
	By Purchase.	On Lease.	Total.
	Acres.	Acres.	Acres.
30th June, 1909	—	—	19,791
31st December,1909	11,236	6,866	18,102
30th June, 1910	4,882	5,848	10,730
31st December, 1910	12,890	3,203	16,093
30th June, 1911	9,073	4,023	13,096
31st December, 1911	14,589	5,026	19,615

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will give a Table showing what portion of the sum of £200,000 granted by the Treasury in 1908 on account of the Small Holdings Act has been expended, giving the amounts spent in each year, and the various heads under which such expenditure has been made?

submitted the following Return of expenditure up to 26th February, 1912:—

Sub-head.		1908–9.	1909–10.	1910–11.	1912–12 (to 26th February, 1912).	Totals.
		£	£	£	£	£
Repayment of Expenses incurred by County Councils and the Councils of County Boroughs in proceedings in relation to the acquisition of land for the purposes of Small Holdings (Section 21 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, and Regulations made thereunder)		406	10,648	24,965	32,585	68,604
Grants and Advances to Co-operative Societies (Section 49 (4) of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908)		—	1,791	1,119	1,973	4,883
Miscellaneous Expenses, including payment of compensation to tenants for loss or expense attributable to the termination of their tenancies by notices to quit (Small Holdings Act, 1910)		—	—	1,773	633	2,406
Totals	£	406	12,439	27,857	35,191	75,893

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the near future, it is proposed to appoint Labour Exchange officials as Civil servants; and, if so, what grades will be included?

A limited number of Labour Exchange officials of the higher

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the possible coal strike and the consequent dislocation of traffic facilities, he can see his way to remit the Regulations limiting the amount of petrol and oil which country dealers are allowed to keep on their premises, and so enable them to have larger stocks to deal with any emergency.

The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to this question. There is at present no restriction on the amount of ordinary oilhaving a flash point of seventy-three degrees Fahrenheit or over that may be kept by a dealer. The amount of petrol that may be kept is governed by the terms of the licence issued by the local authority in whom the administration of the Petroleum Acts is vested, and I have no statutory power of intervention except in cases of appeal.