asked the Secretary to the Treasury what proportion of the £1,500,000 available for the purpose of providing sanatoria will be available for Scotland; and whether it will be allocated among counties and burghs on the basis of population or whether it will be pooled?

In accordance with Section 64 (1) of the National Insurance Act the proportion of the total sum available in accordance with that Section for providing or maintaining Grants to sanatoria and other institutions which is allocated to England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales respectively will depend upon their populations as shown in the Census of 1911. The allocation of the sum so available for Scotland will rest primarily with the Scottish Local Government Board, and I understand is now under their consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a circular was issued some weeks ago through the Income Tax Department inviting members of the outdoor staff of that Department to apply for appointments under the National Health Insurance Commissioners, and that a number of the outdoor staff did in consequence apply for such appointments; and will he say whether these applications were ever forwarded from Somerset House to the Insurance Commissioners, and whether the Insurance Commissioners have considered these applications or made any appointments from the outdoor staff of the Income Tax Department?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, twenty of the applicants were recommended to the Insurance Commissioners, who have these applications with others under consideration but have not as yet made any appointments therefrom. Two of the persons appointed to the higher staffs of the Commissions were surveyors of taxes who had previously been at work upon the Bill in the Treasury.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Irish Insurance Commissioners include in their memorandum relative to the eligibility of Civil servants for positions under the National Insurance Act, public servants such as officers of county and district councils, municipal bodies, etc., who may be qualified to act as officers under the National Insurance Act?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Insurance Commissioners will, at an early date, issue detailed definitions of what is meant by casual labour, so that employers may be clear as to their liabilities under Part I. of the National Insurance Act?

A Sub-committee is considering the special problems connected with the application of the National Insurance Act to casual workers. It will not be possible to issue such detailed definitions as are asked for at present.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, under Section 8 (6) of the National Insurance Act, an insured woman is entitled to sickness benefit in respect of her confinement for four weeks, even if she is not incapable of work during the whole of that period?

An insured woman will receive maternity benefit of 30s. on confinement. An insured married woman will receive sickness benefit for so long as she is incapable of work. The Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, prohibits the employment in a factory or workshop of any woman within four weeks after childbirth; but if the woman is certified to be incapable of work for a longer period, she will continue to receive sickness benefit.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether approved friendly societies must employ chartered accountants to audit the accounts in administering State funds under the Insurance Act, or will those accounts be audited by Civil servants employed and paid by the State?

The audit of accounts of approved societies will, in so far as they relate to funds under the National Insurance Act, be conducted by auditors appointed by the Treasury as required by Section 35 of the Act. The remuneration of these auditors will, in accordance with the provisions of Section 57, be paid out of moneys provided by Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether Michael Tierman, now living at Mullin Cross, Dunleer, applied for a building grant and up to the present without success; whether the Estates Commissioners are aware that the house he is living in is dilapidated and unfit for human habitation; and whether his application for a grant will be reconsidered?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Michael Tierman, who was given a parcel of land on the Rathdonnell Estate, county Louth, for a grant for buildings, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided not to take any action in the matter. They see no reason to alter their decision.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have received a request from the people in the vicinity of Carlanstown, county Meath, requesting them to provide a holding for John Tully, who was evicted from the, Headfort estate; and whether, in the event of any land being at their disposal in the near future, his claim will receive favourable consideration?

The Estates Commissioners do not appear to have received any application from John Tully for reinstatement in the holding which he is stated to have formerly occupied on the Headfort estate, county Meath, nor from the particulars given can they trace the receipt of the communication referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary when James Shiels, the county Cavan evicted tenant, is likely to be reinstated; can he say what is the real cause of the unreasonable delay in dealing with this case and will he have steps taken at once to have this man's reinstatement proceeded with without further delay?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that there is no unreasonable delay in this case. Shiels' former holding is being acquired by the Commissioners under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and when the requirements of that Statute and the Rules made under it have been complied with, and the lands acquired by the Commissioners, steps will be taken to put Shiels in possession of the holding as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in Ireland where, owing to sickness or infirmity, old age pensioners find it necessary to remain in workhouses, hospitals, or infirmaries over a period of three months, the pensions are withdrawn; whether this course is followed in England; and, if not, will he state why boards of guardians should be penalised only in Ireland?

Under Section 3 of the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908 a person is disqualified for receiving an old age pension while he is in receipt of poor relief in the workhouse, save and except where such relief takes the form of medical or surgical assistance, including food or comforts. In the case, however, of a person whose ailment is of a chronic character, or who is suffering from general debility or senile decay, maintenance in a workhouse hospital would generally involve disqualification, as in most cases the medical assistance could only be regarded as incidental to ordinary relief. I understand that pension officers act under the same instructions both in England and Ireland.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury on what ground Edmond Moloney, of Chapel Street, Newcastle West, county Limerick, an old man, was deprived of his pension from September to December, 1911, while he was in hospital in Newcastle West; and whether, if there was no justification for doing so, he will take steps to see that he gets his back pension?

I find on inquiry that Moloney's pension was revoked by a decision of the local pension committee on the ground that he had become disqualified by the receipt of poor relief. I have no authority to question the correctness of this decision. Moloney has since made a second claim, and is now again receiving a pension of 5s. a week.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Patrick Feely, of Cornalaghta, Dromahair, county Leitrim, was, owing to a mistake in the Census Return of 1851, entered as the fifth child of his parents, whereas he is the fourth; and whether, having regard to that mistake and to the fact that he is now over seventy years of age, the Local Government Board will reconsider his claim and regrant his old age pension?

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

asked on what ground John Dunworth, of Kilmihil, Ballingarry, county Limerick, was refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board, having regard to the fact that on his son's marriage he assigned to him his interest in his holding, reserving to himself and his wife £16 a year each in the event of their disagreeing with the family, which they now receive?

This appeal was disallowed on the ground that claimant's means exceeded the statutory limit. The farm referred to is an extensive one, well tilled, and carried twenty-one head of cattle besides other live stock, and the consideration for which the farm and stock were assigned was so inadequate that the Local Government Board were obliged to regard the case as coming under Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pension Act of 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the James Benson, of Ballyloughane, Newcastle West, county Limerick, who was refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board on appeal by the pension officer on the ground that his age in the Census Return of 1851 was five years is not the same person as the applicant for the pension; that applicant's father was a labourer, whereas in the Census of 1851 James Benson's father was a farmer; and that applicant was the oldest child of his family, whereas in the Census James Benson is given as the second child; and whether, having regard to the fact that old people in the locality certified that applicant was over seventy years of age, he will direct the pension officer to inquire personally into the case, and interview the applicant with the view to getting the true facts of the case.

The statements contained in the question were brought under the notice of the Local Government Board at the time when the claim was being determined, but as the claimant was unable to furnish sufficient evidence of age the Board disallowed the appeal. The Board have have no power to re-open consideration of the case or to give directions to the pension officer, as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked whether there is any clause or regulation in any of the orders of the Local Government Board compelling or authorising district councils-to charge incoming tenants of labourers' cottages with arrears due by former occupiers; whether he is aware of the number of tenants obliged to bear the burdens of their defaulting predecessors in occupation in this manner; and whether, seeing that this practice, as recently in Macroom union, leads to ejectments against tenants who are unable to meet these liabilities, the Local Government Board will take any steps to discourage it?

No such regulation or order as that referred to has been made by the Local Government Board. On the contrary they have issued a circular advising rural district councils to discontinue the practice where it existed of making incoming tenants pay the arrears of their predecessors. The Board have no record of the number of tenants who were obliged to pay for the default of their predecessors.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state under whose charge is the Trim Industrial School and does it receive any Grant from the State; whether it is under Government inspection, and, if so, will he state when the last inspection took place, and by whom; whether it was disclosed at the recent trial of several of the inmates for the manslaughter of one of the teachers that infants of four years of age were received into it; and will he take steps to prevent such admissions in future?

The Trim District School is a statutory Poor Law institution under the control of a board of management elected out of their own numbers by the boards of guardians of certain unions in the counties of Louth and Meath. It receives Government Grants, and is subject to inspection by the inspectors of the Local Government Board, and for educational purposes by the inspectors of National Education. It was last inspected and reported on by a Local Government inspector in October, 1910, and by a National Education inspector in November, 1911. The school is divided into a boys' department and a girls' department, to which infant boys are sent.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he had received a copy of a resolution from the secretary of the teachers' association, Castleterra national school, county Cavan, asking that the Irish national teachers' pension fund be augmented; that the sum of £500,000 per annum, by which the Scotch elementary education Grant exceeds the Irish elementary education Grant, be voted in aid of Irish primary education; that adequate funds be provided for the erection, repair, and suitable maintenance of school premises; and that the £280,000 of salaries for the first quarter of each financial year, the £150,000 annual capitation Grant, and the £114,000 Birrell Grant, which are paid a year late or a year after the money has been earned, be at once brought up to date and provided for in the Estimates for the financial year 1912–13; and will this resolution have his immediate consideration?

I have received a copy of the resolution in question. The desirability of improving the teachers' pensions and of substituting monthly for quarterly payment of salaries is admitted and will not be lost sight of. I am always anxious to obtain more money for Irish education, but I cannot hold out hopes of the additional half million asked for in the resolution.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it has come to his notice that, consequent upon the abandonment of the 1911 military manœuvres, contractors whose tenders were accepted for the supply of various commodities have suffered heavy losses; whether he is aware of any claims for compensation and, if so, whether he will consider payment of such claims; whether he is aware that the refusal of compensation to horse owners has had the effect of seriously reducing the number of horses registered this year for mobilisation; and whether, from a point of Service policy, he will recommend in cases of real grievance the grant of some compensation, although, legally, no claim may be admissible?

The abandonment of the 1911 manœuvres no doubt caused loss to contractors in some cases. Claims for compensation have been preferred. Some of these have been allowed in whole or part, and others are still the subject of consideration. The terms of the contract are necessarily taken into account in the consideration of all claims, whether for the hire of horses or otherwise, but each case is considered on its merits. I am not aware that any reduction in the registration of horses has occurred as a result of the action of the Department in this respect.

asked in which branches of the Special Reserve has the increase of seventy officers taken place, as mentioned in the Memorandum of the Secretary of State for War relating to the Army Estimates for 1912–13?

If the hon. Member will refer to page 46 of the Estimates for 1911–12 and for 1912–13 he will find the information he requires.

asked whether a private soldier returning home from abroad in April, 1912, and due for transfer to the Reserve in May, 1912, is returned on the Colour strength till the date of transfer in May, 1912, or returned on the strength of the Reserve after the date of transfer in May, 1912, and included in the estimated strength of the Reserve as estimated for on the 1st October, 1912?

A man is counted in the Colour strength of the Army until the date of his transfer to the Reserve: from that date he is included in the strength of the Reserve until he is finally discharged. If he is likely, by the conditions of his engagement, to be in the Reserve on a certain date he is naturally included in the estimate of the Reserve for that date.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the circulation through the Army of pamphlets which contain extracts, on which the name of the printer is omitted, taken from the "Syndicalist," the official organ of the Industrial Syndicalist Education League, and which call upon soldiers not to perform their duty; whether he will inquire who is the editor and proprietor of this paper; and whether any action will be taken against him?

This question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Attorney-General.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the number and cost of the civilian employés and the number and cost of the military employés, apart from officers on the active list, of the War Office, showing the various grades in each case, and the rates of pay that they are receiving?

This information is detail in Vote 12 of the Army Estimates.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give the displacement, horse-power, and armament of all motor boats and vessels over 80 feet in length fitted with oil engines in the Russian navy; and the number of such craft now on order for the Imperial Government?

gave the following particulars:—

	Displacement.			Armament.
	No.	Tons.	H.P.
"Nixan" torpedo boat	1	40	600	1–3 pr., 2 machine guns, 1 torpedo tube
"Shkval" class gunboats (on Amur river)	8	950	1,000	2–6 in.,4–4.7 in., 7 machine guns
"Kars" and "Ardagan"	2	625	1,000	2–4.7 in., 4–11 pr.,4 machine guns

The only oil-engined vessel now on order, so far as is known, is a revenue cruiser. The old cruiser "Ruinda" has been reported as being fitted with oil engines for experimental purposes.

asked the Prime Minister if, in the event of the House of Commons carrying an Amendment to the proposed Manhood Suffrage Bill in favour of admitting women to the franchise, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to bring in such legislation as will enable the question of granting the Parliamentary franchise to women being submitted to the present voters by means of the Referendum?

The question of the hon. Member is based on an hypothesis. If and when the hypothesis is realised I shall be in a position to answer it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in cases where boards of guardians find special difficulty in carrying out the case paper system, he would be prepared to grant an extension of time to such boards for that purpose; and whether he would be prepared to receive a deputation from the St. Pancras guardians on the subject of the case paper system generally?

The order under which a case paper system is required was issued at the end of last year, and does not come into force until after the 31st of this month. This period was allowed mainly for the purpose of enabling boards of guardians to introduce case papers, and I could not extend the time without issuing a fresh order. I do not find that I have received any application for an extension of time except from the St. Pancras Board of Guardians, and I do not think there would be any advantage in my discussing the case paper system generally with a deputation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a set of fire bars, weighing seven pounds, was posted from Scotland to Mr. D. Cunningham, Coleraine, on 14th August last, in a sufficient wrapping, and arrived broken; whether a set to replace, forwarded three days later and similarly packed, also arrived broken; whether a third set, forwarded on 21st August and specially packed, arrived broken; whether the Department has offered to compensate for the third set but declines payment for the first two sets, and on what grounds; and whether he is aware that numerous sets, packed as the first two were, are now being forwarded by I steamer and railway and are being safely delivered.

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and would ask I the hon. Member to put down a question again when I have ascertained the facts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the recent action of the parcel post officials in using bags instead of the hampers formerly used for many kinds of parcels has led to numerous complaints from the public; and whether, in view of the damage which has been sustained by users of the parcel post, it is proposed to revert to the former system of ensuring safe delivery?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to my answers to the hon. Member for North Islington of the 19th and 22nd ultimo.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that, at a meeting of the Scottish Fishery Board in June, 1910, a resolution was passed recommending to the Secretary for Scotland the adoption of a superannuation scheme for the crews of fishery cruisers, and that the commanders of the cruisers be appointed, with Treasury approval, superintendents of the fishery under Section 3 of The Herring Fisheries (Scotland) Act, 1860; and, if so, what action has been taken in furtherance thereof?

My attention has been called to the resolution referred to as recorded in the minutes of the Fishery Board, which the hon. Member may not be aware are regarded as confidential, and are so marked. Both matters were duly laid before the Treasury, with the result that the appointments referred to were approved. The question of a superannuation scheme has also been the subject of correspondence with the Treasury; but I am not at present in a position to make any further statement concerning it.