asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that there has been an outbreak of disorder at Kermanshah, Persia, and that rebellious tribes have invaded the town, plundered and set fire to warehouses, and caused further loss to Manchester merchants; and what steps he is taking in the matter?

The Persian Government have informed His Majesty's Minister at Teheran that Salar-ed-Dowleh, brother of the ex-Shah, has entered Kermanshah and looted the bazaars. A message has been sent to him by His Majesty's Minister and his Russian colleague strongly recommending him to leave Persia on certain conditions offered by the Persian Government.

also asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he realises that Lancashire trade interests are mainly concerned with Central and Northern Persia; that the position is getting steadily worse; that heavy losses have been and are being sustained by British merchants; and that further shipments of cotton goods have been suspended; and whether he is in a position to give any information for the guidance of traders?

His Majesty's Government realise fully the serious trade conditions at present prevailing in Persia. The Persian Government are taking such steps as are possible in the matter, but I cannot, for the reasons explained at the time, promise to take measures beyond what I stated in the House on the 21st of last month.

Does the Secretary of State acquiesce in the words "the position is getting steadily worse?

I do not think we admit that as we hope there is a prospect of an early improvement.

asked whether His Majesty's Minister in Portugal informed the Portuguese Prime Minister that as the result of his investigations he finds that the reports published in the British Press concerning the treatment of political prisoners in Portuguese gaols and fortresses are without foundation?

I have already pointed out that the prison administration of Portugal is an internal affair of the Portuguese Government, and where neither British treaty rights nor the interests of British subjects are involved I cannot make official statements.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether information could be got and then issued from the Board regarding the German experiments on animals affected with tumours, seeing how common it is in this country?

I am not sure as to the nature of the information which the hon. Member desires to obtain, but if he refers to the experiments carried out by Dr. Von. Hausemann, to which he referred in the question he asked on the 4th instant, I may say that those experiments are similar in character to the experiments which are being carried out in this country by means of the Cancer Research Fund.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the conditions under which they are carried on?

They are exactly the same as those carried out by this country by the council of the Research Fund, which already has a publication of its own.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if lie can give a statement of the objects and amounts that the Development Commissioners have subscribed to up to 29th February through the Board of Agriculture, and what has been promised for the future?

I am anxious to afford the House the fullest possible information on this subject, and I think that this object can most conveniently be obtained by the issue of a Memorandum setting out in detail the Grants from the Development Fund which have been made by the Treasury to or through the Board up to the close of the present financial year—that is, to the 31st inst—and showing the provision made under each head in the Board's Estimates for 1912–13. I hope that this arrangement will be satisfactory to the hon. Member.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the conditions laid down by the Development Commissioners with regard to the, making of Grants?

My object in preparing and issuing the Memorandum will be to give the fullest information possible. The Development Commissioners themselves have voluminous publications on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it has yet been decided to establish a farm institute, and, if so, in what county or counties; and what proportion, if any, of the cost of the establishment of such institutes is now being required from local authorities?

:I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer which I gave on 1st March to the hon. Member for the Sleaford Division of Lincolnshire, and to which I cannot usefully add anything at present.

Does this imply that nothing has been done in the way of the formation of county farm institutes; since that day?

What I informed the hon. Member for Sleaford was that negotiations were now proceeding between the Board of Agriculture, the Treasury, and the Board of Education on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question as to the money required?

That has been made public for some time past. The amount granted represents up to 75 per cent, of the building cost and up to 50 per cent, of the cost of maintenance.

Does that apply to all counties, whatever the amount of money they are spending on agricultural education?

I cannot make a full statement until the negotiations have been completed.

asked whether the lease of land at Underhill by the Somerset County Council for small holdings for the Radstock Small Holdings Society includes payment by the society of 10 per cent, for management; whether 5 per cent, is the usual charge made under such leases; whether the attention of the Board of Agriculture has been called to this charge; whether this charge is approved by the Board; and, if so, on what grounds it is upheld?

The minimum rent necessary to recoup the council's fixed outgoings in respect of the land in question, together with 5 per cent, for establishment charges, is £4 0s. 4d. In addition the council charge 1s. a year for a period of five years as a moiety of the agent's fee and 2s. 8d. a year for repairs and other contingencies, bringing the total rent up to four guineas a year for rather more than one acre and a quarter of land. The Board approved the scheme on the understanding that the rent will be reduced if the actual working of the scheme warrants it.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether applications for Grants for road improvements made last year by local authorities will be taken into considerations by the Road Board this year in cases where Grants have not been made, or if fresh application should be made by local authorities?

The Road Board take into consideration all applications made to them, and any local authority may at any time repeat an application simply by reference to their previous application.

asked whether, in view of the fact that allocations of the Road Board grants have been distributed on a definite basis between England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, allocation on a similar basis will be made to the different counties?

The Road Board cannot pledge themselves to adopt any definite basis of allocation. In dealing with the estimated amount available for distribution up to 31st March, 1912, whilst the aggregate amounts being granted in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, have been fixed in the ratio of the population, the grants to the various highway authorities, although relative population is one of the factors taken into consideration, are fixed after detailed consideration as far as practicable of requirements and burdens and all relevant circumstances affecting each area are dealt with.

asked whether the attention of the Road Board had been called to the increasing weight of motor vehicles; and if it will warn local authorities of the impossibility of providing roads sufficiently powerful to bear such traffic, especially where properly equipped railways are already provided?

The maximum weights of motor vehicles are fixed by regulations under the provisions of the Motor Car Acts of 1896 and 1903, and the attention of the Road Board has not been called to any recent alterations in the regulations authorising an increase in the maximum weights. There are no statistics available to show the number and actual weights of heavy motor cars in use. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked whether, in view of the fact that there are no railways in Orkney and Shetland and consequently a greater necessity for improved roads, a fair share of Road Board grants will be made to the same counties, especially as they received nothing last year?

The Road Board will consider the requirements of Orkney and Shetland in fair relation to their relative urgency and importance in comparison with the requirements of other parts of the United Kingdom.

asked what money would be available for the counties of Orkney and Shetland, respectively, from the Road Improvement Fund if a grant were made in proportion to their population?

If the money allocated to Scotland from the Road Improve- ment Fund up to 31st March, 1912, had been divided solely on the basis of the population in each county then Orkney's proportion would have been £952, and Shetland's £1,026.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether evidence of age in old age pension applications in Ireland, other than actual certificates, have been decided to be refused in cases of appeal by pension officers; and, if not, will he direct the pension officer of the Ballinamuck sub-committee to inquire into the statements of the age of James Quinn, No. 2,167 in the pension officer's register, made by Messrs. James Hagan, Michael M'Kenna, and Pat Dooris to the effect that they, as older men, can certify to his age, and accept the same as satisfactory evidence on the question and grant this man the pension to which he is entitled?

In the particular case referred to the pension officer is not aware of any statements made by Messrs. Hagan, M'Kenna, or Dooris as to James Quinn's age, except an expression of opinion by M'Kenna that Quinn is "about seventy years old." On the other hand, Quinn's father, according to the Census of 1841, was unmarried and living at home with his mother at that time, and according to the Census of 1851 was married in 1851 and was then without issue. I am informed by the Local Government Board that no evidence of age is excluded from consideration on appeal.

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether or not the Department instructs pension officers in Ireland not to accept evidence as to age otherwise than certificates?

I think I gave the answer to that. I am informed by the Local Government Board I hat no evidence of age is excluded from consideration on appeal.

asked the sum of money allocated to Banffshire out of the grant of £104,350 recommended by the Development Commissioners for the improvement of harbours in Scotland, the names of the harbours in that county for which grants are to be given, and the sum each is to receive?

The matter is still under consideration, but I hope to be able to announce the decision shortly.

Can the hon. Gentleman say which Department allocates the figures after the Development Commissioners have recommended a grant?

I cannot say.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can particularise the difficulties which stand in the way of an estimate being made of the contribution of the province of Ulster to the true revenue of Ireland in respect of every single item of Irish finance; whether these difficulties are insuperable; and, if so, why?

I cannot provide any estimate which would not be untrustworthy. The Revenue Boards are not in a position to state the essential particulars, namely, as concerns Inland Revenue duties what amounts are derived from particular provinces, and as concerns Customs and Excise duties what is the consumption in a particular province.

What difficulty can there be in distinguishing for purposes of Income Tax between Ulster on the one hand and the rest of Ireland on the other for the last financial year?

I am told it is impossible for the Inland Revenue to provide the information at present. A good deal of Income Tax is assessed and paid in Dublin which may probably belong to Ulster.

Will the hon. Gentleman give me such Return as he can in view of its immense importance to the Home Rule discussion?

I will consider if I can.

asked whether the Government are in possession of any information, which has not yet been given to the public, concerning the contribution of the province of Ulster towards the true revenue of Ireland in respect of any item of Irish finance?

I fear I can add nothing to the answer given to the hon. Member by the Prime Minister on the 4th instant.

asked how many deeds of transfer of land have been presented for stamping since the Budget of 1909–10 came into force, and have been stamped with a stamp denoting that the Increment Duty has been assessed and paid, with a stamp denoting that all particulars have been delivered and security given for payment of Increment Duty, and with a stamp denoting that no Increment Duty is payable?

Excluding certain Scottish and Irish deeds of transfer, for which figures are not available, the particulars desired are as follows: Practically no deeds have been stamped with a stamp denoting that Increment Value Duty has been assessed and paid; 728 deeds have been stamped with a stamp denoting that no Increment Value Duty is payable; 292,270 deeds have been stamped with a stamp denoting that all particulars have been delivered and security given for payment of Increment Value Duty, which enables the transferee to receive a duly stamped instrument alone. As I have already informed the hon. Member, there is no congestion in the stamping of deeds.

Has not the number of these deeds which are not yet completed doubled since last year, and in these circumstances can the hon. Gentleman say there is no congestion in this business?

If my last answer is true that there is no congestion in the stamping of deeds, I do not see how the assertion of the hon. Member arises.

It arises because there are now 200,000 deeds waiting final settlement, and last year there were only 100,000.

These deeds are all stamped and are all valid deeds, and they have left the Inland Revenue Department.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests are prepared to recommend the Treasury to invest the revenue derived from quit rents in Ireland in Irish securities; and whether, in view of this, his Department will invest at least a portion of such revenue in the purchase of land and towards afforestation in Ireland?

I understand that the Commissioner is considering the possibility of recommending to the Treasury the placing of part of the capital of the Land Revenues in Irish investments. I cannot undertake that such money should be used towards afforestation, but I hope it may be possible to place it in Irish Securities and Irish Land when suitable opportunities arise.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will invite alternative tenders for conveyance of mails by motor from Lerwick to Hillswick, Lerwick to Walls, Lerwick to Scalloway, and Lerwick to Dunrossness, and Orkney from Kirkwall to Stromness, Dounby, and Birsay?

Local inquiry is proceeding, and I am not at present in a position to answer this question. I will communicate with my hon. Friend later.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will ascertain the cost of a fortnightly steam service from Kirkwall to North Ronaldshay, the present boat service being inadequate for the requirements of the people?

I am informed that the cost would be about £6 a trip; but so far as the Post Office is concerned this expense could not be justified. There is already a considerable loss on the present three days a week service.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the firm of Messrs. Craig and Paton, carrying out the electrical installation at the head post office, Belfast, are not observing the fair-wage clause in the contract; whether he is aware that the firm in question are paying 8d. per hour to the electricians employed on the contract, while the recognised rate of the district is 8½d. per hour; and, if so, will steps be taken requesting Messrs. Craig and Paton to observe the district rate of wages, and to refund to the men employed the back wages due?

This matter has formed the subject of special inquiry; and I find no reason to suppose that the contractors in question are not observing the fair-wages clause. I am informed that 8½d. per hour is not the recognised rate of wages in the district.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to say what arrangements he has made to carry out the promise of the Government to give special facilities to farmers for a cheap telephone service?

I have received the authority of the Treasury for a revised scheme of telephone party lines in rural districts. Such lines may now be provided for not less than three subscribers, and when an average of two or more subscribers to the mile of route can be obtained. The line within a radius of half-a-mile from the exchange will not be taken into account in calculating this proportion. With three subscribers to the mile the charge will be £3 a year, with unlimited service to the exchange and with two subscribers to the mile, £3 10s. a year. Steps are being taken to bring the revised terms under the notice of persons interested in applications for rural telephone service which could not be satisfied under the former conditions.

Is it still inevitable that farmers using the telephone will hear each other's trade messages?

The system is to have a party line service, and where that is so messages can be overheard. If farmers want individual lines they must, of course, pay the ordinary fees for them.

Does the right hon. Gentleman imagine that farmers ever will use these telephones for trade purposes when they can hear what each other are saying?

I can inform the hon. Member that in the United States there are many tens of thousands of these lines used under these conditions by farmers.

Are the rates it is proposed to charge under the revised scale greater or less than the right hon. Gentleman mentioned last Session?

It is not the question of rates that has proved the difficulty. The difficulty has been in securing five farmers to each line. It was also found impracticable in most places to secure as many as three farmers per mile.

Is the rate increased?

The rate is the same if there are three farmers per mile, that is, £3. If there are only two the rate of £3 10s.

asked what the unlimited telephone rates in large cities of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States are as compared with London and other large towns of the United Kingdom?

In Austria, the unlimited service rate for areas with more than 20,000 subscribers is £16 13s. a year. In Germany the corresponding rate is £9, but the German administration have stated that this rate is very unremunerative in the case of large users. In Switzerland, all telephone service is given on a measured rate basis. In New York, the telephone service is given entirely on a measured rate basis, and the unlimited service rates are exceptional in other large cities. In Chicage and Boston these rates are 125 dollars, or about £26 a year. In London, the unlimited service rate is £17 a year, but this covers calls to distant parts of the area which in other countries would be regarded as inter-urban or trunk calls, and for which special fees would have to be paid. Outside London, although there are many agreements in force at the obsolete unlimited service rate of £10 a year, there has been no current unlimited service rate for business connections since 1907; but for private residences there is still an unlimited service rate of £8 a year.

In order to elucidate this information more fully, will the right hon. Gentleman agree to the appointment of a Select Committee of the House to investigate the conditions of the telephone service?

The right hon. Gentleman can hardy be expected to make up his mind as to the appointment of a Select Committee without notice.

asked whether the recent purchase of the National Telephone Company and the transfer of its business to the Post Office is so far settled that the formation of an independent body on the lines of the Port of London Authority can no longer be practically considered?

Yes, Sir.

asked whether it is the intention to adapt an existing building in the village of Guston, Kent, for the purposes of the new post office or to erect a new building; whether, having regard to the fact that telegraph and telephone facilities are provided at the post office in the grounds of the Duke of York's School, which has recently been closed to the public, the same facilities will be afforded at the new office; and when the new office will be open for the transaction of business?

The premises will be provided by the person selected for appointment as sub-postmaster, and I cannot, therefore, answer at present the first paragraph of the question. I will consider whether the extension of telegraph and telephone facilities to the new office may be justified. As time must be allowed for applications to be made and considered, I cannot yet fix a date for the opening of the office.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, with reference to the scheme outlined on pages 5 and 6 of the Report on Secondary Education for 1910, which provides for the instruction of selected pupils on the lines of the intermediate certificate in primary schools and the Lord Advocate's promise of information on this matter, if he would now state the number of primary schools in Scotland in which that scheme has been adopted; and, further, as no such other scheme was outlined in the Report on Secondary Education, 1910–11, if he would explain what difficulty was found by the Lord Advocate in following the reference to this scheme and in giving this information when previously asked for?

A sufficient explanation of the Lord Advocate's difficulty appears to be furnished by the fact which now transpires, that what my hon. Friend had in mind in his question of 19th February last was not, as originally stated, the Report on Secondary Education for the year 1910–11, but the corresponding Report for the year 1909–10. In all, fifty-two primary schools in Scotland have applied for and have received permission to present pupils for the intermediate certificate. It is found that very few of these do make such presentations regularly; the majority seemingly prefer to pass on their pupils to recognised intermediate or secondary schools. In ten other cases arrangements for instruction covering only the first or, in exceptional cases, the second year of the intermediate course have been definitely approved. That lack of such approval is not in itself an insuperable barrier may be inferred from the circumstance that in 1911 the Department were able to admit to the intermediate certificate examination after careful inquiry, and on the strength of the report of the headmaster of the centre school, no fewer than 143 pupils who had taken either the first year or the first and second years of their course in one or other of 103 primary schools, exclusive of the sixty-two schools mentioned above. I may add that there are no regulations of the Department which forbid the teachers of any primary school to give to their pupils such measure of secondary nstruction as would justify their presentation in single subjects at the leaving certificate or any other examination. Such pupils may be presented at the leaving certificate examination without any condition as to their condition in science or in drawing.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that as a matter of fact the masters in rural Scotland are prohibited by the existing regulations from training students for the universities, which is practically at a deadlock, and that the Lord Advocate's answer the other day evoked a storm of dissent from those best able to know in Scotland, who disagreed with him?

I think the facts I have stated do not quite agree with the hon. Member's contention.

I will put down a further question to prove that I am right.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the annual report on the Continental herring trade, issued by Mr. T. M. Schröder, of Stettin, for the year 1911, and to the statements contained in it to the effect that well founded complaints were made during the year regarding the Scottish Crown brand, that these complaints were duly conveyed, but without any result, to the official inspector of the Fishery Board when he was in Stettin, and that during the year many under-salted, immature, and deteriorated fish bearing the Crown brand were received in Germany; whether he has any official information to the effect that the statements in the report are correct; and, if so, whether he will take steps to secure that the reputation of the Crown brand shall be rehabilitated?

The report referred to by my hon. Friend has been considered by the Fishery Board. The Board's general inspector while in Stettin in September last made careful inquiry into the complaints submitted to him. While some of the complaints proved to be well founded, the quantities complained of were small in proportion to the total amount of Crown branded herrings imported, and the deterioration was largely due to the abnormally hot season which caused a like deterioration in Dutch and German herrings. The Board have no reason to suppose that the Crown brand has fallen in the estimation of Continental buyers, and they are fully alive to the importance of conserving its reputation. I may add that the Report of the general inspector on his Continental visit and inspections will be published shortly.

asked whether any steps will be taken this Session to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee with reference to fiars prices?

I fully recognise the importance of the subject referred to by my hon. Friend, but regret that I cannot at present give any undertaking as to legislation this Session.

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that his predecessor had this question, under consideration for eighteen months, and whether we shall have to wait another eighteen months for legislation?

Yes, Sir, I am aware of the fact.

As the question is important, will the right hon. Gentleman say what fiars prices are?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if any complaint has been made to his Department on this matter?

The matter is under consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has considered the advisability of appointing on the proposed Commission on the housing of rural workers in Scotland a woman who has practical knowledge and experience of the subject-matter of the inquiry; and whether he is aware that there are women in Scotland who have that knowledge and experience?

I am not yet in a position to make a, statement as to the personnel of the proposed Commission. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now state what sum it is proposed to allocate for the superannuation of teachers in Scotland?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for South Lanark on the 8th instant.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the shortage of funds towards the equipment grants for ordinary primary schools to fit them for the teaching of practical work, as also for an intermediate curriculum for specialised pupils, can he hold out any hope which would enable school boards to realise the prospect of half grants, held out in Section 17 (8), especially as many boards have embarked on new schemes solely in the belief that such grants would be available?

The "equipment grants," referred to in the first part of my hon. Friend's question, seem to be identical with the grants under Section 17 (8), referred to in the second part. Speaking generally, I can only express my regret that, short of an addition by the Treasury to the total amount annually paid into the Education (Scotland) Fund, there appears to be nothing that would justify the Secondary Education Committees in proposing, or the Department in approving, such a measure of liberality in connection with these grants as would bring them appreciably nearer to the maximum of one-half, which is sanctioned by the Statute.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Treasury Return annually presented, and dividing public expenditure into four classes, Imperial, English, Scottish, and Irish services, is a Return authorised by or in accordance with any Act passed by this House; whether he is aware that such classification is directly opposed to the theory of finance as established by the Act of Union and the Act for consolidating the Exchequers; and whether he proposes to discontinue to issue such unauthorised classification and revert to the form of Return of revenue and expenditure customary up till the year 1888?

Before the Prime Minister answers the question on the Paper, may I ask whether he will consider the desirability of continuing this Return in view of the fact that it is the only means of proving the financial injustice which we in Scotland suffer under the Imperial Exchequer?

:The Return in question, which dates from 1891, has, since 1893, been presented annually, in accordance with the Order of the House of Commons. An explanation of its origin will be found in House of Commons Papers 329 of 1891 and 93 of 1893. I do not propose to refuse to grant the Return, if moved for in the usual manner.

asked whether the Government propose to frame the financial provisions of their Home Rule Bill before they have attempted to obtain an estimate of the contribution of the province of Ulster towards the true revenue of Ireland; and whether any attempt to obtain such an estimate has yet been made by them?

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to him on 4th March, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now state at what date the Home Rule Bill will be introduced?

It is my intention to introduce this Bill immediately after Easter. There has been no change of plan by the Government in regard to this matter. This is the date which has always been contemplated and intended by the Government since before the opening of the Session.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean Tuesday or Wednesday after the Easter Recess?

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has observed that Home Rule will have to be debated before Easter, whether we like or not, and in a very partial and inconvenient form, on the Motion of which the hon. and gallant Member for East Down (Captain Craig) has given notice for the 20th of this month, and whether he will consider if it would not be a more convenient allocation of the public time if he would appropriate that night, and compensate the hon. and gallant Gentleman, and every other Irish Member, by devoting the night to the introduction of the Home Rule Bill, so that we may know where we are, even if the remainder of the Debate on the First Reading has to be adjourned over the Easter Recess?

Is the Prime Minister aware that the hon. and gallant Member has not got the first place on the Order Paper for that evening, and that his Motion will never be reached?

I am not aware of that. I have always thought that this Bill, having regard to its magnitude and complexity and to its being far the most important Bill of the Session, ought to be introduced under conditions which will secure adequate Parliamentary discussion.

May I ask whether it is the intention of the right hon. Gentleman to introduce the Home Rule Bill during the week the House resumes after the Easter recess?

Yes, Sir, certainly.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if that will be the first occasion on which we shall see the Bill in print?

I should have thought the Noble Lord had been long enough a Member of the House to know that a Bill is not circulated in print before it is introduced.

Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman to say that he proposes to introduce the Bill on the Tuesday after the Easter recess?

In that week, certainly

But not on the Tuesday?

I have not decided whether it will be Tuesday or Wednesday. It will be an early day of that week.

May I ask whether—

Any further questions should be put on the Paper.

asked whether the decision of the Government not to publish the recommendations of the Committee on Irish Finance was taken before or after the Committee reported.

No decision has yet been taken as to the eventual publication of the Report.

asked the Prime Minister, whether he will appoint a small representative Commission to inquire into and report upon the financial relations between Great Britain and Ireland before the introduction of the Home Rule Bill?

The answer is in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. and learned Member for Waterford (Mr. J. Redmond) on the occasion of the last Home Rule Bill recommended this very procedure?

I am not aware of it.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to a statement made on 5th instant in the Union House of Assembly by the Minister for Native Affairs that, owing to the high mortality among tropical natives, the Government had decided to forbid recruiting for the Rand mining industry among such natives; whether he has the latest percentage of mortality among the black population employed in the mining industry, both indigenous and imported; whether he is aware of any proposal to introduce cheap white labour to supplement the supply of labour available; and what powers, if any, of control in the matter of labour legislation are reserved to the Imperial Government?

I have seen in the Press a report of Mr. Burton's speech, but have not received any official communication in regard to it, nor can I say whether it is proposed to introduce further white labour. I have been, and still am, in communication with the Union Government on the subject of the mortality of Nyasaland labourers, and the question whether it can be reduced or whether the emigration of Nyasa labourers to the Rand should be absolutely prohibited. The rate per thousand of mortality from disease among all natives employed on mines and works in proclaimed labour districts of the Transvaal for December last was 28.9. No special power of control in regard to labour legislation is reserved to His Majesty's Government.

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table of the House Papers on the subject?

I will consider whether it is possible to do so.

May I ask whether it is proposed to introduce Chinese labour?

The hon. Member should give notice of that. It is another question altogether.

What was the percentage of deaths of the Chinese who were employed in South Africa?

I do not carry the statistics with me.

asked whether Sir Arthur Haworth has resigned the office of Junior Lord of the Treasury; and, if so, when and how he proposes to fill up the vacancy?

I have not yet received the formal resignation of this office. It will be filled up in due course.

asked whether it is intended that the question of the remuneration of the various grades of clerical Civil servants will be considered by the forthcoming Royal Commission on the Civil Service?

The question of the remuneration of the various grades of clerical Civil servants will not be excluded from the scope of the inquiry.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the increasing burdens placed upon school boards in Scotland, he will cause the minutes of the Department of 27th March and 15th June, 1911, under which the size of classes in the elementary schools must be reduced, necessitating costly extensions to existing school buildings, to be suspended or to be made applicable only to future erections?

In the circumstances of the present year steps will be taken with a view to postponing for a further period of one year the operation of the now regulations in question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland when he will be able to inform the House of the amount of the promised Grant for the superannuation of teachers in Scotland, and when it will be available?

I would refer the Noble Lord to the answer which I gave on this subject to the hon. Member for South Lanark on the 8th instant. The figures given were for the year 1912–13.

What is the amount which the right hon. Gentleman promised the electors of St. Rollox, and has he already mentioned the amount of the sum to the representatives of the school board in Scotland?

I did not mention any sum to the electors of St. Rollox. To the school boards certainly I mentioned a sum by letter last week. The sum was, of course, the same sum as was mentioned in the reply to which I have referred the Noble Lord.