asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, if the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows becomes an approved society, all its lodges are liable to pay one-third of any future surpluses to the central fund of the order, or whether the surpluses can be paid over to a district fund, so that one-third of the surpluses of the lodges in that district can be reserved for the benefit of the lodges in that district and not to all the lodges of the order as a whole?

Under the provisions of Section 40 (1) of the Act, the separately registered branches of an approved society may be grouped in geographical areas, and the branches in any such area, if and to such extent as the rules of the society provide, and if the number of members being insured persona in the area exceeds 5,000, may be treated for the purposes of valuations, surpluses, and deficiencies under the Act as if they formed an approved society.

asked whether the medical benefit under the National Insurance Act continues till death; and whether the actuarial valuations were made on that basis or on the basis that the benefit ceases at the age of seventy?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and the actuarial valuations were made on that basis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether super-tax is levied upon a person upon income derived from property which passed wholly and permanently out of his possession prior to the introduction of the Budget of 1900–10?

I will refer my hon. Friend to my previous replies in explanation of the basis upon which the super-tax is chargeable, and in particular to the answer given on the 29th ultimo to a question by my right hon. Friend the Member for Islington West.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cause of the delay in the Commissioners of Customs giving their decision as to the apportionment of the increased Licence Duties, Tinder Section 46, Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, in the case of Alexander MacLean, Chichester Arms, 66, Garden Lane, Chester.

Up to the present the Commissioners of Customs and Excise have not obtained all the information necessary to enable them to make an apportionment under the Section. They have been in frequent communication with the parties concerned, and are at present awaiting a reply to a letter sent so recently as the 12th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of valuations on an occasion under The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, that are at the present date awaiting investigation in the Dublin Land Valuation Office; how many such valuations have actually been completed since the 1st January of this year; and what is the number of the staff at present engaged in Dublin on this kind of work?

About 10,000 cases of valuation on occasion have been received. Of these about 7,000 are being dealt with, some identified, some awaiting return of Form IV., others of the Provisional Valuation, and others being valued. Any statement as to the number completed since 1st January, or any estimate of the number of men employed on this work would be misleading, the work being done by the same valuers and concurrently with the general valuation of rateable hereditaments under the Finance Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the remuneration that is being paid by the Irish Land Valuation Department for the furnishing to them of the names of owners of hereditaments with a view to the serving of Form IV. or other purpose under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; and whether he can state what officials have been asked to undertake the duty?

The remuneration paid for furnishing the names and addresses of owners of property is one penny for each hereditament except in the case of Belfast, where the information was supplied by the corporation at the actual cost for copying. The persons employed are rate collectors, clerks of unions, or any other local person who is able to give the information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the allowance for the recovery of the value of the building is made in those cases where Increment Value Duty is not charged on house property sold at a price exceeding the total value as on 30th April, 1909?

The method prescribed by Section 2 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, for calculating the site value of land from the consideration on the occasion of a sale involves a deduction of an amount equal to the difference between the value of the laud with buildings and the value of the land divested of buildings. If therefore there has been a recovery of the value of the buildings since 30th April, 1909, the amount of this deduction is pro tanto increased. It follows that if the value of the site has not increased, and if the whole of the excess of the price over the original total value is represented by a recovery in the value of the buildings, the site value on the occasion will be identical with the original site value, and no duty will be chargeable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present amount of Consols, Irish Two-and-Three-Quarters per Cent, and Three per Cent. Land Stock, and Local Loan Stock now held by the public and public departments, respectively?

The information is given in the following table:—

	Held by Government Departments.	Held by Public.	Total.
	£	£	£
Consols	164,061,653	391,001,334	555,062,987
Guaranteed 2¾ per cent. Stock	30,217,480	22,512,638	52,730,118
Guaranteed 3 per cent. Stock	8,576,864	3,287,585	11,864,449
Local Loans Stock	36,859,734	34,199,079	71,058,813

The distribution of the stocks between Government Departments and the public has been estimated, as the last actual figures available were those relating to 31st March, 1911.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether none of the Sinking Fund has been invested this quarter; and whether, as a result, there is a sum of £3,500,000 yet to invest within the next three weeks?

Issues on account of the New Sinking Fund (to which I presume the hon. Member refers) have been made regularly throughout the current quarter. The balance will be issued before 31st March.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether some steps will be taken, by motor or other means, to connect Ballyvaughan, county Clare, with the railway so that fishermen and others in the district may have a better chance of getting their produce to the markets?

No suggestion has been made to the Congested Districts Board in reference to this matter, which would appear to be one for the Development Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary how many evicted tenants have had holdings provided for them up to date in county Clare, and how many cases it is estimated remain to be dealt with; and whether he will take into consideration the urgency of this matter and its bearing upon the contentment and good order of the county?

In the county Clare 158 evicted tenants have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with other holdings, and the names of nine evicted tenants in that county have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land as acquired by the Estates Commissioners. Their cases will be dealt with as soon as practicable.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have inquired into the case of Thomas Kehoe, who was evicted from the Portsmouth estate; and, if so, with what result?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Thomas Kehoe for reinstatement in a holding from which he states his father was evicted fifty-nine years ago, and which is at present in the occupation of a tenant who has purchased it under the Land Purchase Acts. As the eviction took place more than twenty-five years before the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, Kehoe does not come within the class of evicted tenants for whom the Estates Commissioners have power to provide holdings.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how much money was deducted from the Grants-in-Aid to the Galway County Council on account of defalcations under the Purchase Acts, 1903 and 1909; can he state what steps have been taken to make good all such deductions to the county council; and whether he can give the figures as to the amounts remitted annually to the county council on foot of deductions so made?

presented the following statement, showing for each year since the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, the net amounts which have been deducted from, or added to, the share of the county of Galway in the Estate or Death Duty Grant in connection with land purchase operations in the county under, the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, and the Irish Land Acts, 1903 and 1909:—

Year ended 31st March.			Under the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891.						Under the Irish Land Acts, 1903 and 1909.						Net Deduction or Addition.
			Deduction.			Addition.			Deduction.			Addition.			Deduction.			Addition.
			£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
1905	…	…	158	0	11	—			18	3	10	—			176	4	9	—
1906	…	…	273	14	6	—			436	4	1	—			709	18	7*	—
1907	…	…	—			258	0	9	3,170	15	8	—			2,912	14	11*	—
1908	…	…	430	11	0	—			318	19	11	—			749	10	11	—
1909	…	…	720	1	7	—			2,346	19	10	—			3,067	1	5	—
1910	…	…	—			884	16	11	470	0	5	—			—			414	16	6
1911	…	…	119	11	10	—			591	13	2	—			711	5	0	—
1912	…	…	—			127	10	10	1,008	6	9	—			880	15	11	—
* Both these deductions were made in the year ended 31st March, 1907.

With regard to the second paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for Cork City on 28th March last.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have received several memorials from the tenants of the Dickens estate, Currane, county Mayo, requesting the Board to purchase the estate and relieve the congestion from which the memorialists suffer; and what steps the Board propose to take in the matter?

The Board have received several memorials regarding the purchase of the Dickens estate, and are in correspondence with the solicitor for the trustees of the property.

asked the Chief Secretary (1) whether the Congested Districts Board have yet received from Mr. James Fitzgerald-Kenny maps and other necessary papers relating to his estate in the county of Mayo with a view to a sale of the property to the Board; and (2) whether Miss Olivia Crean Lynch has yet lodged with the Congested Districts Board the maps of her estate in the county of Mayo, with a view to a sale of the property to the Board?

The Congested Districts Board understand that the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of these properties are in preparation.

asked whether Mr. Patrick O'Dowd has yet lodged with the Congested Districts Board the maps of his estate at Fallduff, county Mayo, with a view to a sale of the property to the Board?

The Congested Districts. Board inform me that Mr. O'Dowd has not yet lodged the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of his estate, but that the maps are ready and will be lodged with the other information required at an early date.

asked whether the trustees of the Achill Mission estate, Achill, county Mayo, have definitely refused to sell the property to the Congested Districts Board?

The answer is in the negative.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have received from Mrs. Pike or her agents a refusal to sell her congested estate in Achill, county Mayo?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the National Debt Commissioners are receiving a sinking fund from tenant purchasers in Ireland which, in case of their default, is paid out of the Guarantee Fund, an Irish fund, which now amounts to £1,400,000 a year; whether this sinking fund is calculated to redeem the whole of the Land Stock within a fixed number of years; and whether, considering that the National Debt Commissioners, are now purchasing and issuing stock at a discount of 16 per cent, on the 3 per Cent. Stock and 25 per cent, on the 2¾ per Cent. Stock, to whom will the ultimate benefit accrue from these transactions when the sinking fund is sufficient to redeem the stock at par?

The sinking fund contained in the tenant purchasers' annuities is regularly paid over to the National Debt Commissioners, any amount in arrear two months after the sale day being temporarily supplied from the Guarantee Fund. The annuity is payable until such time as the accumulated sinking fund amounts to the sum advanced or is sufficient to redeem a nominal amount of stock equal to the advance. Any benefit arising from the purchase of stock at a discount on account of the sinking fund accrues to the tenant purchasers. I would further refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the then Financial Secretary to the Treasury to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Shipley on 29th April, 1909 (Debates, Vol. 4, page 623).

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on 14th June, 1910, the Estates Commissioners informed the Gort town tenants on the estate of James B. Lahiff, Gort, that the Commissioners had under consideration the question of the purchase of that portion of the town of Gort situated on the above estate; whether he is aware that on 28th June the Estates Commissioners informed the Gort town tenants that the Commissioners cannot have an inspection made or make an offer for the property referred to, which is the subject of proceedings for sale in the Court of the Land Judge, until they are furnished by directions of his lordship with a rental, schedule of tenancies, map, etc., of the premises proposed to be sold; whether he is aware that the Land Judge made such an order; whether the Estates Commissioners have petitioned the Land Judge in the matter, in pursuance of their promise; and whether he can state why steps have not been taken since to have an inspection made and an offer made to Judge Ross?

I am aware that the Estates Commissioners informed the tenants referred to as stated in the question. The solicitors for the owner have informed the Estates Commissioners that no arrangement as to price has yet been arrived at with the tenants, and no maps or other documents have been lodged with the Commissioners, who are not aware of any order of the Land Judge in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary how many years' annuity are due by the representatives of Michael Kean for his holding in Feakroe, Athenry, on the estate of Mr. W. B. P. Trousdell; has any portion of the purchase-money been paid by his representatives since his death; have any of the arrears of the annuity been paid by the county council; will he explain why the Land Commission have not taken steps to procure a purchaser for this holding; has a caretaker been appointed by the Land Commission to look after the farm; who has been appointed; what emoluments is he in receipt of; and has he taken any steps to let the lands in question, with a view to the payment of the instalments due to the Land Commission?

The Land Commission inform me that in this case there are six and a half years arrears of the annuity of £1 4s. due, amounting to £7 16s. They are not aware of the date of Michael Kean's death, and therefore cannot say whether any instalments have been paid since his death. The arrears of £7 16s. have been met as to one-half out of the Guarantee Fund, and as to the other half out of the landlord's guarantee deposit. The Commissioners having failed to recover the arrears, or to sell the holding, took up possession of it in 1909, since when a caretaker has been in charge of the building (under police protection). His emolument is 10s. a week, and his instructions are to let the holding for grazing if possible, but no letting has been effected. The Commissioners have made repeated attempts to sell the holding subject to the annuity, but without success.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that two years ago the Congested Districts Board received a memorial from the tenants of Mrs. M'Donnell, the Valley, Achill, county Mayo, describing their impoverished condition and requesting the Board to purchase the estate and relieve the congestion of the district; that two similar requests were addressed to the Board last year; that the average area of the holdings of the tenants on this estate is three acres, whilst there is sufficient untenanted land upon it to afford enlargements of holdings to twenty acres; what action has been taken regarding these requests; and when the Board intend to take steps to relieve the congestion in this district?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 21st February, 1911.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that some twenty-five years ago, during a period when the New Ross Union was in charge of vice-guardians, these gentlemen, for no cause assigned, changed the treasurership of the union finances from the National Bank to the Bank of Ireland; whether he is aware that, by forty-seven votes to seven votes, the New Ross Board of Guardians, at a meeting held after due notice on 24th February last, passed a resolution requesting the Local Government Board to sanction the return of the guardians' and council's account to the old treasurer, i.e., the National Bank; will he state the grounds on which the Local Government Board has refused to conform to the guardians' wishes; whether, before transfering the account, from the National Bank to the Bank of Ireland, the Local Government Board consulted the people's wishes or took any pains to ascertain the views of the ratepayers as to where their money should be deposited; and, if not, will he explain why they now arrogate to themselves the power to dispose of the public money where they please?

In 1887 the Local Government Board sanctioned the transfer of the accounts of the New Ross Union from the National Bank to the Bank of Ireland in consquence of the refusal of the former to honour cheques presented by the vice-guardians when the union account was only slightly overdrawn. The local manager of the Bank of Ireland is an officer of the board of guardians, in the same position and with the same rights as the clerk and other principal officers of the union. His removal from office is subject to the approval of the board, who could not dismiss such an officer from his position without good grounds, and, so far, no sufficient reasons have been adduced by the board of guardians for the removal of this officer and the appointment of another treasurer.

asked the Chief Secretary how many junior assistant mistresses the National Board have ordered to be dismissed owing to the average in the schools in which they are employed having risen to fifty or over?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that instruc- tions have been issued in eighty-two cases directing the managers to replace the present junior assistant mistresses by fully qualified assistant teachers. This is in accordance with Rule 86a of the code, which requires that when an average attendance of fifty is maintained in any school a fully qualified assistant must be appointed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Anne Brady, of Descart, Aghabog, in the county of Monaghan, who is an invalid, applied for an old age pension and was granted by the pension committee a pension of 2s. per week, and on her raising the question that she was entitled to 5s. per week the pension committee granted her a pension at that rate, against which decision the pension officer subsequently appealed to the-Local Government Board, when they disallowed her claim to a pension of 5s. per week and continued her original pension of 2s. per week; whether he is aware that Hugh Brady, who is blind, husband of Anne Brady, applied for a pension and the pension committee granted him a pension of 5s. per week, and on the appeal of the pension officer against this decision the Local Government Board held that he was not entitled to any pension; will he now state on what grounds the Local Government Board arrived at the decision that Hugh Brady was not entitled to any pension; and will he ask them to explain why Anne Brady is entitled to a pension of 2s. per week while her husband is not entitled to any pension?

The means of Hugh Brady and his wife exceeded the statutory limit, and the Local Government Board disallowed the claim of the former for a pension. They could not, however, determine that his wife was not entitled to any pension, as the question submitted to them by the pension officer was merely whether she was entitled to a pension at the full rate of 5s. or at the rate of 2s.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds the Local Government Board refused an old age pension to Charles Duffy, Milford sub-committee, county Donegal, number in P.O. Register 10/91, number in S.C.R. 7/282; and whether he is aware that the parish priest, the rector, and the medical doctor have certified from evidence that the claimant is over age?

Charles Duffy's claim for pension was disallowed on the ground that he was under the statutory age. The persons referred to in the question alleged that he was seventy years of age, but they furnished no satisfactory evidence in support of their opinions.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps, if any, have been taken to have the cottages provided for by the scheme under the Labourers Act in the Cootehill (No. 2) Rural District, county Monaghan, erected by direct labour; will he further state the date when the scheme was initiated, the dates when the plots were acquired, whether they have been fenced off from the holdings to which they formerly belonged, and whether the plots have been lot pending the erection of the cottages, and what income these plots have produced; and will he further state out of what funds the interest on the loan in respect of this scheme is being paid, and what interest has been paid to date?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on the 29th November last. The Local Government Board suggested to the rural district council that they should have the cottages built by direct labour, but the council have decided to readvertise for contractors.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the use of arm-to-arm lymph is largely resorted to by certain doctors in Ireland; if so, whether the Local Government Board for Ireland have sanctioned this practice or taken any steps to put an end to it; and, if not, whether, in view of the use of arm-to-arm lymph having been emphatically condemned by the Royal Commission on Vaccination, the Board will now take any action in this matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. In the year ended 31st March, 1911, the Poor Law medical officers in Ireland, as public vaccinators performed upwards of 80,000 successful vaccinations, for which purpose they requisitioned and procured from the Vaccine Department of the Local Government Board 115,000 tubes of Glycerinated calf lymph. As each tube contains sufficient lymph for at least one vaccination it is obvious that humanised lymph could only have been used in a few odd cases. The Local Government Board distribute gratuitously the requisite supplies of glycerinated calf lymph for public vaccinations, and so far as they are aware no further action is necessary on their part to secure the universal use of this form of lymph in Ireland.

asked whether, while in England the Local Government Board insist on the killing of the calves used for obtaining vaccine lymph and the holding of a post-mortem examination of them as the only conclusive test for tuberculosis, in Ireland the calves used for vaccination purposes are not killed, but sold after having been so used; if so, what real guarantee is there as to the purity of the calf lymph used in Ireland; and, if there is none, whether the Local Government Board for Ireland propose to take any action in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for South Dublin on 29th February.

asked whether, as it is officially stated that it is impossible for police officers to be stationed everywhere to prevent people shooting from behind hedges owing to the area of Irish land, he will now say what is the area of Irish land referred to in the statement?

There are only two areas in Ireland in which agrarian crime can be said to be prevalent, namely, part of Clare and part of the East Riding of Galway. His Majesty's judges, in their charges at the Spring Assizes, bear testimony to the peaceable and crimeless condition of the country generally.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has considered the advisability of extending Greenwich time to Ireland; will he say that no trades or industries are injuriously affected by the want of uniform time, more especially in respect of the use of the telephone and telegraph services, which are not available in Ireland until 25 minutes after the offices have been open in England, Scotland, and Wales; and will he give the matter his consideration?

I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to similar questions on this subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will consider the possibility of arranging in future the dates of the annual training camps of Territorial regiments so that these dates do not fall at such times when hay-harvesting is in progress?

The Regulations lay down that the programme of training and the formation of camps are to be arranged by the divisional, mounted brigade or coast defence commanders after consultation with the county associations concerned. The dates are always fixed to suit local convenience as far as other considerations render this possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the reason for not having a flatter trajectory in the British rifle is that the steel put into the barrels of the rifles is too weak to stand the force of a higher explosive cartridge?

The reply is in the negative.

asked whether the War Office have yet granted any compensation for injuries received during the annual training in August last to Staff-Sergeant-Major Holman, Home Counties Army Service Corps; and whether the Amendment in the Regulations to cover future similar cases, which was promised immediate consideration on 21st November last, has yet been drafted?

As explained to the House on Thursday last, the revision of the regulations is now in hand. I should be obliged if the Noble Lord would repeat his question in a fortnight's time with regard to the particular case mentioned.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will take into consideration the position of acting sergeant-majors of the Territorial Force and give them equal status as regards warrant rank as sergeant-majors of the Regular Forces and Special Reserve, and grant the same pay as sergeant-majors of the Special Reserve?

I regret that this is not considered practicable.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether the number of horses registered for Army purposes in respect of the coming financial year compares favourably or unfavourably with that of the year winch will shortly expire; and whether many owners of suitable horses are unwilling to register on existing terms?

Up to the present fewer horses have been registered than last year. It would appear from the Returns that this is due to intended change of traction from horse to motor.

asked for what period Colonel Repington is engaged to edit the "Army Review"?

The arrangement under which the editor of the "Army Review" is appointed and receives a salary of £500 a year is limited to three years, dating from April of last year.

asked the Under-Secretary for War (1) whether in view of the memorandum of the Secretary of State, dated 28th February last, that it was not proposed to make the National Reserve a third line of defence, but merely a register of the names of officers and men suitable for service in times of national emergency, he will state what facilities the War Office propose to give, either by an increased Grant beyond the 1s. per head per annum, to enable this body of 76,000 men to be kept together and the interest of the men in the movement sustained; (2) whether in view of the fact that there are 13,000 National Reservists registered in the City and County of London area who are forty-five years of age or under, three-fifths of whom have served with the Regular Forces for long periods, the Secretary of State will sanction these men wearing a prescribed uniform provided at their own expense, especially in view of the inducement the wearing of such a uniform would give to men to join and continue in the National Reserve; (3) whether in view of the fact that the National Reserve has been expressly created by Army Order one of the forces of the Crown, he will consider the desirability, in the interest of that force, that the regulations of the City and County of London should not declare that appointments in the National Reserve are not to be considered as Army appointments and that any designation thereby attained is not to be used in any other connection or on visiting cards?

As stated on the introduction of the Army Estimates, the whole question of the National Reserve is now being considered by a representative Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, if the present Government rifle shoots twice as fast as any rifle belonging to the Continental Powers, it must be capable of firing off its magazine at the rate of 240 shots a minute or four shots a second?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if it has been decided that, when soldiers are admitted to hospital suffering from the effects of vaccination, the disability may be considered as sickness caused by military service; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of reducing the extent and expense of liability to disablement by vaccination by conceding to soldiers the right of exemption on the ground of conscientious objection?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he has received any resolutions during the last six months protesting against the position which His Majesty's Government have taken up towards the Brussels Sugar Convention; and, if so, from what bodies such resolutions have been received?

I have received resolutions deprecating the withdrawal of His Majesty's Government from the Brussels Sugar Convention from the Legislatures of British Guiana, Barbados and Antigua, from the Chambers of Commerce and other public bodies in certain of the West Indian Colonies, and from the West India Committee, and certain other associations in this country which are connected with the West Indies.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the disaffection existing among the uniformed staff at the Parkhurst Prison on account of the conduct of the chief warder; and will he cause inquiry to be made into the matter with a view to restoring confidence and contentment among the staff?

I am not aware that any disaffection of this nature exists among the staff of Parkhurst Prison with regard to the chief warder. No complaints on the subject have been addressed by the officers either to the governor, or the visiting director, or to the board of directors. On the contrary, there is good evidence to show that the chief warder, who is a most deserving officer, enjoys great popularity among the staff.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has considered the Report on the constitution of the Isle of Man; and what steps he proposed to take in regard to the matter?

I am not yet in a position to make any announcement in the matter.

asked what amount of revenue was raised by direct taxation in the State of Guernsey during the financial year last completed and reported on, and what proportion that amount bears to the whole revenue of the State of Guernsey during the same period; if any provision for public education in continuation and technical schools is made out of the revenue of the State of Guernsey; and upon what conditions, broadly stated, the franchise is attainable in the State of Guernsey?

I am informed by the Guernsey authorities that the answer to this question is as follows: The amount raised by the State of Guernsey by direct taxation in 1910 was £5,914, approximately one-seventh of the whole revenue of the State that year. This does not include the proceeds of a tax on capital, which are devoted to certain parochial purposes. Provision for public education in continuation and technical schools is made out of the revenue of the State to the extent of £300 per annum. The franchise is attainable by all who pay taxes on a capital of not less than £25.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state for the years 1910 or 1911 the total output of coal, in weight and value, from the collieries in England, Scotland, and Wales, respectively, and the amount of such coal in weight and value exported abroad?

The figures are as follows:—

OUTPUT OF COAL.
—					1910.		1911.
					Quantity.	Value at Pit Mouth	Quantity.	Value.
					Tons.	£	Tons.	£
England	…	…	…	…	183,898,071	72,299,033	190,231,169	Not yet available.
Scotland	…	…	…	…	41,335,132	14,097,798	41,718,163
Wales	…	…	…	…	39,104,583	21,934,121	39,845,058

EXPORTS OF COAL.
—					1910.		1911.
					Quantity.	Declared Value. F.O.B.	Quantity.	Declared Value.
					Tons.	£	Tons.	£
England	…	…	…	…	30,385,989	16,155,308	33,349,618	17,187,995
Scotland	…	…	…	…	10,256,624	4,984,237	10,382,311	4,836,293
Wales	…	…	…	…	21,440,941	14,957,708	20,867,337	14,496,780

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which of the Consulates and Vice-Consulates of Great Britain are in charge of persons who are not British-born subjects of His Majesty; and whether there are any regulations or necessary qualification which must be complied with before any such appointments can be made?

All salaried posts in His Majesty's Consular Service are filled by British subjects. The unsalaried posts are filled by British subjects except in cases where no suitable British subject is available. Entrance into the salaried service can only be obtained after passing a competitive examination before the Civil Service Commissioners, for which a previous nomination by the Secretary of State is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there are any vacancies at the present time in the British Consular Service, either in the posts of Consuls or Vice-Consuls; in which places and for how long have such vacancies existed; and what are the reasons why they have not been filled up?

The only vacancy at present existing in His Majesty's salaried Consular Service is at His Majesty's Consulate-General at Monrovia, which has been vacant since 19th February last, and is at present occupied by an acting officer. This vacancy will be filled as soon as a suitable officer has been selected for the post.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state when he intends to introduce a Bill to give effect to the Report of the Joint Committee on the Local Government Acts?

This matter is receiving my consideration, and I hope it may be possible to introduce a Bill on the subject before long.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the total rateable value (as estimated for purposes of county council ratings) for each of the Welsh counties and county boroughs (including Monmouthshire)?

The total net annual value, according to the county rate valuation, of the several parishes in each of the Welsh counties and Monmouthshire, as shown in the last returns received by me, is as follows:—

		£
Anglesey	…	223,894
Brecon	…	342,304
Cardigan	…	313,955
Carmarthenshire	…	745,781
Carnarvonshire	…	707,511
Denbighshire	…	731,687
Flint	…	500,309
Glamorgan	…	3,442,415
Merioneth	…	273,277
Montgomery	…	401,572
Pembroke	…	468,658
Radnor	…	260,847
Monmouthshire	…	1,304,566

These figures relate to the year 1910–11, except in the cases of Glamorganshire and Monmouthshire. In those cases the figures relate to the previous year, those for 1910–11 not being available. The total rateable value of each of the county boroughs in Wales and Monmouthshire on the 1st April, 1911, was as follows:—

			£
Cardiff	…	…	1,148,357
Merthyr Tydvil	…	…	281,048
Newport (Mon.)	…	…	433,377
Swansea	…	…	560,822

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Board exercises any control or supervision over sanitary authorities of seaside resorts regarding prevention of shore pollution; do drains from houses, hospitals, etc., and sewer outfalls from towns and villages require to be carried beyond low-water mark under any rules, regulations, or by- laws; and, if so, why has an exception been made regarding the west sewer outfall at Ventnor and the Milanese villa in the same town?

The Board have no statutory power of control or supervision over sanitary authorities of seaside resorts regarding the prevention of shore pollution, nor is there any statutory power for such authorities to make rules, regulations, or by-laws in regard to carrying drains beyond low-water mark. Sewers and drains can be carried beyond that mark with the consent of the Board of Trade. The Board have long been careful when sanctioning loans for schemes of sewerage having outfalls to the sea to require that these outfalls shall be carried to a point which is not likely to give rise to nuisance on the foreshore.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether his attention has been called to the fact that materials for the adulteration of flour are being advertised and used by millers throughout the country; and whether, having regard to the fact that the introduction of many of these substances into flour is prejudicial to the public health, he will give an undertaking to introduce immediately legislation for the purpose of putting a stop to this practice?

Section 3 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875, provides that no person shall mix any article of food with any ingredients or material so as to render the article injurious to health with intent that the same may be sold in that state. The penalty for a first offence against this enactment is a fine not exceeding £50 and for a subsequent offence imprisonment not exceeding six months. This section seems to me to deal with practices such as are described in the hon. Baronet's question.

asked if attention has been called to the scheme for providing a park for East London out of the moneys subscribed to the King Edward Memorial Fund; and if this House will have an opportunity for discussing this scheme before any alternative scheme receives the official sanction of the Government?

The reply to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. The proposal to make a public park at Shadwell does not require any sanction on the part of the Government; it is entirely a question for the committee of the King Edward Memorial Fund and for the subscribers to that fund.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the desirability of placing a representative of the wage-earning classes on the Fair-Wages Advisory Committee?

The Fair-Wages Advisory Committee which was appointed by the Treasury was set up in accordance with the recomendation contained in Section 124 of the Report of the Fair-Wages Committee. The recommendation was that an advisory committee should be formed of representatives of the contracting departments. The Committee has sat since 1909, and as at present advised I do not propose to make any alteration in its personnel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Mr. E. E. Flint, of 58, Amwell Street, E.C., applied for an appointment in connection "with the Labour Exchanges and unemployment insurance on 22nd January before the list of applications was closed; that he received a letter from the general manager of the central office, dated 5th March, acknowledging his letter of 22nd January in terms, and informing him that as the applications closed on the 24th January it was regretted that his application could not be considered; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Flint applied before the list of applications was closed, he can see his way to have the claims of this gentleman considered?

I have caused inquiries to be made into the case referred to by the hon. Member, and I am informed that although the letter from the applicant in question was dated 22nd January it was not received at the central office until after 24th January. I regret, therefore, that it is not possible for this particular application to be considered with the others received before 24th January.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the numbers of able-bodied agricultural labourers and workmen, with' their ages on emigration, who have during the years 1903 to 1911, inclusive and separately, emigrated to British Colonies and Protectorates?

Particulars as to the ages of passengers leaving the United Kingdom are not available for the period specified in the question, and it is probable that a proportion of those returned as "labourers" were, in fact, agricultural labourers. The information available is given in the following statement, the figures relating to all outward male passengers of British nationality, classed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, as adults, no particulars enabling emigrants to be separated from other passengers being available.

STATEMENT showing the number of Adult Male British Passengers that left the United Kingdom for other parts of the British Empire in each of the years 1903 to 1911, distinguishing the number described as Engaged in Agriculture or as Labourers:—
Years.	Number described as Engaged in Agriculture.	Number of Labourers.	Total Number of Male British Passengers over 12 years of Age.
1903	6,114	21,978	77,355
1904	10,117	21,156	65,927
1905	12,101	25,605	74,264
1906	14,314	32,973	93,142
1907	14,079	44,502	114,747
1908	9,731	18,112	76,269
1909	12,943	21,289	83,487
1910	15,488	39,991	129,523
1911	23,464	43,648	158,195
Total 9 years.	118,351	269,254	872,909

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he can state what was the ascertained output of gold in each of the years from 1898 to 1911, specifying as far as possible the various amounts in different countries?

The following statement shows the estimated world's production of gold in each year from 1898 to 1911, inclusive, so far as the particulars are available, distinguishing the principal sources of supply:—

A.—ESTIMATED QUANTITY OF GOLD PRODUCED.
Year.		Total Estimated World's Production.	Of which, there was Produced in
			Africa.	United States.	Australasia.	Russia.	Mexico.	Canada.	British India.	China.	Japan, East Indies, etc.	Central and South America.
		Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.	Fine Ozs.
1898	…	13,877,806	3,876,216	3,118,398	3,137,644	1,231,791	411,187	669,445	376,431	260,871	125,161	563,608
1899	…	14,837,775	3,532,488	3,437,210	3,837,181	1,072,333	411,187	1,031,563	418,869	269,662	142,483	575,889
1900	…	12,315,135	419,503	3,829,897	3,555,506	974,537	435,375	1,348,720	456,444	269,662	324,500	575,015
1901	…	12,625,527	439,704	3,805,500	3,719,080	1,105,412	497,527	1,167,216	454,527	439,801	268,979	611,896
1902	…	14,354,680	1,887,773	3,870,000	3,946,374	1,090,053	491,156	1,032,161	463,824	422,401	313,338	720,344
1903	…	15,852,620	3,289,409	3,560,000	4,315,538	1,191,582	516,524	911,118	552,873	354,334	418,230	621,964
1904	…	16,804,372	4,156,084	3,892,480	4,245,744	1,199,857	609,781	796,374	567,094	217,688	430,543	560,296
1905	…	18,396,451	5,478,696	4,265,742	4,156,692	1,078,384	779,181	706,778	578,089	217,688	412,137	591,320
1906	…	19,471,080	6,547,943	4,565,333	3,985,684	943,142	896,615	581,657	584,744	217,688	376,774	609,554
1907	…	19,977,260	7,352,228	4,374,827	3,660,911	1,290,854	903,699	405,517	502,307	217,688	424,876	673,171
1908	…	21,430,438	8,055,430	4,574,340	3,547,210	1,357,027	1,082,210	476,112	512,702	418,312	528,687	693,589
1909	…	21,982,713	8,271,575	4,821,701	3,435,007	1,566,443	1,153,400	473,591	501,097	452,406	471,990	670,661
1910	…	22,706,003	8,425,244	4,657,108	3,175,123	2,088,312	1,164,559	494,640	584,836	488,708	509,033	720,136
1911	…	22,900,375	9,225,345	4,655,388	2,954,435	1,964,063	943,331	515,010	508,214	483,759	512,785	725,639

B.—ESTIMATED VALUE OF GROUP PRODUCED.
		£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1898	…	58,949,000	16,465,003	13,246,019	13,327,770	5,232,279	1,746,599	2,843,602	1,598,966	1,108,102	531,646	2,394,038
1899	…	63,026,000	15,004,949	14,600,237	16,299,194	4,554,949	1,746,599	4,381,770	1,779,230	1,145,443	605,225	2,446,204
1900	…	52,311,000	1,781,923	16,268,253	15,102,723	4,139,541	1,849,342	5,728,958	1,938,837	1,145,443	1,378,379	2,442,491
1901	…	53,629,000	1,867,731	16,164,622	15,797,536	4,695,459	2,113,345	4,957,983	1,930,694	1,868,143	1,142,542	2,599,151
1902	…	60,974,000	8,018,693	16,438,599	16,763,013	4,630,218	2,086,283	4,384,310	1,970,185	1,794,233	1,330,966	3,059,805
1903	…	67,337,000	13,972,423	15,121,812	18,331,111	5,061,483	2,194,039	3,870,156	2,348,439	1,505,105	1,776,516	2,641,916
1904	…	71,380,000	17,653,798	16,534,087	18,034,647	5,096,633	2,590,167	3,382,758	2,408,845	924,673	1,828,818	2,379,969
1905	…	78,143,000	23,271,857	18,119,592	17,656,381	4,580,652	3,309,727	3,002,181	2,455,549	924,673	1,750,634	2,511,750
1906	…	82,707,000	27,813,697	19,392,165	16,929,990	4,006,184	3,808,552	2,470,704	2,483,817	924,673	1,600,423	2,589,203
1997	…	84,857,000	31,230,059	18,582,953	15,550,452	5,483,161	3,838,642	1,722,515	2,133,649	924,673	1,804,746	2,859,428
1908	…	91,030,000	34,217,050	19,430,424	15,067,484	5,764,244	4,596,903	2,022,381	2,177,804	1,776,864	2,245,704	2,946,158
1909	…	93,876,000	35,135,169	20,481,139	14,590,879	6,653,780	4,899,297	2,011,672	2,128,510	1,921,685	2,004,872	2,848,767
1910	…	96,448,000	35,787,909	19,781,999	13,486,970	8,870,521	4,946,697	2,101,081	2,484,208	2,075,886	2,162,219	3,058,920
1911	…	97,274,000	39,186,499	19,774,690	12,549,555	8,342,751	4,006,987	2,187,609	2,158,740	2,054,865	2,178,157	3,082,297

NOTE.—The figures for the years 1898–1909, inclusive, represent the estimates of the world's output of gold made annually by the Director of the United States Mint. The corresponding detailed estimates for the years 1910 and 1911 are not yet available. The figures given in the above Statement for the two latter years are based on information collected annually by the "Engineering and Mining Journal" of New York, and are understood to be fairly comparable with the particulars given for the years 1898–1909.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of a prolongation of the present coal labour troubles or in the event of the occurrence of labour troubles in other branches of public utility services, he will cause a Return to be made giving the numbers of men in His Majesty's Services and Reserves who could be detailed for service in coal mines as hewers, as surface men, or for other work necessary to carry on the service of coal mining; on railway systems as engine-drivers and firemen, as signalmen or pointsmen, and telegraphists; in gas works; in electric light producing works; and in shipping trades as seamen, as dockers, or as sea-going engineers respectively?

It would not be practicable, nor do I think it desirable, to grant such a Return as is suggested.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will secure the admission of the Press to all future conferences of owners and miners during the coal strike, in order that the full force of public opinion may be directed against whichever party adopts an obstinate policy of non-compromise?

The conferences referred to are now over. I do not think that the admission of the Press would have facilitated discussion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that for one and a-half hours every day the assistant inspectors of telegraph messengers in Dublin are necessarily absent from their duties, and that these important duties are relegated to boy messengers; and whether he will take steps to replace these boys by men?

I am aware that while the postmen acting as assistant inspectors of telegraph messengers at Dublin are receiving their privilege of meal relief during official hours, their duties, which are very simple, are performed by senior boy messengers. I consider the arrangement, which is frequently adopted in similar circumstances in the Post Office service, to be suitable, and do not propose to alter it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that Mr. Herbert Wakefield, a Royal Fleet Reservist, applied to the postmaster of Aberdeen for employment in the, post office on the 4th January, 1907; whether he is aware that on the 16th February, 1912. Mr. Wakefield received a letter from the postmaster, Aberdeen, in answer to his letter of January, 1907, informing him that no vacancy had occurred for which he was eligible, and recommending him to apply to the Navy Employment Agency; and whether, in view of the agreement to give 50 per cent. of places, especially those of postmen and porters in the Post Office, to ex-Service men, this man may now be given employment?

I have at present no information, but I will inquire and write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state when the House will have an opportunity of discussing the recent agreement with the Marconi Company?

As soon as the formal contract has been signed it will be laid on the Table of the House in accordance with the usual practice, but I cannot at present say how soon this will be.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that several employés in the engineering and stores departments of the Post Office are refused payment for the Coronation holiday; and whether, in view of the appeal of the Government to private employers of labour to deal generously with their employés respecting that holiday, he proposes to take steps to secure payment for those employés?

I was not aware of such refusal, and I shall be obliged to the hon. Member if he will give me details.

asked the Postmaster-General why the opportunity of transfer to the London postal service has been denied to Mr. Cox, an unestablished porter at Mount Pleasant depot, who has been favourably reported upon by independent medical authorities; and whether his slight deafness was caused while serving in the South African War?

Mr. Cox has been examined on no fewer than six separate occasions and by three members of the medical staff of the Post Office; and the reports have been uniformly adverse to his appointment to an established situation. I am not aware whether his deafness was caused while serving in the South African War?

asked the Secretary for Scotland, with reference to bursaries awarded by county committees on the strength of nominations made by school boards, if he would take into consideration the desirability of there being, instead of nomination alone, in every parish a qualifying test to determine the applicants whose circumstances require the aid of bursaries, and thereafter that there should be a scholarship test to determine the relative merit of the candidates, the bursaries to be awarded accordingly, and, in view of the dissatisfaction which exists in Scotland over the present system, would he also be prepared to sanction an arrangement whereby higher grade pupils who receive county committee bursaries may continue to attend their parish primary school if the same has become equipped to teach the intermediate curriculum to selected pupils; and if he would be prepared to extend the benefits of Section 17 (2) of the Education (Scotland) Act of 1908 by applying it to primary schools in respect of, and in due proportion to, any intermediate curriculum conducted for selected pupils in such schools?

In answer to the first part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to Sections 4, 5, and 6 of the Department's memorandum as to the provision of Section 17 of the Act of 1908, which indicate the principles on which nomination to bursaries by school boards should be made, and suggest the desirability of inquiry being made, both as to circumstances and as to ability. The second and third parts of the question raise large questions of policy, which I am not prepared to discuss by way of question and answer.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Local Government Board will issue Regulations showing the powers of Scottish parish councils or boards of guardians to provide sick nursing, in their own homes, for old age pensioners who may be ill or bed-ridden without invalidating their claim to the pension?

Instructions on this subject were issued last year by the Local Government Board for Scotland in a circular (Poor Law Circular, No. 1 of 1911), of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the mortality in the Baby Incubator Institute, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow; and if he contemplates taking any action in the matter?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend for calling my attention to the subject. Some statistics are now before me, and the matter is receiving my careful consideration.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been directed to the objectionable methods adopted by moneylenders in pestering the public with letters and circulars touting for custom; and whether, having regard to the annoyance which is thereby caused to members of the public and to the harmful effect upon the community through the inducements thereby provided to borrow money under pledge of secrecy on so-called easy terms, he will consider as to taking steps to discourage or put an end to such practice?

I am aware that moneylenders are in the habit of touting for custom by means of letters and circulars, but I have no sufficient evidence of harmful effect upon the community resulting from such practice to warrant the introduction of legislation to discourage or put an end to it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he proposes to establish certain temporary clerks at present employed in the superintending engineer's office of the Telephone Engineering Department as clerical assistants in certain provincial towns; whether such assistants are to be paid a commencing wage of 24s.; and whether, in view of the fact that such assistants will be in many cases married men with families, he will consider the desirability of providing a more adequate salary for a clerk with a working week of forty-eight hours?

The temporary clerks referred to will be afforded opportunity of obtaining established appointments by means of a limited competition; but it is not yet determined how their commencing salary is to be fixed. I will bear in mind the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the sum of 8s. 6d. per annum is fixed for medical attendance on wireless telegraph operators at Crook-haven; whether he is aware that the only available doctor resides at the village of Golun, five miles distant, and as much as 10s. has been charged for a single visit; whether he is aware that the rate fixed by the Post Office is insufficient to secure the services of a local medical man; will he say how the rate compares with the medical allowance paid in outlying districts by the Admiralty and the Royal Irish. Constabulary; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the adequacy or otherwise of the Post Office capitation grant for medical attendance at this and other isolated or inaccessible stations?

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

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider fixing the hours of the viewers employed in the stores department at the Studd Street depot at forty-eight hours per week attendance in accordance with the recommendation of the Select Committee on Post Office Servants, seeing that these men, since attaining their maximum salary, have ceased to receive any allowance for the extra 2½ hours per week attendance, and are now working the extra hours without remuneration?

The class of viewers was one of the smaller classes which the Select Committee recommended should be considered by the Department, and dealt with as far as possible on the lines adopted for the larger classes; and a Departmental Committee was appointed for this purpose by my predecessor. Under the recommendations of that Committee the status of the viewers was improved; they were established and given better pay, and at the same time their hours were altered. Whereas formerly they attended for forty-eight hours a week and had certain reliefs during that attendance, their hours of actual working were thereafter to be forty-eight-the hours recommended by the Select Committee for other Stores Department classes. I see no case for considering the matter; the scale of pay, in my opinion, affords adequate remuneration for the work and hours.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that certain of the employés at the Royal Gardens, Kew, have-recently had their hours of labour reduced he will grant a similar reduction to the rest of the employés there?

An order has recently been issued with the twofold object of reducing the extra attendance which it is necessary for the foremen to give over and above the ordinary official hours, and of equalising their obligations in regard to such attendance. But the ordinary hours of attendance have not been reduced, and it is not proposed to make any alteration in this respect as regards the staff as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if it is his intention to introduce legislation to define creamery butter in England and Wales on the same lines as it is proposed to do in the case of Ireland?

I have no such intention at present.