asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in view of the fact that twenty-two rural district councils in Munster have petitioned the Local Government Board for Ireland for an order confirming improvement schemes made under the provisions of the Labourers Acts, of which six inquiries have only been held or ordered to be held, as these schemes contain applications for houses from hundreds of persons living in houses reported and certified by the sanitary officers to be unfit to live in and are a source of danger to the health of the community, and as the sanitary authority are by the provisions of Section 107, Sub-section 5, of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, compelled to classify these houses as nuisances, and take proceedings against the occupiers, he will recall the Circular issued by the Local Government Board in November, 1911, in which it was stated that priority would be given to sanitary authorities having the least houses erected and substitute therefor instructions that all applications for inquiries into schemes which included condemned houses should be dealt with in the order in which they reach the Local Government Board?

As I have frequently pointed out, it is the practice of the Local Government Board to give priority to schemes formulated in those districts where the needs of the labouring classes in the matter of housing accommodation is greatest, and I see no reason to depart from this principle. On the 31st March last 16,808 cottages had been erected or were in course of construction in Munster, as against 14,721 in Leinster, 6,897 in Ulster, and 2,040 in Connaught. It will thus be seen that Munster has no less than 41½ per cent, of the total number for all Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education during the course of last year notified the manager of the national schools at Par teen that the infant boys should be transferred to the girls' school, and justified that notification on the grounds that the girls' school was suitable for the purpose; whether the same Commissioners have, on 15th February last, informed the same manager that the same girls' school is not suitably equipped for the education of infants, and, that being so, to inquire what change has been made in the mean time in this school; and, with regard to the answer which the manager gave to the Commissioners, will he say whether it was a protest against the tone and terms of the Commissioners' letter to him?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, in reply to his question of 10th July last, the senior inspector reported that the Parteen Girls' National School was a "suitable" school within the meaning of Rule 127B, and the manager was so informed on 7th June, 1011. The manager was not satisfied, and, to avoid anything with the semblance of harshness in regard to the enforcement of their Rules, the Commissioners of National Education decided by order conveyed to him on 31st August, 1911, to postpone the application of Rule 127B to Parteen Boys' National School till 1st January, 1912, to give him an opportunity of providing equipment of the special character considered necessary before the infant boys could be transferred to the girls' school. The manager, however, took no action, and the case was again submitted to the Commissioners on 6th February, when it was ordered that the Grants should be with drawn from 31st March, 1912, unless the manager complied with the Commissioners' requirements. This he has now undertaken to do, but he questions the legality and propriety of the order of the Commissioners.

asked whether the two evicted tenants noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land on the Crookenden and Casey estate, county Cavan, have yet been dealt with; when were their claims decided; and what is the cause of the delay in their cases, as in nearly all cases of reinstatement of evicted tenants in county Cavan?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that one of the evicted tenants referred to has been provided with a holding on the estate of William Porter, county Monaghan. The Commissioners are making further inquiries into the second case referred to in the question.

asked why the pension payable to Margaret Bird, Latnadrona, county Cavan, Number 2,969 on the pension register, was discontinued; and will he have her claim to the old age pension further considered?

Margaret Bird's pension was discontinued on a question raised by the pension officer that her means exceeded the statutory limit, and the Local Government Board have no power to reopen consideration of her case.

asked the Chief Secretary why the old age pension granted in 1909 to Mrs. Bridget M'Andrews, Belderrigmore, county Mayo, has been with drawn; if because of inability to produce documentary proofs of age, what steps were taken before the withdrawal of the pension to have Mrs. M'Andrews' case reported on by the Local Government Board inspector; and has the local pension officer reported that in his opinion she has passed the statutory age?

The Local Government Board disallowed Mrs. M'Andrews' pension in 1910 on the grounds of insufficient evidence of age, and the Board have no further information with regard to her case.

asked what steps the Estates Commissioners intend to take to provide turbary for the tenants of Gregory, head landlord Jessop, near Drumlish, county Longford, who have sent a petition to the Commissioners on this matter?

This estate is the subject of direct sale proceedings by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Estates Commissioners anticipate that this estate will be reached in order of priority to be dealt with at an early date, and, when so reached, the matter referred to will be inquired into.

asked whether any progress has been made with vesting the property of Mr. James W. Bond, at Drumhaughly, Micknagh, Rhyne, and Farragh in the tenants; and what steps are being taken to purchase from the landlord and divide amongst the uneconomic holdings the untenanted lands of Rhyne on this property?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the lands on this estate which are the subject of proceedings for sale before the Estates Commissioners do not include any lands of Farragh. Some 132 acres of untenanted land have been included for sale to the Commissioners, who have had the lands inspected and the report of their inspector is under consideration.

asked whether any further progress has been made by the Estates Commissioners towards the acquirement of the untenanted lands of Coolcraff, barony of Granard, county Long ford, which the landlord, Mr. James W. Bond, D.L., has expressed his desire to sell to them; and, if not, when a definite decision on the subject may be expected?

The Estates Commissioners understand that the owner is not prepared to sell the lands referred to at their estimated price. He has not instituted formal proceedings before the Commissioners for the sale of these lands under the Land Purchase Acts, and they have not taken any further action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary what progress has been made by the Congested Districts Board with the negotiations for the purchase of the Pratt Estate, Addergoole, county Mayo; if all necessary documents in connection with the estate have been over two years in the Board's possession and the official inspection completed twelve months ago; and, if so, will he say to what cause is the delay in completing the purchase attributable?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of this property were lodged with the Board in January, 1911. The Board found it necessary to have a second valuation made of the property, and they hope to be in a position soon to consider the question of purchase.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that both landlord and tenants on the estate of Mrs. Clara Hartnett, Knockboul, county Cork, have agreed to sell and purchase through, the Congested Districts Board; and whether he will take steps to see the sale through?

I am aware that the landlord and tenants on Mrs. Clara Hart- nett's estate have agreed to a sale through the Congested Districts Board. Maps of the estate have been lodged with the Board, and the agent has been asked to lodge some further particulars necessary for a preliminary inspection of the property. Pending receipt of the required information the Board cannot take any action with a view to purchasing the estate.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps, if any, have been taken by the Congested Districts Board to acquire the Morrell estate, Faulmore, near Belmullett, county Mayo; and if he is aware of the conditions under which the tenants are now living and of the tract of the best land let for grazing?

The Congested Districts Board are in correspondence with the owner on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the tenants on the Leahy estate, Castletown Bere, county Cork, though having agreed to purchase their holdings, are still paying their full rents; and, if so, can he state when they will pay interest in lieu of rents?

The tenants on this estate are paying rent at present in accordance with provisional arrangements made with them pending completion of purchase of the estate. It cannot yet be stated when the holdings will be vested in the tenants, and when the annuities in lieu of rent will come into operation.

asked the Chief Secretary the cause of the delay in having the Phillips estate, of Ballyshaneen, Berrings, county Cork, vested in the tenants; whether he is aware that the agreements to purchase were signed by the tenants in October, 1907; that other estates in the neighbourhood in which purchase agreements were signed at a later date have been taken out of their priority and vested in the tenants, as, for instance, the estate of Captain O'Conner; and can he explain the reason of this, and when will the tenants on the Phillips estate receive their vesting orders?

This estate is on the principal register (all cash) of direct sales, and has not been reached in order of priority to be dealt with. The Estates Commissioners cannot identify, from the particulars given, the estate of Captain O'Conner, to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of deaths of which the causes were not certified in England and Wales in each of the five years 1907 to 1911, inclusive?

The number of deaths from uncertified causes are as follows:—

1907	…	…	7,596
1908	…	…	7,477
1909	…	…	7,021
1910	…	…	6,658
1911(Provisional)	…	…	6,666

The term "uncertified cause" here signifies a cause of death not certified either by a registered medical practitioner or by a coroner after inquest.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom consigned to the United States, France, Belgium, Holland, and Canada, respectively, during 1911, and the percentage of wholly or mainly manufactured goods in each case; and the value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom consigned to Australia and New Zealand and to Germany, respectively, during the year 1911, and the percentage in each case of wholly or partly manufactured goods?

The following statement gives the information asked for by the hon. Member:—

Countries to which Consigned.	Total Exports of Produce and Manufactures of the United Kingdom	Exports of Articles wholly or mainly Manufactured.	Percentage of wholly or mainly Manufactured Exports to Total. Exports
	£	£	Per cent.
Germany	39,301,000	27,584,000	70.2
France	24,353,000	15,579,000	64.0
Netherlands	13,348,000	9,807,000	73.5
Belgium	11,373,000	7,393,000	65.0
United States	27,520,000	21,481,000	78.1
Canada	19,715,000	16,722,000	84.8
Australia	30,881,000	27,810,000	90.1
New Zealand.	9,809,000	8,672,000	88.4

NOTE.—The figures are provisional and subject to correction on final examination of the returns.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether in the new scheme, which he promised with regard to increased pensions for teachers, those teachers who are engaged in giving instruction in special subjects, say in manual training, etc., will be included.

The scheme which I am at present considering relates to certificated teachers and any holder of a certificate who is engaged in manual training, and whose service is recorded for the purposes of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, will be included in the scheme.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can supply figures showing the secondary and elementary school accommodation in the county borough of Bury in 1903 and on 1st January, 1912, distinguishing places and numbers on register in council schools, Nonconformist and Undenominational schools, Church of England schools, and Roman Catholic schools at each date?

supplied the following particulars:—

SECONDARY SCHOOL ACCOMMODATION.
	Name.(1)			Accommodation. (2)	No. on Register. (3)
1903	The Grammar School (Boys)	…	…	180	173
1912	The Grammar School (Boys)	…	…	225	179
	The Grammar School (Girls)	…	…	210	190
	Municipal Secondary School (Boys and Girls)	…	…	325	146
	The Convent High School (Girls)	…	…	182	137

The figures in the third column relate to the 1st October, 1911.Under the statutory scheme by which the two grammar schools are regulated they have to provide Church of England religions instruction, subject to the usual Conscience Clause. The Convent High School is a Roman Catholic School.

ACCOMMODATION IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
	Council.		Nonconformist and Undenominational.		Church of England.		Roman Catholic.		Total.
	Accommodation.	No. on Register.	Accommodation.	No. on Register.	Accommodation.	No. on Register.	Accommodation.	No. on Register.	Accommodation	No. on Register.
1903	—	—	5,183	8,495	6,187	4,096	1,841	1,242	13,211	8,883
1912	1,800	1,320	2,030	2,034	6,596	4,820	1,292	959	11,718	9,133

The actual accommodation recognised on 1st January, 1912, is shown above. The remaining figures in the Table relate to the statistical years ending 31st July, 1903, and 31st July, 1911.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the complement of the German ships "Nassau," "Von der Tann," and "Thuringen"?

As it is the practice of the Admiralty to regard the complements of our own ships as confidential, I regret I cannot give similiar information as regards the ships of other countries.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can give the complement of the "King Edward," "Dreadnought," "St. Vincent," "Neptune," and "Orion," and also any figure which may conveniently be possible as to the comparative coal consumption of these types?

I am advised that it is not desirable in the public interest to give the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scot land how many guardians of the children boarded out by the Glasgow Parish Council throughout the whole of the West Coast of Scotland are over seventy years of age; how many guardians have children of their own or other relatives in their cottages who are imbeciles, or are mentally defective, or are suffering from some form of mental disorder; how many guardians have been or are now in receipt of poor relief; and how many guardians are in receipt of the old age pension?

It is not possible for me to answer this question with out an inquiry involving more trouble and expense than would be justified. I under stand that every care is taken to secure suitable guardians.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he can state the number of convictions and acquittals during the last year of report under the Tweed Fishery Laws, in the county of Roxburgh; and the number of convicted per sons who were sent to prison?

supplied the following particulars:—

Place.		Number of Persons Proceeded Against.	Convicted.
			Total All Fined.	Paid Fine and Discharged.	Paid Part Fine whilst Undergoing Imprisonment	Sent to Prison in Default of Payment.	Absconded etc.
		Males.	Males.	Males.	Males.	Males.	Males.
County of Roxburgh—
Landward Parts	…	*63	62	15	3	39	5
Jedburgh Burgh	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Kelso Burgh	…	2	2	—	—	2	—
Melrose Burgh	…	6	6	—	—	6	—
Hawick Burgh	…	3	3	1	—	2	—
* One case with not proceeded with—charge withdrawn.

NOTE.—All the above cases applied to salmon. There were no cases reported or dealt with under the Trout Acts in this county.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1)whether the recent experiments in feeding troops with refrigerated rabbits have been successful and acceptable to the men; what is the difference in price between ten pounds of refrigerated beef, mutton, and rabbit, including bone; whether the rabbits are issued before skinning; if so, how is the weight ascertained; if there is any difference in price is the same credited to the men; and in what country were the rabbits killed; (2)and whether, in issuing refrigerated rabbits to the troops, due consideration was taken of the loss to the nun in soup and stock as compared with a butchermeat issue; and whether any allowance will be made to cover this loss?

In reply to this and the next question: Rabbits either refrigerated or fresh are only supplied at the option of Commanding officers, and if so desired by the men, not oftener than once a week. The issues are made in lieu of fresh beef and under regimental arrangements with the meat contractor, without extra expense to the public. No unfavourable reports on this experiment have been received, but the issue is purely optional, and may be dispensed with at any time if the men do not like it. Rabbits are sup plied to the full value of the ration meat not drawn. As regards the other points raised no statistics are available at the War Office.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whetherhe has received communications from boards of guardians with reference to the danger to the community of an outbreak of small-pox, owing to the increasing tendency of parents to procure exemption from vaccination for their children; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The guardians of the Wirral Union passed a resolution expressing the view indicated in the question, and sent a copy of the resolution to the other boards of guardians in England and Wales. About eighty of the other boards, some 650 in number, have informed me that they have passed a similar resolution. I do not at present think it necessary to take any steps in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can see his way, in the interest of the Post Office, to recognise the work of the servants who die while in the service, and after serving for thirty years and upwards, by making some grant to the surviving relatives?

The Superannuation Act of 1909 provides for the payment of a gratuity to the legal personal representatives of any Civil servant en titled to the benefits of the Act who dies while in the service after serving not less than five years. The Treasury, who ad minister the Superannuation Acts, have no power to grant a death gratuity except in certain cases of fatal injury, in respect of any officer of the Civil Service not entitled to the benefits of the Act of 1909.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether, in view of the fact that Messrs. Macnamara, mail contractors, of Castle Street, Finsbury, are shortly to institute a motor mail van service to a considerable extent, he will endeavour to secure that the present drivers for this firm are given an opportunity for learning motor driving and a preference in regard to the new employment, as was arranged for in a former instance of a similar character?

A notice is being exhibited at the contractors' yard inviting the staff to qualify as motor drivers, and offering preference to those with technical knowledge, and tuition to those without it.

asked the Post-master-General if unlimited direct telephone line service moans unlimited service within an exchange area?

I am not aware of any special meaning attaching to the expression "unlimited direct telephone line service." The expression "unlimited service" usually implies that a subscriber is entitled to make an un limited number of calls over a part of the telephone system defined in his agreement.

asked the Post master-General how many applications have been received in the Tunbridge Wells, telephone area for farmers' lines, and how soon it will be possible to provide the facilities asked for?

Inquiries respecting rural party line telephones in the Tunbridge Wells telephone area have been, received from the Farmers' Clubs at Tunbridge Wells, Wadhurst, and Yalding, from the Clerk to the Ticehurst Parish Council, and from two individual applicants. Particulars of the revised conditions relating to rural party lines, which I recently announced in this House, are being furnished to the persons interested in these applications, and I am also arranging for the district to be canvassed at art early date in order to obtain support for extensions of this class.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the grant applied for by the Carmarthenshire County Council has yet been submitted to the Development Commissioners?

The answer is in the affirmative.