asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether a Government employé at an ordnance factory will be entitled under the terms of the National Insurance Act to reckon the commencement of his sick benefit from the date on which the sick pay to which he is entitled under ordnance factory regulations ceases or from the fourth day after the commencement of illness?

If the employés referred to are not excepted under paragraph B of Part 2 of the First Schedule and are therefore employed contributors under the Act they will be entitled to benefits under the ordinary conditions of the Act and would receive sickness benefits from the fourth day of illness.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an employé at a Government ordnance factory who is already entitled to sick pay of a greater amount than that provided for under the provisions of the National Insurance Act will in future continue to draw the same amount of sick pay as heretofore; and, in the event of the answer being in the affirmative, whether he will state the value weekly at which the enjoyment of this gratuity on discharge, and any other privilege at present enjoyed, have been actuarially calculated?

Yes, Sir. The privileges remaining after the withdrawal of medical benefits and sick pay are estimated to be equal to 6d. in the £ of wages.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will state the duration of the course of instruction undergone under present regulations by cadets at the Royal Military College before being gazetted to a commission in the Regular Forces; and whether he will state the standard of military knowledge required of gentlemen who are gazetted to commissions in the Regular Forces without having first entered the Royal Military College?

The present course is for eighteen months, but pending the completion of the new buildings a certain number are gazetted after a twelve months course in order to meet the normal demand for officers. The standard of military knowledge required of candidates who obtain commissions in the Regular Forces through other channels is shown in the regulations dealing with each channel. These regulations are on sale, but I shall be glad to supply copies to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he would state the number of occasions within the past five years on which the prescribed entrance examination to the Royal Military College had been suspended owing to the number of candidates presenting themselves for examination not being equal to the vacancies?

The competitive examination was dispensed with on two occasions—in June and November, 1909.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he could state the average number of non-commissioned officers and men who annually leave the Regular Forces on completion of their term of active service or for other reasons; and whether the Government have in contemplation any regulation or legislation whereby minor appointments in the ranks of the Civil Service and other Government Departments shall be reserved to the personnel of the Navy and Army who shall leave their respective services with a good character?

As regards the first part of the question the hon. Member will find the information he requires on pages 32 and 33 of the General Annual Report (Cd. 6065). As regards the second part of the question it is not proposed to make any modification in the present arrangements.

asked the Under-Secretary of War if the Government propose to reduce the period of yearly training in the Territorial Force with a view to attracting recruits?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War why Staff-sergeant Major G. A. Bull, of the Tisbury Company of the Wilts Territorial Force, who, after twenty years' continuous service, for sixteen as a Volunteer and for four as a Territorial, is admitted to be the non-commissioned officer with the longest service in the unit, and was on duty in London during the Coronation ceremony, was not awarded a Coronation medal?

In the case of the South-Western Mounted Brigade Transport and Supply Column one Coronation medal was to be awarded to the non-commissioned officer or man with the longest total Volunteer or Territorial Force service. The staff-sergeant mentioned had not served so long as Lance-sergeant Charles Farr, to whom the medal was awarded.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, the approximate number of persons in the employ of his department to whom Section 4 of the Superannuation Act of 1887 is applicable; what percentage of this number per annum it is estimated will die while in the Service; and what would be the average annual cost of granting to the dependents of persons so dying a gratuity on the scale provided by the section of the Act referred to for persons retiring on a medical certificate of infirmity?

The number of non-pensionable civilian subordinates employed in Army Departments is approximately 25,000. From the statistics available the rate of mortality is about 6¼ per thousand. It is impossible to give figures showing either how many men in the Service at a given time will die in the Service or the cost required, in the last part of the question, without very laborious calculations.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War what is the current price per ton of acetone now paid by the Government for the manufacture of cordite; how it compares with the price paid by the Government two years ago; from what countries is such acetone being obtained, and what proportion of it, if any, comes from Germany; and whether there is at present in this country the full normal supply of this indispensable war requisite?

Prices are higher than they were two years ago, but, as tender prices are confidential, I regret that I am unable to give particulars. Supplies are mainly obtained from the United Kingdom and the American Continent, and none happens to have been recently obtained from Germany. The authorised reserves are complete except for a small quantity delayed in delivery through the coal strike.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, how many battleships, battle cruisers, small cruisers, destroyers, and submarines were estimated last year to be completed in the financial year 1911–12; and how many will actually have been completed in that period?

The information asked for is as follows:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the total number and what were the names of the pre-"Dreadnought" battleships scrapped during the financial year of 1911–12, and how many is it anticipated will be scrapped during the coming financial year?

Three pre-"Dreadnought" battleships were sold during the financial year 1911–12, namely, the "Trafalgar," "Camperdown," and "Repulse" It is not the intention of the Admiralty to place any battleships on the sale list during the coming financial year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board has received a memorial from the fish merchants and others interested in the fishing industry in the barony of Iveragh, county Kerry, with reference to the extension of the pier at Reenard; and can he state what action they have taken in the matter?

The Congested Districts Board have received the memorial referred to, but, having regard to the many urgent claims on their funds, they have not decided what action, if any, should be taken on it.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that occupiers of land acquired compulsorily by the Ballymoney Rural District Council under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, 1883 to 1911, are unable to obtain the purchase money awarded to them in respect of same, because the fee allowed by the Local Government Board for submitting their titles to the land to the council is a sum of 10s 6d., and no solicitor will undertake the work for this sum; whether he is aware that the rural district council have repeatedly requested the Local Government Board to permit them to pay the solicitors concerned a reasonable sum for preparing these titles for occupiers and that that body have refused, with the result that in one case where the purchase money was lodged in the county court owing to the action of the Local Government Board the county court judge awarded the occupier costs amounting to £10 for drawing same out of court, and as this sum is about four times more than the reasonable costs of making title would have amounted to, and as there are some five or six other similar cases in the last scheme provided by the council, whether he will cause inquiry to be made and make arrangements whereby such costs and consequent loss to the ratepayers may be avoided, and thus prevent the legal costs in these cases, amounting to almost as much as the amount of purchase money?

The facts generally are as stated. The prescribed fee for deducing title to the occupation interest is 10s. 6d., and, if the occupier is unable or declines to show his title to receive the compensation money awarded, the Acts provide for the lodgment of the money in court. With regard to the statement that no solicitor will undertake the work for this fee, there appears to be an organised resistance on the part of the solicitors in this rural district to force the Local Government Board to allow higher fees or taxed costs in the case of mere occupiers as in the case of owners and lessees. If effect were given to this proposal it would considerably increase the legal expenses of such schemes. The rural district council have requested the Board to permit them to pay the solicitors a higher fee for preparing titles in the case of occupiers, but the Board are not empowered by law to do so.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say whether a large area of unoccupied land in the townland of Pottle, near Arva, county Cavan, is for sale; and, if so, will he direct the Estates Commissioners to endeavour to acquire this and other unoccupied land readily procurable in the county for the purpose of enlarging uneconomic holdings and finally disposing of the evicted tenants question in county Cavan?

The Estates Commissioners acquired some eighty-two acres of untenanted land situate in the townland of Pottle, on the estate of Sir Patrick Dun's Hospital, and have distributed same. They also instituted proceedings for the acquisition of some eighty-eight acres of the lands of Pottle on the estate of E. McManus, under the provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act, and made an offer for them. On appeal, under the Act, the price was increased to a sum which the Commissioners were not prepared to advance, and they accordingly discontinued their proceedings for the acquisition of the lands. The application of the county Cavan evicted tenants whose names have been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land acquired by the Commissioners, and who have not yet been provided with holdings, will be dealt with as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the cause of the delay in advancing the purchase money on the estate of Nathaniel Hone, Esquire, situated in county Tipperary and King's county; whether the agreements were signed and lodged on the 20th March, 1906; and whether he can state when this estate will be dealt with?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act 1903. The purchase agreements were lodged in May, 1906, and the estate is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). It will be dealt with when it is reached in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the amount of money allocated from the Development Fund to the improvement of harbours in Ireland; and what proportion of the money is to be spent in improving harbours in North Antrim?

As regards the first part of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a question asked by the hon. Member for Dublin County North on 4th March. As regards the second part of the question, no application for an advance in respect of a harbour in North Antrim has come before the Commissioners.

asked what steps, if any, the Congested Districts Board propose to take with regard to the construction of a pier or slip at Ohermong, near Caherciveen?

The Congested Districts Board's engineer has been instructed to inspect Ohermong, and to report as to the construction of a pier there.

asked whether the attention of the Estates Commissioners has been called to the following cases of evicted tenants, and can he state what action, if any, has been taken, namely: Thomas Gaine, Colomb estate; Michael Keating, Sugrue estate; David Murphy, Colleenybeg, Chute estate; Mrs. Sheehan, Mahony estate, Dooks; Daniel Shanahan, Knight of Kerry's estate?

The Estates Commissioners cannot find that they have received any application for reinstatement from Thomas Gaine, or David Murphy. The Commissioners received applications from Maurice Keating for reinstatement on the Sugrue estate, and from Mrs. Julia Sheehan for reinstatement in a holding at Derrha on the Gun Mahony estate, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action on their applications. Daniel Shanahan's application was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and cannot be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Edward Kickham, Trusna, Bullincurny, Thurles, county Tipperary, who was allowed an old age pension of 3s. per week by the Slievardagh pension subcommittee, which the Local Government Board disallowed on appeal; and whether, seeing that he made over his farm nine years ago to his daughter on marriage, reserving only his support, he will state the reasons upon which the Local Government Board disallowed him an old age pension?

Edward Kickham's claim for pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that the value of his maintenance exceeded £31 10s. a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why reference to the English Census returns for evidence of age in connection with old age pensions is not allowed when such opportunities are available to Scotch and Irish applicants?

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this question. Correspondence is proceeding between the Local Government Board, the Treasury, and the Registrar-General in regard to this matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when the reply of the Board to the application of the Leeds City Council for the enlargement of the city boundaries will be issued?

A Provisional Order, giving effect to part of the representation of the town council, is in course of preparation.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the number of Poor Law children emigrated to Canada by boards of guardians during the year 1911?

The number of children for whose emigration to Canada the Local Government Board authorised expenditure by boards of guardians during 1911 was 762.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his atten- tion has been drawn to the conduct of the Asiatic seamen on board the Peninsular and Oriental steamer "Oceana," when that ship was in collision on the morning of 16th March; and whether he will consider the advisability of further increasing by regulation the proportion of British seamen on ships belonging to lines which enjoy the privilege of carrying His Majesty's Mails?

My attention has been drawn to newspaper reports concerning the conduct of the Asiatic seamen on board the "Oceana." I have ordered an inquiry into the circumstances attending this unfortunate disaster. There are no Board of Trade regulations governing the nationality of seamen engaged on British ships, but I understand that the Post Office insert in their more important contracts certain stipulations in regard to the composition of the crews of the mail steamers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what method is adopted at the present time in making appointments under the Labour Exchanges Act; and whether, in appointing a manager of a Labour Exchange, duo regard is had to the advantage of appointing a person acquainted with the local conditions?

Appointments under the Labour Exchanges Act are made on the recommendation of the Civil Service Commission. The method adopted up to the present is to require candidates who appear to posses the requisite qualifications to appear at convenient centres for personal interview by a representative of the Civil Service Commission, who is assisted by a representative of the Board of Trade and the principal local officer of Labour Exchanges as assessors. In selecting managers due regard is had, among other things, to the advantage of appointing persons with knowledge of local conditions, subject to the general requirements of the service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the inconvenience which is being caused to the travelling public by the curtailment of the train service on nearly all the lines, trunk and local; and whether he will inquire what stocks of coal the various railway companies have on hand, in order to ascertain how far the curtailed service is due to actual scarcity of fuel?

It must be left to the individual railway companies to decide the reductions in the train service which it is prudent for them to make under the existing circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he has had any communication from the Dominion Government of Canada, with reference to the question of the subsidies now enjoyed by the Cunard and other steamship lines running direct into New York, as to transferring some of their ships to a Canadian port or making alternate sailings of ships of the "Lusitania" type to a Canadian port and New York?

I have received no communication from the Canadian Government on the subject referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the case of the Crown's claim to the foreshore rights at Seaview, Isle of Wight, the replies to interrogatories have been received; and whether he can state when the case is likely to be heard?

The answer to the Crown's information and interrogatories was filed on 6th March. This answer is now under consideration, and certain of the documents referred to therein are being examined at the Record Office. The defendant's documents of title set out in the Schedule to the answer commence with the year 1350 and extend up to the year 1893, and a careful examination thereof will necessarily occupy some considerable time. It is impossible, therefore, for me at the present time to say when the case is likely to be heard.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial from the people of Drombane, Thurles, county Tipperary, asking for a Sunday service to Drombane Post Office; whether the letters for Drombane office are left at Ballycahill Post Office, about four miles distant, by the Thurles to Kilcommon mail car on Sundays; and whether, in view of the small extra expense, he will see his way to comply with the request of the memorialists?

The memorial has not yet reached me; but I am having inquiry made, and I will communicate the result.to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Lacre Motor Car Company, of Letchworth, are contractors for the supply of motor cars to the Post Office; if so, whether he is aware that this company is paying 4s. per week less than the standard rate of wages to a number of its workmen; and whether he will take steps to enforce the provisions of the Fair-Wage Clause in this case?

The company referred to are not contractors for the supply of motor cars to the Post Office.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if his attention had been directed to the prevalence of a specific enteritis of cattle known as Johne's disease, in Northamptonshire and elsewhere; and if anything is being done to investigate the cause of the disease?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With reference to the second part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for the Newport Division of Shropshire on the 19th and the 26th February. I may add that I have recently had the advantage of discussing the subject with a deputation of the Central Chamber of Agriculture.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the King Edward VII. Memorial Committee has ascertained the probable amount of that part of the cost of carrying out Professor Adshead's scheme for the improvement of Hyde Park Corner which would fall on the Memorial Committee after allowing for contributions from municipal funds?

No, Sir. The Memorial Committee took no steps in the matter after seeing Professor Adshead's scheme, but there is no reason to suppose that it would have cost less than the scheme which is to be recommended to the subscribers.