asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has received an application from the workmen's medical funds of Monmouthshire that a representative acquainted with workmen's medical funds shall be appointed upon the Advisory Board of the National Insurance Act Commissioners; and whether he proposes to grant such representation?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the sum of £60,000, included in the estimates of the Board of Education under the head of grants towards the expenses of local authorities in respect of medical treatment of school children and services ancillary thereto, represents the full extent of the grant to be given in the year 1912–13 towards the expenses incurred by local authorities in England and Wales for medical inspection and treatment of school children; whether it is proposed to limit the assistance given by the Imperial Exchequer to the optional service of medical treatment, leaving local authorities to bear the whole of the compulsory burden of medical inspection; whether he is now prepared to indicate the basis on which the new grant will be distributed; and whether, in allocating the grant, he will take into account the money already expended by a local authority?

Perhaps I may be allowed to answer this question. The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but the amount to be made ultimately available for the purposes referred to will be considerably in excess of the sum provided in the Estimates for the year 1912–13. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. In answer to the third part of the question, I hope to be able to issue in a few days' time the regulations under which the Grant will be paid, and an explanatory circular. With regard to the last part of the question, in allocating the Grant the expenditure of the local education authorities during the previous year will be taken into account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a sum of £25,000 has been provided in the Estimates of the year 1912–13 by way of an additional contribution towards the cost of superannuation of teachers in Scotland; whether he can state the amount of the equivalent Grant for England and Wales; and when and in what form such Grant will be made?

The answer to the first paragraph is in the affirmative. My right hon. Friend proposes to increase the allowances payable from the Exchequer in respect of the superannuation of teachers in England and Wales by such amounts as will secure in the aggregate a like measure of increased assistance; but I am not yet in a position to state details, and in any case, any increase of the allowances (which are fixed by statute) will require legislation.

asked the Chancellor whether, in view of the im- portance of dealing with bovine tuberculosis, particularly among milch cattle, in the process of combating the spread of human consumption, he will, in order to inspire confidence among stock owners, appoint on the Treasury Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis an additional member possessing some expert knowledge of the disease and also the confidence of the agricultural community?

As I explained in answer to a question on 11th March, the specific matters referred to in the question will be dealt with by obtaining assistance from expert witnesses. The Chairman of the Committee has already taken the requisite steps for this purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the grave financial difficulties in which many traders have been placed by the stoppage of trade in consequence of the coal strike, he will give instructions that persons so situated shall be allowed reasonable time for the payment of their Income Tax this year if in other years they have been regular payers?

The Income Tax on profits assessable under Schedule D of the Income Tax Acts for the year 1911–12 was due on or before the 1st January, 1912—that is two months before the commencement of the coal strike—and has already been paid by the vast majority of traders. In any case where payment has not yet been made and the circumstances are shown to be those indicated in the right hon. Gentleman's question, special consideration will be given. I may add that the announcement made on this subject in this morning's newspapers is wholly unauthorised.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that several persons in Ireland who were in receipt of old age pensions since the passing of the Act have been recently disqualified on the ground of means by questions raised at the direction of the Treasury; whether he is aware that the support of these old people in congested districts has been estimated by the pension officers from 12s. 6d. to 17s. 6d. a week, or more than the entire farm would yield in the year; and whether, seeing that there has been no alteration in the means of these people since they first got the pension, he will explain why this action was taken by the Treasury?

It is the duty of a pension officer, under his standing instructions, to raise a question in the case of any pensioner whom he considers to be receiving a pension inconsistent with his means as calculated in accordance with the Old Age Pensions Acts, and it is no doubt the fact that in some instances where a question has been thus raised there has been no change of circumstances since the pension was granted in the first instance. In such cases the raising of a question is expressly authorised by Section 6 (3) of the Act of 1911. I may, however, remind the hon. Member that a pension officer has no power to revoke a pension or to reduce it in rate except in pursuance of a decision by the local pension committee, or of the Local Government Board on appeal.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received from the old age pensions committee, Milltown, county Kerry, a resolution protesting against the action of the Treasury in disqualifying pensioners by means of extravagant estimates of maintenance; and what steps does he propose to take in the matter?

I have received the resolution referred to. I have no jurisdiction to interfere in the matter, as pension officers are responsible only to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will make inquiries into the cases of the following old age pensioners, with a view to restoring to them the full pension—namely, Mr. Patrick Morris, Fermoyle; Mr. and Mrs. Hickson, Lispole; Johanna Hutchinson, Moorstown, Dingle, all in the Castlegregory, county Kerry, pension committee?

The Local Government Board have already given their decision in all these cases, and they have accordingly no power to reopen consideration of them. It is always open to claimants to make a fresh claim if they consider they can produce further evidence in support of their application.

asked how the Elphin Drainage Board, county Roscommon, is constituted and how the members are elected; what their qualifications are; how many paid officials there are and what salaries they receive; and how the rates are apportioned under this board?

The Elphin Drainage Board was constituted by the Provisional Order scheduled to the Act 31, Vic. Cap. 3 (local). Members are elected annually in. September by the votes of the proprietors of land within the district in accordance with the provisions of the Act 26 and 27 Vic. Cap. 3, Sections 13–15. Each member must be the proprietor of not less than twenty acres of land, or agent of a proprietor of not less than 100 acres of land, within the area of the district. I have no information as to the number of paid members and their salaries. These are matters for the Drainage Board, and the Board of Works has no power to interfere with the discretion of the Drainage Board in the administration of their funds. The apportionment of the rates does not rest with the Drainage Board, but with the Commissioners of Public Works under the provisions of the Act 55 and 56 Vic. Cap. 65, Section. 11, and is based on the improved value of the land by the operation of the drainage works as determined by the final award of those Commissioners dated 26th March, 1872. Apportionment certificates have been made under the Act above-mentioned.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when he expects to be able to announce the details of the new scheme of Irish teachers' pensions; and will he consider, in drafting the scheme, the justice of making it retrospective?

I am afraid I am not yet in a position to say when the details of the new scheme for Ireland can be announced—they involve intricate calculations—nor can I state whether the funds available will permit of the scheme being made retrospective.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the fact that his Department recently advertised for applicants for the position of electrician to the new Royal College of Science in Dublin; whether any and, if so, how many Irish electricians applied; and what was the nationality of the successful candidate?

There were 120 applicants for the position of electrician in the Royal College of Science, Dublin. The candidate who received the appointment is an Irishman.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland (1) whether, in regard to the scheme of the Kilrush Urban Council for the erection of dwellings under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, he can communicate the Local Government Board's inspector's Report; and whether he can state what stops must now be taken so that the Kilrush people may obtain the benefits of the Act; (2) whether his attention has been called to the application of the Kilrush Urban Council for a loan of £5,000 for the erection of dwellings, under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, and to the inquiry held by the Local Government Board inspector relative thereto, and to the Local Government Board's refusal to sanction the said loan as contained in their letter to the urban council until a water supply be provided for the said houses; whether regard will be paid to the Board's decision urging the Athy Urban Council to forthwith instal a system of dry closets in a similar scheme and the medical officer's approval of the dry system as formulated in that scheme and the pressing necessity for the better housing conditions in Kilrush, as proved conclusively at the said inquiry, by reason of overcrowding, defective roofing, cramped air space, and high rents; whether, if the reason why the said loan was refused was because the urban council did not first forward the waterworks scheme, the matter will be reconsidered, in view of the relative importance of each scheme and the number of people respectively affected; and whether the two questions will be considered separately and, without prejudice to the waterworks scheme, the housing scheme may be facilitated?

An inquiry was held in this matter with the result that the Local Government Board informed the Kilrush Urban District Council that the consideration of the question of the loan must be deferred until attention is given to the water supply of the whole urban district. The Board have received complaints under Section 15 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1896, that this council had made default in providing a proper water supply for the district, and it was alleged that the schools were urgently in need of water for sanitary purposes. The Medical Officer of Health stated at the inquiry that it would be preferable to instal a new water supply in the district before proceeding to the building of new houses. The provision of earth closets in Athy was considered necessary owing to the fact that the sewage of that district was being discharged unpurified into the River Barrow. The Inspector's Report is a confidential document, and it is not the practice to furnish copies of such reports for general information.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that Mr. Arthur O'Conor, the owner of the grazing farms known as the Palace, Shankhill, and Killvoy, situate in the parish of Elphin, wrote on recent occasions to the Congested Districts Board offering those grazing farms for sale and promising to provide all the necessary proofs or maps that might be required; and, in view of this and having regard to the peace of the parish and the destruction of private property, will he explain the meaning of the Board's hesitancy in acquiring those lands, which are needed for the removal of the prevailing local congestion?

I have nothing to add to my previous answers to questions on this subject. There has been no avoidable delay in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary if an inspector from the Estates Commissioners valued the farm of Mr. J. Raleigh, of Ballynamuddagh, Dromin, county Limerick, tenant on the estate of Lord Langford; did his valuer reduce the purchase price; and, if so, how much was the inspector's valuation accepted by the vendors, and how do matters now stand; are the Commissioners demanding the payment of annuity according to the terms of the original puchase agreement; and, if so, why did they send an inspector to put a valuation on the place and afterwards ignore his decision; and will steps be taken to prevent injustice being done to this tenant and have the inspector's report adopted?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Estates Commissioners have had an inspection made of Raleigh's holding, and have communicated to the vendor's solicitors the amount which they are prepared to advance on the security of the holding. The question whether the tenant should pay in cash the difference between the price agreed upon between him and the vendor, and the amount which the Commissioners are prepared to advance is a matter for arrangement between the parties. In the meantime the Commissioners are under a statutory obligation to collect the interest in lieu of rent which the tenant contracted to pay in the purchase agreement signed by him.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the offer made by the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the Berridge estate, Connemara, has been accepted; and, if it has not, will he state what further action the Board or the Government may take to save the large number of tenants possessing notoriously uneconomic holdings on this estate from the consequences of the landlord's refusal?

An offer has been made by the Congested Districts Board for this estate, but they are not at present in a position to make any further statement on the subject.

asked the Chief Sectary for Ireland if he will state what is the cause of the delay in vesting the Ventry estate in the Board, seeing that it was sold nearly a year and a half ago, and that it was then expected all questions of title would be over in less than twelve months; and what is the arrangement as regards payments since November, 1909, by tenants on whose lands no improvements will be made?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the agreement of the Congested Districts Board to purchase this estate is dated 2nd August, 1911. The Commissioners cannot vest the estate in the Board until certain questions which have arisen in connection with the vendor's title to sell have been disposed of by his solicitors, who are using all expedition in the matter. In accordance with the terms of provisional agreements signed by the tenants, holdings not requiring any alteration will be sold as soon as possible after the estate has been vested in the Board, and upon such sale interest at 3½ per cent. will be charged from the last gale day of 1909 to date of the sale agreements. The rent paid by the tenants in the meantime will be set off against the interest charged, and any excess due on the account will be repaid to the tenants on signing their sale agreements.

asked (1) whether Mr. Richard Gibbons, Westport, has yet offered his estate, situate in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo, for sale to the Congested Districts Board, or has the Board communicated with him suggesting a sale, and, if so, with what result; (2) whether the Earl of Norbury has lodged with the Congested Districts Board the maps of his estate situate in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo, with a view to a sale of the property, if so, when the Board intend to have the estate valued and a price offered for it; (3) whether Mr. James Foy, of Carraward, Bohola, county Mayo, has offered his estate in Cloonturbid, Turlough parish, county Mayo, for sale to the Congested Districts Board, or has the Board communicated with him relative to a sale; (4) whether Mr. Mark Foy, Carraward, Bohola, county Mayo, has offered his estate situate at Cloontubrid, in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo, for sale to the Congested Districts Board, or has the Board communicated with him as to a sale; (5) whether Mr. John Durcan, Turlough, county Mayo, has offered his estate at Cloontubrid, parish of Turlough, county Mayo, for sale to the Congested Districts Board, or has the Board communicated with him on the subject of a sale; and (6) whether Mrs. Foy, of Bunninadden, county Sligo, has offered her estate situate at Cloonagleragh and Cloontubrid, in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo, to the Congested Districts Board for sale, or has the Board communicated with her on the subject; and, if so, with what result?

The Congested Districts Board are in correspondence with the owners of the several estates referred to, and are not at present in a position to make any further statement on the subject. The relief of congestion in these districts is being dealt with by the Board as rapidly as the funds at their disposal for the purchase and improvement of estates will permit, and I would suggest to the hon. Member that he should recommend patience to his constituents, who otherwise will be bound to be greatly disappointed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board have offered a free Grant of £1,000 to the Lough Gara Drainage Board to improve the outlet from Lough Gara; that the Board are anxious to get the work carried out, but under the Act 5 and 6 Vic, under which, they are constituted, they have only a maintenance power; and whether he will take steps for the passing of a short Act or Amendment by which drainage boards may get the necessary power to improve, where required, rivers, etc., in their respective districts?

I am aware that the Congested Districts Board offered to contribute £1,000 towards the works referred, to. To enable the drainage board to carry out this work would require legislation, for which I see no prospect this Session.

asked what is the cause of the delay in issuing vesting orders on the estate of Helena M. Howley (No. H. 173/4), county Limerick, the agreements for which were lodged on 13th February, 1906, and the lands inspected in June, 1909; how soon will the sale be wound up; and will the estate be paid for this year, thus relieving tenants from the payment of interest?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. It is on the principal register of direct sales, and the Estates Commissioners anticipate that it will be reached in order of priority to be dealt with during the financial year commencing 1st April.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the New Ross and other urban district councils in Ireland have passed resolutions praying for the repeal of the Public Bodies Order, and that part of the Local Government (Ireland) Act of 1898 which relieved landlords of the rates on their tenants' houses with an annual value of £4 a year or less; and what action he proposes to take?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for East Cork on the 28th February.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Scotland will receive for education for the coming year from the Treasury £2,489,425, while Ireland will only receive £1,734,554, while the population of both countries is about the same; whether Scotland will receive £230,000 for secondary education from the Treasury, while Ireland will receive nothing; and whether, seeing that Scotland is relatively a wealthier country and has had for centuries a good education system, he proposes to take any steps to remove this inequality?

The comparison is not quite fair. The Scotch Vote of £2,489,425 includes £230,000 for secondary education, and covers many other matters not included in the Irish Education Vote, while the Vote for the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction includes provision for technical instruction and Grants for day secondary schools. The Irish Education Vote shows an increase of £78,000 on last year, and I cannot hold out hopes of any further increase this year.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the Commission inquiring into the matter of a pure milk supply and the recent serious outbreak of typhoid at Omagh Asylum, he will state what precautions has the Local Government Board adopted to ensure a pure supply of new milk to the various public institutions under its control; and whether the inspectors of the Local Government Board will examine and approve of the premises of contractors before the milk is supplied in order that the premises may be thoroughly sanitary?

The Local Government Board have no reason to believe that the boards of guardians, who are the controlling authorities of workhouses in Ireland, are not exercising due supervision over their respective milk supplies. In any case the responsibility of inspecting the premises of milk vendors primarily devolves on the various sanitary authorities in the country.

asked whether attention has been called to the proceedings at a meeting of the Ballindine branch of the United Irish League, held upon the 10th March, at which speeches were made and resolutions passed threatening and denouncing by name a number of workmen on the estate of Lord Oranmore, and at which a resolution was passed to the effect the notice should be given to sixteen other workmen requiring them to leave off work; whether these notices were subsequently served; and what action, if any, has been taken or is proposed to bring to justice the persons responsible for these proceedings?

I have seen a newspaper report of the meeting referred to, which was held indoors and to which the public were not admitted. So far as the police can ascertain no notices have been sent to any of the workmen on Lord Oranmore's estate requiring them to leave off work. Without evidence as to what was said and done at the meeting, it is difficult to see how the question of taking proceedings can arise.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for East Down?

Yes, Sir, but the preparation of the Return will take some time.

asked the Chief Secretary if provision has been made in the Estimates for 1912–13, Class 4, Vote 10, Item E, for the payment of arrears of salary to national school teachers who have been promoted to the first grade in 1909, 1910, and 1911, without receiving the resulting increment of salary; and, if so, will he state the amount of such provision and the number of teachers affected by it?

The teachers referred to were not entitled to an increase of salary until the occurrence of a vacancy in the grade to which they were promoted. No arrears of salary can therefore be due, and no provision has been made in the Estimates for 1912–13 in respect of these teachers.

asked the Chief Secretary if, inasmuch as the contracts for supplies to the War Office, Admiralty, and Post Office in Ireland are not arranged so as to provide for the making of such contracts in Ireland but in certain centres in England, the Government will make early provision that the control of all such contracts, in so far as they affect supplies for Ireland, should be placed in the hands of the responsible officials in Ireland of these Departments, so that Ireland may in future secure an equitable share of the expenditure?

I would suggest that the hon. Member should address the heads of the Departments concerned on the subject. I have no power in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary how much money was deducted from the Grants-in-Aid to the Tipperary North Riding County Council on account of defalcations under the Land Acts, 1891, 1903, and 1909; whether he can state what steps have been taken to make good all such defalcations; and whether he can state the amounts annually remitted to the county council on the foot of deductions so made?

Statement showing the net amounts deducted from, or added to, the share of the county of Tipperary {North Biding) in the Estate or Death Duty (formerly Probate 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, for each year since 1895, when the first deduction was made.

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.
1895	…	163	2	8	—			—			—			163	2	8	—
1896	…	18	16	11	—			—			—			18	16	11	—
1897	…	148	15	10	—			—			—			148	15	10	—
1898	…	143	3	1	—			—			—			143	3	1	—
1899	…	245	3	3	—			—			—			245	3	3	—
1900	…	295	3	6	—			—			—			295	3	6	—
1901	…	163	12	8	—			—			—			163	12	8	—
1902	…	123	6	1	—			—			—			123	6	1	—
1903	…	278	14	3	—			—			—			278	14	3	—
1904	…	20	19	1	—			—			—			20	19	1	—
1905	…	110	19	5	—			36	4	9	—			147	4	2	—
1906	…	—			—			—			—			—			—
1907	…	130	13	7	—			1,067	8	5	—			1,198	2	0	—
1908	…	424	18	5	—			38	3	7	—			463	2	0	—
1909	…	—			130	14	5	947	14	3	—			816	19	10	—
1910	…	—			447	19	1	413	1	7	—			—			34	17	6
1911	…	189	4	0	—			200	16	0	—			390	0	0	—
1912	…	—			61	11	5	—			160	6	11	—			221	18	4
Total	…	2,456	12	9	640	4	11	2,703	8	7	160	6	11	4,616	5	4	256	15	10
														Net deduction			£4,359	9	6

With regard to the last two paragraphs of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject by the hon. Member for Cork City on 28th March, 1911.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received from the Kerry County Council a resolution requesting the construction of a slip and breakwater at Doneen, Smerwick, also a landing-place at Cooscroum, Kilvicka-downig, Ventry; and whether, seeing that these are works of necessity and that fishermen are exposed to danger and hardship in landing their boats, he will take steps to have them attended to as soon as possible?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. The sites for the proposed works at Doneen, Smerwick, and Cooscroum, Ventry, will be inspected by a Committee of the Congested Districts Board at the first convenient opportunity.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education have recently written to the manager ofthe national schools at Parteen requiring him to provide certain equipment for them before the 31st instant under pain of the withdrawal of all grants from these schools and the consequent starvation of

the teachers; whether he is aware that these requirements have been recently made, and that previously the whole question at issue was the suitability of the girls' school for the reception of infant boys; whether, up to the time that the Commissioners proceeded to enforce the Rule 127

I am aware that the Commissioners of National Education communicated with the manager of these schools as stated. As long ago as March, 1908, and again in November, 1908, the inspector reported that kindergarten desks were needed for juniors and infants. He brought the matter under the notice of the manager, who said he would see about it. The manager has since been written to more than once by the Commissioners, but up to the present has not furnished any kindergarten or manual instruction apparatus. The Reports of inspectors are confidential, and it is not desirable in the interests of the public service to supply copies of them. The case is not one in which I can interfere.

asked on what date the Local Government Board suggested to the Cootehill Rural District Council (No. 2) that they should have the cottages erected by direct labour for which a scheme had been passed some years ago; and will he now state whether the council have as yet re-advertised for contractors as they decided to do in answer to the suggestion of the Local Government Board; and, if so, on what date did their advertisement appear?

The date of the Local Government Board's letter to the Cootehill No. 2 Rural District Council suggesting that the cottages should be built by direct labour was 30th November, 1911. On 1st December, 1911, the council directed that "posters be put up through the district, and also to advertise" for contractors, but the Board have no information as to the actual date of the advertisement.

asked how many cases of firing at the person or at dwellings, or of malicious explosions, have been reported by the police since 1st, January, 1912; the date and place of each occurrence, and the name of the person or persons attacked, and whether any arrests have been made?

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member's question of the 7th March, there were seventeen cases of firing at the person and eleven of firing into dwellings reported during the present year. Three of the cases so reported proved, on further investigation, not to be genuine. One case of firing at the person and one of firing into dwellings have been reported since that date. There have been five cases of malicious explosions reported. Nineteen arrests have been made. The cases were distributed among the following counties:—Antrim, Armagh, Clare, Cork, Down, Galway, Kerry, Mayo, Tipperary, and Wexford. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing a list of the injured persons.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the firm of Ellis and Company, Mill-wall, contractors to the War Office, are infringing the Fair-Wages Clause in that they pay their machinists 5½d. an hour, the recognised rate being 7d. per house for wire rope makers; and whether he will have inquiries made with a view to securing compliance with the Clause in question?

The matter shall be investigated.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to hold an inquiry into the conduct of Police constable Stab, the defendant in the case of Treacher v. Stab; and whether the plaintiff in that action will be allowed to be represented at such inquiry?

The disciplinary proceedings against the constable which were suspended when the legal action was begun have now been resumed. The point referred to in the second part of the question is one for the disciplinary court to determine.