asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the-text of the postponed Budget Resolution?

I shall hope to-publish the text of the postponed Budget Resolution before it is moved.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how much money was deducted from the Grants in Aid to the Londonderry County Council on account of arrears under the Land Acts, 1891, 1903, and 1909; what portions of these arrears have since been recovered; and have they been duly credited to the county council?

The amounts deducted from the share of county Londonderry in the Estate or Death Duty Grant in respect of land purchase transactions were: Under Land Purchase Acts, 1891–1896, £2,076 18s. 5d.; Under Irish Land Act 1903, £783 l1s. 4d. There has been no deduction, in respect of transactions under the Irish Land Act 1909. Of the first mentioned sum, £l,625 14s. 9d. represented the amount outstanding in respect of charges no longer falling on the Guarantee Fund, and which will be paid off according as the advances are repaid; and £451 3s. 8d. in respect of arrears of annuities. The amount, £783 l1s. 4d., deducted under the Irish Land Act, 1903, was entirely in respect of arrears of annuities. In by far the greater number of cases arrears were only due in respect of one half-year. AH the arrears are being gradually reduced, and as they are paid they are replaced to-the credit of the share of the county in the Guarantee Fund.

asked the cause of delay in completing the arrangements for reinstatement of two evicted tenants named Ring, the evicted farms being situate at Lackanastooka, Kingwilliamstown, county Cork, on the estate of Hungerford and Cloran?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The Estates Commissioners received applications from James Ring and Julia Ring for reinstatement in holdings formerly occupied by them on this estate. Their holdings are at present in the occupation of another tenant. The Commissioners estimated the prices which they would be prepared to advance for the purchase of these holdings in the event of the present occupier agreeing to surrender, but thy are informed by the vendor that the Hings are not willing to sign agreements to purchase at the estimated prices. When the estate is being dealt with m proper order of priority the Commissioners will further consider the question of making advances to the Rings for the purchase of these holdings, but meanwhile the Commissioners cannot take any further action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will instruct the Estates Commissioners to send an inspector to investigate the cases of John Barry Meens and Timothy Moynahan Meens, of Lisrobin, "both evicted tenants on the Lisle estate, near Newmarket, county Cork, with a view of getting agreements to purchase signed by the evicted tenants, the evicted tenants being agreeable, but the representatives of the landlord are demanding one year's Tent previous to reinstatement, although the tenants have been evicted for a number of years?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Estates Commissioners are at present in communication with the solicitors having carriage of sale as to the cases of John Barry and Timothy Moynahan.

asked the Chief Secre-Secretary whether a petition praying for "better conditions of service was presented by certain members of the Dublin Metropolitan Police; to whom was this document so presented and to whom was it ultimately forwarded; if he can state at what stage the matter has now arrived or whether any decision has yet been announced; whether a reply to the memorial may be expected at an early date; and whether a copy of the memorial will be laid upon the Table of the House of Commons?

I have received no petition, but the Commissioner of Police has submitted a statement embodying the views of the force regarding an improvement in their conditions of service. The Irish Government, in consultation with the Treasury, is now engaged in considering the subject, but have not yet arrived at a decision. The statement in question is of a confidential character, and it would be contrary to practice to lay it on the Table.

asked the amount of revenue derived from the four following rates in Ireland: Poor rate, education rate, city and borough rate, and county rate; and the amount of the Exchequer Grant, in addition, in each case?

All sums raised as rates in counties in Ireland are raised by means of the Poor rate, which accordingly includes education rate and county rate in these areas. The amount so raised for the year ended 31st March, 1911, was £1,840,793, and in the same period the amount of Poor rate raised in the boroughs, county boroughs, and urban districts was £463,303, making a total of £2,304,096. The municipal rates raised in the year referred to amounted to £1,121,463, and the total amount received by local bodies in Ireland by way of Grants from the Imperial Exchequer and other Government sources was £1,340.944.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay on the part of the Irish Local Government Board in directing the necessary local inquiry with reference to the petition of the Cork Rural District Council, presented towards the end of last year, for the confirmation of a further scheme under the Labourers Acts, whereby the council propose to acquire 641 plots of land for the purpose of erecting cottages; whether the Local Government Board are aware that since the making of the scheme referred to over 500 additional representations under the Acts have been presented to the district council, which cannot be considered until the existing scheme is disposed of; and whether, in view of the feeling of discontent which the delay is causing amongst the number of labourers interested, the Local Government Board will now direct the necessary inquiry to be held at once?

The number of cottages already authorised to be provided in this rural district is 1,538, of which on 31st March, 1911, 1,240 were actually built and 141 others were in course of construction. There are at present fifty-one schemes awaiting inquiry, and the application of the Cork Rural District Council must await its turn in accordance with the invariable principle of giving priority to those districts where the need of housing accommodation for labourers is greatest.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that provisional agreements for the purchase of the agricultural portion of the Leigh White estate, situate at Castletown Bere and Glengarriff, were made in May, 1911, and that the tenants who complied with the arrangement agreed on were promised certain abatements in their rents by the Congested Districts Board; whether they have received these abatements; and, if not, can he explain the reason?

The Congested Districts Board made provisional arrangements for the purchase of this estate in May, 1911, and notified the terms to the agricultural tenants. The tenants, with few exceptions, have complied with all demands made by the Board, but until the vendor has lodged the maps and other documents required, a formal agreement to purchase the estate cannot be entered into by the Board. The Board cannot make any special abatement in the rent pending the completion of preliminary agreement to purchase the estate. When the Board are in a position to do so all provisional arrangements made with the tenants will be carried out.

asked the Chief Secretary whether provisional agreements were made for the sale of the Leahy estate, Castletown, Berehaven, county Cork, with the Congested Districts Board; whether the tenants, having complied with the conditions of sale, have received the abatements agreed on; and, if not, can he explain the reason why?

The Congested Districts Board made provisional arrangements for the purchase of this estate in May, 1911, and notified the terms to the agricultural tenants. The tenants, with few exceptions, have complied with the demands made by the Board. The Board have submitted the preliminary agreement to the vendor, and when the agreement is completed they intend to proceed with the work of rearranging the holdings on the estate, and will sell those holdings not requiring any alteration with the least possible delay after the estate becomes vested in them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Messrs. Bow and McLauchlan, shipbuilders, Paisley, are opposed to the employment of trade unionists, and that recently several men who were known to be members of unions were victimised; whether he is aware that the overtime rate for nightwork has been subject to dispute; and whether he will have strict inquiry made into the matter in order to compel this firm to observe the conditions imposed upon other contractors under the Fair-Wages Clause?

No information has been received in respect of the matters referred to. I will, however, make inquiry, and I shall be glad to have any details which the hon. Member may be able to place at my disposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies under what conditions and for what payment licences to kill game are given to British officers in British East Africa and the Uganda Protectorate; whether, in the event of such a licence being taken out but not used, owing to sudden and unforeseen circumstances, the whole or part of the money paid for the licence may be refunded or the licence made transferable; and whether he has received an application from any British officer recently who took out a £50 licence, but was subsequently prevented from making use of the licence for the refunding of the money?

Information as to the conditions and terms on which the licences are issued will be found in the Blue Books relating to the Preservation of Wild Animals in Africa, which have been presented to Parliament from time to time, namely Cd. 3189), (Cd. 4472), and (Cd. 5136). No provision is made in the laws dealing with the matter for a refund or a transfer of the licence in the circumstances mentioned by the hon. Member, but I have decided that, in cases where a sportsman is prevented by accident not within his own control from making any use whatever of his licence, he should be given another licence free at any time within five years from the date of issue of the unused licence. The application to which the hon. Member refers was recently received by the Governor of Uganda and transmitted to me.

asked the Prime Minister if, in estimating whether the proceeds of an Irish tax, imposed as an addition to any Customs Duty levied as an Imperial tax, exceed one-tenth of the proceeds in Ireland of that duty as levied as an Imperial tax, with a view to retaining the excess for the Exchequer of the United Kingdom, regard is to be had to the possible reduction in the yield of the portion of duty representing the Imperial tax owing to the addition levied as an Irish tax?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to Clause 17 (3) of the Government of Ireland Bill.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the amount of revenue derived from the four following rates in England and Wales: poor rate, education rate, city and borough rate, and county rate; and the amount of the Exchequer Grant, in addition, in each case?

Separate education rates are not levied in England and Wales, and the borough and county rates are usually levied as part of the Poor Rate. If the hon. Member desires to ascertain the amount of rates levied for the purposes of Poor Law authorities, local education authorities, borough councils, and county councils respectively, and the amount of the Exchequer Grants received by those authorities, I may refer him to pages 25 to 27 and 46 and 47 of the last Summary of the Local Taxation Returns for England and Wales [H.C. Return No. 251, Session 1911], and to the Statement showing for the year ended in March, 1911, the amount of the receipts, expenditure, and outstanding loans of the principal classes of local authorities [Cd. No. 5997 of 1911]. The latter gives some particulars of the public rates and Exchequer Grants received in the year ended March, 1911, but I am unable, at present, to give the amounts received on account of education for so late a period.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is the intention of his Department to grant an interview with the health committee of the Stoke-on-Trent Corporation to discuss a scheme for providing sanatoria, dispensaries, health visitors, etc., under the National Insurance Act, 1911, within their own area, before deciding upon the proposals upon this subject already made to his Department by the Staffordshire County Council?

An interview has been' arranged for to-morrow. I may add that the county council of Staffordshire have not yet submitted a scheme to the Local Government Board.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in cases where boards of guardians have granted relief without the imposition of test labour upon applicants during the period of acute distress caused by the recent coal strike, he will see that those guardians will not be subjected to surcharge for the course they have found it necessary to adopt?

I will give careful and sympathetic consideration to any applications that may be made to me by boards of guardians for sanction to departures from the Relief Regulations made by them in consequence of the exceptional circumstances referred to.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the village of East Orchard, in Dorset, is very inadequately served with postal facilities in comparison with surrounding villages; and whether, since that village has neither a post office nor a second daily delivery or any Sunday delivery, he can see his way to giving some improvement to this village?

I have received a representation upon the subject from the parish council, and I have called for a report. I will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as the inquiry is completed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that surprise visits have been paid to members of the telegraphic staff of the Cork post office while such members were on sick leave with medical permission; will he say who is responsible for this practice; and whether there is any precedent for it?

It is a recognised practice for the Post Office medical officers, at their discretion, to visit members of the staff who are absent on sick leave on the certificate of their private medical attendants.

asked the Postmaster-General why the lodging allowances to telephone employés working away from home have been reduced from the scale formerly allowed by the National Telephone Company?

In certain instances the lodging allowances paid to the construction staff of the National Telephone Company were higher than those paid to the Post Office construction staff in the same area; and in accordance with the general principle which has been followed in connection with the transfer of the company's staff the allowances have been brought into line with Post Office rates. The question of the sufficiency or otherwise of the lodging allowances paid by the Post Office will doubtless be considered by the forthcoming Select Committee; and in the meantime I am not prepared to sanction any general departure from the recognised rates.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Scotch Board of Agriculture have taken over from the English Board the duty of collecting the returns of the estimated yields of crops in Scotland; and what other returns are to be collected by the Scotch Board?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but with regard to the second part I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland, within whose province the matter now falls.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, in view of the fact that two additional steam trawlers are continuously fishing in Bantry Bay since the inquiry into that mode of fishing was held, and also seeing that the trammel net and line fishermen assert that steam trawling is most destructive to the fishing industry, he will cause an inquiry to be held in connection with steam trawling in the said bay?

The question of steam trawling in Bantry Bay will be considered by the Department of Agriculture with a view to ascertaining whether a serious change of conditions has taken place since the last public inquiry into the matter was held.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the amount of revenue derived from the four following rates in Scotland: poor rate, education rate, city and burgh rate, and county rate; and the amount of the Exchequer Grant, in addition, in each case?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the tables referred to in my answer to a somewhat similar question by him last Thursday, from which he will be able to obtain the information desired.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state the amount of money collected in aid of the sufferers in what was known as the "Daphne" disaster in Govan in 1883; how many beneficiaries derived money from that fund; how many are now receiving benefit; what was the total sum disbursed; and in whose hands is the balance still remaining?

I have made inquiry into the matter refered to by my hon. Friend, and have received the following information: The "Daphne" disaster took place on 3rd July, 1883, when 124 persons were drowned. An appeal to the public was made for subscriptions in relief of distress caused by the accident, when the sum of £30,733 6s. 7d. was raised. The number of beneficiaries on the fund at the commencement was:—

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the inconvenience arising from the fact that certain county committees allocate their secondary education bursaries before either the intermediate certificate results are known or the junior studentships have been decided upon; and, in view of the uncertainty and subsequent confusion resulting from this procedure, if he will take action in the matter?

I am aware that it is not unusual for Secondary Education Committees to allocate bursaries on a provisional basis in the circumstances described by my hon. Friend. I understand that this is done in the interests of the applicants themselves and that its practical convenience greatly outweighs any disadvantages that may attach to it.

asked whether it will be possible to open Kew Gardens to the public at 10 a.m. instead of at noon during the months of April and May; and whether further accommodation can be provided for members of the public awaiting admission?

The question of extending the period during which the gardens are opened to the public at 10 a.m. was carefully considered last year, and the gardens will in future be opened to the public at that hour from 15th May to 15th October. Having regard to the purposes for which the gardens are primarily maintained and to the importance to scientific students of the spring months, I cannot see my way further to extend the privileges of the general public. I do not think there is any occasion to provide accommodation for members of the public awaiting admission to the gardens; by timing their arrival according to the hour of opening, which is easily ascertained, they can avoid the necessity of waiting for admission.

circulated the following addition to his Oral Answer to Questions this day respecting the loss of the steamship "Titanic":—