asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he proposes to use any, and what, portion of the six-million surplus to increase the money available for the Doctors' Capitation Grant under the Insurance Act.

I have at present nothing to add to my Budget statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury on what principle twenty-six representatives of trade unions have been appointed to the Advisory Committee as against twenty appointed by friendly societies of all sorts, and twenty-five representatives of the employers' organisations.

The object of the Advisory Committee is not to give representation to special interests, but to make the different types of experience and knowledge required in the administration of the National Insurance Act available for the advice and assistance of the Commissioners. The number of persons appointed from trade unions depended upon the complexity and variety of the trades in which organised labour is concerned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the duties performed by all clerks to surveyors, except boys, comprise the examination of claims for re-payment of and exemption from Income Tax and of claims for the relief allowed to earned income in cases where the total income does not exceed £3,000, the adjustment of appeals against property tax assessments and, to a less extent, assessments on income from employment, trade, etc., the examination or auditing of the accounts of collectors of taxes, including the investigation of the collectors' lists of sums alleged to be unpaid and uncollectable, the interviewing and advising of the majority of callers at surveyors' offices, the preparation of statistics as to the number of persons and the amount of income assessed, etc., and that the clerks examine leases, agreements, probates, insurance receipts, and other documents produced by taxpayers in support of appeals and claims, note the information required, and make the necessary adjustments without, in the majority of cases, consulting the surveyors, and, seeing that for these duties the majority of the clerks receive salaries ranging from £l to £2 10s. per week, and that the surveyors of taxes have recently made representations to the Board of Inland Revenue as to the inadequacy of the remuneration allowed to their clerks, will he, in view of the nature of the duties and the increase in the cost of living, consider the desirability of arranging the salaries of the clerks on a basis more commensurate with their duties.

As far as I have been able to make inquiries since the hon. Member put down his question, I have ascertained that surveyors' clerks have little to do with several of the branches of work enumerated, but even in those where they are actually concerned their employment is upon the clerical and routine features in connection with such duties, according to their ability and experience, under the direct instruction and; supervision of the surveyor immediately responsible. Any revision of the scales of wages of surveyors' clerks would require to be considered in connection with the system of their recruitment, and the question whether sensible relief would be given to the surveyors of taxes in their work if their clerks were originally appointed by the Civil Service Commissioners after competitive examination, instead of being nominated by the Surveyors, is one which will receive the attention of the Board of Inland Revenue.

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

The text of the postponed Budget Resolution will appear in to-morrow's Votes and Proceedings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the St. John's Ambulance brigades are entitled, under Section 85, Sub-section (2), of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, to exemption or to a rebate of the duty on motor spirit in respect of their motor ambulances, in view of the fact that the bulk of the work of these ambulances is performed for the poor without cost; and, if the Commissioners have made no regulations covering these cases, will he direct them to consider the matter?

No exemption is provided by law in respect of the motor spirit used in propelling motor ambulances. The question of the amendment of the law upon this point is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if a quarry-owner who sells limestone or gravel, whether for building or road-making, is exempt from Mineral Rights Duty, whereas an owner of a basaltic stone which can only be used for road-making has to pay the duty; and, if so, what is the reason for the differentiation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The whole question as to the differentiation between different natures of stone was very fully gone into in the Debate on this subject in this House on the 28th September, 1909, and I would refer the hon. Member to the Report on that Debate.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the basis of procedure by the Treasury in awarding the £10 special increments to senior or old assistant clerks who are the former writers who were established by the Treasury Minute of 10th August, 1889; and if he can state the number of these senior or old assistant clerks now in Government offices; how many have been promoted to the second division; how many have been awarded special allowances, and of these how many are holding them; how many are in possession of special £10 increments, and how many have been recommended; and what proportion recommended by the heads of departments for promotion have actually been promoted to the second division?

I fear the information is not available which the hon. Member desires with regard to the number of old class assistant clerks now employed, the number of such clerks awarded or now holding special allowances, and the proportion recommended for promotion to the second division actually promoted. 109 old class abstractors have been promoted to the second division, 27 have been recommended for special £10 increments, and 17 such increments have been awarded. It rests with heads of Departments desiring to recommend particular clerks for the grant of special increases to make application to the Treasury certifying to the special merit of each clerk recommended. In deciding upon each case the Treasury have regard to the degree of merit of the clerk and to the total number of clerks in the Department qualified by service to receive the increases, in order that as far as possible they may be distributed equitably over the service as a whole.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many houses in Dublin, formerly private residences, are now in use as Government offices, and where such houses are situated; and how many of such houses have been taken for Government purposes within the last five years?

supplied the following information:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what was the net revenue received in connection with patent fees for the last financial year?

In the year 1911 the surplus of receipts over expenditure in respect of the whole Patent Office (including the Designs and Trade Marks Branches) was, approximately, £115,000. It is difficult to separate the expenditure on patents from that on designs and trade marks, but the greater part, if not the whole, of the above surplus is probably derived from patents. Full details of receipts and expenditure will be found in Appendix A of the Twenty-ninth Report of the Comptroller-General of Patents, which was printed on 18th March, 1912 (H.C. 66).

asked on what grounds James Hegarty and Catherine Hegarty, of Graphy, Urney, Clandy, county Donegal, were refused their pensions, which had been allowed them three times by the pension committee?

Questions have been raised by the pension officer as to the rates of pension to which these two persons are entitled, having regard to their means, and the cases are at present under the consideration of the Local Government Board.

asked why the pension has been withdrawn from Charles Lynch, Beglieve, Knockbride, Bailieboro, after having been paid several times?

Charles Lynch's claims for the old age pension has been disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that his means exceed the statutory limit. He possesses about seven acres of land, of which four are under grass, the remainder being tilled. He keeps cows, pigs, and fowls. The Board have no information as to whether Lynch ever was paid a pension.

asked the number of evicted tenants in County Louth who have made applications in due course for reinstatement but are still unprovided with holdings; whether the Estates Commissioners are negotiating the purchase of untenated lands in the county; and, if and when such lands are acquired, will the Estates Commissioners take into due consideration the prior claims of the evicted tenants for allotments on these lands.

The Estates Commissioners have received 192 applications from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants in the County Louth, and in ninety-two cases after inquiry the Commissioners have decided to take no action. Fifty-three persons have been reinstated in their former, or provided with other holdings, and one application has been noted for consideration in the allotment of untenanted land as acquired. The remaining cases were not received within the period' limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, and have not been considered. The Commissioners have already acquired 1,925 acres of untenanted land in the County Louth, and proceedings are at present pending for the acquisition of a further 1,566 acres.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Ruxton estate, Ardee, county Louth, comprising 471 acres of untenanted land let on the eleven months' system, can be acquired by the Estates Commissioners; and whether steps will be taken to acquire those lauds for the purpose of reinstating evicted tenants and increasing the size of uneconomic holdings?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the estate of Messrs. Guinness and Sutton, county Louth. Formal proceedings for the sale of this estate to the Estates Commissioners have been instituted, and the property will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked if the farm at Harristown, Nurney, county Kildare, now in possession of James Hendy, and from which P. O'Beirne was evicted, is about being sold; and, if so, will the Estates Commissioners purchase this farm and reinstate O'Beirne?

The Estates Commissioners have no information as to whether the registered owner of this farm proposes to sell it. He purchased it under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Commissioners are not prepared to take any action in the matter of O'Beirne's application for reinstatement.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in regard to the estate of Major Hickman, situated at Rehey, West Clare, he is in a position to state when the distribution of the land to the tenants will take place; and, if not, whether he can state the cause of the delay?

The owner has recently accepted the Estates Commissioners' formal proposal for the purchase of some 200 acres of untenanted land on this estate, and the Commissioners propose to take over this land and distribute it at an early date.

asked how many licences were issued to hawkers in the Dublin Metropolitan Police area during each of the four years 1907–11, and for the year 1912; the amount of the Licence Duty paid in respect of the said licences, and the number of persons prosecuted for unlawfully trading without a licence; the number of licences issued under the General Dealers (Ireland) Act, 1903, within the same area and during the same periods, and the number of prosecutions; whether he will state if any special officers have been appointed by the Commissioners of the Dublin Metropolitan Police to prevent illicit traffic in the articles set forth in Section 12 of the Act; and, if not, whether he will give instructions to have the provisions of the Act generally rigidly enforced?

The particulars are as follows:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, if a committee has been set up, or is about to be set up, to inquire into the Navy scheme of training officers and artificers; and, if so, are the terms of reference wide enough to consider and report upon the scheme in all its aspects; also if the artificers and engineers will be represented or, if not, if they will each have an opportunity of stating their views.

The Committee on the education and training of cadets and midshipmen, the appointment of which was announced in this House on the 15th March, has already commenced its work. The scope of enquiry does not extend to artificers, but is confined to the system of naval training instituted in 1902. The terms of reference are wide enough to admit of the Committee considering and reporting upon this scheme in all its aspects. An engineer commander is a. member of the Committee, and the evidence of such engineer officers as may be necessary will be taken. As the inquiry does not extend to artificers, they will not be called before the Committee.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received any complaints from religious bodies in Scotland against the movements of the Territorial Force on Sundays and the opening of ranges for target practice on Sundays; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received a memorial from the synod of Perth and Stirling of the United Free Church of Scotland against the moving of Territorial troops into and out of camp on Sunday in Scotland and protesting against rifle-ranges being opened for target practice in Scotland; and whether it is intended to give effect to their representations?

Memorials have been received from various religious bodies. As regards the movements of the troops on Sundays, every endeavour is made to move units by rail on week days, but from time to time it happens that the railway companies, especially at holiday times, state that they are unable to carry out the moves except on Sundays, and it is only for this reason and on these occasions that travelling on Sundays should take place. As regards the question of musketry practice on Sunday, I would refer my right hon. Friend and my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a question on this subject put by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Monmouthshire on the 1st April.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether Category B, by Army Estimates, 1909–10, is scheduled as an essential part of the Expeditionary Force; and, if the establishment of Category B, as he stated on the 20th February last, is 7,448, the strength 981, and the deficiency 6,467, whether on mobilisation any deficiencies in Category B will in no circumstances be made good from the Regular Reserve?

With regard to the first part of the question, men of Category B are intended to be additional to the Regular Army Reserve and to provide men on mobilisation whom the Army Reserve does not include in its numbers. With regard to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made by the Secretary of State in another place on 12th March of this year.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say whether it is still the intention, as stated by him on the 12th December, 1911, to employ 100 officers from the Regular Army on aviation work; and, if so, if he will state from which branches of the Army they will be chosen, and how many from each arm of the Service will be allowed to be taken?

The reply to the first part of the question is that it is intended that the numbers should be at least 100. As regards the rest of the question, there is no restriction as to the branches of the Army from which officers will be drawn, nor will there be any restriction as to the proportionate numbers from any particular branch.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether there will be any change in the disposition of either Regular or Territorial troops in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law?

There is no present intention of altering the disposition of the Regular or Territorial troops in the event mentioned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can now give a reply to the representations made to him regarding the conditions attaching to leave off duty on Saturdays in the case of labourers employed in the Army Ordnance Department?

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the proposed new by-laws governing Artillery practice at Portsmouth include that part of the waters lying off Ryde Pier from the Sturbridge part, the Motherbank, and westward, which is one of the best whiting fishing grounds and much used by fishermen from Ryde, Bembridge, St, Helens, Sea View, and other parts of the Isle of Wight; and whether he is aware that the proposed by-laws will seriously interfere with this fishing industry; (2) whether he is aware that the effect of the By-laws 6, 8, 9, 11, and 12 of the proposed new by-laws regulating the practice of Artillery at Portsmouth will be to prevent yachts using their usual moorings off Ryde Pier and will also have the effect of preventing the mail and excursion steamers reaching Ryde Pier during such practice; and (3) whether he is aware that the proposed new by-laws governing Artillery practice at Portsmouth include within the area of practice nearly all the yacht anchorage off Ryde, and will seriously interfere with the yachts using this anchorage during the summer months, and particularly during the regatta season?

The objections to the proposed by-laws mentioned in the questions have been brought to the notice of the War Department by the Board of Trade, and will receive due consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that Mistley school, Essex, was closed for a week in addition to the ordinary Easter holiday; and whether it is within the power of the schoolmaster to close the school without getting permission from the Board of Education?

The closure of a school for holidays does not require permission from the Board, though notice must be given beforehand to the inspector. The local education authority can make whatever arrangement seems to them to be suitable with managers and schoolmasters as to holidays, subject to Article 45 of the Code which requires a school to meet not less than 400 times during the school year.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of cases during 1911 where parents have been summoned before a police court, under the Education Act, for the non-attendance of their children at school; the number of parents sent to prison during 1911 for non- payment of fines under the Education Act the sum total of fines levied and the costs under the Education Act in 1911; and the number of children sent to industrial schools for truancy or absence from schools under the Education Act during 1911?

The information which would enable me to answer these questions could only be obtained by the issue of a Circular Letter to all Local Education Authorities. The trouble and expense involved by such a course would not, I think, be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can see his way to extend the terms of reference of the Committee inquiring into industrial diseases that can be added to the Third Schedule of the Workmen's Compensation Act, so that they may consider the addition of writer's cramp among the diseases for which compensation is payable?

My right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider the question of including writer's cramp in the reference to the Committee which has just been appointed; but up to the present no representations have been made to the Home Office on the subject, nor does it appear to have been brought before the former Committee which made the general inquiry in regard to industrial diseases after the passing of the Compensation Act of 1906.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in the case of the wreck of the "Paris" near the Manacle Rocks, the captain refused to give any information before the British inquiry on the ground that he was an American citizen?

According to the records of the Board of Trade, the American steamship "Paris," when outward bound from Southampton to New York with 385 passengers on board, stranded on Lowland Point, Cornwall, on 21st May, 1899. No formal investigation was held into the casualty in this country. When the Receiver of Wrecks went on board the stranded vessel to obtain depositions on oath relating to the casualty under Section 517 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the master, acting under the instructions of the managing agent of the owners, declined to sign any document or furnish any particulars that would prejudice himself or his owners. No lives were lost, and no further action was taken in this country pending proceedings by the United States Government. Eventually a formal investigation was held in the United States, and the master of the ship was punished by the suspension of his certificate.

asked the Prime Minister, if he will say under what clause and sub-clause of the Government of Ireland Bill is the Irish Parliament prevented from granting bounties or differentiating, as regards Customs, between. Great Britain and other foreign countries.

In the event of any difference of rates of Customs or Excise Duties in Great Britain or Ireland Great Britain cannot be treated as a foreign country, but is put on art equality with Ireland by means of Clause 16. As regards granting of bounties and differentiation as between colonies and foreign countries, or as between one colony and another colony, or one foreign country and another foreign country, Clause 15 of the Bill prevents any granting of bounties or differentiation by means of variations of taxation, but there is no provision in the Bill preventing direct Grants for the purpose of encouraging industries.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he would consider making provisions that where sufficient and satisfactory evidence is forthcoming that in order for housing accommodation land is required over which there may be manorial rights, the lord of the manor shall be empowered to give the necessary facilities for making such land available?

If the hon. Baronet will let me have the precise facts of the particular case or cases which raise the difficulty suggested in his question, I shall be happy to look into the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will take such steps as may be necessary to prevent the disfranchisement of men who, though not in any way the cause of or engaged in the coal strike, have had to accept Poor Law relief as a consequence of it?

The question of disfranchisement on account of the receipt of Poor Law relief due either to general or special causes is receiving the consideration of the Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any regulations exist for the compulsory exercise of practical boat drill for life-saving purposes on board all vessels of the mercantile marine; and whether any and, if so, what penalties it is within the power of the Board of Trade to impose for non-compliance with such regulations?

There is no specific statutory requirement as to practical boat drill beyond the requirement in Section 9 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, that a record must be kept in the Official Log Book of every occasion on which boat drill is practised, and the life-saving appliances examined. This supplements the requirement in Section 430 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, that life-saving appliances must be kept so as to be at all times fit and ready for use. Under Section 272 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, the boats and lifebuoys on a passenger steamer are required to be inspected when the vessel is surveyed for a passenger certificate, which is at least once a year. The boats of emigrant ships are also inspected at the survey which takes place before a vessel is allowed to clear on a voyage as an emigrant ship from a British port. The penalties for non-compliance with the requirements in Section 9 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, and Section 430 of the Shipping Act, 1894, are as follows:—Section 9: The master shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding ten pounds. Section 430: The owner (if in fault) shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred pounds, and the master (if in fault), to a fine not exceeding fifty pounds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state how long the question of revising the Departmental Regulations as to the number of boats to be carried by vessels of the Mercantile Marine has been under the consideration of the Board, and whether or no from 1894; and whether he will hasten the speed hitherto observed in bringing the Board's inquiries to an early conclusion?

The question of keeping up to date the Board of Trade requirements in this and other matters is, of course, continually before the professional advisers of the Board of Trade. The particular matter referred to came before the Board of Trade for consideration in February, 1911. Everything possible will be done to expedite the consideration of the matter in the light of the new situation created by the recent disaster.

also asked whether the Government are in receipt of any information from the British Ambassador at Washington in regard to the inquiry proceeding in America on the loss of the "Titanic"?

His Majesty's Government asked Mr. Bryce for information as to the nature of the inquiry, and His Excellency furnished the details which constiuted the reply given to the House yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirableness of establishing a Department for the purpose of aiding poor inventors in the development and completion of such patents as may, in the opinion of the Board, be of public utility?

Under the present practice of the Patent Office all possible help and assistance is given by the staff to every inventor in preparing the specifications and other documents necessary for obtaining patent rights. Having regard to the position of the Crown in granting patents, I do not think it would be practicable or advisable to establish a Government Department with any larger duties in the direction suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons could be accommodated in the boats now carried by the passenger steamers plying between Dover and Calais under the English and French flags respectively; and what is the total number of passengers and crew these steamers are certified to carry?

The following Table gives the particulars desired by the hon. Member in respect of the British passenger steamers plying regularly between Dover and Calais:—

As regards the two French passenger steamers engaged in the same service, I am informed that each of them is certified to carry 900 passengers and sixty-seven crew, and is provided with six boats, with a carrying capacity, as I understand, of about 160 to 170 persons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce the Bill for the establishment of a Ministry of Commerce, promised in the King's Speech on the opening of the Session of 1905; and, in that event, whether such Bill will be based on the Parliamentary Return, No. 12, of 1889, of the replies furnished by His Majesty's representatives abroad to the inquiry directed by the late Lord Salisbury as to the establishment of ministries of commerce in Foreign countries, and the relations of such departments with the consular service and to chambers of commerce?

The Act altering the status of the Board of Trade became law in 1909.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered, especially in relation to recent events, the position and existing practice of the Department restricting its activities to the carrying out of existing laws and, in the absence of the pressure of public opinion, neglecting to promote legislation to keep pace with the changing and progressive requirements of commerce; and whether he will consider the advisability of appointing men specially trained in organisation to strengthen the Board?

I cannot recognise in the suggestion made in the question any sort of resemblance to the actual facts of the case. I doubt if any Department of State has shown greater activity in recent years in the promotion of legislation than the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether, in the case of departments of the Board where the output of work is disproportionate to the importance of the interests of commerce and industry upon such work, he will consider the expediency of revising the personnel and, where found to be necessary, strengthening it?

If the hon. Member knows of any such Department, and will supply me with the facts in his possession, I will consider them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Select Committee on Conditions of Service in the Post Officce will be able to inquire into the conditions of service of assistants to sub-postmasters and make any recommendations thereon?

Assistants to unestablished sub-postmasters are not post office servants and are therefore not included in the terms of reference of the Select Committee. Assistants at salaried sub-offices in the direct employment of the Post Office are included.