asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention had been called to the resolution passed by the Russian section of the British Chamber of Commerce and adopted by the council on 14th March, 1912, reporting that the British Consulate at St. Petersburg is under-staffed in comparison with the Consulates of other nations, Germany maintaining a Consul-General and eighteen salaried officials, whereas Great Britain maintains only a Consul with two salaried officials, and recommending that more liberal financial provision be made; and whether he would now consider the advisability of raising the status of the Consulate at St. Petersburg to that of Consulate-General and of increasing the number of salaried officials, in view of the importance of an adequate Consular service for the due development of trade between Great Britain and Russia?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In reply to the, second part, I am fully alive to the importance of adequate Consular representation at St. Petersburg and elsewhere in Russia; a detailed Report upon the whole matter will shortly be received from the Commercial Attaché at St. Petersburg, and upon its receipt the question will receive careful consideration.

As the Commercial Attachés Report will apply to the whole of Russia, and my question refers solely to St. Petersburg, it is not necessary to wait for that report?

I think we can give the matter better consideration when we receive the expected Report.

As the commercial work of the Consuls is greatly increasing all over the world, and in view of the fact that we are behind hand in other parts of Russia, will the hon. Gentleman have an inquiry made into the whole system?

I cannot promise to have an inquiry made into the whole system. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a question on the matter.

When will the Report of the inquiry regarding the Consular service in Russia be received?

Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.

Shall we have an opportunity of seeing that Report?

Hon. Members must not forget that there are 106 other questions on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Dardanelles were still closed to merchant shipping; and whether His Majesty's Government would approach the Italian and Ottoman Governments with a view to the arrangement of a local armistice of sufficient duration to allow British and other ships now detained in the Bos-phorus, off Constantinople, and in the Marmora an opportunity of egress into the Mediterranean?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. I am consulting the other Powers most directly interested in the traffic as to whether some temporary measure of this kind for relieving the congestion of traffic cannot be brought about, if a channel for traffic is not opened as it was hoped it might be early this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether the Persian Government have begun a series of arrests of members of the late Mejliss, and whether His Majesty's Government will communicate with the Persian Government, deprecating vindictive action, and urging either the release of those arrested or their open trial at an early date?

We have received no information on the subject from His Majesty's Representative at Tehran.

Has the hon. Member seen the telegram in to-day's "Times" referring to this matter, and will he make inquiries as soon as possible?

I can only say that we cannot undertake to interfere in any action which the Persian Government may take on its own initiative and which does not affect foreign interests.

May I ask whether it is still possible for the Constitutionalists in Persia to take bast with the British Legation, and whether that privilege is also being denied them?

The privilege of taking bast remains. It has been largely abused, but it remains as it has been.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, if his attention had been called to the convictions of William Joseph Dawson, trading as the Oak Park Dairy Company, at 513, Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Holborn, London, at the Eastbourne Police Court on 25th March, 1912, when he was fined £10 and costs, and at the Bradford Police Court on 11th April, 1912, when he was fined £10 and £4 6s. costs for selling as butter that which on analysis was found to be margarine, also to the proceedings which were taken in Dublin by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction on 5th May, 1910, against Michael J. Dawson and William J. Dawson, trading as the Hibernian Produce Company, for having in their possession on their premises five packages containing margarine, which were not marked such in accordance with the Statute, when the first-named defendant was fined £10 and £20 costs; whether he would say if a letter was received by the Board on 12th March, 1912, followed by a telegram on 15th March, urging the Board to take up, or to get the Director of Public Prosecutions to take up, the cases against William Joseph Dawson at Eastbourne and Bradford; and, if so, why no reply was sent to either communication till 22nd March, three days before the first charge was to be heard; and on what grounds the Board of Agriculture refused to undertake or share in the expense of the prosecution, and declined to ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to inquire into the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board received a letter and telegram on the dates referred to in the second part of the question from the town clerk of Eastbourne. During the interval between the receipt of these communications and the Board's reply the Board were endeavouring, by examination of certain margarine registers, to obtain information for the assistance of the local authority. The Board have no authority to take over or share in the expense of prosecutions instituted by a local authority, and, in the circumstances, it appeared desirable that any communications with the Public Prosecutor should proceed from the local authority directly rather than through the Board.

Have the Board of Agriculture in this country powers similar to those possessed by the Department of Agriculture in Ireland?

I could not answer that without notice.

Was there clear evidence that this margarine was sold fraudulently?

I must have notice of that question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board's officers had kept observation upon the wholesale factory from which the margarine was supplied as butter by William Joseph Dawson; whether prosecutions had been undertaken aganist any firm or firms for sending out margarine without the same being properly marked margarine; and what steps the Board were taking to protect agriculturists, tradesmen, and the public against frauds of this kind?

The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the first and third parts, I would say that continuous attention is given to this matter by an experienced staff of inspectors with a view to detect and punish frauds of the character in question. It would not be practicable, or desirable, to give publicity to the steps taken or contemplated.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state the number of cablegrams that were sent to India from this country and vice versâ , in the clear and in code, respectively, between the 1st January and 31st December, 1911?

I am informed that the number of telegrams sent to India from this country during the period in question was 206,587, and from India to this country 233,196. It is not practicable to give exact figures showing how many were in plain and how many in code language, but it is estimated that about 21,000 of the outward telegrams and 23,000 of the inward telegrams were in plain language and the rest in code language.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, now that the new Committee has reported and a revision of the indoor force at Oxford General Post Office is about to take place, he will reconsider the question of postmen being employed in sorting and dispatching news and packets and retransferring that duty to sorting clerks and telegraphists?

My reply to the Noble Lord's previous question on 21st March referred to the New Select Committee, which has just been appointed by the House, but has not yet begun its labours. I have therefore nothing to add to the terms of the replies already given.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the pay of postmen and postal clerks in county and urban districts in England and Ireland, respectively?

The Post Office scales of pay are identical in English and Irish offices of the same class. For the rates in force and the classification of the offices I would refer the hon. Member to a White Paper issued in July, 1908, and entitled "Post Offices (Changes in Wages, etc.)," a copy of which I will send him.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the cable to Jersey is broken, which is an almost annual occurrence; whether this cable when laid was an old cable; and, if so, will he advise the laying of a new and a sound cable?

The cable between Guernsey and Jersey was interrupted last Wednesday, but it was restored next day. It is in satisfactory condition. It is not the case that interruptions are frequent, and there is no need for a new cable.

It all depends upon what is meant by the word "restored "; in the last two or three years—

The hon. Member is giving information—not asking for it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether notice has been given to the staff in the telephone engineering and stores department that four days' pay is to be held back from them; and, if so, what are the reasons for so doing; and whether the same course is going to be taken in other departments?

This matter was fully explained in an answer to a question put by the hon. Member for West-houghton on the 17th instant, and for the reasons then given I am unable to alter my decision. I have, however, made arrangements under which the amount paid to the men will be equal to their full earnings for the week.

asked the Secretary for the Home Department whether any alteration is suggested with regard to the ownership of lay tithe in Wales, and what is the annual value of such tithe?

The Bill will effect no change in the ownership of lay tithe. As to the value of such tithe, I would refer the hon. Member to the written answer of the President of the Board of Agriculture to a question put down by the hon. Member for Plymouth on the 5th of March last.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman what is the difference between the origin and the intention of these tithes—

That is argument; the hon. Member will have his opportunity on the Second Reading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can state the amount of endowments held by the Church in the dioceses of Llan-daff, Bangor, St. David's, and St. Asaph, and the amount of endowments held by Nonconformist bodies in Wales and Monmouth shire?

The amount of the endowments held by the Church of England in each of the four Welsh dioceses is given in detail in the Return prepared for the Royal Commission on the Church in Wales by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty. It is published in the volume of Appendices to the Commissioner's Report, Cd. 5432–1. I have no information as to the amount of endowments held by the Nonconformist bodies in Wales and Monmouthshire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to-the fining of two lads, aged twelve and ten years, by the Wellingborough bench for stealing firewood from a fence during the coal strike; whether he is aware that these boys were sent to prison, their fathers. being out of work; and whether he will see that the fines are remitted and the boys, liberated?

I have made inquiry, and find my hon. Friend has been misinformed with regard to several material particulars in this case. The offence with which the two children—a boy and girl,, not, as stated, two boys—were charged involved the destruction of a growing fence. They were never taken into custody, nor were they sent to prison. The penalty of 15s., which included costs and damages, was, under Section 99 of the Children Act, imposed on the father, but time was given for payment, and it was paid within five days. The father was not out of work at the time, though he was working short time. As ho one was sent to prison, no question of liberation arises.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention had been drawn to the condition of workmen's housing which prevails upon the Admiralty works at the new torpedo range-at Loch Long; whether he is aware that some of the navvies and labourers live in tents constructed of old sacks in open fields, others sleep in the temporary floor-less smithy, and some among the cement in the temporary cement shed on the works; if this is to be the normal condition. of housing on public works carried out under his Department; and, if not, what action he proposes to take to effect a remedy?

This is the. first information which has been received of any difficulty in the matter. I will cause inquiry to be made and have the facts ascertained.

Will the inquiry take place at once?

Certainly.

Has the Department already received some communication from the residents objecting to the conditions under which the Admiralty have made the range?

Not to my know ledge.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the discharge of boiler-makers in the Devonport Dockyard; whether he is aware that the work which used to be done by boilermakers is now being done by shipwrights, and that certain boilermakers have been offered work as labourers to shipwrights at the rate of 24s. a week instead of 36s., the money they would have earned as boilermakers; and whether, having regard to discipline in the Royal dockyards, he will take steps to provide that tradesmen from whom work has been taken are not asked to act as labourers to the men to whom that work has been given?

With regard to the discharges on reduction I must refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 15th April. To that I have to add that no alteration has been made in the demarcation of work between boilermakers and shipwrights. As regards the third part of the question, boilermakers under notice of discharge have been informed that they will be considered for entry as rivetters in the constructive department if they choose to apply for such labour. This course has been adopted with a view to minimising distress.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a member of the naval sick berth staff at Devonport has been deprived of a good-conduct badge for appearing on a stage without permission; and whether he will state what article in the King's Regulations confers upon the captain the power to administer such a punishment for such an offence?

By a recent Admiralty Order active service ratings generally have been prohibited from taking part in public entertainments at music-halls, etc., not for charitable purposes, but as a matter of business, and receiving pay: ment for their services. This Order was. posted in the sick-berth stewards mess,. and the attention of the man in question was specifically called to it. He was. punished for disobeying it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade-if he will state at what date an invitation to participate officially in the International Exhibition at Ghent, Belgium, was received; and whether he is aware that the delay in sending a reply is causing inconvenience to British traders proposing to send exhibits to the exhibition and giving a decided advantage to our commercial rivals in foreign countries?

The invitation in question was received in November last. The delay in arriving at a decision as to participation has been due to the necessity for ascertaining the probable attitude of other countries towards the exhibition; and the amount of support likely to be accorded by British exhibitors if we participated officially. I have not received any representation to the effect suggested1 in the last part of the question.

When does the right hon. Gentleman expect to be in a position to give a reply?

I cannot say off hand. If the hon. Member will give me notice I will give him an answer later.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Report of Mr. Ennis, chairman of the General Council of Irish County Councils, was submitted to any Member of the Government and by him to the Committee on Irish Finance; whether Mr. Ennis's Report was printed as an Appendix to the Report of that Committee; and, if so, whether he will publish it?

The Committee on Irish Finance had before them a copy of Mr. Ennis's Report. The Report was printed as an Appendix to the Minutes of Evidence, and has also been published by the General Council of Irish County Councils, who have circulated copies to all who desire them. No further publication is necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether the financial provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill were founded upon the recommendations of any Special Committee appointed for the purpose subsequently to the presentation of the Report of the Committee presided over by Sir H. W. Primrose; if so, who were the members of that Committee; and, if not, upon whose recommendations were the financial provisions founded?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The financial provisions of the Bill are the result of the deliberations of His Majesty's Government, who accept full responsibility for them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state why His Majesty's Government did not accept the recommendation of Sir Henry Primrose's Committee?

I suppose His Majesty's Government are at liberty to accept or reject any advice given.

I asked what your reasons were.

asked whether the Convention with France of 1839 relating to fisheries and the Act (6 and 7 Vic, c. 79), giving statutory effect to the Regulations of the Commissioners appointed under that Convention, are still in force; whether the Regulations of the Privy Council under this Statute affecting Irish fisheries are still operative; and, if so, whether, under the powers conferred by the Government of Ireland Bill, these Regulations could in future be modified or abrogated by an Order of His Majesty in Council on the advice of the Imperial or the Irish Executive?

I understand that the Convention and the Regulations under it are still in force. The Irish Parliament are precluded by Sub-section (4) of Clause 2 of the Bill from dealing with such matters. A like restriction applies to the Irish Executive.

Are the fisheries specially mentioned in the Government of Ireland Bill?

No, Sir.

asked whether, in view of the fact that twelve days were allowed by Mr. Gladstone for each of the First Readings of the Home Rule Bills of 1886 and 1893, and that twenty-seven and forty-nine days respectively, elapsed between the passing of the First Reading and the Motion for the Second Reading of those Bills, he can see his way to postpone the Motion for the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill, and to allow more time for its discussion in this House?

The answer is in the negative. I am aware of the facts mentioned by the hon. Member, but, as pointed out by the Prime Minister in his speech on the introduction of the Government of Ireland Bill, the circumstances are very different from those of 1886 and 1893.

Does the restriction of the power of the Second Chamber render discussion in this House less necessary?

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman will publish that portion of the evidence given before the Committee on Irish Finance in regard to which no pledge of secrecy was made?

If there is really any desire on the part of any body of Members of this House for the publication of the evidence in question, I will consider whether so much of it as can be published without disregard to the wishes of the witnesses can be printed and issued.

How does the right hon. Gentleman propose to gauge the desire of hon. Members of this House?

Through the usual channels. There are methods by which hon. Members can communicate their views to the Government on a subject of this kind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to how many witnesses will allow their evidence to be published, and will he answer a question on the subject?

I think the first step would be a communication from hon. Members of this House expressing a desire of that kind. If there is such a desire I agree with the Noble Lord that the next step undoubtedly would be to communicate with the witnesses.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman will say on the advice of what responsible Minister His Majesty is to appoint the Chairman of the Joint Exchequer Board contemplated in the Government of Ireland Bill?

On the advice of the Prime Minister.

asked whether, under the Government of Ireland Bill, the Imperial Parliament will retain any control over contagious diseases of animals in Ireland; and whether, without the passage of fresh legislation in this country it will be possible, in view of apprehended risk to British flocks and herds, to prevent the importation into Great Britain of Irish store cattle?

There is nothing in the Bill to deprive the Imperial Parliament of legislative powers with regard to diseases of animals in Ireland. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked if Members of the Irish House of Commons and of the Senate will be all eligible to sit in the House of Commons at Westminster under the Government of Ireland Bill?

Membership of the Irish House of Commons or Senate will mot of itself be a disqualification for Membership of this House.

asked if the Irish taxpayers will contribute to the fund out of which the salaries of the forty Irish Members who sire to sit in the House of Commons at Westminster will be paid?

Yes, when the deficiency is extinguished. Under the existing system the Irish taxpayer makes no effective contribution.

Is it not a fact that all the money to be contributed by the Irish tax payer is more than hypothecated already to the Irish services?

No, Sir.

asked whether it is still the intention of the Government to make itself responsible for carrying a Reform Bill through all its stages in the House of Commons this Session?

I am not yet able to make any statement on the subject.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman will use his influence with the Member for Lincoln to remove from the Order Paper of the House of Commons the blocking Motion which prevents a discussion being raised upon the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the resources and trade of the Dominions?

I will make all possible arrangements by which the hon. Member will be enabled to raise this question at some convenient, appropriate, and, if possible, early date.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to influence the Member for Lincoln to remove his Motion from the Order Paper?

I do not think I can add anything to the very sympathetic answer I have already given.

asked whether the right hon. Gentleman can say what is the meaning of the term working agreement as employed in Clause 8 of the Government Railways Bill; and, if the term has no precise meaning, whether he will include a definition of it in the interpretation Clause at the end of the Bill?

The term "working agreement" does not occur in the text of the Clause, which seems to set out clearly the nature of the agreements with which it deals, namely, agreements between railway companies as to the maintenance and management of their respective railways, the use and working of their railways, and the fixing, collection, and apportionment of all fares, rates, charges, or other receipts taken in respect of traffic on their railways.

So far as the eon-signing public are concerned, is there any difference now between an amalgamation and a working agreement?

That is a question for discussion. If the hon. Member thinks the term is not sufficiently definite, I should be glad to consider the point in Committee. It is one of the points to which attention has been called.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman will state on what date the Lossiemouth Harbour Provisional Order application reached the Board of Trade, and on what date it was sent on to the Scottish Office; and whether there was anything unusual in the delay in this case?

The application was received by the Board of Trade on 23rd December last. In accordance with the Regulations of the Board of Trade, the promoters submitted their proposals to the Secretary for Scotland not later than 1st December last. I understand that there were exceptional difficulties in this case, due to the necessity of considering this scheme in its relation to schemes for other fishery harbours in the Moray Firth.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these delays cause suspense and render the benefits of the Development Fund less valuable to the poor communities?

I quite agree. We shall expedite the matter as far as we can. We have had rather special difficulties to deal with.

asked (1) whether the right hon. Gentleman can furnish the scales of pay of captains and officers employed in the different large merchant steamship companies engaged in the business of carrying passengers, cargo, and His Majesty's mails; and the scales of pay of captains and officers employed in the various cross-Channel services and large coasting steamship companies, and the approximate scales applying to what are termed tramp steamers and sailing ships; and (2) what is the pay of the captains and officers in their respective capacities engaged in merchant vessels chartered by the Government for the carriage of troops and other purposes, and what system of officers' watches is followed in each case; what is the pay an each case of the captains and officers serving in the various steamers of companies, such as the Cunard Line, in receipt of annual subsidies from His Majesty's Government; and what system of officers' watches is followed?

I will answer this and Question number 68 of the hon. Member together. I regret that I cannot give the information in the form asked for. A good deal of information, however, on the subject of the rates of pay of persons (including officers) employed in the mercantile marine will be found in the published Tables relating to the progress of Merchant Shipping, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. As regards the system of officers' watches, there is no official information available.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury where workmen, insured under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, have made efficient provision through the medium of their works' doctor for medical attendance and medicine for themselves and family, will such member be refunded by the Insurance Commissioners or the local health committees, as the case may be, the amount provided for such insured person or persons for such service, or what provision will be made to insure that insured persons will not be called upon to pay for a service which they have already made efficient provision for?

Organisations of the kind referred to in the question which were in existence at the time of the passing of the Act and which provide an efficient medical service can be approved under the special provisions of Sub-section (4) of Section 15 of the Act, or, alternatively, cases of the kind can be dealt with under Sub-section (3) in such a way as to prevent insured persons being required to pay twice for their medical attendance.

asked if a woman shorthand writer typist has been appointed to the office of the English National Insurance Commissioners from outside the service at the salary of 31s. a week, which is the maximum wage obtainable by women shorthand writer typists after three years' service as typists, beginning at 20s. a week and a further three years' service as shorthand writer typists; whether many qualified women typists in the Service with over three years' service are waiting for promotion to the class of women shorthand typists; and, if so, why the shorthand typist has been brought from the outside to fill the post in the Insurance Office, and why she has been placed at once at the maximum salary of the class?

The shorthand typist referred to had had nine years' service on the staff of five Royal Commissions before being selected for appointment as a shorthand typist by the Insurance Commissioners. She was appointed at the maximum of the class, in view of the higher salary she had been previously earning, of her special qualifications, and of her long previous service and experience, and also of the difficulty found by the Commissioners in obtaining persons within the Service of similar qualifications and experience who were willing to come.

Am I to assume from that reply this young lady was not previously a member of the established Civil Service?

No; she has been working upon Royal Commissions for nine years.

She has not been a member of the Civil Service?

No.

Am I to understand it was impossible to get any woman shorthand typist in the Civil Service to accept this post?

I understand it was impossible to get those with the requisite qualifications to come. Some of them did come, but they preferred to go back to their own Department.

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to. a statement attributed to Mr. Grieve, at a delegates' meeting of the Glasgow district of Shepherds, that that society intended to pay the 4d. of their chronic invalid members for two years after the National Insurance Act comes into operation, so as to enable such members to receive the invalidity benefit under the Act and thus relieve the funds of their lodge; whether such a course will be permitted; and whether Mr. Grieve is a member of the Advisory Committee under the Act?

Mr. Grieve is a member of the Advisory Committee to the Scottish Commission. I have seen a newspaper report of the statement to which the Noble Lord refers. No person can become insured under the National Insurance Act unless he is either employed, or is engaged in some regular occupation on which he is wholly or mainly dependent for his livelihood. Persons who are already chronic invalids would not therefore be entitled, by any payment of contributions, to become a permanent charge on the State side of the accounts of their society.

On what principle is the Advisory Committee appointed?

The principle is to obtain as much advice as possible from all the various classes of persons affected by the Act.

Was Mr. Grieve appointed on that principle?

Mr. Grieve is, I believe, a very distinguished member of one of the principal friendly societies.

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 nothing at present to add to my Budget statement.

asked what amount it is estimated that the Land Taxes under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, will produce in the present year; and what is the probable total cost of their collection?

The estimated yield of the duties on Land Values for the current year is £545,000. As regards the cost of the collection, I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the question of the hon. Member for Bedford on 15th February last and to the question of the hon. Member for Oswestry on 22nd instant.

Will the hon. Gentleman give us the figures for each tax separately.

I have already given the figures to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Pretyman) in the first Debate on the Budget. I think I can probably furnish them in the course of the Debate to-day.

The Report on the First Reading states that it is the estimated receipts for the past year. What is now being asked about is the estimated receipts for the current year. We asked them "what are the receipts for the past year." We got the estimated receipts. We now ask for the estimated receipts for the current year, and the hon. Gentleman refers us back to the answer given on the previous occasion.

I think the right hon. Gentleman will recognise that I answered the question as it was on the Paper. It is quite right I gave the estimated receipts for the next year. I will see if I can find the yield under the various heads before the Debate closes to-day.

What I asked, and what the House understood the answer referred to, was the yield of the past year.

May I ask whether the Mineral Rights Duty is included or excluded?

It is included in the Land Duties.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether there are any Govern- ment Departments in Dublin asking for further office accommodation; and, if so what are the Departments demanding such accommodation, and where is their work being carried on at present?

The Board of Works have under their consideration applications for additional accommodation from the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, the Local Government Board, the Customs and Excise Department, and the Quit Rent Office. These Departments are at present accommodated in Upper Merrion Street, Great Brunswick Street and Beresford Place, 3, Ormond Quay, and at the Custom House. The best method of meeting their requirements are under consideration.

May I ask if any negotiations are at present pending for the acquisition of further private houses in Dublin for public purposes?

Not so far as I know, but I am in communication both with the hon. Member and the Office of Works upon the subject.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a Resolution of the Dublin Corporation has been unanimously passed recently complaining of the ever-growing practice of taking private houses for public buildings in Dublin?

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the chairman of the Anglesey education authority has advised that authority that, whenever the decision of the Board of Education is given with regard to the treatment of non-provided schools on the lines of the judgment given in the Swansea case, he should advise the committee to accept that decision and avoid all possible litigation; and whether the Board is now able to give its decision in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am still in communication both with the authority and the managers. The education committee meet again on 2nd May, and I understand that the matter will then be further considered. A settlement by agreement will obviously be the best solution of the question, and I still hope it may not be necessary for me to intervene. If an agreement is not arrived at a public inquiry will, I think, be necessary before the Board could determine whether the local education authority are carrying out their duty to maintain and keep efficient the Menai Bridge, Llandysilio Church of England school.

Will the public inquiry be undertaken by a representative of the Board of Education?

Usually barristers are appointed, and we will pursue the usual course.

asked how many schools out of the eighty-nine Church of England schools closed or transferred to local authorities since 1903 are in the county boroughs of Cardiff and Swansea, respectively?

One Church of England school has been closed since 1903 in each of the county boroughs referred to. None have been transferred to either local education authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he proposes to introduce this Session the Education (School and Continuation Class Attendance) Bill, or any other like measure dealing simultaneously with partial exemption from school attendance, continuation classes, and the employment of children of school age as street traders or otherwise?

I am not proposing this Session to introduce legislation on the subjects referred to, but an opportunity for discussing them may possibly be found in Committee in connection with the Bills introduced by the hon. Member for Saffron Walden and the hon. Member for Scarborough, which are now before Standing Committees.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take some steps to prevent what is really one subject being dealt with by the two Bills to which he refers?

I do not accept the hon. Member's statement. The subject of street trading is rather different from the subject of the continuation of education which was referred to in the Debate on Friday last.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he can state, or will he agree to a Return showing the number of amalgamations of school boards or school districts carried out under Section 22 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, and the objections or representations, if any., made by the school boards interested?

Fifteen amalgamations have been carried out in terms of Section 22 of the Act named. Of these, six were by mutual arrangement and without formal inquiry. In the other cases, any points of difference were adjusted as a result of the formal inquiry which was held. In only two cases did representations as to details of the Draft Order restate previous objections to the principle of amalgamation.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received a petition signed by the ratepayers of the parish of Banff, Landward, and Ord, expressing their unanimous opposition to the Order of the Scottish Education Department for the amalgamation of that parish with Banff burgh; and whether, in view of this petition, he will refuse to ratify the Order?

The petition referred to has been received and will be duly considered in terms of the Act along with any other representations that have been or may be received.

Will the Reports upon it by the Education Department be furnished to the school boards interested?

I should like to have notice of that question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will consider the desirability of an Amending Bill to secure that no amalgamations of school district shall be carried out unless both school districts concerned are consenting parties to the arrangement?

I see no sufficient reason for proposing an amendment, of the existing law on the subject.

asked the Attorney-General why the Crown objected to the postponement of Mrs. Pankhurst's trial till the next Session in order to allow her time in her present state of health to prepare her defence?

The application for postponement of the trial was opposed because, according to the medical testimony, Mrs. Pankhurst's state of health was not such as to interfere with the preparation of her defence. The learned judge considered the evidence and came to the same conclusion. The Crown did, however, assent to the postponement of the trial till the latest date available in the present Session.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether emigrants to Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa are admitted without being compulsorily vaccinated, and, if so, whether experience has shown the same immunity from smallpox as Canada, which insists upon vaccination of emigrants; whether he is aware that England's record in regard to ship-borne vaccination is as good as that of Canada, in spite of the total absence of vaccination regulations for steerage passengers entering this country; whether he will state the reason why Canada makes a distinction between steerage and saloon passengers in the vaccination regulations; and whether he will suggest to the authorities of the Canadian Government the advisability of bringing her regulations into agreement with those of the Home-country and the other Dominions?

The matters referred to by the hon. Member have been brought before me in correspondence, but I am not prepared to press the Government of the Dominion of Canada to modify the regulations which they consider it necessary to enforce.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies if he has now received details of the scheme for the all-British Halifax-Bermuda cable to Barba-does, British Guiana, and Trinidad; if the Government have had the scheme under consideration; and what is the course it intends to pursue?

The answer is in the negative.

May I ask the Under-Secretary of State for War a question, of which I have given private notice, whether he is aware that some of the finest trees in the grounds of the new Territorial headquarters at Chelsea (formerly known as the Duke of York's Royal Military School) have just been cut down; why that was done, and whether it was done with the sanction of the War Office; whether it is intended to denude these grounds of their timber; and whether he can promise that the remaining trees there will be spared?

There has not been time since the hon. Member gave notice of the question to ascertain the details in this case. I shall be glad if he will repeat the question to-morrow. In the meantime instructions have been sent that no further cutting shall take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he was aware that, at the Senatorial inquiry in the United States into the "Titanic" disaster, one senator asked a witness if watertight compartments were intended for the reception of passenegrs in a time of danger, and that witnesses had been brought before the inquiry when in a condition of health which precluded their being able to give evidence in a satisfactory manner; and, if so, would he give the assurance that no official notice whatever would be taken of the inquiry now taking place in the United States?

May I suggest to my hon. Friend that it is undesirable by questions and answers in this House to make reference on the basis of imperfect and possibly inaccurate reports, to the proceedings of the committee of the Senate of the United States Congress. The President of the Board of Trade is taking steps to obtain verbatim reports of the proceedings of the committee in question, in case they may be of service in connection with the investigations of the Court of Inquiry about to be held here into the loss of the steamship "Titanic."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether some of the passengers and crew of the "Titanic," although British subjects not charged with any criminal offence, had been forcibly detained in America by order of a committee of the Senate of the United States; whether this action of the Senate was in pursuance of any treaty between Great Britain and the United States, or of any international convention; and whether His Majesty's Government had addressed or proposed to address to the Government of the United States any protest against such a violation of the rights of British subjects?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any communications had passed between this Government and the United States Government concerning the forcible detention of British passengers of the "Titanic"; and if he could state the substance of such communications and the result?

No complaints have been received by the Secretary of State of forcible detention of British subjects. The committee in question has statutory power to summon witnesses, and no treaty or convention is required to give United States authorities jurisdiction over British subjects while within the territory of the United States. The answer to the last question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether he had issued any instructions to the British Ambassador in the United States to take any steps to protect the interests of British subjects who were cited to appear before the American Senate's committee which was inquiring into the loss of the "Titanic "? And (2) whether the loss of the "Titanic," which was now the subject of an inquiry by a committee of American politicians, was a matter which was within the jurisdiction of British courts; whether British subjects were being detained in America for the purposes of the American committee; and, if so, whether he had addressed any communication to the American Government on this matter?

The answer to the first part of the latter question is in the affirmative. The second part of the question is answered by the reply to the hon. Member for East Kent, which I have just given. The position appears to be that the Senate Committee is within its rights in holding an inquiry and requiring the attendance of witnesses. In view of the fact that there has been considerable loss of American as well as British life, it is not unreasonable that American authorities should hold an inquiry with a view to considering for themselves what conditions are desirable to ensure safety for traffic across the Atlantic, and it would be undesirable that witnesses in a position to give evidence should refuse to do so. On the other hand, it would be undesirable that British subjects who wish to return home should be put to undue inconvenience by being detained for an unreasonable time. The latest information received indicates that the proceedings of the Committee are not likely to be very prolonged as far as the attendance of British witnesses is concerned, and no official communication has yet been made to the United States Government on the subject.

Is the information to which the hon. Member refers official or only that which appears in the public Press?

Has the Foreign Office addressed any communication to the American Government?

I said that we had not.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to state the origin of the false reports circulated regarding the safety of the "Titanic"?

I have received promises of full assistance in my inquiries from the shipping companies concerned and from the Marconi Company, but the records of some of the ships which were Westward bound have not yet arrived, and therefore it has not been possible to complete the inquiry. So far the origin of the false reports has not been traced to any ship.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that there is an effective invention of Commander Hobland, of the Norwegian navy, for automatic receivers for Marconi apparatus-recording messages in typewriting; and whether he has secured the right to use the invention for the British Navy and shore stations?

The answer is in the negative. Many so-called automatic recorders have been invented at one time and another and claim efficiency; but I understand they all have, and must have under existing conditions, the inherent defect of not being able to distinguish between simultaneous signals on or near the same wave length. All His Majesty's ships of any size carry sufficient operators for continuous watch, who receive and discriminate between simultaneous signals in a way at present impossible for any automatic apparatus.

May I ask whether the Admiralty are not experimenting with the Poison system, which was worked automatically before Post Office experts in October, and at twice the rate of the Marconi system?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give me notice.

Will the hon. Gentleman watch the report of the lecture shortly to be given at the Royal Institution on this system?

Certainly.

asked whether he is aware that there is an effective invention of Commander Hobland, of the Norwegian navy, for automatic receivers for wireless apparatus-recording messages in typewriting; whether he has any official information showing that the world rights have been secured by the German Government; and what steps he has taken or intends to take to secure the rights to use the invention in installations on shore in this country and the Dominions and on the British mercantile marine?

My advisers are acquainted with a number of automatic receivers, but I have no specific information about the particular invention referred to by the hon. Member. I am having inquiry made on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to arrange for the public use of the Marconi wireless system between this country and America?

On application from the Marconi Company I have made arrangements to accept from the public, on and from 1st May, at all telegraph offices in the United Kingdom, telegrams addressed to places in Canada and the United States for transmission by the company's wireless Transatlantic service. The company have notified that the full rate for telegrams sent by their route to New York or to Montreal will be eightpence a word, the rate for cablegrams being one shilling a word, and that there will be a similar reduction in the full rates for telegrams for other parts of America. For deferred telegrams in plain language the rate to New York will be fourpence a word, the cablegram rate being sixpence, with corresponding reductions for other places.

Will the Marconi Company give any time guarantee?

Does the hon. Member mean deferred telegrams?

No; in regard to service—as to the speed and transmission.

Not, so far as I am aware of.

asked whether the captains of the Atlantic liners have a definite route laid down for them to follow going west or east; whether any, and, if so, what discretion is allowed to the captain for him to judge of the necessity for deviating from the course laid down on account of ice, fog, or any obstruction; and whether any captains have been censured or discharged for deviating from their course?

I understand that the routes taken by passenger vessels across the Atlantic have been laid down to a certain extent by the Steamship Companies, but I am not aware of the amount of discretion given to masters of ships of these companies. I have no doubt that the matter is one which will be considered by the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the steamship "Titanic."

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will inquire from independent sources whether stewards on passenger and tourist ships are habitually overworked, unprovided with sleeping accommodation, or hours for meals; and whether, if he finds there is evidence to that effect, he will direct the attention of the Court of Inquiry to the danger to the public resulting from such a State of affairs?

If my hon. Friend can furnish me with definite information showing that there are grounds for complaints with reference to the matters mentioned in his question, I will investigate such complaints. Should any information placed before me appear relevant to the investigation of the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the "Titanic," I should not fail to bring it to the attention of the Court.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Court of Inquiry to be presided over by Lord Mersey will have powers conferred upon it to make regulations compelling shipowners to carry sufficient boats, rafts, and collapsible boats to accommodate the whole of the passengers and crew; and, if not, whether the Board of Trade will immediately take steps to convene an independent inquiry thereon?

The making of the regulations as to life-saving appliances on ships rests, under Section 427 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, with the Board of Trade, subject to the rules being laid before Parliament. Any recommendations on the subject that are made by the Court of Inquiry into the loss of the "Titanic" will, of course, receive the fullest possible consideration by the Board of Trade. As I have already informed the House, the whole matter is under very careful inquiry.

Will it not be necessary for the Wreck Commissioners to base their findings entirely on the Board of Trade Regulaions laid down at the present time?

They have the fullest possible powers of making any report on the matter, to which, I need hardly say, we shall give the utmost possible consideration.

In making that report, will the Court of Inquiry have the power to make the necessary regulations, because unless regulations are made they will not be binding upon the shipowners?

As I have pointed out to the hon. Member, the statutory obligation of making regulations falls on the Board of Trade; obviously it is not a thing for the Court of Inquiry. But any recommendations they make will be considered most carefully.

May I take it that the Wreck Commissioners will only be able to recommend regulations to the Board of Trade?