asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the shares of companies registered or incorporated in this country which are made liable to the Death Duties of the Union of South Africa Death Duties Act, are also liable to the Death, Legacy, and Succession Duties of the Finance Act, or whether a rebate of the Colonial Duty will be allowed; and, if not, what are the combined rates of duties chargeable on such shares?

The fact that such shares may be liable to Death Duties in South Africa will not of itself affect their liability to Death Duties in this country. No rebate of the Colonial Duty will be allowed unless the South African Act contains provisions to the like effect as those of Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1894. With regard to the last part of the question, I am unable to give any general answer, as the rates of duties in this country vary according to the value of the property and the relationship existing between the beneficiary and the predecessor.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a duty on share transactions in this country is imposed by the Parliament of the Union of South Africa, and of what amount; whether such a duty is legally enforceable; whether there are any other taxes imposed by the Union of South Africa in this country; and by what authority the Parliament of the Union is empowered to tax the people of Great Britain and Ireland?

The Stamp Duties and Fees Act, 1911, of the Union of South Africa by Section 5 imposes duties on certain instruments specified in the Schedule "whether the instrument be executed in the Union or whether it be executed outside the Union and relate to the transfer and hypothecation of any property situate therein or to any matter or thing to be performed or done therein," and the Schedule includes "Any transfer of a marketable security (including any stock or security issued by the Government of the Union) for every £100 or part thereof of the amount or value of the consideration given.… 1s." The principle underlying this legislation is the same as that underlying the South African legislation on Death Duties which forms the subject of my reply to another question by my hon. Friend. The law does not purport to, and could not, bind the Courts in this country, but is no doubt binding on the Courts in South Africa. It has not, so far as I am aware, at present been questioned in a Court of Law.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he can state what are the rates of duties chargeable under the Death Duties Act of the Union of South Africa on estates of deceased persons; whether such duties purport to be imposed on the shareholders of companies registered or incorporated in this country which conduct any of their business in South Africa; and whether such companies are held liable by the Act for the collection and payment of these duties; and, if so, by what law such companies can legally demand such duties from the representatives of their deceased shareholders?

A Death Duties Bill was introduced into the Union Parliament, and on 2nd April the Minister of Finance moved: That the House go into Committee of Ways and Means to consider the following:—

(1) That for the purpose of consolidating the laws now in force in the several provinces of the Union which impose taxation on the estates or property of deceased persons or of successions to such property, there shall be charged, levied and collected, in respect of the estates of persons who die on or after 1st May, 1912, for the benefit of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Union, subject to the exemptions and allowances hereinafter mentioned, and to such other exemptions and rebates and to such conditions as may be laid down in any law passed during the present Session of Parliament.

(a) A graduated estate duty in respect of the net value of the deceased person's estate according to the following scale:—

(i.) in respect of any portion thereof which accrues to the widow of the deceased, an allowance of £300;

(ii.) in respect of any portion thereof which accrues to any minor child of the deceased, an allowance of £150.

(b) A graduated settled Estate Duty in respect of the value of any interest in settled estate (i.e., property, which upon the death of the owner becomes subject to a fiduciary, usufructuary or other limited interest) according to the following scale:—

(c) A fixed duty of five per cent, in respect of the value of the share capital, debentures or debenture stock in any company incorporated or registered or carrying on business within the Union, when such capital or stock is held by a deceased person who was domiciled or resident outside the Union at the date of his death.

2. That the foregoing shall be in substitution for all existing duties levied on the estate of or on successions to the property of deceased persons.

The Bill, like previous South African Legislation, but unlike British legislation, does not regard either the " situation" of the shares at the time of their holder's death or his domicile as the test of the question whether duty is payable on them, but the situation (i.e., locality of the operations) of the company in which the shares were held. The Minister made the following statement with regard to the collection and payment of the duty:—

"This scheme of taxing the shares and debentures of companies belonging to persons not domiciled here was not new at all. His right hon. Friend, in that law he passed three or four years ago in the Cape Province, laid down that principle, and his hon. Friends now in opposition agreed to that principle. The same principle was also laid down in the law he subsequently passed in 1908 in the Transvaal. He would explain the machinery that he intended to set up for collecting this fixed duty. His hon. Friends would see that his difficulty was legally to exact this duty in respect of the estates of persons not domiciled here. The deceased person and his executors were not domiciled here, and naturally our legislation did not rim to England. So, therefore, although they might pass a law, unless they had the machinery effectively to collect the tax they might as well leave the law on the book. The tax was levied in respect of shares and debentures in companies which carried on business in South Africa, so therefore the company was within our jurisdiction. The company was amenable to our Courts. Therefore he laid down this principle, that he levied the duty upon the company. He said to the company: 'When you receive knowledge of the death of one of your shareholders you shall immediately become liable for a fixed duty of 5 per cent, on the value of the shares.'

"Sir E. H. Walton (Port Elizabeth): And bearer shares?

"The Minister of Finance: I shall deal with that question later. Continuing, he said that he told the company to collect the amount due to the State from their shareholders. As honourable Members knew, most companies had a clause in their articles of association giving them a lien on the shares of all their shareholders, and it was quite simple for them to extend this power of lien so as to cover all estate duties which they might have to pay in respect of these shares. The embargo was complete as far as the company was concerned, because they need not pass transfer from the deceased person until they had been refunded the amount of the duty. They would take the real value of the shares, the market value.

"Mr. J. W. Jagger (Cape Town. Central): What about bearer shares?

"The Minister of Finance: There I am confronted with difficulty. Continuing, he said he wanted to see the Legislature which would frame a law through which some people would not manage to escape. It was almost impossible, and it was unfortunate that it was always the rich man who escaped. He had the means to go to lawyers, and they usually devised means of escaping the tax. Continuing, he said that if he saw people took advantage of the loophole in regard to bearer shares he would probably come down to the House and see whether the machinery could not be tightened."

It will be remembered that the divergence between English and Colonial Law in this matter was discussed at the last Imperial Conference. (See Cd. 5745, page 364, and Cd. 5746–1, page 268.)

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, under the Government of Ireland Bill, when the Royal Irish Constabulary are' transferred, a member of that force will have the option of retiring on pension if he is qualified for pension, and, if not so qualified, receive compensation, as is provided in the case of those who are required to retire for any cause other than misconduct?

A member of the Royal Irish Constabulary will have the like power of voluntary retirement as he has at present.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are taken in the absence of a formal seniority list to ensure that the qualifications of the unestablished porters performing the best duties at Dublin are considered by the London office when vacancies occur for third-class storemen?

also asked the Postmaster-General whether he can undertake that any third-class storemen that may now be appointed to the Dublin depot from England will be transferred to England when the Government of Ireland Bill becomes Law, in order to prevent injustice being: done to the local staff by the recent decision to deprive them of succession to existing Irish appointments while legislation is pending, which will render them ineligible for appointment in Great Britain?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can state how many unestablished porters in the Dublin stores depot are recognised as performing the Best work, and therefore have claims to promotion to third-class storemenships; were reports called for on their qualifications; and, if not, how is it known in London that porters in London and Birmingham have superior qualifications for Irish appointments to the Dublin porters who have been satisfactorily performing the vacant duties for several months past?

The absence of a formal seniority list causes no difficulty, since the qualifications of the small number of officers concerned are known to their superior officers, and are also largely indicated by their pay. It was. thus unnecessary to obtain special reports Five unestablished porters at Dublin perform the best work, and are considered when opportunities of promotion arise. I am unable to give an undertaking that any third-class storemen appointed at Dublin, under the present system will be transferred elsewhere when the Government, of Ireland Bill becomes law.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act will expire this year and that there are yet hundreds, of evicted tenants whose claims have been listed as bon â fide unprovided for, he will state if it is the intention of the Government to include the Act in the Expiring; Laws Continuance Bill; and, if not, will he state what steps will be taken to ensure, that all evicted tenants entitled to reinstatement will receive the benefits of the Act above referred to?

The number of evicted tenants whose applications have been approved of and who have not yet been provided with farms is 385, and the Estates Commissioners hope that by the 31st December next, when the compulsory provisions of the Evicted Tenants Act will expire, the great majority.of these evicted tenants will have been provided with holdings, and as regards the residue they can be provided with holdings on lands acquired under the voluntary provisions of the Land Purchase Acts. It is not, therefore, anticipated that it will be necessary to include the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Act in the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary in what manner the expenses of prosecutors and witnesses in cases of alleged personation under the local government elections are paid; is he aware that the Crown have refused to measure the expenses of the returning officer for county Donegal and give an order for payment on the county treasurer, as provided by Section 24 of the Ballot Act and Sections 105, 106, and 107 of Will. IV., c. 116; and, seeing that in cases of felony expenses of prosecutors and witnesses are paid by the county treasurer after the amounts have been embodied in a certificate of the Crown Solicitor and an order issued by the Clerk of the Crown on the treasurer to pay, will the Crown order the Crown Solicitor and the Clerk of the Crown to proceed in the case of the expenses of the returning officer at the last local government elections in the same manner as they do in felony cases in order that he and his witnesses may obtain a refund of expenses properly incurred?

I have caused inquiry to be made into the case referred to and have ascertained that it was a prosecution by the Returning Officer, arising out of the election of county councillors for the county of Donegal in May, 1911. The accused was brought before a Petty Sessions Court on the charge of personation, but informations were refused, and the magistrates, purporting to act under Section 24 of the Ballot Act, made an order that the Returning Officer should be allowed his expenses. The Returning Officer applied to the Inspector-General to "have the costs measured by the Crown with a view to having the amount recouped by the Crown to the county council as in cases of felony. This application was submitted to the late Attorney-General, and he advised (and the present Attorney-General concurs with him) that the case did not come within Section 24 of the Ballot Act, or Section 105 of the Grand Jury Act, as the Court referred to was the Judge of Assize and not the Petty Sessions Court. It was for this reason that the Crown declined to measure the expenses of the Returning Officer. There is no legal obligation on the Crown to recoup to county councils amounts paid to prosecutors in felony cases, but it has been the practice to recoup them out of the annual vote in such cases where the offenders are brought to trial.

asked what steps have been taken to reinstate Mr. Denis M'Carthy, evicted tenant, Ventry estate, Dingle, in his holding?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Denis M'Carthy for reinstatement in a holding of 3½ acres formerly occupied by him on Lord Ventry's estate, and now in the possession of another tenant, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary the cause of the delay in completing the purchase of the Roberts estate, county Longford; whether he is aware that the tenements on the estate, which is a small and poor one, have been deprived of all relief under the Land Purchase Acts since December, 1905; whether Mr. Blackhall, one of the Commissioners' inspectors, visited this place in January, 1910, and then told the tenants their cases would be dealt with immediately, since which no further progress has been made; and will he now inquire into the cause of this delay, with a view to affording immediate relief to these poor tenants?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate is included amongst those which will be reached in order of priority during the present financial year. The Commissioners had no power to deal with it out of its turn.

asked what further progress has been made towards the acquirement and sub-division of the untenanted land of Clonfin on the J. E. Thompson estate, county Longford?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 1st instant, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer to Mr. C. L. Fitzgerald, of Turlough, county Mayo, for the purchase of his estate in that district?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of the D. G. Fitzgerald estate, including the townland of Turlough referred to, but they hope to be in a position to do so at an early date.

asked whether Mr. Richard Gibbons has refused definitely to sell his congested estate near Westport, county Mayo, to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, whether the Board intend to proceed to acquire the estate under the compulsory clauses of the Land Act of 1909?

The Congested Districts Board understand that Mr. Gibbons is preparing for lodgment with them the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of the property referred to with a view to a sale.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a motion was recently made before Mr. Justice Boyd, in the King's Bench, Dublin, in connection with the alleged unlawful assembly case at Cullohill, Queen's County, of which the defendants or their legal adviser received no notice; and will he see that in any future proceedings in this case due notice will be served upon the defendants?

The motion referred to was for a writ of Certiorari addressed to the Judge of Oyer and Terminer of the county where the bill of indictment was found, to remove the indictment into the King's Bench Division. It was made according to the settled practice of the Court ex parte . on the fiat of the Attorney General. The proceeding is purely formal, and is only preliminary to a motion for change of venue, of which the defendants will get due notice.

asked the Chief Secretary the cause of the delay in carrying out the necessary drainage and embankment on the Marshall estate, Milltown, county Kerry; whether, seeing that considerable injury is caused by the delay and financial loss already incurred by the tenants owing to this delay of the Estates Commissioners in vesting their lands in the tenants, steps will be taken to have these works carried out at once?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the repair and maintenance of the embankments is a matter for the embankment trustees who have been appointed for the purpose. The holdings of the great majority of the tenants have been vested, and the remaining holdings will be vested when certain outstanding questions as to acquisition of labourers' plots, transfers, and other matters have been settled.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), with regard to the Grant from the Development Commission of £14,000 for Kilkeel Harbour, county Down, whether the County Down County Council has agreed to contribute; and, if so, why the work has not been commenced, seeing that work has been commenced at Helvick, county Waterford, although the Grant was made and the engineers appointed for both works at the same time?

The Treasury have approved of a Grant for the improvement of Kilkeel Harbour on certain conditions involving a contribution by the county council. The county council were informed of those conditions, but they have not yet finally accepted them. A further condition of the Grant was that the Department's plans should satisfy the Irish Board of Works, but it is anticipated that this will not lead to any undue delay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether there is any intention on the part of his Department to increase the number of established men in the dockyards; and, if so, can he state to what extent?

I cannot add anything to the answer I gave to the hon. and gallant Gentleman the Member for the Bodmin Division on 24th April.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the North British Rubber Company and the Victoria Rubber Company, contractors to his Department, do not employ trade union labour, and do not pay the recognised wages nor observe the recognised hours; whether he is aware that the work now being done by these firms was, to some extent, at least, executed at Raunds by males at good prices and is now done by females at lower prices; and whether he will have inquiry made into the matter, with a view to insuring strict observance of the Fair-Wages Clause?

No complaint under the Fair Wages Clause has reached me. If my hon. Friend will furnish further particulars the matter shall be investigated.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now say if there is any prospect of an early reply being given to the petition of the Admiralty and Outports Clerical Federation, dated January, 1908?

I am afraid I cannot add anything to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 20th March.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, if the temporary pension awarded to Henry Lee (pension number 7,949), who joined the Navy in 1898 and who was discharged from Haslar in 1910 as leading seaman with the good-conduct medals, can be extended or made permanent?

Lee was invalided in January, 1910, after service of 9 years 280 days, for kidney disease, not attributable to the Service. He was not in possession of the good-conduct medal. The temporary pension of 7d. a day for twenty-seven months which has just expired represents the maximum award from Naval Funds authorised by the Regulations in his case, but the question of his eligibility for an award from the charitable funds of Greenwich Hospital is being considered.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War the actual period of training undergone by recruits of the different arms of the Special Reserve; and will he give the opinion of the military advisers of the Government as to the fitness of these recruits at the end of that training for taking their places in units destined for the fighting line?

Recruits of the Special Reserve undergo the following periods of recruit training:—

As regards the last part of the question, a Special Reservist who has completed his recruits training and has also had the training which he will receive on mobilisation with his unit would be regarded as fit to take his place in the fighting line.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why officers of the Reserve of Officers are not allowed to compete in the Military Tournament, in view of the fact that this tournament is held ostensibly for the purpose of encouraging skill at arms?

It is considered best to confine admission to competition to officers and men on the active list.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the office of Messing Adviser to the War Office will be abolished now that Colonel Morgan, C.B., D.S.O., has ceased to hold it?

The question of filling the post rendered vacant by the resignation of this officer is under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, owing to the general shortness of officers in the Territorial Force, and owing to the fact that it is difficult to get second lieutenants for the Array Service Corps, Territorial Force, he can see his way to promote officers who have qualified for promotion from the mounted brigade Transport and Supply Columns to the Infantry divisional Transport and Supply Columns, as the fact of a captaincy being the highest rank to which it is possible for an officer to attain in the mounted brigade columns makes it difficult to obtain second lieutenants?

It cannot be admitted that there is any special difficulty in obtaining subalterns for mounted brigade Transport and Supply Columns. It is not at present proposed to promote officers from mounted brigade Transport and Supply Columns into divisional Transport and Supply Columns.

asked the Under Secretary of State for War 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; 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?

A few trees in the centre of the ground, which would prevent its free use for military exercises, have "been cut down. Of these at least three were decayed and the remainder stunted in their growth. None of the good trees have been removed, nor is there any present intention of cutting any more down. I am informed that, so far from the grounds being injured, the removal of the trees has been an improvement.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state when will be presented the return of fees charged in elementary schools, granted on the Motion moved on 16th February, 1912, lay the hon. Member for North Somerset?

The Return referred to was presented on the 20th February, and was ordered to be printed on the following day. The delay is due to an effort on the part of the Stationery Office to diminish the cost of printing, but a full proof was received by the Board last week and I presume the Return will now shortly be in the hands of hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has received from a number of mental hospital and asylums application for a grant of money to be expended on research; and whether, before any such Grant is made, he will give the House an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the use of public money for experiments on living animals to discover methods of mental treatment?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, and therefore the second part of the question does not arise. I may add that I have no funds at my disposal from which any such Grant could be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what are the latest available statistics with regard to cases of lead poisoning in potteries; how long the rules recommended by the recent Departmental Committee on Lead Poisoning and Injury by Dust have been in force; and whether he can give any information as to the results obtained by the new rules?

The number of cases of lead poisoning in potteries last year was ninety-two; in 1910, seventy-seven; during the first three months of the present year, twenty-four. The new Regulations based on the recommendations of the Committee have not yet come into force. In accordance with the procedure laid down by the Factory Act, they had first to be published in draft, and on the publication of the draft a large number of objections on details were received from those engaged in the industry, both employers and operatives. It appeared to me that the most satisfactory, and probably the speediest, method of settling the matter was to ask the Chairman of the Committee, who was thoroughly familiar with the whole question, to confer with the objectors, with a view to arriving at an agreement on the points raised. The Chairman undertook to do this, but, partly through ill-health, he has been prevented up till the present from taking up the question. I understand that he now hopes to do so very shortly. Unless the objections can be settled by agreement, it will be necessary to hold a formal inquiry in accordance with Section 80 of the Factory Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of hours worked overtime by prison warders, for which the men are not paid but were compelled to take time off during last year, in the following prisons: Bristol, Manchester, Liverpool, Brixton, Wormwood Scrubs, Pentonville, and Wandsworth?

It would be impossible to ascertain the exact number of hours for which compensation in the form of extra leave was given last year, but it is the practice at all prisons to allow such compensation when officers have unavoidably to perform duty outside the ordinary hours of duty as laid down for them. As a result of the recent general reduction of hours in local prisons, there has in some cases been a slight increase of the duty outside ordinary hours, but full compensation is given in every case.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will prevent in any way the prison warders in the United Kingdom from joining or forming a trade union?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. It would not be possible in the public interest to allow a trade union to be formed among prison warders, whose conditions of service closely resemble those of policemen and soldiers and sailors. Prison officers are allowed to hold meetings in each prison to discuss the conditions of their service, and they are free to make representations to the Prison Commissioners or to the Secretary of State, who is, of course, responsible to this House.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the four children of Alfred Lincoln, an inmate of the Biggleswade Union Workhouse, were vaccinated on 9th January, without the consent of the parents having been asked; whether he is aware that the father had obtained exemption certificates for all these children at a cost of 3s. and the loss of half a day's work for each child; and whether he will make it clear to the officials of workhouses that children in those institutions must not be vaccinated without the permission of their parents, or, in the absence of parents or guardians, of the board of guardians?

I have been in correspondence with the guardians of the Biggleswade Union about this case, and find that the facts are substantially as stated in the question. I have informed the guardians that a child in the workhouse should not in ordinary circumstances be vaccinated if the parent objects, and that a parent in a workhouse should be informed of what is proposed before his child is vaccinated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what response has been made to the official note issued in January last by his Department pointing out the desirability of suitable provision being made on board all ocean-going cargo vessels for separate and reserved accommodation for sick persons; how many ships have been fitted up with crews' hospitals accordingly since that date; and whether he proposes to take any other action in the matter?

It is rather early to judge what response is being made by ship owners to the notice issued by the Board of Trade in January last with regard to a. crews' hospital in cargo vessels. Such accommodation was provided by many owners before the issue of the notice, and I hope that many other owners will provide it in future. The number of oceangoing cargo ships fitted with a crews' hospital, in respect of which a deduction from tonnage has been made, since the issue of the notice in January is ten. I understand that other vessels so fitted are now being, built.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what power the Board of Trade have to deal with the owners of a British ship licenced to carry 500 emigrants, and which sails with her tull complement and then calls at a foreign port and takes an additional 500 emigrants on board, making a total of 1,000 on a ship licenced to carry 500?

I am advised that the liability of the owners of a British ship cleared with a certain number of emigrants from a port in the United Kingdom is a continuing liability. I should not hesitate to institute proceedings if further emigrants in excess of the number allowed were shipped at a foreign port. In such a case proceedings would be taken to have the bond of £2,000 that has to be entered into before a British ship is allowed to clear as an emigrant ship declared to be forfeited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether anything is done by the Board of Trade in ensuring that the officers of merchant ships are always in a physically fit condition to take charge of their watches by reason of adequate intervals of absolute rest and relief from duty by day and night?

The Board of Trade have no power under the Merchant Shipping Acts to regulate the hours of work of officers on board merchant ships.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will say how many able seamen were carried in the "Titanic"; and whether the Board of Trade compels ships to carry able seamen in some proportion to their tonnage and passenger-carrying capacity?

The Board of Trade Emigration Officer at Southampton reports that sixty members of the deck department were passed as efficient deck hands. Neither the Merchant Shipping Acts nor Board of Trade Regulations compel ships to carry able-bodied seamen in proportion to tonnage and passenger carrying capacity. The number of deck hands required on emigrant ships depends primarily on the amount of boat accommodation required by the statutory rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs with reference to the inquiry into the loss of the "Titanic" being held at Washington, if he will instruct the British Ambassador to the United States to make representations to the American authorities with the view of preventing British subjects being detained against their will at Washington?

I beg to refer the hon, and gallant Member to the answers returned yesterday to the hon. Members for St. Augustine's, Kent, and Bridgeton, Glasgow.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will furnish a list of the names of all the principal officers and all the surveyors employed in the Marine Department of the Board of Trade, giving also in each case the age, trade, length of apprenticeship and firm to which apprenticed, numbers of years employed in shipbuilding, boat-building, and repairing previous to entering the service of the department, and the name of the firm employing him?

I am prepared if desired to grant a Return showing under suitable headings the qualifications and previous experience of the Surveying Staff of the Board of Trade. Perhaps my hon. Friend will speak to me about the form of the Return.

asked the President of the Board of Trade is Sub-clause (1) of Clause 6 of the Railways Bill empowers the Railway and Canal Commissioners, on complaint from a trader, to fix a reasonable alternative rate?

If a complaint under the Sub-clause were sustained before the Commissioners, it would be within their powers to order as a reasonable facility the fixing of a rate at company's risk exceeding the owner's risk rate by not more than an amount reasonably sufficient to cover the additional liability.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the approximate number of clerks and clerk messengers of all ages employed under the Labour Exchanges and unemployment insurance in receipt of less than £71 per annum; the ages of each of the six men of over twenty-three years who are in receipt of less than £61 per annum; and of the 167 men employed at a rate from £61 to £70 per annum who are over twenty-three years of age, what proportion are over twenty-five and under thirty, and what proportion are over thirty?

The number of clerks and clerk messengers of all ages employed in the Labour Exchanges at a salary of less than £71 per annum is 577. Of these 405 are under 23 years of age. The ages of the six men over 23 years of age who at the date of my last answer to my hon. Friend were in receipt of less than £61 per annum are respectively 24, 23, 27, 41, 32, and 35. One of these men has been promoted since that date. Of the 167 men employed at a rate from £61 to £70 per annum who are over 23 years of age, 44 are over 25 and under 30, and 81 are over 30. The scale of pay for clerk messengers is £52, rising by £2 12s. to £78, and the new scale for registration clerks is £60, rising by £5 to £150, subject to an efficiency bar at £105.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the work of removing the varnish from the oak panelling in the Houses of Parliament is proceeding; and whether the Debating Chamber of the House of Commons can be dealt with during the Summer Recess?

This work is being carried out from time to time as funds and the convenience of Members permit. The First Commissioner regrets that it will not be possible to remove the varnish in the Debating Chamber this year.

asked the hon. Member whether he will take into consideration the desirability of placing additional entrances from the Voting Lobbies to the House by which access may be gained to the head of the Gangway on each side of the House, thereby avoiding the disturbance to Debate occasioned by Members taking their seats from the centre of the House?

This matter has been considered at various dates, but opinion seems generally averse to the change proposed.

asked whether a new building is being erected on a portion of the site occupied by the University of London and the Imperial Institute, known as the North-East Quadrangle; if so, whether he will state for what purpose the building is to be used; and whether it will be open to the public?

The building is being erected by and at the cost of the Imperial Institute in one of the quadrangles which has not been appropriated to either body exclusively. Perhaps my hon. Friend would address the last two queries to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for the Colonies.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, in view of the fact that consent has been given for the erection of a statue to Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, if he is prepared to accept offers from other authors, from actor-managers, or from business firms for the erection of statues to commemorate and to increase the fame of persons or wares in which they and the public are deeply interested?

The First Commissioner has already promised not to authorise the erection of any more statues in the Royal parks without consulting Parliament.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if any decision has been arrived at in regard to placing the class known as architectural assistants engaged in the Office of Works upon the established list; whether the undertaking given on the 7th December last that the wishes of all the men in this class in regard to their desire to be established would be ascertained has been carried out; and, if any scheme has been prepared, will he say what is the nature of the proposals made?

A scheme has been submitted to the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury which provides for the establishment of a staff of permanent architectural draughtsmen and technical assistants to the architects.