asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has read the answers given by the chairman of the Scottish National Health Insurance Commissioners at a meeting of Fife farmers held in Cupar on Tuesday, 23rd April; and if it is the he stated, that where a farmer employs the wife of a ploughman, she being not dependent on such employment for her livelihood, to do a few days potato gathering, he will have to pay a contribution in respect of her, while she will be exempt from paying; and what will be done with the money contributed by the farmer?

I have seen a report of a meeting at the place and time mentioned, at which the Chairman of the Scottish Commission was asked certain questions as to persons entitled to exemption. The statements referred to in the report are correct. Under Section 4 (4) of the Act, the employers' contributions paid in respect of persons who, though employed are not insured because they hold certificates of exemption, are to be carried to such account and dealt with in such manner as may be prescribed by regulations made by the Insurance Commissioners; and such regulations may provide for applying the money to the benefit of the persons in respect of whom it has been paid if they subsequently become employed contributors.

asked the Chief Secretary the names of the different societies in Ireland that have applied for recognition as approved societies under the National Insurance Act, with the number of branches and of members alleged or estimated to be comprised in each, and indicating those approved, those refused approval, and those under consideration?

No societies have yet been approved, none have been refused approval, and all which have applied for approval are now under consideration. I think it would be unfair to societies which have applied to furnish particulars without their consent while their applications are still being considered.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the attention of the National Health Insurance Commissioners has been directed to the fact that in a leaflet issued by the Insurance Tax Protest League, entitled "Hard Facts," the statement is made that none of those who cannot now obtain a first-class health certificate should hope to get into a strong society; and whether, in view of the fact that such a statement, issued by the hundred thousand, is calculated to deter many eligible persons from attempting to join approved societies, the Commissioners can see their way to publish widely an official advertisement stating the truth of the matter?

Any statement that no insured person will be able to get into a strong approved society without a first-class health certificate would appear to be incorrect, in view of the fact that some of the largest friendly societies have announced their intention of taking members without any medical examination or certificate. I am prepared to give such publicity as is possible to the correction of any such statements as these, which are calculated to do harm to the interests of insured persons, when my attention is called to them; but I cannot undertake general examination or correction of misstatements or misrepresentations contained in "Hard Facts" or any similar publication.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, when small friendly societies apply to the Insurance Commissioners to become approved societies under the National Insurance Act, the Insurance Commissioners will defray the expenses incidental to such application, such as valuation of assets, etc., either in the event of the society becoming approved or not?

The valuation of the assets, which is required under Section 72 of the Act, is not incidental to an application for approval, but must be made by all registered friendly societies providing benefits similar to those of the Act as respects members who become insured persons. With regard to the cost of such valuation, I would refer the Noble Lord to the answer given to the hon. Member for East Grinstead on 3rd April. Any small expenses that may be incidental to applications for approval may be met under the conditions set forth in Circular A.S. 9, issued by the Commission in the event of the society becoming an approved society, but not otherwise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) how many societies have submitted schemes to the Insurance Commissioners providing for an alternative benefit in lieu of sickness benefit, how many such schemes have been approved by the Commissioners; and (2) whether the Insurance Commissioners will issue any actuarial statement showing what alternative benefit, in the form of an annuity or similar payment, can reasonably be offered by approved societies as an alternative benefit in lieu of sickness benefit?

Under Section 13 (3) the Commissioners are placed in a judicial capacity to confirm or reject schemes of alternative benefits submitted by societies as giving benefits equivalent in value to the ordinary benefits of the Act for which they have been substituted, and suitable to the special circumstances of members or classes of members coming under the scheme. Full material for the actuarial calculations necessary will be available for all societies very shortly. No schemes have yet been submitted.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the age and present salary of Mr. C. J. Flynn, of the secretaries' office of the Customs and Excise Department; whether Mr. Flynn's name was included in the published list of successful candidates at the open competitive examination of October, 1901, for forty situations as second-class clerks for port service in the Department of His Majesty's Customs, and, if not so included, what place did he take in the competition; and what is the present average salary of those Customs port clerks who were successful in that examination?

The answer to the first part of the question is twenty-eight years and £320; to the second in the negative; to the third the sixty-first place; to the fourth £150.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, if he will state the various classes of civil servants who have been allowed the whole of their temporary or unestablished service to count for pension purposes under the provisions of the Superannuation Acts, 1834 to 1909?

It is the general practice throughout the Civil Service to count for pension under Section 3 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, so much of temporary service as is similar in character to the established service following, due regard being had to the conditions of each class of employment. It is not possible to give a complete list of all cases to which this practice has been applied.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the number of assistant clerks, new class, promoted in each of the years 1900 to 1911?

The number of assistant clerks, new class, for whom certificates have been issued on promotion is as follows: 1900, 1; 1901, 1; 1902, 2; 1903, 10; 1904, 20; 1905, 46; 1906, 26; 1907, 21; 1908, 28; 1909, 44; 1910, 29; 1911, 56.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can state the number of those candidates successful at the boy clerks' examinations in 1900, 1905, and 1911 who attended schools higher than public elementary schools?

I fear that figures are not available with regard to all the boy clerks' examinations in these three years; but the following figures give particulars with regard to the examinations in October, 1900, and September, 1911:—

asked the profits, if any, accruing to the Imperial Government from the sale of English silver for use as currency in the West Indian islands, including British Guiana and British Honduras, in each of the last ten years?

Profits on the sale of English silver coin for use in the West Indian Islands, including British Guiana, in each of the last ten years:—

No Imperial silver coin has been sent to British Honduras during the last ten years, that Colony having a silver currency of its own.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received a reso- lution from the Dublin Corporation dealing with the subject of official buildings in Dublin; whether the money ear-marked for the erection of necessary buildings for the Department of Agriculture and College of Science has been refused by the Treasury; and, if so, whether he can state what was the cause of this refusal and consequent delay in the erection of the buildings?

The question of providing such accommodation as may be necessary for official purposes in Dublin is under consideration. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for the St. Stephen's Green Division on the 26th February.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Treasury contribution under 46 and 47 Vic, c. 43, s. 9, of one moiety of the dividend payable under baronial guarantees on the share capital of a number of railway companies in Ireland (some fifteen or more) is, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law, to continue to be paid out of moneys provided by the Imperial Parliament and as a charge on the revenues of the United Kingdom while the railways pass under the control of the Irish Legislature, or is it proposed to reduce the security of the holders of the guaranteed stocks (which are trustee securities in Ireland) by transferring the liability for the Treasury moiety of the guaranteed dividend to the Irish Exchequer; and in what Section of the Bill is this matter dealt with?

This is a matter which will be provided for under Clause 44 of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in view of his promise on the 23rd May, 1911, that he would endeavour to secure funds from the Treasury for the purpose of establishing scholarships in secondary schools for pupils from primary schools, and seeing that it is impossible for the poor man's son to pass from the primary to the secondary schools, and thence to the university without State-aid, anything has been done to redeem this promise; and is it the intention of the Government in the present Parliament to make any provision for bringing university education within the reach of the talented children, of the poorer people in Ireland?

I have been in correspondence with the Treasury in this, matter, but am not at present in a position to make any further statement.

asked the Chief Secretary when the tenants on Viscount Gough's estate, in the rural district of Gort, may expect to have their holdings vested in them; and can he say if the lands of Gort-stuckanagh, Rindifin, Prospect, Russane, and Ashfield are included in the scheme to be prepared by the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners are not in a position at present to say when the tenants referred to will have their holdings vested in them. The lands of Gortstuckanagh, Rindifin, and part of the lands of Prospect, are included in the lands the subject of proceedings for sale to the Commissioners under the Act of 1909. The lands of Russane purchased by the Commissioners under the Act of 1903 have been dealt with by them.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he will say, out of the 40,000 men who are due to pass out of the first class of the Army Reserve by October, 1913, if upwards of 30,000 reenlist into Section D, whether they may be thus retained in the Regular Reserve to complete a total term of sixteen years' Colour and Reserve service; if he will explain whether this body of 30,000 men, or thereabouts, will be permanently lost to the Army in four years' time; whether they will be replaced or whether, as the Regular Army has been reduced since 1905 by upwards of 37,000 men and the reserve creating power of the Regular Army has been thus diminished in proportion, such replacement is impossible?

Men who pass out of Section B may re-enlist in Section D, if their Corps is open, and would in course of time complete sixteen years Colour and Reserve service. Men who complete their engagement in Section D may, if thy fulfil certain trade qualifications, re-enlist for a further four years in Section D. Others if under a certain age and otherwise qualified, may re-enlist in the Special Reserve. The whole of the men who complete four years in Section D are therefore not permanently lost to the Army. Vacancies caused by men completing their service in the Reserve are filled by fresh transfers to the Reserve of men who have completed their Colour service and of men who agree to convert their Colour into Reserve service; and it is expected that the vacancies in question will for the most part be filled in this manner.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that, although other Government Departments have a practice of making known to unions interested the names of firms tendering for a particular contract, a practice which is to some extent a safeguard against infringement of the Fair-Wages Clause, the War Office has up till now refused to take the same action; and whether he can see his way to recommend his Department adopting the practice of other Departments and thus secure some uniformity in the administration of the Clause in question?

It is not considered desirable in the public interest to make known the names of competitors at individual tenderings before tenders are decided. A Return of the names of firms on certain specified lists is made annually to the Parliamentary Committee of the Trades Union Congress, and the names and addresses of successful tenderers for works and for manufactured goods are, with certain necessary reservations, published monthly in the Board of Trade "Labour Gazette." By these means the Fair-Wages Clause is safeguarded.

asked the Under-Secretary what accommodation for church purposes is being provided at the new barracks at Redford; whether lie has had any correspondence upon the subject with the Committee of Army and Navy chaplains; and, if so, what has teen his reply?

The matter is under consideration, and the Committee mentioned have been so informed.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the pre- sent prices of oats and hay, he will consider the advisability of raising the billeting allowances for licensed victuallers; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made as to licensed victuallers incurring actual loss through the billeting of soldiers on them?

There do not appear to be any strong reasons for supposing that the present increases in the cost of the ration are likely to be permanent. Should, however, the increases prove permanent, the question of modifying the billeting rates will be carefully considered. The billeting rates are statutory, and are put in force annually by the Army (Annual) Act.

asked why no Territorial Force Association has yet been established for any county in Ireland, although permission to do so is granted in Part I., Clause 1, of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act passed in 1907?

During the consideration of the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act in Committee in another place on 8th July, 1907, the Noble Earl the then Under-Secretary of State for War stated in reference to this subject that it was not intended to set up County Associations in Ireland. There has been no alteration of policy in this matter since that date.

asked whether the number estimated in the General Annual Report of the British Army, 1912, of time-expired men to pass out of Sections A and B, the first class of the Army Reserve, by October, 1913, is correct, that is 39,035 men; if so, whether the diminution of 39,035 men in the first class of the Army Reserve will make any difference to the number of Regular troops left at home when the state which the Return of 1911–12 is compared with the state which will exist after October, 1913; and, if not, if he will give an explanation of the reason?

The number given in the General Annual Report is not an estimate, but is the actual number due to pass out of Sections A and B as men complete their original engagements. The number quoted is not the number by which the Army Reserve will diminish, because as these men pass out of Section B some will go on to Section D and other men will be entering Section B. The number of Regular troops to be left at home is affected by the strength of the Army Reserve as well as by other factors.

also asked whether the surplus of Regular soldiers left behind after the departure of the Expeditionary Force, i.e. , the 90,855 men, was calculated at the time of the June, 1911, Return (Mobilisation); if so, whether, at this time, 1911–12, the Regular Reserve was at its highest level, namely, 139,000 men; if, out of the 90,855 Regular soldiers mentioned above, he will say whether more than 20,000 of them will be under twenty years of age; and, if more, how many more and, if fewer, how many fewer?

As regards the first part of the question, the reply is in the affirmative. As regards the second part of the question, the strength of the Reserve has been higher since that date. As regards the last part of the question, no statistics as regards the ages are available.

likewise asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will say, after the departure of the expeditionary force of 171,416 officers and men, whether the number of Regular troops left at home, given as 90,855 in June, 1911 (mobilisation returns), may still be regarded as the correct figure, and, if it is no longer accurate, if he will give the corrected figures; and if he will give the number of organised and mobile units of Regular battalions of infantry, regiments of cavalry, Regular batteries of Royal Horse Artillery, and Regular Batteries of Field Artillery not required for training purposes included in the 90,855, or other number, of those left behind?

As regards the first part of the question the number of Regular troops that would be left at home after the departure of the expeditionary force constantly varies from day to day. As regards the second part of the question, as I informed the hon. Member on the 20th ultimo, it is not considered expedient to publish the information required.

asked whether any, and, if so, what steps are being taken or have been taken to train men in the Army to drive trains and work the railways in this country; and, if so, when this training was first instituted?

A few selected men of the railway companies, Royal Engineers, are attached from time to time to railways in the United Kingdom for further practice training. This has been the custom since 1907. At present two men are undergoing this course of special instruction.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when it is now hoped to commission the "Lion," "Princess Royal," "Conqueror," "Thunderer," "Australia," and "New Zealand"; when it is anticipated the battleships "Audacious," "Iron Duke," and "Marlborough" will be launched; and whether it is anticipated that the " King George V.," "Centurion," "Ajax," "Audacious," and "Queen Mary," will be handed over to the Admiralty by the contract date, 16th January, 1913, in the case of the four battleships, and 1st March, 1913, in the case of the "Queen Mary"?

The information asked for is as follows:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the dates upon which the keels of the following vessels were laid down: the British ships "Delhi," "Benbow," "Tiger," German ships "Ersatz Weissenburg," "Ersatz Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm," " S," " K," Italian ships " Caio-Duilio," "Andrea-Doria," United States ships "Arkansas," "Nevada," and "Oklahoma," Japanese ships "Haruna," "Kirishima," "Hiyei," and "Fuso," French ship "France," Brazilian ship "Rio de Janeiro," Spanish ship "Jaime I.," Chilian ships "Valparaiso " and sister vessel, Turkish ships " "Reshad-i-Hamiss" and "Reshad V."; and, in such cases, where it has taken place, the date of the launch and the anticipated date of completion?

The information asked for is as follows:—

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the children of an Army pensioner who attend a council school after having attended an Army school are compelled to attend full time till the age of fourteen, and are not allowed half-time as are children of the age of twelve who have reached a certain standard and who have always attended a council school; and whether, if that is the case, he will take steps to treat both classes of children on the same terms?

The answer to the question depends upon whether a by-law of the authority in whose area the children are resident provide for exemption on account of previous attendance at a certified efficient school. Army schools are not certified efficient schools under tie Education Acts, and attendance at them, therefore, would not satisfy the conditions of the by-law. The question would not arise with regard to the by-laws which provide for the exemption of children on reaching a certain standard.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can state the number of places opened in 1910 and 1911 to boys from public elementary schools, in secondary schools, and higher elementary schools respectively?

The number of boys in secondary schools on 31st January, 1910, was 54,308, of which 28,058 were fee-paying and 26,250 occupied free places. The corresponding figures for 31st January, 1911, are 56,421,28,707, and 27,714 respectively. The following table gives details of the figures for 1911, but I am afraid similar details are not available for 1910:

The following table shows the number of boys on the admission register on the last day of the school years 1909–10 and 1910–11 respectively:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if an employé originally engaged as a porter or porter and packer combined, or a packer engaged entirely in packing parcels which have been sold by shop assistants from behind the counter, is exempt from the provisions of the Shops Act, their only other connection with the shop being sweeping and cleaning in the morning and closing at night; and is a clerk exempt whose work consists solely of entering the parcels on delivery sheets for post, rail, or van, and who does not serve customers or do shop work?

I regret that I cannot undertake to express an opinion on questions of the application of the Act in particular cases, such as those put to me by the hon. Member. The decision will depend on the facts in each case. I can only refer the hon. Member to the definitions of "shop assistant" and "shop" Section 19 of the Shops Act, 1912, and to the observations on pages 1–3 of the explanatory memorandum issued by the Home Office, a copy of which I shall be happy to send to him.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Miss Emily Wilding Davison, now a prisoner in Holloway Prison, was forcibly fed from 27th February till 7th March, although she had not refused to take food, was not practising the hunger strike, and was eating as much as she felt to be good for her health; why, under these circumstances and despite her protests, was Miss Davison carried from her cell by force and forcibly fed in another part of the prison; and what action he proposes taking to prevent a recurrence of this?

This prisoner persistently refused the greater part of her food, and when her health began to decline, a medical consultation was held on 28th February. The medical authorities decided that she could not be allowed to stave herself longer without serious risk, and that she must be fed; and it then became the legal duty of the prison officers to feed her compulsorily. This was done without any unnecessary force being used, and on the 7th March she resumed taking food in the ordinary way. In any similar case in future, similar action would necessarily be taken. I may add that the prisoner admitted that her refusal of food was not due to want of appetite, and told the medical officer that she had been advised that so long as she took any food at all forcible feeding was illegal.

asked the Home Secretary if Rupert Scott Blair, known as Professor Zodiac, who was convicted by Mr. Plowden at Marylebone on 4th November, 1911, of obtaining money by fraud by practising palmistry, and sentenced to six weeks' imprisonment, duly served this period of imprisonment; if Blair is now practising palmistry in the West End of London under the name of Professor Zodiac and openly advertising his business; whether he is aware that Blair's only defence before. Mr. Plowden was that many others were allowed by the police to commit the same frauds, and that thereupon Mr. Plowden denounced in the severest terms the fraud of which Blair had been found guilty and further stated that other people would be at once prosecuted; whether any other people have since been prosecuted for this offence in London; whether many persons are now openly practising palmistry and fortune telling in the West End of London with the knowledge and connivance of the police; if so, whether the police have been ordered not to prosecute in these cases, and, if so, by whom; and whether he is responsible for the existing state of affairs?

Police action in cases of this nature is governed by considerations which have been several times explained in this House, particularly by my predecessor on 15th May last. Since Blair's conviction there has been a prosecution in one somewhat similar case, and the person concerned was bound over. Blair is still known to be practising, but the police have had no evidence to justify further proceedings.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a photographic post card in which a portrait of His Majesty the King is placed between two portraits labelled respectively the Right Hon. Sir E. H. Carson and Mr. Bonar Law, Unionist Leader, and surmounts the inscription, "One King, One Flag, One Fleet, One Empire"; whether he is further aware that the use of His Majesty's name in such a connection is wholly unauthorised; and whether he will give instructions to the police to seize any copies that may be publicly offered for sale?

I have seen the correspondence in the Press respecting this post card. The use made of His Majesty's name and portrait by the persons who published this card was most improper; but I have no authority to order the police to seize copies offered for sale.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he has any official information showing that the Luderitz Bay Chamber of Mines has decided to import 1,000 Indians for the diamond fields in German South-West Africa; whether such recruiting of indentured labour will be allowed in British India; and, if British-Indians do go to Luderitz Bay, will some official respon- sible to the India Office be posted there to look specially after the interests of the Indian coolies

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to two similar questions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether, in view of the fact that, during and since the overthrow of Manchu rule in China, measures for the suppression of the use of opium have been neglected, if not abandoned, the arrangement made between the Indian and the Chinese Governments continues to be in force without any change or abatement?

The Agreement of 8th May, 1911, is still in force, and the Indian opium export trade continues to be regulated by the provisions of Article 8 thereof. His Majesty's Government have every confidence that with the restoration of order in China the Chinese Government will be able speedily to secure compliance in the provinces with the reciprocal stipulations of the Agreement.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will take the necessary steps to secure that assessment committees, when determining the rateable value of small holdings provided by county councils, shall consider whether adequate deductions have been made in respect of sinking fund charges and management expenses?

I have no control over union assessment committees in this matter. It seems to me, as at present advised, that special legislation might be necessary to secure what my hon. Friend has in view.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what steps have been taken under Part II. of the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909, by any of the local authorities of London and of what is termed Greater London; and whether, in view of the tendency of the population to move outwards and the desirability of encouraging this tendency, and in view also of the great multiplicity of authorities in Greater London, he will consider the possibility of forming a housing and town-planning board to embrace the county of London and the districts outside with a view to attaining uniformity and consistency in the planning of these new districts?

The London County Council are the only local authority in the Administrative County of London under Part II. of the Housing and Town Planning Act, 1909, but I am not aware that any steps have been taken by the council with a view to the preparation of any town-planning scheme. As regards districts in the immediate vicinity of London, Ruislip-Northwood and Hanwell have received authority to prepare schemes, Walthamstow has made application for such authority, and Enfield, Southgate, Finchley, East Barnet, Hendon, Willesden, Wembley, Bushey, Greenford, Hayes, Southall-Norwood, Acton, Twickenham, Barnes, Richmond, Ham, Esher and the Dittons, Surbiton, Maiden and Coombe, Merton, Epsom, Epsom Rural, Sutton, Carshalton, Croydon, Croydon Rural, and Beckenham have all taken some steps in the matter, and many of these authorities have been in consultation and co-operation with one another. On the information before me I should not be disposed to regard the formation of a housing and town-planning board for Greater London as desirable, but I should agree that in certain matters there should be consultation and co-operation between the local authorities, and I should expect the London County Council to take a leading part in securing it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many men received relief from boards of guardians owing to distress caused by the recent coal strike; and whether he intends to introduce a short Bill removing the franchise disqualification from such men before July next in order that these men may be registered as voters?

The total number of men who received Poor Law relief in England and Wales owing to the distress caused by the recent dispute in the coal trade has not been ascertained. The total number of persons (namely, men, women, and children) shown by the weekly Returns as in receipt of relief (excluding casuals, lunatics in asylums, and persons who received medical relief only) rose from 685,759 to 734,694 during the month of March. The number at the end of March was 63,607 in excess of the number on the corresponding date in 1911. In reply to the last part of the question, I can only refer to the answer I gave on 25th April to the hon. Member for the Eddisbury Division.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether his attention has been drawn to certain leaflets recently issued by the Anti-Vaccination League; and whether, in the interests of the public, he can take any steps to lessen the effect of such statements?

The hon. Member has been good enough to send me a copy of the leaflets to which he refers. They are evidently of a partisan character, but I do not propose to take any action.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the question of the treatment of stammering children referred to on 24th April last year has made any progress; and whether, failing any Departmental action by the Board of Education or the Local Government Board, the Government contemplate making the necessary provision for these children?

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave to the Noble Lord last year. The question is not one that is in any way special to Poor Law children.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the total municipal expenditure, including expenditure out of loans, for England and Wales for the year ending March, 1909, the year ending March, 1910, and the year ending March, 1911, if possible, respectively?

I am not certain what meaning the hon. Member attaches to the words "Municipal expenditure." I may inform him, however, that the sums expended by the corporation of municipal boroughs, the councils of metropolitan boroughs, and the several other classes of local authorities in England and Wales are shown, for the year 1908–9, in the last Summary of the Local Taxation Returns for England and Wales (Parliamentary Paper 251 of 1911), and, for the year 1909–10, in parts I. to VI. of the Local Taxation Returns (England and Wales) for that year parliamentary Papers 270, 270-I, 270-II, 301, 311, and 312). The sums expended by the principal classes of local authorities In England and Wales during the year 1910–11, are set out in the recently issued statement of the receipts, expenditure, and outstanding loans of these authorities {Command Paper 5997 of 1911).

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the "Titanic" disaster, if he will circulate as soon as the information is available authentic lists of the names of the lost and survivors, respectively, and also a statement as to bodies recovered and identified?

Lists have been circulated by the White Star Line from time to time of the names of those lost and saved in the "Titanic" disaster. Full and authentic information will be submitted as early as possible to the Court of Inquiry, and thus be made public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the life-belts on passenger ships are tested as to carrying property before being made accessible in case of emergency; if so, by whom are the tests made; and what number or proportion of life-belts submitted for test during the past year has been rejected as unsatisfactory?

Lifebelts are tested by the Board of Trade Officers as to their carrying properties, and these officers are instructed not to pass a life-belt that is not capable of floating in fresh water for tweny-four hours with 15 lb. of iron suspended from it. I regret that I have no statistics as to the number or proportion of life-belts rejected as unsatisfactory when submitted for test during the past year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the expediency of including the summer excursion steamers around the coast and on rivers in the inquiry into .the sufficiency of lifeboat and life-saving apparatus on ships, in view of the number of lives which might be endangered owing to an insufficiency of these?

The Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee have been asked to consider the Life-saving Appliances Rules as a whole. This includes the sufficiency of boats and other life-saving appliances on summer excursion steamers. I am also giving careful attention to the question with my professional advisers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any official Reports showing that the number of boats now carried by English and French vessels employed on the cross-Channel service is adequate for the protection of the number of passengers and crew which the vessels are authorised to carry; and, if not, will he immediately take steps to increase the number of boats carried, or issue a warning to the public that the boats are insufficient to provide accommodation for more than a small portion of the number of persons on board?

I am now in communication with the representatives of the owners of vessels employed in the cross-Channel service with regard to the provision of boats and other life-saving appliances. The matter is also being considered by the Merchant Shipping Advisory Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of arranging with the Government of the United States of America that during the period of danger from icebergs it should be enacted that for purposes of safety the great liners should travel across the Atlantic two together within easy distance?

I will consider the question; but it hardly appears to me to be feasible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the fact that a vessel in collision two miles oft Dover Harbour, carrying English passengers, did not hold a British passenger steamship certificate, and that her officers did not hold certificates from the Board of Trade, prevented a Court of Inquiry being held into the accident in this country; and, if so, whether he will state what steps he proposes to take to place this country in the same position as the United States of America in this respect?

If my hon. Friend refers to the collision between the French steamer "Le Nord" and the British steamer "Lockwood," I may inform him that, as I stated the other day, the reasons why no formal investigation was held were mainly that there was no loss of life, that neither vessel became a total loss, and that litigation was pending in the Admiralty Court which would elicit the causes of casualty and fix the responsibility. The fact that a vessel does not hold a Board of Trade passenger certificate, or that her officers do not hold Board of Trade certificates, would not of itself prevent a Court of Inquiry being held in this country. Under Sections 464 and 466 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, a formal investigation may be held when a shipping casualty has occurred to any ship in any place, and witnesses are found in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the agent of the Buenos Ayres and Pacific Railway Company, Limited, in this country, during the months of October, November, and December, persuaded a number of English firemen to leave the services of different railway companies to take up similar employment abroad on the distinct understanding that there was no dispute in operation, and where, on their arrival in the Argentine, they discovered a strike in operation, and on refusing to act as blacklegs they were refused their return passage; and, having regard to the fact that at the present time there are a number of Englishmen stranded in the Argentine .practically starving through being deceived in connection with their contract of service with the aforementioned railway company, if he will take steps to protect working men from being misled in taking up appointments in foreign parts under such circumstances as above mentioned?

I am making inquiries with regard to the statements in my hon. Friend's question, and it will be of assistance to me in these inuqiries if he would be good enough to give me any further particulars in his possession with regard to the matter referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether applications were received from former boy clerks for employment in the Labour Exchanges under the Insurance Act who had failed to find permanent employment in the Civil Service; whether several of these applicants were interviewed with a view to their employment; will he consider, in the special circumstances of their case, the advisability of recommending that employment be given to as many of these former boy clerks as possible; and when may those who have been interviewed expect a decision in their cases?

A large number of former boy clerks who applied for employment in connection with Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance were interviewed with other candidates by representatives of the Civil Service Commissioners, whose decision will, it is hoped, be communicated shortly to each of those interviewed. Employment will be offered to all of these boy clerks who are recommended by the Commissioners.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any cases have occurred in which boy messengers who have failed to pass the educational test prescribed for the situation of assistant postman have been allowed to enter for a further examination?

Boy messengers who fail to pass the simple educational test for the situation of assistant postmen are not given a second nomination unless the failure is attributable to some exceptional circumstance, such as illness on the day of examination.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has been made by securing subscribers, etc., towards installing the trunk telephone system in Longford, and connecting the same with Carrick-on-Shannon?

The result of a preliminary canvass at Longford is that only nineteen written undertakings to rent exchange lines have been obtained from prospective subscribers. I hope, however, that a further canvass, which is about to be made, will produce the full number of twenty-five agreements required to justify the extension.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cause of the discontinuance of the telegraph service to Castleisland for a week recently; whether he is aware that, owing to this discontinuance, merchants were put to considerable expense and delay in having to send and receive telegrams from a station six miles distant; will he say what steps will be taken to compensate those men for their losses; and whether inquiries will be made as to the parties responsible for this disorganisation of trade?

The telegraph service to Castleisland was interrupted twice between the 18th and 24th of April by an intermittent fault on the line, but not for the whole week. The cause has not yet been ascertained. All telegraph lines are liable to occasional interruption by electric faults. I regret the local inconvenience caused by the interruption, but I am not in a position to offer compensation to those persons who had to use more distant offices.

asked the Postmaster-General why the village of Cloughmills, partly in the Ballymoney and partly in the Ballymena Unions, which latter gives no guarantee, enjoying a free telegraph delivery, is to get a telephone office while the rest of the extensive district referred to, guaranteeing the Post Office against loss, is to be neglected, especially Knockaholet, where a telephone office is urgently needed?

A telegraph office has been authorised at Cloughmills under guarantee, but it is not proposed to provide telephone facilities there at present. The question of the provision of telegraph and telephone facilities at Knockaholet and at certain other places in the neighbourhood has been considered, but I am afraid that the prospective business is so small that such facilities would not be justified even under guarantee.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any steps have been taken by his Department, or by that known as the Irish Division presided over by Lord Carrick, to trace the whereabouts of a gang of bogus butter, merchants who have quite recently been operating successfully in Ireland; is he aware that these persons have got butter from various Irish creameries but have never paid for the same; have the Irish inspectors taken up the matter and, if so, with what results; have boxes of butter been found at any London stations addressed to men who are already known to the Department to have defrauded Irish agriculturists; have the police authorities been put in motion with a view to the tracking down of these persons who are trading under assumed names in Great Britain; and, if not, will something be done to try and prevent the Irish farmer from being robbed of what is his only means of subsistence?

Perhaps the hon. Member will address his question to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction, Ireland, within whose purview the matter more immediately falls.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that it is a common practice in selling margarine over the counter to give overweight, and that its popularity amongst the poorer classes of the community is largely due to this practice; whether he is aware that the average profit on margarine is 40 per cent., which enables tradesmen to give overweight and thus compete unfairly with the butter trade; and will he consider the question of taking steps to prevent the practice referred to, and also to prohibit the use of annatto colouring in margarine, which gives it a similar appearance to butter?

I am aware of the practice to which the hon. Member refers, but I have no information as to the profit on margarine. There is no evidence, so far as I am aware, that any offence is committed for which legal proceedings could be instituted. I have no intention of introducing further legislation on the subject of margarine during the present Session.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Report of the investigator appointed by the Scottish Education Department to inquire into the question of the amalgamation of the Forres (Landward) school district with the burgh school district will be furnished to the school boards interested?

The reports of Commissioners appointed to hold inquiries under Section 22 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, are supplied for the information of the Scotch Education Department, and are in no sense public documents.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the Scottish Education Department decline to permit the Banff Landward School Board to see the report of the Commissioner upon which the order for amalgamation with Banff burgh was based; and whether, in view of the fact that it is impossible for this school board to make further representations until it is known what particular arguments they are required to meet, he will cause a copy of this report to be forwarded to the agent of the Banff Landward School Board?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I have just given to the hon. Member for Elgin and Nairn. I may add that as the Banff Landward School Board received a copy of the petition forwarded to the Scotch Education Department by the Burgh School Board and were present at the inquiry, they are fully informed of the whole case.