also asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the fact that under Section 9 (4) of the National Insurance Act there is no reduced benefit for an employed person entering insurance at any time during the first year after the commencement of the Act, and that under Section 10 (4) ( c ) of the same Act no arrears can be formed during that period and the payment of weekly contributions is exempted, directions will be given to the Government lecturers to make it clear that an employed person need not enter insurance on the commencement of the Act, but may do so at any time within twelve months thereafter without his benefits being reduced or arrears being formed?

The suggestion contained in the question, either that there is any option as to the payment of contributions from the 15th July, or that the failure to pay the contributions will not result in loss, are without foundation. All persons employed within the meaning of the Act enter into insurance automatically upon the 15th July, and from that date onward their employers will be liable to penalties if they do not pay contributions in respect of them. Although arrears accruing in the case of an employed contributor during the first twelve months after the commencement of the Act are not taken into account under Section 10, it will be necessary that not only should six months have elapsed since entry into insurance, but that twenty-six weekly contributions should also have been paid before sickness, or maternity benefits are payable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has been able to form an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer that will be incurred to date of coming into force of the National Insurance Act on the 15th July, of lectures, leaflets, pamphlets, and handbooks given by or issued on behalf of the National Insurance Commissioners to the general public explanatory of the provisions contained in the Act?

It is, of course, impossible to give an exact estimate, as the cost will be affected by arrangements that are not yet completed; but £25,000 may be taken as a rough figure to cover the whole of the expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been directed to the fact of the London and South-Western Railway Company addressing a circular to employés requiring such employés to give information as to family and other matters apparently having no connection with the National Insurance Act, but giving the National Insurance Act as the cause of the circular; and whether he will take any steps in the matter.

I have not seen the circular referred to. If my hon. Friend would send me a copy and state which are the questions he considers are wrongly asked in the name of the National Insurance Act, I will inquire into the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that by fixing, under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, the amounts to be paid to local authorities in respect of Motor Car and Carriage Licence Duties at the actual sum collected in the year 1908–9, a loss of revenue as compared with 1909–10 is incurred by a large majority of the county councils of England and Wales, amounting in the case of Devonshire to about £4,000 per annum; and whether, in view of the promise made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Budget in 1907, and the intention of Parliament, as shown by Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1907, that county councils were not to be deprived of the natural growth of local taxation licences, steps will be taken on the consideration of the Finance Bill of the present Session to ensure that the annual amounts payable to the county councils in respect of such licences shall not be less than the amounts which would have been payable if the before-mentioned provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, had not been passed?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that by fixing, under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, the amounts to be paid to local authorities in respect of motor car and carriage licence duties at the actual sum collected in the year 1908–9, a lost revenue, as compared with 1909–10, is incurred by a large majority of the county councils of England and Wales, amounting in the case of Staffordshire to nearly £5,000 per annum; and whether, in view of the promise made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Budget in 1907, and the intention of Parliament, as shown by Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1907, that county councils were not to be deprived of the natural growth of local taxation licences, steps will be taken, on the consideration of the Finance Bill of the present Session, to ensure that the annual amounts payable to the county councils in respect of such licences shall not be less than the amounts which would have been payable if the before-mentioned provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, had not been passed?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that by fixing, under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, the amounts to be paid to local authorities in respect of motor car and carriage licence duties at the actual sum collected in the year 1908–9, a loss of revenue as compared with 1909–10 is incurred by a large majority of the county councils of England and Wales, amounting in the case of Gloucestershire to over £2,000 per annum; and whether, in view of the promise made by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer on the Budget in 1907, and the intention of Parliament, as shown by Section 17 of the Finance Act, 1907, that county councils were not to be deprived of the natural growth of local taxation licences, steps will be taken on the consideration of the Finance Bill of the present Session to ensure that the annual amounts payable to the county councils in respect of such licences shall not be less than the amounts which would have been payable if the before-mentioned provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and the Revenue Act, 1911, had not been passed?

The matter is one which, I am informed, is receiving the attention of the Local Taxation Committee, and at the present time I am not prepared to give any undertaking of the nature suggested.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to circulate all decisions of Referees in appeal cases affecting valuations under the Finance Act, 1912, amongst all the members of the Surveyors' Institute and the Land Agents' Society?

Subject to the permission of the Referee and the appellant, it is open to the societies in question to arrange for a representative to attend the hearing of any appeal and to take such steps as they may think fit to circulate the decision of the Referee among their members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the site value claimed by the Valuation Department as the site value on the occasion in the Plymouth case was fixed so as to achieve Increment Value Duty in accordance with the principle laid down in the White Paper, Instructions to Valuers; and, if not, on what basis was it fixed?

The site value on the occasion in the Plymouth case, as in every other case which has arisen, was ascertained in accordance with the White Paper instructions; and on the basis of the valuations made by the Valuation Office increment value was disclosed; the correctness of those valuations will be tested by an appeal to the High Court.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he would give a Return of the number of appeals to Referees which have been entered under Part I. of the Finance Act, stating the subject matter of the appeal, the date of the notice, the date of the appointment of the Referee, and the date of the hearing?

A Return giving the information asked for by the hon. Member will be prepared.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any instructions have been issued by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue which in any way modify or amend the Instructions to Valuers laid upon the Table of this House?

In connection with the Paper referred to in the question, the chief valuer has been in communication with the superintending valuers with regard to the best means of securing the exemption from charge of any recovery in building value, but no further instructions in the matter have been issued by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total yield of Reversion Duty up to the end of the last financial year?

The total yield of Reversion Duty up to the end of the last financial year was £22,878.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Union Jack is the emblem of the nation rather than the Sovereign; and, if that is so, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law, will it be competent for the Irish Parliament to eliminate the cross of St. Patrick from the national flag?

The Union Jack was established by Royal Proclamation under the Act of Union, and is as much a matter of prerogative as the Royal Standard.

asked the Prime Minister if, to facilitate understanding of the operation of Clause 16 ( a ) of the Government of Ireland Bill, he will give a concrete example of a dutiable unmanufactured article produced abroad but manufactured or prepared in Great Britain or Ireland and exported, in one case, from Great Britain to Ireland and, in the other case, from Ireland to Great Britain, on which the Import Duty on the un-manufactured article into Ireland has been reduced and the drawback on exportation from Ireland after manufacture is also proportionately reduced, while the drawback which would be allowed on the exportation of similar articles from the country into which the articles are brought is less than the duty payable on importation?

I think it will make the matter clearer if I give an illustration of the effect of Clause 16 (2) ( a ) and ( b ) instead of dealing only with Clause 16 (2) ( a ) by itself. I will select tobacco which is imported in the raw leaf from abroad and manufactured in the United Kingdom, and will assume that the Tobacco Duties and drawbacks in Ireland are reduced to the rates prevailing before the 1909 Budget, while remaining as at present in Great Britain. The principal duties and drawbacks would then be as follows:— — Ireland. Great Britain. IMPORT DUTIES— s. d. s. d. Raw Leaf (Unstripped) 3 0 3 8 Foreign Cigars 6 0 7 0 Foreign Cigarettes 4 10 5 8 Other Foreign Manufactured Tobacco 3 10 4 8 DRAWBACKS on Tobacco Manufactured in the United Kingdom— Cigars 3 5 4 2 Cigarettes 3 4 4 1 Other Manufactured Tobacco 3 3 4 0 These rates of drawback are allowed on tobacco containing 14 per cent. of moisture, and are increased or lowered proportionately if the tobacco contains less or more than 14 per cent. It is assumed for the purposes of this answer that the tobacco contains 14 per cent. of moisture. In the circumstances assumed, cigars, cigarettes and other tobacco if manufactured in Great Britain and brought to Ireland would under Clause 16 (2) ( b ) receive drawback on being sent from Great Britain of 4s. 2d., 4s. 1d., and 4s. per pound respectively, and would, under Clause 16 (2) ( a ) be charged on being brought into Ireland a Customs Duty of 3s. 5d., 3s. 4d., and 3s. 3d. If manufactured in Ireland and brought to Great Britain they would under Clause 16 (2) ( b ) receive a drawback on being sent from Ireland of 3s. 5d., 3s. 4d., and 3s. 3d. per pound, respectively, and would be charged on being brought into Great Britain a Customs Duty of 4s. 2d., 4s. 1d., and 4s. per pound, respectively.

asked the Chief Secretary in what Clause of the Government of Ireland Bill there is anything to prevent the proposed Irish Government from depriving the University of Dublin of its revenues and bestowing them on the National University of Ireland, making a knowledge of Gaelic a qualification for employment in the Civil Service or any employment under the Government, prescribing what flag shall or shall not be used on buildings under the control of the Irish Government, and arranging a pass over, as in Sligo, whereby rates are only demanded from Unionists?

As regards the Civil Service, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a question asked by the hon. Member for North Armagh on the 25th April, and, as regards flags, to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a question asked by the hon. Member for East Down on the 2nd instant. As to the other portions of the question, I would refer him to the safeguards which the Bill provides against outrageous legislation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, contrary to the wishes of the people of county Cavan, expressed by resolution of the Cavan County Council, the Estates Commissioners planted James M'Cullagh on the lands of Kilmore, in county Cavan, and replied to the resolution of the Cavan County Council that they had no desire or intention to alter their decision of doing so, although the lands of Kilmore were acquired for the purpose of reinstating evicted tenants; is he aware that James M'Cullagh is an evicted tenant, and that there are twelve evicted tenants in the vicinity already recommended for reinstatement by the Estates Commissioners, but who have not yet been reinstated; and, in view of the dissatisfaction and disturbance occasioned in the district, will he take any action in the matter?

The Estates Commissioners received the resolution referred to relative to the allotment of portion of the lands of Kilmore, and in reply stated that the lands had been allotted in the exercise of the discretion vested in them, and that they had no power to vary the arrangements which had been made. The lands were not acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act, but were utilised by the Commissioners for the purposes of facilitating the reinstatement of evicted tenants. One of the farms was allotted by them to M'Cullagh in consideration of his surrendering two farms in the same county, one of which was an evicted farm, and it has been given to the evicted tenant, and the second holding has been given to another county Cavan evicted tenant. The Commissioners experience great difficulty in obtaining untenanted land which persons desirious of surrendering evicted holdings are willing to accept, and if such persons are to be intimidated in the occupation of the new farms granted to them, it will be impossible for the Commissioners to obtain the surrender of evicted holdings, and will make it increasingly difficult to carry out the provisions of the Acts relating to the reinstatement of evicted tenants.

asked whether the auditor of the Local Government Board for Ireland recently reported grave irregularities by the clerk and solicitor of the Carlow Rural District Council, involving a large sum of money in connection with several labourers' cottage schemes; and whether any and, if so, what steps the Board intends to take in reference to the council and these two officials?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for East Down on 28th March last.

asked whether, having regard to the duties of inspectors of boarded-out children under the Local Government Board for Ireland, Re will recommend an increase in the number of inspectors; and whether, either in making a further appointment or a new appointment at next vacancy, he will appoint a Protestant, seeing that both the present inspectors are Roman Catholics?

It is not proposed to increase the number of lady inspectors. I do not think it would be desirable to limit the number of suitable candidates by undertaking to fill future vacancies on a basis of religion. These ladies do not supervise the religious instruction of the children, which is otherwise provided for.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have received from Miss Crean-Lynch the maps of her estate in county Mayo, with an intimation that she is willing to sell the estate through the Board?

The maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of Miss Olivia Crean-Lynch's estate have recently been lodged with the Congested Districts Board. The estate will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked whether the following landlords, or any of them, of estates situate in the parishes of Turlough and Kildacomogue, county Mayo, have yet offered their estates for sale through the Congested Districts Board: the Earl of Norbury, Messrs. Hunter, Darcy, James Foy, Richard Gibbons, R. W. Martin, Miss Gibbs, and Miss Phibbs; and have the Board made offers for the purchase of any of these estates; and, if so, which?

The following estates have been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board: Hyacinth Darcy, Miss Gibbs, and R. W. Martin (one estate), Miss Henrietta Phibbs. The Board understand that the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection of the remaining estates referred to are being prepared for lodgment with them, and on receipt of the required information these properties will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding purchase in the usual course. The Board have not yet made an offer for any of these estates, but they have decided to do so in the case of Miss Phibbs' estate.

asked whether the masters of workhouses are empowered to deduct from old age pension inmates of the workhouse hospitals a portion of their pensions towards the cost of their maintenance; whether, when a pensioner is unable to leave the hospital and is willing to pay a weekly sum towards the cost of his maintenance, the pension officers would in such a case be entitled to stop his pension; and has the pension officer power to take away the pension books of those persons who remain in the workhouse hospital for over three months?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. All persons in receipt of Poor Relief are disqualified for the receipt of a pension under Section 3 (1) ( a ) of the Act of 1908, unless their case comes under one or other of the provisos to the Sub-section. Repayment of cost of maintenance does not remove the disqualification incurred under this Section, except in the case of a person admitted to a workhouse infirmary for medical treatment who upon admission claimed to pay, and has actually paid, the full average cost of maintenance. By Section 6 (4) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, when a question is raised that a pensioner is disqualified for the receipt of a pension, and it is alleged that the disqualification is continuing or has ceased less than three weeks prior to the raising of the question the payment of the pension is to be discontinued pending the determination of the question by the pension committee, or in the case of an appeal by the Local Government Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to advise the Lord Lieutenant to restore to their former offices and positions and to remove the disqualifications from the various parties in the Parliamentary election Division of North Louth,, whose conduct was reported upon by the Election Petition Judges in the recent North Louth election petition, and who were recently tried before Mr. Justice Dodd and a common jury in Dublin, and who, after a prolonged trial and much litigation, were found not guilty of the charge preferred against them?

I am advised that there is no power vested in the Lord Lieutenant to remove disqualifications incurred by the Report of the Election Judges.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if his attention has been drawn to the necessity of compelling railway companies, owners of public livery stables, and stables on racecourses, etc., to disinfect mangers and hay-racks after each occasion on which they are used by different horses; and if the Department will make an order compelling such disinfection under a proper penalty?

Representations on the matter referred to in this question have been made to the Department, and are at present being considered in connection with the pending issue of a General Order relating to the transit of horses.

asked what is the number of officers and men in the Navy who belong to the English Church; what is the number of officers and men in the Navy who are Protestants but do not belong to the English Church; what is the amount paid annually by the Navy to Anglican chaplains and to Anglican naval instructors; and what is the amount paid annually by the Navy to ministers, chaplains, naval instructors, or others who are Protestants, but are not connected with the Anglican Church?

I gave the numbers of the men in the Fleet belonging to the various religious denominations in a reply to the hon. Member for North Kensington on 23rd April, and would refer my hon. Friend, in answer to the earlier parts of his question, to that statement. I should add that the figures given in that statement refer to men only, and do not include officers. The amount paid annually to chaplains in the Navy, including those who are also naval instructors, for their services as chaplain is approximately £40,000. In respect of religious ministrations by other ministers, who are Protestants but are not connected with the Anglican Church the amount paid annually by the Navy is approximately £4,000.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Fourth Squadron of the First Fleet consists of only four battleships; whether this squadron is regarded as a fighting unit as at present constituted; and whether it is intended to add to its numbers?

The Fourth Squadron has not yet been constituted, but the intention is as indicated in the first and third parts of the Noble Lord's question. In reply to the second part of the question, four battleships are certainly a fighting unit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state what provision is being made for the accommodation of the troops at Church services at Redford barracks?

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether it is at present possible for natives of India to become officers in British regiments; and, if so,, will he say how many of such are now holding commissions?

I presume my hon. Friend means persons of Indian descent by his phrase natives of India. If that is so, the answer to his question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether officers who have passed their examination for tactical fitness for command are ever passed over and juniors given the command; and, if so, whether he will take steps to avoid the hardship of requiring officers to pass an examination and obtain a certificate that is absolutely valueless in the eyes of the authorities?

By passing the tactical fitness examination an officer becomes qualified for consideration for selection, but secures no claim to promotion. There are other factors which determine an officer's fitness for the responsible position of commanding a unit.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, when the number of regiments of Cavalry scheduled to go abroad with the six divisions of the Expeditionary Force, according to Section 7 (Detailed composition of the field Army for service abroad by arms) of War Establishments, 1908–9, is subtracted from the number of regiments of Cavalry shown as serving in the United Kingdom by the Army List of March last, the number is three; and whether the statement made by him on the 6th March, 1911, may still be regarded as accurate, namely, that after the depature of the six divisions of the Expeditionary Force on active service abroad four and not seven Regular Infantry battalions will remain in the United Kingdom?

The Government, on the advice of the General Staff, consider it highly inexpedient to publish any information concerning mobilisation.

asked whether, in view of the expense to which officers are now put in preparing for the examinations for promotion from lieutenant to captain and from captain to major, the War Office will consider the re-establishment of garrison classes?

The commanding officer is responsible for the systematic and efficient instruction of officers under his command in all professional duties and for their due preparation for examinations for promotion. It is considered that the assistance of private tuition should not be necessary. It is not proposed to re-establish garrison classes.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the total number of pupils in attendance during the year 1911 in the Welsh elementary schools, showing the numbers in provided and non-provided schools, separately; and whether he can state the number of pupils of each denomination in attendance in the non-provided schools?

The following table shows the actual average attendance in ordinary public elementary schools in Wales for the statistical year ended 31st July, 1911:— Provided. Non-Provided. Church of England. Wesleyan. Roman Catholic. Others. Total. 311,120 67,173 — 11,837 1,218 80,228

I have no information as to the demoninations to which children in attendance at non-provided schools belong.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the amount of results fees paid to national teachers in Ireland for teaching the Irish language in the last financial year; of this sum how much was paid to male teachers in county Cork; how much was paid to female teachers in the same county; on what bases are the results fees calculated; and are results fees paid to teachers who have themselves no certificate to teach Irish or no knowledge of the language?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the amount of fees paid for the teaching of Irish language in National schools (including fees paid in schools in which the bilingual programme is sanctioned) in the last financial year was £12,197 14s. 1d. Of this sum there was paid to male teachers in county Cork £1,088 16s. 4d., to female teachers in the same county £1,113 10s. 2d. The bases on which fees are paid are laid down in the rules and regulations of the Commissioners. Fees are not paid to teachers unless they produce certificates or other satisfactory proofs of their competency to teach the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his Department has, during the years 1910 and 1911, refused consent to any local authorities desirous of reducing the speed of motor cars in populous districts or of closing up any road to motor car traffic; if so, will he say in how many cases has there been such refusal; and can his Department, under Section 8 of the 1903 Act, take the initiative in restricting the speed of motor cars in populous districts?

During the years 1910 and 1911 the Local Government Board refused ten applications for a speed limit of ten miles an hour under Section 9 of the Motor Car Act. No application for a regulation under Section 8 of the Act prohibiting the driving of motor cars in a particular highway was refused in these years, but in one case a restriction to five miles an hour was imposed instead of a prohibition. During the same period sixty-seven applications under Section 9, and four applications under Section 8, were complied with wholly or partially. Section 8 of the Act does not in terms require an application to be made to the Board before an Order under the Section can be issued, but the Board think it generally desirable that any proposals for the issue of such an Order should emanate from the local authority.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, although the Board have recently encouraged large expenditure on the Kidhall water scheme and an increased sewage provision at Killingbeck, for the benefit of the Crossgates and Seacroft areas, they are now prepared to sanction the annexation of those areas into the borough of Leeds; whether, in consequence, those areas will, in addition to the heavy rates of Leeds, have to pay a special rate for that expenditure, which will then become largely unnecessary; and under what pressure this policy has been adopted by the Board?

The hon. Member has been misinformed as to the facts in this case. The loans for the improvement of the sewage disposal works at Killingbeck were sanctioned before the representation in favour of the extension of the City of Leeds came before me, and I certainly cannot be said to have encouraged expenditure upon the Kidhall Water Scheme. Under the provisions of the Extension Order the areas referred to will be subject to differential rating provisions, which secure that for a period of fifteen years the rates in Seacroft cannot exceed 6s. in the £, and in Crossgates 4s. 4d. in the £. The suggestion that these areas will pay Leeds rates in addition to a special rate for expenditure on water supply and sewage disposal is therefore made under a misapprehension. The decision in this case was arrived at upon a careful consideration of all the facts, and I am satisfied that it is a right one.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how much a child costs per annum in a Poor Law school on the average, and what proportion of the cost is for food and what proportion is for staff; and whether, in view of the annual cost to the nation of maintaining 80,000 children in Poor Law schools, many of whom are orphans or removed from undesirable surroundings, the Local Government Board will take steps to urge the emigration of more children to Canada, where the demand for them is 20,000 in excess of the supply, where good homes await them under Government supervision, and the cost is final and relatively small?

The desired information as to cost can only be given for Poor Law schools in London. According to a Return for the year ended Lady Day, 1911, the average annual cost of a child in a Metropolitan Poor Law school is £29 6s. 10d. (exclusive of rent, loans repaid, and interest on loans). The average annual cost (included in the foregoing figure) of provisions for children is £6 3s. O¼d. per child, and that of staff £12 4s. 8½d. per child. The number of children maintained in Poor Law institutions in England and Wales on the 1st January, 1912 (excluding the small classes of casuals and insane children) was 70,698. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the answer I gave him on the subject on the 29th February last.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the mail contract between the Post Office and the White Star Company?

I find that this contract was not laid on the Table at the time of its completion, as it was not one of the class which is covered by the Standing Order on the subject. I shall be glad to lay it now.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that complaints have been made by subscribers to the Telephone Exchange with reference to communications between Wexford and Dublin; is he aware that the trunk wire between Wexford and Dublin has been frequently out of order, and completely out of order at least two days a week for several months past; and, seeing the inconvenience and expense caused to the people of Wexford, will he look into the matter as early as possible and see that the telephone service between Wexford and Dublin is put in proper order?

I regret that the telephone service between Wexford and Dublin has recently suffered through interruptions of the trunk line. The engineering officers have been giving special attention to the matter, and every endeavour will be made to provide a more satisfactory service.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to accelerate the installation of a telephone service to farmers; and when the service is likely to be opened?

The rural party-line service is at the present time available for farmers and other residents in any rural district where a sufficient number of subscribers who comply with the conditions can be obtained. Steps are being taken by canvassing and the distribution of circulars to bring the matter under the notice of rural residents. The Board of Agriculture and the Agricultural Organisation Society are also co-operating in this work. Arrangements have already been completed for several rural lines on the revised terms, and I anticipate that a considerable number of such lines will be provided in the near future.

asked the Postmaster-General if the postal rates between this country and Bavaria are the outcome of any negotiation between His Majesty's Government and the Bavarian Government, either directly or through the International Postal Union?

The postal rates between the United Kingdom and Bavaria, in common with all other European and most extra-European countries are not the outcome of negotiations, but are governed by the provisions of the International Postal Union Convention. The parcel post service is governed by an agreement between the British and the Imperial German Post Offices.

asked the Postmaster-General when he hopes to be able to make a statement regarding changes in the conditions of service on the new classes and in the conditions governing recruitment and promotion, consequent on the reorganisation of the engineering department of the Post Office?

I assume that the hon. Member refers to the minor engineering classes. I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a fixed rate per head per annum is allowed to medical men for attendance on Post Office officials in the Glasgow post office; if so, what is that rate and what services are given in exchange for it; does it include medicines; does it apply to picked lives; and is the-rate for his Department the same throughout the rest of the country?

Post Office medical officers, alike at Glasgow and elsewhere, are remunerated by a uniform capitation fee of 8s. 6d. per annum in respect of each member of the local staff placed under their charge, no distinction being made between picked lives and others. The remuneration thus calculated covers the supply of medicines, and all such ordinary medical treatment as is sought from a general practitioner besides periodical sanitary inspection of Post Office buildings, reporting on the physical or mental condition of all officers whose retirement is in question or whose fitness for a particular duty may be in doubt, and speaking generally, assisting the Postmaster-General with their professional knowledge and performing such advisory functions as are necessary to the welfare of the Post Office staff.

asked the Postmaster - General why book-post packets cannot be sent to Japan via Siberia although they are sent by that route from Japan to this country?

Packets paid at the rate for printed papers are excluded from transmission via Siberia by the British and other European Post Offices (except that of Russia) in consequence of the very high rates charged by the Russian authorities for the Trans-Siberian service. Negotiations are in progress which may, I hope, result in such a reduction of the charges as will admit of the despatch via Siberia of all postal packets.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture to what particular purposes the Grant for which the Board has applied to the Development Commission in the interests of fishermen is to be devoted; and whether it is proposed that any part of the Grant should be employed to promote the improvement of Scottish fisheries and in the interests of Scottish fishermen?

The application of the Board is now under the consideration of the Commissioners and the discussion of its details, which could not, moreover, be satisfactorily explained within the limits of a Parliamentary question, would be premature. No part of the application refers specifically to Scottish fisheries, which are the special care of the Fishery Board for Scotland.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that at the recent school board elections the single issue upon which the Landward and old parish school boards were elected was opposition to the proposed amalgamation with Banff burgh, whereas in the burgh the electors were not asked to express an opinion thereon; and whether, in considering the representations that have reached him, he will see that the will of the Scottish Education Department does not overrule the will of the people?

It would appear from reports of meetings in the local press prior to the election that the burgh electors were fully informed as to the proposal to seek amalgamation with the Landward Board. With reference to the latter part of the question, my hon. Friend asks me to prejudge the case. I am not prepared to give any decision until the statutory period for receiving representations has expired.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will state the origin and history of the group of statuary by Rodin known as the "Burghers of Calais"; and what site or sites the group has occupied to date?

The group of statuary in question has been presented by the executive committee of the National Art Collections Fund, to whom the thanks of the nation are due. It is one of three castings made under the supervision of M. Rodin. The other two are at Calais and Copenhagen. It has not yet been placed in any site for public inspection, but the First Commissioner hopes shortly to place in the Tea Room a plan which will suggest a suitable situation.