asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the national organisations of trained nurses in England and Ireland have been refused direct representation on the advisory committees under the National Insurance Act, seeing that the details of medical treatment prescribed for insured persons will be carried out by nurses, whose professional standards and economic interests are thereby concerned, and that all other classes of women workers affected, including midwives, are accorded representation through their trade unions or professional associations?

The facts are not as suggested in the question. Two trained nurses and one representative of a large nursing association are on the Advisory Committee of the Joint Committee, and three trained nurses are on the Advisory Committee of the English Commission, one of whom is general superintendent of what is (I think) the largest association of nurses in the Kingdom. In Ireland no request for representation was received from any association of nurses, but a matron of a hospital was appointed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the National Insurance Act, an employed person who has lost his card and the employer has affixed the stamps to an emergency card, the employed person will be entitled to have the emergency card handed over to him?

Yes, Sir. He will surrender the emergency card with his ordinary card containing his contributions under Part I. of the Act to his approved society at the end of the period required.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the offer made to the agents and collectors of the Prudential Insurance Company to pay them 1s. per member per annum out of the 3s. 8d. allowed to the company for management expenses has been confirmed by the Insurance Commissioners; and whether he will state what period must elapse before this provisional arrangement will be superseded by terms fixed by the members of the approved society which is or will be formed for the purpose of working the Act?

The Commission have no authority to settle what remuneration should be paid by an approved society to persons in the employment of the society. Any such arrangement is a matter to be determined by the society itself, subject to the auditor's decision, in the case of any payment, that it is one proper to be made out of the administrative account and to the limits imposed by the Commissioners Regulations on the amount which may be carried to that account out of contributions.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, in framing regulations for the administration of the National Insurance Act by industrial insurance companies and collecting friendly societies, the following points have been provided for: in the case of large societies, that members in one part of the country shall have adequate opportunity of holding communication with members in other parts of the country; that freedom shall be allowed to put resolutions to meetings, and that resolutions put to one meeting shall be brought before all other meetings of the same body throughout the country; that provision will be made to secure a guarantee that the figure as to the results of voting shall be accurately stated; that steps will be taken to prevent officials, salaried employés, from exercising improper influence over the meetings of members; that if large numbers of members take an active interest in their society adequate provision will be made for their attendance at suitably convened meetings; that provision is made for meetings to continue from day to day when there is much business to be transacted, and that members are allowed such expenses as shall recoup their out-of-pocket losses; that when a ballot of members is taken precaution is taken that the ballot is properly and fairly carried out, and that the matter shall not be left entirely to paid officials?

The Commissioners are taking steps to see that any separate section or society formed by industrial companies and collecting friendly societies, like all other sections or societies desiring to conduct business under the National Insurance Act, shall comply with the requirement of the Act as to self-government by the members. In examining the rules with this purpose they have had in mind the many different circumstances affecting the question, including those mentioned by my hon. Friend. I am unable to make any detailed statement of what the rules of each society are while these rules are still under examination.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that in the United States and Canada, where the prominent Wall Street and Canadian operators have been on the bull side, the result is record high values in most securities as against low record values for certain British securities where the prominent international operators on the London Stock Exchange have been bears for years; and whether he will have inquiries made into the cause of such gambling operations and consider the necessity of instituting legislation to protect legitimate speculation and bonâ fide buyers from the evil results arising out of international gambling in futures and options?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, to his question on a similar subject of the 5th March last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, notwithstanding a record volume of British trade for 1911 and 1912, the depreciation is from 30 to 65 per cent. in the values since 1897 of Consols, gilt-edged, railway, and other securities which directly come under the influence of international option and future gambling, while limited joint stock bank, insurance, assurance, and other shares which are not internationally gambled in have in most cases appreciated in value, and that the depreciation in the former securities show a far greater decline in comparison with similar ones in foreign countries, where anti-gambling bear operations are totally or partially prohibited by legislation; and whether he will consider the advisability of promoting an international congress with the object of promoting legislation to prevent gambling in futures and options?

I am not prepared to take action as suggested by the hon. Member in this matter at the present time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the hardship to individuals occasioned in isolated cases under the Old Age Pensions Acts through construing the word nationality in a strictly technical sense as referred to in the case of Michael O'Connell and wife; and whether, having regard to the absence of any intention on the part of the framers of these Acts to have hardships occasioned by strictly technical constructions at variance with common feeling, he will direct the Board of Customs and Excise to issue instructions to their officers that in the case of native-born British subjects who, though technically naturalised elsewhere for all practical purposes, resumed their British nationality many years ago and are qualified in respect of residence, the term nationality in the Old Age Pensions Acts is to be construed in a substantial and not in a technical sense?

I presume the case of Michael O'Connell and his wife is that referred to in the question which the hon. Member addressed to the Chief Secretary on the 21st March last. The facts then stated indicate that neither O'Connell nor his wife could satisfy the pension authorities that they had been British subjects "for at least twenty years up to the date of the receipt of any sum on account of a pension," so as to comply with the statutory condition imposed by Section 2 (2) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908. As regards the last part of the question, I am not prepared to issue any directions which would lead to the grant of pensions to persons who are not in law entitled to receive a pension.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what are the rates paid to copyists in the scrivenery department of the Royal Courts of Justice; are they paid a weekly wage or do they receive a certain price for so many words copied; if the latter, is a deduction made for management expenses; and have these copyists to stand by waiting for work when business is not forthcoming?

The writers in the Scrivenery Department are paid monthly for copying done, at the following rates:— Per 100 folios of 72 words. Plain copying and examining the copy made 11 7 Plain copying without examining 9 8 Examining a copy brought in with the filed original 3 10 Copying on parchment and examining the copy made 15 5

These rates are higher than those paid by the best law stationers and payment is made to the writers without deduction of any kind. As is the case throughout the Law Writing trade, towards the end of the long vacation work is slack and the writers are not fully employed, but arrangements have been made in the Scrivenery Department, whereby each writer can take three weeks holiday without obtaining less work on the whole period than he would have obtained if he had taken no holiday.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether it is a fact that, while Scotland gets £250,000 annually for secondary education from the Treasury, Ireland gets nothing from this source; and whether, seeing that Irish secondary education is financially starved, he will secure a Grant from the Treasury this year similar to that given to Scotland?

In the Estimates for Public Education, Scotland, for 1912–13, a sum of £230,000 is provided under the heading of Continuation Classes and Secondary Schools. I understand that of this sum only some £40,000 is applicable to secondary schools proper, the remainder being for evening continuation classes, technical institutions and other educational purposes. As regards the last paragraph, I have nothing at present to add to my replies to previous questions of the hon. Member on this matter. The subject is still engaging my personal attention.

asked whether there have been any prosecutions for alleged personation at local government elections since the passing of the Act; whether there have been any prosecutions which did not go further than the petty sessions court; and, if so, how many of such cases have occurred and where did they occur?

The information asked for is not available, and could not be procured without an expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its public utility.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the building in which the Newtowncunningham, county Donegal, petty sessions are being held is the property of a sectarian society; and whether, in the interest of the administration of justice, he is prepared to take any action in the matter?

The ownership of petty sessions rooms is a matter which comes within the province of the county council, and the Government have no power to interfere.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what is the minimum and maximum pay of viewers and principal viewers employed at the Royal Dockyard, Woolwich; when were the minimum and maximum last raised; what annual leave do the men referred to enjoy; and what services entitles a viewer to twenty days' leave?

The required information is as follows. The minimum and maximum are:— — Per Diem. Minimum. Maximum. Viewers— s. d. s. d. Accoutrements … 5 6 6 6 Textiles … 6 0 7 0 Tin and Iron … 7 0 8 0 Tools … 7 0 8 0 Harness and Saddlery … 5 6 6 6 Wood … 7 0 8 0 Miscellaneous … 7 0 8 0 Principal Viewers … 9 0 12 0 The viewers' wages were revised in April, 1911, the rights of existing holders being respected. The principal viewers' scale was raised in April, 1901. Apart from the public holidays with pay, viewers get no leave with pay. Principal viewers get eleven days' leave annually with pay after twelve months' service, and twenty days after five years' service.

asked what is the minimum and maximum pay of viewers and principal viewers employed at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich; when were the minimum and maximum last raised; what annual leave do the men referred to enjoy; and what services entitle a viewer to twenty days leave?

There are no viewers employed at the Royal Arsenal.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many soldiers in the Army died in 1910 and 1911; and how many deserted, were invalided, discharged for misconduct, discharged as not likely to become efficient, and imprisoned, excluding India?

It is presumed that the words "excluding India" are meant to apply to the whole question. In that case the figures are not available, as the returns furnished to the War Office do not admit of separating the figures for the troops in India except as regards imprisonment. The figures for the whole army will be found in the General Annual Reports (page 71 for imprisonment, and pages 32 and 33 for the other items) for the years in question.

asked the Undersecretary of State for War, whether he is aware that force unlawfully used in South Africa in 1911 to defeat the Vaccination Acts, 1898 and 1907, and to secure the vaccination of the four children of Staff-Quartermaster Stickney, of the Army Ordnance Corps; and whether he is prepared to look into the case with a view of instituting proceedings against any officers who have been guilty of illegal acts?

This case was fully dealt with in my reply to a question on this subject on 15th May, 1911. I may add that force was not unlawfully used for the objects stated. There is no intention of reopening the case.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why there has been a delay of four years in supplying dial sights and fittings for howitzers of the Second Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, Territorial Force; are there any Howitzer brigades still without their full complement of dial sights and fittings; if so, how many; how many dial sights are now required by the Territorial Force; and how soon it is expected that the full number required will be issued?

The delay in supply is due to the difficulty experienced in obtaining deliveries of the new pattern sights for the Regulars. Until these are received the old pattern sights now with the Regulars cannot be taken for issue to Territorials, and such as have been released have had to be repaired and adjusted before issue. Thirty sights are still due to the Howitzer batteries to complete the full complement of 112; these are being repaired, and will be issued this month. The Territorial Horse Artillery, Mountain Artillery, and heavy Howitzers are complete. The heavy and field guns require 362 sights to complete. No date can at present be given for the completion of all issues, but arrangements are being made to have sufficient sights at the large practice camps to complete all batteries while at practice this summer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why it is that the Mechanical Transport Committee of the War Office has failed to consult representative owners and users of commercial motor vehicles in regard to the Government proposals for the subsidising of new petrol motor vans; and what changes, if any, the War Office authorities now propose to make in the subvention scheme, having regard to the recent decision of Messrs. Pickford and other large buyers of motor vans not to comply with the scheme on account of its uncommercial features?

The Mechanical Transport Committee took the best advice obtainable. It was considered best to consult makers of commercial motors. No changes are at present proposed in the specifications, but these specifications are liable to alteration yearly. No decision of Messrs. Pickford and other large buyers not to comply with the scheme has been notified to the War Office.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant Stickney, of the Army Ordnance Corps, had a clean conduct sheet for 16½ years; and that in the last twelve months of his service he was severely reprimanded once and tried by district court-martial three times; and will he state the results of these courts-martial?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third part of the question, the first court-marital was quashed by the Army Council on account of technical irregularities; the second court-martial sentenced him to loss of seniority; and the third court-martial, held at sea on the voyage home from South Africa, was adjourned, as he objected to the charge on the ground that after he had elected to be tried by district court-martial the charge against him was materially altered. The court-martial was not proceeded with as he was invalided out of the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the observations of the Royal Commission on Vivisection in their final Report with regard to Dr. Pembrey and Dr. Klein, to the effect that in the case of Dr. Pembrey his application of a theory of pain as a protective mechanism in the scheme of nature to the case of painful experiments on animals had led him into a position which is untenable, and which, in their opinion, is absolutely reprehensible, and that it appears to them that to grant a licence or certificates to any person holding such views as those formerly expressed by Dr. Klein, and as those entertained by Dr. Pembrey, is calculated to create serious misgiving in the minds of the public; whether Drs. Pembrey and Klein, or either of them, now hold licences and certificates, and, if so, what certificates under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876; and whether he intends to take steps to give effect to the opinion expressed by the Commissioners with regard to them?

As I recently informed my hon. Friend, the licences of these two gentlemen were renewed and their certificates continued for the current year before the Report of the Royal Commission was published. Dr. Klein holds certificate A, and Dr. Pembrey certificates A (two), B, C (two), E, and EE. I can at present only say that all the recommendations of the Royal Commission are being carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether burial grounds bequeathed to or purchased by the Church in Wales since the year 1662 will be treated as private benefactions; and whether such burial grounds will be handed over to the Representative Body established by the Established Church (Wales) Bill?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked whether consent has recently been refused to an application made originally in August last by the Normanton Burials Board for leave? to have the whole of a piece of land, lately added to a burial ground known as the upper cemetery, consecrated; and, if so, what was the reason for such refusal, in view of the fact that there is already ample provision of uuconsecrated ground belonging to the same board, and that there is at the present time considerably greater demand for burial space in consecrated than in unconsecrated ground?

The effect of the proposal, to which I felt obliged to refuse my consent, would have been the consecration of the whole of a burial ground which when originally provided, had been divided, as required by law, into consecrated and unconsecrated parts. This, I am advised, is not authorised by the Burial Act of 1900, which now governs this matter, and I was bound, therefore, to inform the Burial Board that their proposal must be limited to a portion of the ground. They revised their proposal accordingly, and I approved it.

asked whether the bequest of Gabriel Goodman to the church of St. Peter at Ruthin, Denbighshire, in the year 1595, consisting of property purchased by Gabriel Goodman from John Bates and Henry Welles, of London, for the sum of £1,558 10s., will be treated as a private benefaction under the Established Church (Wales) Bill; and whether this bequest will be treated as national property and alienated from its original object to secular uses?

I have no information as to this bequest, but as the hon. Member is aware, under the Bill as it stands, all benefactions before 1662 are treated as national property.

asked whether the endowment received by St. David's College, Lampeter, from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and from the rectorial tithes of Llangeber and Llanddewi will be treated as Welsh ecclesiastical property or as lay impropriations under the Established Church (Wales) Bill?

If, as it appears, the college is not an ecclesiastical corporation, it will not be dissolved by the Bill, and the property of the college, not being property belonging or appropriated to the use of any ecclesiastical office or cathedral corporation, will not be regarded as Welsh ecclesiastical property.

asked the Home Secretary when the names of the Welsh Commissioners to be appointed under the Established Church (Wales) Bill will be given to the House; and whether he can give an assurance that they will, in accordance with the Irish precedent, be all three members of the Church in Wales?

I am unable to make any statement at present.

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to put into the Established Church (Wales) Bill any definition of a member of the Church in Wales, giving the qualification for voting power in the establishment of the synod or of the representative body?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Denbigh Boroughs on 13th May. It is not the present intention of the Government to insert a definition in the Bill, but I shall be glad to consider any proposals which may be made in Committee.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that the director of education for Bury has ascertained that there were recently at least thirty-five cases of children under eleven illegally employed as street traders in that town, and that it is not clear that the local authority is taking any steps to enforce the existing law in this matter; whether he will intimate to the local authority that unless this is done a substantial reduction will be made in the Home Office Grant towards the cost of the police; and whether he will ascertain through factory inspectors or otherwise the extent to which half-timers are illegally employed as street traders in Bury?

I am informed by the town clerk that as the result of inquiry made at the request of the Education Committee of the borough, it was ascertained that there were thirty-three children under eleven engaged in street trading, and two in the delivery of milk; and that the Committee now have the matter under consideration. I have asked the town clerk to let me know what steps are taken in the matter. As regards the employment of factory or workshop half-timers, I am informed that two were recently found employed in contravention of the provision in Section 3 (3) of the Employment of Children Act, but the employment was stopped, and there is now no employment of half-timers in the borough in contravention of that provision.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that last year 1,618 men in the United Kingdom received compensation in regard to miners' mystagmus, and that in a paper presented to the Royal Society (Series B 576), Dr. Llewellyn attributed the disease in great part to defective light; and whether he will take steps to have the whole question of the illumination of mines investigated as, for example, by a Special Commission?

The figure in the question is that for 1910, as given in the Home Office Statistics: the figure for 1911 is not yet available. I am aware of Dr. Llewellyn's researches and understand that they are still being continued. The illuminating power of miners' lamps is one of the matters which will be taken into account in approving lamps under the provisions of the new Coal Mines Act, and the point is under the consideration of the Committee which is now engaged in formulating the test. I also hope that the competition which is now proceeding for the prize offered for the best electric miner's lamp will help greatly towards an improvement in the illumination of mines. I do not think there is a case for instituting a further special inquiry at the present time.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the Report of the Departmental Committee on Accidents, 1911 (Cd. 5535), on page 81, the necessity is indicated of fixing standards for lighting; and whether he can state what steps, if any, he proposes to take to carry this recommendation into effect?

The subject has been under the consideration of my Department for some time past, with reference both to the recommendation of the Accidents Committee and also to the work which is being done on the Continent in the matter; and preliminary investigations have already been made. The questions involved are very complex and technical, and I propose in the near future to appoint a Departmental Committee of an expert character to report on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in the chief Continental countries the whole question of illuminants is receiving attention; that France has appointed a special committee to study the question exhaustively, and with especial regard to the lighting of factories, mines, and public buildings; that in Belgium a congress has devoted much consideration to the matter; that Holland has established a minimum standard for lighting factories; and that at the International Electrical Congress of Turin, 1911, it was decided to proceed to the formation of an international lighting committee; and whether, in view of the greater interests of this country involved in the question, steps will be taken to co-operate in this movement, and that a special commission on the subject be appointed?

The answer which I have just given to the hon. Member's previous question answers, I think, this question also.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will furnish a Return of sentences mitigated or remitted during the two years ending 31st December, 1911, such Return to give the nature of the offences, the Court at which the person was convicted, the extent of the sentence, the maximum sentence which could be inflicted under the existing law, and the extent to which the sentence was mitigated?

The Return asked for would be a difficult one to prepare, and I do not at present see that it would answer any useful purpose. The hon. Member will find at the end of the annual Judicial (Criminal) Statistics information with regard to the remission of sentences, and if he will let me know the object for which he seeks to supplement the information so published, I will consider whether I can in any way meet his wishes.

asked whether the Home Office has power through the Commissioner of Police to restrict the routes taken by motor omnibuses; and, if so, whether this power is exercised; and whether the Home Office corrects in reports submitted to Parliament routes proposed for new tramways by the London County Council?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, it is not the function or the practice of the Home Office to "correct" routes for new tramways proposed by the London County Council or by any other tramway authority in the Metropolitan Police district, but it is the duty of the Department, on the advice of the Commissioner of Police, who is responsible for regulating street traffic, to bring to the notice of Parliament the probable effects of the proposals on the general traffic and on the safety and convenience of the public; and this is done in the Home Office Reports.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the event of the tobacconists in a district deciding under the Shops Act to close one half-day in the week and the local authority makes an order for the purpose, such order would prohibit the sale of tobacco in hotels and similar places at the same time?

The answer to the question would depend to some extent on the terms of the order. If an order were made extending the provisions as to closing on a weekly half-holiday to shops in which the sale of tobacco is carried on, it would apply to all premises carrying on retail trade or business of that class. Whether retail trade or business is being carried on in a particular case will be one of fact, but I think it is clear that the sale of tobacco in hotels, public-houses, and similar places to members of the public coming in would be retail trade, and would be prohibited on the day for the weekly half-holiday. I may add that all persons who satisfied the local authority that such sale formed a substantial part of their business would be entitled to vote on the proposal to make the order.

asked the Home Secretary whether societies of artists holding annual exhibitions at which works of art may be purchased by the public are required under the last Section of the Second Schedule to the Shops Act, 1912, to apply to the local authority for a certificate that they are entitled to exemption?

To obtain exemption from the requirement of a weekly half-holiday a certificate under the Schedule is required if retail trade is being carried on. The question whether in such cases the society would be regarded as carrying on retail trade would depend, I think, to some extent on the circumstances of the particular case; but if a society holds an exhibition of works of art which are for sale, and whether by commission or otherwise, makes a profit in connection with the sales, the case would appear to be one falling within the Schedule.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state on what grounds the Rev. S. Henry, who killed his wife on the 12th April, and has since been sent to a lunatic asylum, was released after discharging a revolver in the Central Hall of the House of Commons; whether inquiries were made by the police in the neighbourhood where he lives prior to such release; and whether the inquiries, if made, elicited the opinion from those who knew him that his release would involve serious danger to those about him?

I would remind my hon. Friend that, as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for Lincoln on 2nd May, I have no authority to interfere with the discretion of the Courts in dealing with cases of this kind. The magistrate at Bow Street who dealt with the case in March last had before him a report on Mr. Henry's state of mind, and it is clear from that report, which I have seen, that at that time there was, in the opinion of the experienced medical officer, no ground for apprehending further violence.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of George Lawrence, sixty-eight years of age, sentenced at the London Sessions on 7th May to a term of twelve months' imprisonment with hard labour, and to the facts stated at his trial that he had spent nearly fifty years in gaol, the offences for which he had been sentenced being mainly for the crime of stealing to the value, for the whole period, of £20; and whether, seeing the age of this man and the fact that he appears to have been the victim of the prison system, he will on the man's release, or if possible beforehand, take such steps as are possible to secure that at least for the rest of his life this man shall be given a chance of earning his living?

My attention had not been previously called to the case. The prisoner appears to belong to the class who are somewhat weak-minded and for whom proper provision can be made only by the new legislation which I am about to propose. At present, all I can do is to give instructions for his being brought at the end of his sentence specially to the notice of the agencies which exist for the assistance of discharged prisoners with a view to doing everything that may be possible to assist him to earn an honest living.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that George Cole, of 210, Uphall Road, Ilford, was dismissed or forced to resign on 20th May, 1911, from the Ilford police force on medical grounds, notwithstanding that the police surgeon who treated Mr. Cole reported him at first as suffering from neurasthenia, later as improving, and finally as having recovered; what were these alleged medical grounds; and what, if any, was the reason of his leaving the police force?

I had this case recently before me. I should have been glad to retain Mr. Cole in the Metropolitan Police service if it had been possible to do so; but the Medical Authorities of the Metropolitan Police were satisfied that, as the result of illness, he was permanently unfit for further police service. I granted him on his retirement the highest rate gratuity payable under the Police Acts.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if Mr. Roberts; the South Yorkshire auditor, requested the surveyor to the Pontefract Rural District Council to pay the road-men in remote parishes, without banking facilities, by cheque on his own initiative, or whether this is the settled policy of the Local Government Board; and whether he is aware that the council in question has decided to pay the wages in cash; and whether the said Mr. Roberts will further interfere?

The Auditor's suggestion appears to have been made on his own initiative. I have not been informed what decision the council have arrived at in the matter. As I have already said, in reply to my hon. Friend's previous question on the subject, any communication that may be addressed to me on the point by the district council will receive my careful attention.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many town clerks, clerks to rural or district councils, or clerks to county councils in England hold office as clerks to the benches of magistrates adjudicating within the areas in which such clerks hold non-legal office?

The information in the possession of my Department is not sufficient to enable me to supply the statistics desired?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has considered the expediency of making ophthalmia a notifiable disease under the Infectious Diseases (Notification) Act, involving at it does infectious inflammation of the cornea; and whether, seeing that this course would lead to the discovery of many cases which, if they be not dealt with in the first stage, conduce to blindness and a charge upon public funds and private charity, he will issue an order to that effect?

I have been willing to approve Orders extending the application of the Infectious Disease (Notification) Act, 1889, to ophthalmia neonatorum, and such Orders have now been made in respect of 179 districts. I shall be glad to see the practice of making this disease notifiable still further extended, and any application for approval of an Order to that end which I may receive from any local authority will be sympathetically considered.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether an elective auditor, appointed under the Municipal Corporations Act, can, as one of his duties, claim to examine rejected tenders for contracts?—

The auditors referred to are not appointed by the Local Government Board. The hon. Member's question could only be authoritatively determined in a court of law.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Grants paid to the county council of Derbyshire under the Local Government Act, 1888, Section 21 (1) (2) (3), and Section 22 and 23, the Finance Act, 1894, Section 19, and the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, Section 88 (l) (2), for the years 1910, 1911, and 1912, amounted to £85,875, £89,776, and £82,493, respectively; and if he will state the reasons for the decrease of £7,283 for the year 1912?

The decrease to which my hon. Friend refers is partly due to a reduction made in the amount of the instalments paid during the year ended 31st March, 1912, in order to give effect, approximately, to a new adjustment of financial relations between the county and the county borough of Derby. Apart from this, the decrease is due to a reduction in both the Estate Duty Grant and the amount payable to the council in respect of local taxation licences.

asked the President of the Local Government Board on what ground he is now prepared to recommend the inclusion of large rural areas in the borough of Leeds which were not allowed by the Local Government Board in 1904, seeing that no large building extension of Leeds has been in the direction dealt with; whether the same inspector reported on both occasions; and whether, therefore, his report on the second occasion entirely contradicted the earlier one?

The circumstances have changed materially since 1904, although there has been no large building extension of the city. The same inspector did report on each occasion, and he reported the facts as he found them and the evi- dence given. The reports of the inspector were made for the information of the Board, and these reports have always been treated by my predecessor and myself as confidential documents. I think it would be inadvisable that I should enter into the question of their contents.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what local authorities have passed resolutions or sent communications to the Board in favour of altering the appeal under The Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, to the Local Government Board?

The following is the list:— 16 Metropolitan Borough Councils . Battersea Hampstead Chelsea Holborn Deptford Kensington Finsbury Lambeth Fulham Lewisham Greenwich St Pancras Hackney Wandsworth Hammersmith Westminster County Borough Councils . None. 2 other Town Councils . Stratford-upon-Avon Welshpool 20 other Urban District Councils . Abercarn Itchen Beaconsfield Leigh-on-Sea Carshalton Llanrwst Chingford Penge Dawlish Portslade-by-Sea Earsdon Romford Erith St. Neots Frimley Selby Grays Thurrock Shepton Mallet Hessle Walton-upon-Thames 33 Rural District Councils . Alcester Melford Alresford Monmouth Aylsham Penybont Barnstaple Pontefract Basingstoke Romford Blaby Skipton Cannock South Stoneham Cerne Stockbridge Cheltenham Thirsk Cirencester Tisbury Driffield Tiverton East Grinstead Vaynor and Penderyn Faversham Foleshill Whiston Guildford Wight, Isle of Halesowen Wincanton Hoxne Winchcomb Of the seventy-one local authorities who have made the representations, only three had any experience of appeal procedure prior to the making of the representation, and in these cases the appeal was abandoned at an early stage before any local inquiry had been held.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the importance of their subject matter, he will see that the quarterly Reports of the Registrar-General are issued as Parliamentary Papers?

The Annual Report of the Registrar General is issued as a Parliamentary Paper. I do not think it is necessary that the Quarterly Returns, which are superseded by the Annual Report, should be circulated as Parliamentary Papers, but arrangements will be made for these Returns being placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what requirements are made from the shipping companies before passenger certificates are issued to Channel steamers; whether the respective numbers of first, second, and third-class passengers are fixed by the Board; whether any special accommodation is required to be provided for the two former classes, and seats under cover for all; on what principle is the number of boats that these vessels carry fixed; do the powers of the Board enable it to control the navigation so as to prevent dangerous evolutions being undertaken with the passengers on board, close to shore, before entering the port; and whether the Regulations under which the Board acts have received the approval of Parliament?

I fear that I cannot give all the information asked for within the limits of an answer to a question. I can say shortly that the requirements are contained in the Instructions issued by the Board of Trade to their officers as to the survey of passenger steamships, as to the survey of passenger accommodation, and in the Life-saving Appliances Rules. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The Board have general powers for the control of navigation under Sections 220, 418, and 419 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, from which it will be seen that the master or officer in charge is held responsible for the safe navigation of his vessel. The approval of Parliament is not required in the case of the two first sets of Instructions to which I have referred, but the Life-saving Appliances Rules were laid before Parliament in accordance with Section 247 of the Act of 1894.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the total number of applications at Labour Exchanges, exclusive of reapplication, during the month of February was 254,504, and that of the 53,171 vacancies filled 9,400 were for less than a week's employment; and whether, with a view to the above figures, the rate of unemployment as furnished by 394 unions is an accurate estimate of the general labour market for the month in question?

The Labour Exchange figures quoted in the question are correct, but I do not think that they are in any way inconsistent with the figures furnished monthly by trade unions as to the rate of unemployment among their members on a given day. The subject matter of the two sets of figures is entirely different.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that while in the Annual Report for 1910 the number of trade unions is returned as 1,153, with a membership of 2,435,704, the current issue of the "Labour Gazette" bases the monthly figure for unemployment on returns received from 394 unions with a membership of 829,695; and whether, in view of the importance of obtaining an accurate unemployment figure as an index of the course of trade, he will take steps to ensure that replies are in the future obtained from a larger number of unions?

The difference between the total number of trade unionists and the number respecting whom monthly returns are obtained by the Board of Trade showing the percentage out of work is principally due to the fact that many trade unions do not pay unemployment benefit, and for this reason keep no record of members out of work sufficiently accurate for statistical purposes, while others pay unemployment benefit under such limited conditions that the record does not give a satisfactory measure of the fluctuations of employment. I can assure the hon. Member that all available statistics known to my Department, which, afford a sound and continuous measure of the state of the labour market in every important trade, are utilised in the "Labour Gazette," but the Board of Trade are always open to receive and consider suggestions for the improvement or extension of the information.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will give the number of casualties found to be due to vessels travelling at a high rate of speed in fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms by inquiries held by the Board of Trade during the last ten years?

The number of cases in which Courts of Inquiry into Shipping Casualties in the United Kingdom have found that the vessels concerned were navigated at too great a rate of speed in thick weather are as follows:— Year Fog. Mist. Snow. Rain. Total. 1902 … 1 2 — — 3 1903 … 8 — — — 8 1904 … 5 4 — — 9 1905 … 4 2 2 — 8 1906 … 8 4 — 2 14 1907 … 9 — 1 — 10 1908 … 5 4 — — 9 1909 … 4 1 2 1 8 1910 … 8 1 — 1 10 1911 … 7 — 1 — 8 1912 … 2 1 — — 3 Total … 61 19 6 4 90

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the advisability of amending Article 16 of the regulations for preventing collisions at sea, setting out that every vessel shall, in a fog, mist, falling snow, or heavy rain storms, go at a moderate speed, having careful regard to existing circumstances, so as to ensure similar care being taken when a vessel is in the vicinity of icebergs?

The hon. Member's suggestion shall receive my very careful consideration. He is doubtless aware, however, that international consent is required for any alteration in the Collision Regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that quantities of gloves cut and made in foreign countries are being imported into this country, the domes being then fixed to the gloves, and the said gloves being sold without bearing any stamp of the country of origin; and if he will take steps to enforce that all gloves cut abroad and imported into this country should bear the name of the country from which they are exported in such a manner as to be visible to the purchaser?

If the finished gloves do not bear any marks suggesting that they have been manufactured in this country, the absence of a statement as to the country of manufacture does not constitute a breach of the law, and I have no power to enforce such a requirement as the hon. Member suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received a resolution passed at the annual meeting of the Association of Trade Protection Societies of the United Kingdom respecting the Railways Bill, and asking him to receive a deputation; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

I have now received a request from the association in question that a deputation should be received by the Board of Trade to express their views on the Railways Bill, and I will make the necessary arrangements to meet their wishes.

asked the Postmaster-General if the different classes of unestablished porters' work are graded and paid for similarly at each depot; and, if not, how can the wages paid at Dublin become a factor in determining the men's qualifications for promotion against men employed in Great Britain?

Yes, Sir, if allowance be made for inevitable local differences, the nature and effect of which are of course familiar to the officers who make selections for promotion.

asked the President of the Board of Agri- culture why five applicants for small holdings belonging to the Limpsfield Land Club, who have approved applicants for four years, who were received on a deputation by Lord Carrington in November, 1908, and have since been interviewed by three inspectors from the Board of Agriculture, and again by Mr. Talbot Baines at Limpsfield in October, 1911, are still without land?

I am informed by the county council that there are only three applicants from Limpsfield on their books, and that all of them have received and declined offers of suitable land. I shall be happy to give the Noble Lord more detailed information than it is possible to give in a reply to a Parliamentary question if he so desires. I understand that the county council are still endeavouring to obtain land to satisfy these applicants.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is in a position to indicate the particular purposes to which the Grant applied for by the Scottish Fishery Board from the Development Commission is to be devoted?

I cannot at present add to the information given in reply to my hon. Friend's question on Tuesday last.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received information that six foreign trawlers were operating quite close to the shore at the Gallon Head, island of Lewis, last week; and whether, in view of the fact that similar complaints from the fishermen in the Highlands are now frequent, he will consider whether the time has arrived for more effective policing of the shores of the North of Scotland?

I have received information to the effect stated, and reports in the matter have been laid before the Procurator Fiscal. Some such instances are bound to occur under any system of policing a long coast line, and it would facilitate detection if complaints were reported to the Fishery Board, whose telegraphic address is "Fisheries, Edinburgh."