asked why the lecturers of the National Health Insurance Committee are paid out of public funds, if it is the case that such committee repudiates authority or responsibility for such advice or information as such lecturers afford?

I have nothing to add to my many previous answers and the published documents of the Commission as to the responsibility of the official lecturers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of tobacco manufacturers in the United Kingdom who took out licences for the years ending 31st March, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912?

The figures for the years ended the 31st March, 1909, 1910, and 1911 respectively, as given on page 68 of the Second Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise (Cd. 5827), are 407, 383 and 364. The figure for the year ended the 31st March, 1912, is 360.

asked the Chancellor if his attention has been called to the recommendation made by the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis that any scheme dealing with that problem should provide institutions and methods available for the whole community; whether any portion of the £1,500,000 set apart last year for the treatment of tuberculosis will be available for the treatment of non-insured persons; whether capital grants to be made in accordance with the report of the Departmental Committee will be available for beds to be occupied by non-insured persons; and, if not, is the cost of providing the necessary accommodation for non-insured persons where charitable institutions do not exist for the treatment of tuberculosis to be made entirely out of the county rates?

The answer to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative. The fourth does not therefore arise.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any extension of period has been made which allows naval traders on board His Majesty's ships; and, if so, whether he will have the order embodying this extension circulated as soon as possible?

Orders have already been issued postponing until 31st October the final exclusion of traders from His Majesty's ships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether Admiralty sanction has been obtained by the Great Western Railway Company to remove the floating pontoon wharf at Neyland as by statute, Section 85 of the South Wales Railway Consolidation Act of 1855, they are compelled to obtain before such removal, and of which the Great Western Railway Company have already given public notice?

No communication has been received by the Admiralty from the Great Western Railway Company, but I understand that the Board of Trade have this matter in hand, as my hon. Friend was informed on the 25th March.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War how many men of the Paddington Rifles were in camp the first week, and how many the second week in 1911; and, if there was a large reduction, has he inquired into the cause?

The general officer commanding reported that the strength of the battalion during the camp training was as follows:— Officers. Other Banks. First week 21 393 Second week 18 214 and that at the last field day the battalion turned out only 130 strong. The cause of the reduction in the second week was not reported.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the strength of the three Territorial companies in Hackney in 1909, 1910, and 1911?

The hon. Member is presumably referring to A B and C Companies of the 7th Battalion Essex Regiment. The figures for these companies are as follows:— Establishment Strength. 1.10.1909. 1.10.1910. 1.10.1911. Officers, 9 13 13 12 Non-commissioned Officers and Men, 351 427 393 389

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any steps are being taken to carry out the recommendation of the Committee on Coroners' Courts with regard to the payment of the services of jurors: and what county councils do already pay for such services?

Legislation would be necessary for carrying out the Committee's recommendations, and I am afraid I cannot undertake at present to propose legislation on the subject. I have no information as to the last part of the question, but am making inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mrs. Catherine Gatty, who was sentenced on 13th March to six months' imprisonment, and who is now in Holloway Gaol, has not yet been allowed to receive a visit from her mother, who has made application, or from her friend, Mrs. Cobden-Sanderson, who has likewise applied, and that Mrs. Gatty is not allowed to receive fruit when sent to her by friends outside; and if he can explain the reason for this exceptional treatment?

Mrs. Catherine Gatty is not receiving visits because she has declined to work, and the privilege of receiving visits is contingent upon the earning of marks by industry. She has been allowed to receive fruit and food from her friends, but this has been temporarily suspended on the recommendation of the medical officer for medical reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been by the police for violence and disorder in connection with the present dock workers' strike; in how many cases the magistrates have convicted the defendants; and whether there has been any case in which a policeman has inflicted injury or has made an arrest, except on the ground of an attempt to interfere with him in the execution of his duty, or to prevent by violence or intimidation those working who desired to do so?

One hundred and twenty persons have been charged with the following offences in connection with the dock and transport workers' strike:— Using threatening or insulting words or behaviour. Assaults on private persons. Intimidation. Assaulting or obstructing police. Drunken and disorderly conduct. Throwing stones at convey. Larceny from Van. 95 20 12 10 4 1 1

Twenty persons were charged, with two offences, and one person with four offences. Of the 120 persons charged 97 have been convicted, 6 discharged, and the charges against 17 have not yet been disposed of. One warrant for assaulting a private person and intimidation remains unexecuted. No case is known to have occurred in which a policeman has inflicted injury or made an arrest, except on the grounds indicated in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has any information as to the extent to which, and in what localities, school medical officers have issued certificates to prevent the employment of children in a harmful manner under Section 3 of the Employment of Children Act, 1903; and whether he will take steps to encourage the proper and effective use of the powers of school medical officers under this section of the Act?

The reports of school medical officers of local education authorities which have been supplied to the Board contain in some instances information on the subject referred to in the first part of the question, but it is not sufficiently complete to enable me to supply the information asked for. At the date of the passing of the Act referred to the school medical service was not established, but I have no doubt that the powers under Section 3 are, as a general practice, now exercised by the school doctor. Until I have further information I can make no statement with reference to the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether one of the members of the Local Marine Board at Plymouth is a woollen draper; and, if so, whether he will inform the House what practical knowledge this gentleman has of nautical matters?

I understand that one of the four nominees of the Board of Trade on the Plymouth Local Marine Board is a warehouseman and woollen draper. He was selected for appointment in 1890 on the ground that he was a Justice of the Peace, it being regarded as desirable that one or more of the members should be J. P.'s in view of the quasi judicial duties of Local Marine Boards when holding inquiries with regard to alleged misconduct of certificated officers of ships.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the case for the establishment of Crown rights to the foreshore at Seaview, Isle of Wight?

The examination of the documents of title set out in the answer to the Crown's information is now practically completed, and copies have been bespoken to enable the Board to decide upon the next step to be taken in the action.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has now concluded his inquiries into the cause of complaint against the postmaster at Thaxted; and if he is satisfied that the postmaster did not break any rule or regulation by exposing and advertising for sale Socialist and other literature dealing with the labour question?

The inquiries in this case have been concluded. It appears that no rule was broken.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the recent vacancy for the salaried sub-postmastership of Brough, Yorks, was announced in the usual manner in the Post Office Circular?

No, Sir. The appointment was filled by the transfer of a salaried sub-postmistress for whom on administrative (not on personal) grounds it had become necessary to provide in this way.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he is aware that in connection with a recent case of compulsory redemption of tithe at Dinas Powis, in the parish of St. Andrew's Major, Glamorgan, owners of small leasehold cottages were compelled to redeem the tithe, although the same had always been paid annually by the ground landlord, and that in some of the cases scheduled the redemption money, together with expenses, amounted to 47 years' purchase on the present annual value of the tithe; and whether he will take steps to protect small property owners, many of whom are, as in this case, working men with only a leasehold interest in the land, from actions of this kind?

Under the provisions of the Tithe Acts the Board have no alternative but to collect the sum due for redemption from lessees holding under long leases at ground rents, leaving them to recover from their lessors any share to which they may be entitled. The Board are prepared, on application, to calculate and state the proportions attributable to the lessor and lessee, on the basis of their respective interests in the property, but a lessee's right to recover contribution from his lessor depends on Common Law, and is subject to any contract between them. The amount payable for redemption must, under the Tithe Acts, be calculated upon the commuted amount of the tithe rent charge, and not on its annual value, which varies with the septennial corn averages.