asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the officials at the office of the Insurance Commission have frequently over a long period been employed until midnight, and that the offices are never closed until a very late hour; and if he will consider what steps can be taken to relieve the staff from the pressure to which it is subjected?

It is necessarily the case that the pressure of work in the early stages of the administration of a new Act is very considerable, and the circumstances of the National Insurance Act form no exception to this rule. I believe that those who are working so hard to bring this Act into operation are realising the necessity of these special efforts, and I have received no complaints in the matter. Subordinate officials are paid overtime. I am glad to take this opportunity of acknowledging the willing co-operation of all grades of the staff attached to the Insurance Commission.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what applications for exceptions and exemptions under the National Insurance Act have been received by the Insurance Commissioners?

Applications for exceptions and exemptions are being received by Customs and Excise officers in different parts of the country on behalf of the Insurance Commissioners, but it is impossible to state the exact number that have been received up to date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any information to the effect that the Midland Railway Friendly Society has ever defaulted in respect of any benefits it undertakes to provide for its subscribers?

I have no information that the Midland Railway Friendly Society has actually failed to pay any benefits which it undertakes to provide for its subscribers, but, as pointed out in the answer to the hon. Member's question of 13th June, its last valuation shows that it is largely in deficiency.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a person insurable in Ireland under the National Insurance Act, who gives his or her name as an applicant for membership of an approved society to an agent or canvasser for that society, may subsequently withdraw his application for membership, or from membership if he had been admitted thereto, and join another approved society; and, having regard to the fact that up to the passage of the Act friendly societies existed in only a few districts in Ireland and the people had little knowledge or experience of such societies, are persons who signed application forms in ignorance of what they were doing bound; and if not, when is the individual legally attached to a society?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-on Tyne on 10th June, which applies to Ireland as well as to Great Britain. As I stated then, there is nothing in the Act to prevent their withdrawal. If the applications have not been accepted by the societies they can withdraw at any time. If the applications have been accepted, withdrawal might or might not, according to the rules of the society, involve a breach of contract. In any case the society could not obtain damages without proving financial loss to itself.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, when it is expected that the Imperial and Local Taxation Committee will present their report?

I understand that a formal report forwarding volumes of evidence received by the Committee will probably be received by the Treasury this week. It is impossible to say when a further report will be completed.

asked how many Forms IV. were served on owners of hereditaments, the subject of valuation under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; how many of such forms have been returned filled in; what is the total number of hereditaments to be valued; and how many final valuations have been made up to 31st May last?

The total number of Forms III. and IV. served in Great Britain up to 31st March, 1912, was 10,874,568. The number of such forms returned up to the same date was 10,097,769. The total number of hereditaments still to be valued cannot be exactly stated, but is estimated to have been 7,318,108 on 31st May, 1912. The number of provisional valuations which had become finally settled on 31st May, 1912, is estimated at 1,709,495 (equivalent to 2,107,400 hereditaments).

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can say what steps, if any, the Estates Commissioners have taken to purchase the untenanted lands at Creeves, Shanagolden, in the county of Limerick, on the Dickson estate; and whether there is a likelihood of a sale of them taking place?

The Estates Commissioners are unable to identify these lands as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked whether any negotiations are pending between the Estates Commissioners and the landlord, Captain Lyons, for the purchase of his untenanted lands at Cappananty, in the county of Limerick; and, if so, will he say whether there is any likelihood of a sale of these lands taking place in the near future?

The Estates Commissioners are in negotiation with the owner for the purchase of the lands referred to. They are not at present in a position to reply to the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board is now in a position to state when the purchase of the Colomb estate, near Caherciveen, will be completed?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply given to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member on the 13th March last.

asked the Chief Secretary, with reference to the sale of the De Clifford estate, in the county of Mayo, whether he is aware that four years have elapsed since the originating notices were lodged and nine months since the estate was inspected; whether the Estates Commissioners have yet received the report of their inspector, and, if so, whether they have come to any decision upon it; and, if the report of the inspector has been dealt with, whether the Commissioners are able to say when the sale will be completed?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the estate of Lord De Clifford, which was the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants, has been vested in the purchasing tenants. Proceedings for the sale of two other estates of Lord De Clifford in county Mayo to the Commissioners are pending before them. The Commissioners have received their inspector's reports on these estates, which will be ruled on by the Commissioners when reached in order of priority. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to reply to the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the total amount of the loans sanctioned for the housing of the Irish agricultural labourer; what amount has been paid off by the rents of the cottages; what is the annual charge on the loans; and what amount, if any, of this charge is borne by the Government?

The total amount of the loans sanctioned for labourers cottages up to the 31st March last was £7,951,517. The amount of rents received during the year ended the same date was £107,683. This sum is applied in reduction of the rate required to be levied to meet the annuity payable in respect of the loans, but, on the other hand, there must be taken into consideration the cost of repairs, insurance, rent collection, and legal proceedings against tenants, which amounted to £30,248, for the year 1911–12. The annual charge on the loans is approximately £242,251. The State Grant-in-Aid is made up of £l 8s. 8d. per cottage in respect of 21,475 cottages provided up to 1st November, 1906, and 36 per cent. of the annuity payable to the Irish Land Commission on loans advanced by them since that date, and amounts in all to about £81,000.

asked whether any unexamined and ungraded members of convents or monasteries were, in the year 1910–11, in the service of the National Board of Education; and, if so, what was the number of such teachers and the total amount of salaries, if any, paid to them?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that Convent and Monastery National Schools are of two classes, namely, those in which the teachers possess the same qualifications, and are paid at the same rates as the teachers of ordinary schools, and those in which the conductors only receive capitation payments. The Commissioners have no information as to the number of nuns and monks employed as teachers in Convent and Monastery National Schools paid by capitation grants. The total State aid granted to the teaching staffs of Convent and Monastery Schools paid on the capitation system for the financial year 1911–12 was £173,605.

also asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to advertisements in certain Irish papers from persons offering to procure appointments of national school teachers; and, if so, whether he will instruct the National Board to so alter the system of appointment as to prevent private individuals from using the same as a source of profit?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that an advertisement of the kind referred to appeared in a recent issue of an educational journal, and on the attention of the editor being at once drawn to it an assurance was given to the Commissioners that such advertisements would not be received for publication in the future.

further asked on how many days in the year 1910–11 classes were conducted by the organisers employed by the National Board in convent and monastery schools for the benefit of the staffs of such schools; and what is the estimated cost of conducting such classes?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the particulars asked for are not at present available, and could not be procured without an expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its public utility.

asked if it is the intention of the Treasury to abolish standard numbers in both divisions of first grade for men teachers in Irish national schools; and, if not, do they intend to increase the numbers in both divisions?

As I have already stated in reply to the hon. Member for West Kerry on 26th March, I am not prepared to recommend an indefinite increase in the number of teachers in the several grades. No provision has been made for any such increase in the Estimates for the current year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Blarney national schools have, with the consent of the manager, Canon Higgins, been used as a meeting place of the order known as the Board of Erin; whether it is in their capacity as a purely sectarian order or a secret political organisation that Canon Higgins gave permission to the members of this society to hold meetings in the schools under his control; did the canon refuse the use of the schools to the local total abstinence association; and is it usual for the national schools of the country to be used as meeting halls by an exclusively Catholic and secret political society?

The Commissioners of National Education have no information as to the meetings alleged to have been held in the Blarney national schools, but they will cause inquiry to be made into the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether Peter Rudden, the county Cavan evicted tenant, estate of Captain Beresford, has yet been reinstated; if not, who is in occupation of this man's former holding; whether it is intended to deal with this case at once; and, if not, will he state the reason for the delay in doing so?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The holding is in the occupation of another tenant, who has signed an agreement to purchase it under the Land Purchase Acts. The Estates Commissioners do not intend to take any action in the matter of Rudden's application for reinstatement.

asked what are the intentions of the Estates Commissioners in connection with the application for reinstatement made by Mr. Jeremiah M'Carthy, who was evicted from his holding at Barry-roe, county Cork, on the estate of the Earl of Shannon, at present occupied by Thomas Brophy?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Jeremiah M'Carthy for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate of the Earl of Shannon, and now in the occupation of another tenant, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the number of schoolmasters still without their increments; what sum would be required to pay their increments and arrears; how much has the Treasury saved by part payment of the others; and will the unpaid increments and arrears be paid out of the £27,000 increase in the Estimates for teachers' salaries?

Forty-three teachers are awaiting vacancies in higher grades before they become entitled to increased salaries. It would require an additional £700 to pay them at the higher rate from the dates at which they qualified for promotion. It is not correct to say that there is a saving to the Treasury in these or similar cases, as the teachers are not entitled to increased salaries until vacancies occur in the higher grade. The £25,000 increase in the Estimates is intended to meet automatic increases of salary, and cannot be used for the purpose suggested.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Department has instituted any inquiry recently into the position and prospects of the kelp industry; and whether any steps are being taken to improve the methods pursued by kelp-burners on the West Coast of Ireland?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the second part, the Department are informed that the Congesed Districts Board are carrying out some experiments in regard to kelp on the West Coast of Ireland.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board has received a copy of the resolution adopted by the Caherciveen Rural District Council on the 5th instant; and whether they will take steps, as requested by the terms of the resolution, to expedite the construction of a slip or pier at Ohermong, in the parish of Caher?

The application has been received and will be inquired into when an inspection committee of the Congested Districts Board next visits the locality.

asked how many seizures have been made off the coast between Dingle Bay and Kenmare River since 1st April, 1912, for illegal fishing, and what has been the result?

No such seizures have been made since the date mentioned.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board intend to provide facilities for the fishermen to haul up their boats by means of a boat-slip at Cooscroun; and, if not, whether the plans will be amended so as to provide these necessary facilities?

The hon. Member presumably refers to Cooscroum, near Cahir- civeen, where a pier is being built. The question of providing a boat-slip at the place will be inquired into by the Congested Districts Board.

asked the Chief Secretary with reference to the claim of Bridget Coffey, of Aughamore parish, county Mayo, whether he is aware that, on the local pension officer's report, Mrs. Coffey was awarded by the local pension committee a pension of 4s. a week, and that, on an appeal by her to the Local Government Board for a full pension, that body decided to refuse her any pension whatever; will he say on what ground this decision was arrived at; whether it was communicated to the local pension committee; and, if so, whether that body took any action upon it?

The facts generally are as stated in the first part of the question. Bridget Coffey's claim for a pension was disallowed on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit. The farm on which she resides comprises twenty-seven acres, and is fairly well stocked and cropped. The decision of the Local Government Board was duly notified to the local pension committee, and the Board have now received a resolution from that committee protesting against the decision.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, with regard to the case of Mrs. Goy, of Salford, whose appeal as to her original claim for an old age pension, it is stated, cannot now be heard, although fresh facts have come to light, whether he will consider a proposal to amend the Old Age Pensions Act so as to allow such appeals under the Act to be heard when fresh facts have come to light after the first appeal?

I could not promise to introduce legislation of the kind suggested.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the relieving officer of the Oxford Union, on 7th June, refused an application made by the police for an order for the workhouse for two destitute and homeless children named Darling, stating that he was unable to give it; whether he is aware that Mrs. Darling's application to the board on 6th June to take in some of her children, as she and her children were about to be ejected from their home under a warrant on the following day, and that she had some work and could obtain shelter for and maintain herself and her baby but could not maintain or obtain shelter for her elder children and they were destitute, had been refused by the guardians; whether he is aware that on 7th June Mrs. Darling applied to the magistrates to delay the eviction, which they had no power to do, and the time for eviction having arrived the police applied to the relieving officer as above stated; whether the relieving officer reported to the board of guardians this application by the police for relief of the children in accordance with the instructions of the Poor Law Board given in 7 Official Circular 232/2 (Macmorran, first edition, 239); and whether the Local Government will explain to the relieving officer of the Oxford Union that he is bound to give necessary relief when applied to on behalf of homeless and destitute children, whatever may have been the action of his board on a previous application, and also to report to the guardians every application to him for relief?

I am informed that the guardians carefully considered this case on the 6th instant, in connection with a report made to them by the relieving officer, and refused the application on the grounds that Mrs. Darling had an able-bodied husband living with her who was earning wages, that she herself was in constant work, that the family had not been evicted from the house at the time the application was made, that Mrs. Darling had obtained a lodging before the expiration of the time for eviction, that the head of the family made no application for relief for any of his family, and that there was no destitution. The application to the relieving officer by the police on the following day was refused by the relieving officer on the same grounds, but was not reported to the guardians, and I am in communication with the guardians as to the omission to report this application. On the 8th instant, Mrs. Darling and her family applied to the relieving officer for and obtained an order for admission to the workhouse, and entered the workhouse the same evening, and her husband himself also obtained an order and entered the house on the 10th instant. Three boys of the family have since been adopted by the guardians under the provisions of the Poor Law Act, 1899.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the rates of wages paid by Messrs. A. Pattin and Co., Espidier, Paisley, for trunk and packing-case makers; whether he is aware that the wages are about 1¾d. per hour below the current rate of the Glasgow district; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to compel this firm to comply with the Fair Wages Resolution?

This firm is not on the Admiralty list, and there is no trace of any contract with it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the numbers of female persons in the United Kingdom who exceed the age of 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31 years respectively?

The following is an estimate of the numbers of females living in England and Wales who exceed the age of 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, and 31 years at the middle of the year 1912, based upon the age constitution of the female population in 1901:—

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether, in view of the death, after seven years' suffering, of an employé at the Royal Small Arms Factory, at Enfield, through the enforcement of revaccination as a condition of employment, he will recommend the relaxation of the Departmental Regulation requiring the vaccination or revaccination of workpeople in the factories controlled by the War Office and allow conscientious objection, as in the Post Office?

No relaxation of the Departmental Regulations as regards vaccination or revaccination of workpeople employed in factories controlled by the War Office is contemplated. The particular case mentioned is dealt with in the reply to the next question.

also asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that an inquest was held on 24th August, 1911, on Alfred Henry Handscomb, who had been forced to undergo revaccination seven years previously at the Royal Small Arms Factory at Enfield; that the evidence showed that the deceased had been obliged at intervals to go on the sick list on account of abscesses which resulted from the operation; that the doctors in attendance admitted that the illness, which terminated fatally, was due to the revaccination; what was the source of the lymph used for this revaccination; and has any compensation been paid, or will any be paid, to the family of the deceased?

I am aware of this case, but the cause of death was only indirectly due to the revaccination, as the blood poisoning from which the man suffered was not communicated by the lymph, but, according to the medical evidence, entered his system through the vaccination wound before the scab healed. The source of the lymph cannot now be traced. Compensation has been awarded to the widow.

asked the Under-Secretary for War if he can now state definitely when a decision is to be given respecting increased rates of wages at Weedon?

I cannot yet state definitely when the decision will be given, but I hope that it may be within the next few days.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that the firm of R. L. London and Sons, Motherwell, contractors for the supply of bread to the Hamilton Barracks, do not observe the Fair-Wage Clause in that their employés are worked from 14 to 16 hours per day, and the recognised hours in the trade all over Scotland being eight per day, and no payment is made for overtime; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter with a view to securing compliance with the clause in question?

A representation on the subject has been received. The matter is being inquired into.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that in the year 1911 men of the Metropolitan Police force were drafted to Cardiff and Salford, respectively, for service there in aid of the local police; and whether he will at the present time similarly grant aid to the Essex Police?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to-day to his Oral Questions on the same subject.

asked when the volume of Licensing Statistics for the year 1911 will be obtainable?

The volume is in an advanced state of preparation, and will, I hope, be ready for issue shortly.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of an aged lady, Mrs. Janet Augusta Boyd, at present imprisoned in Holloway Gaol for participation in a suffragist disturbance; whether he is aware that the old lady's health is suffering owing to the effects of an injury to her back sustained some years ago; and whether, in view of the fact that she has already suffered three months' imprisonment, of her age, and of her state of health, he will consider it a case for extending the clemency of the Crown?

Mrs. Boyd has enjoyed fairly good health during her imprisonment, but she has been refusing her food for several days, and on the advice of the medical officer she was discharged yesterday.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will give the reasons why, under paragraph 26 of the Indian Military Family Pension Regulations, unmarried officers of the Indian Army who are transferred to the British Army are not entitled to receive back any portion of their contributions to the Indian Military Family Pension Fund?

In reply to the hon. Member I may point out that it is part of the constitution of the Indian Military Service Family Pensions Fund that the subscriptions of all unmarried officers shall be taken in aid of the pensions of the children of married subscribers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will consider the advisability of so amending paragraph 26 of the Indian Military Family Pension Regulations as to permit of unmarried officers of the Indian Army who are transferred to the British Army becoming entitled to receive back such portion of their contributions as may be in excess of the risk borne during their membership?

As at present advised the Secretary of State is not disposed to alter the provisions of paragraph 26 of the Indian Military Service Family Pension Regulations, the operation of which is indicated in the reply to the previous question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State will publish the Decentralisation Resolution of the Government of India as a White Paper?

The Resolution is to be found in the "Gazette" of 18th May, which the hon. Member will find in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now state when the Second Reading of the Railways Bill will be taken?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. I am afraid I am unable at present to name a date for the Second Reading of this Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether Clause 2 of the Railways Bill has been withdrawn and redrafted; and when the House will be in possession of the Bill as redrafted?

The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question. The wording of Clause 2 of the Railways Bill is under consideration with a view to make its meaning clearer and to remove misapprehensions as to its scope. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade hopes to make a statement on the subject on the Motion for Second Reading.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any official information as to cotton mills in Oldham, or in any other portions of Lancashire, the shares of which are mainly, if not entirely, owned by working-class shareholders, and the control and management of which is in the hands of the working classes themselves; and whether, if so, he can furnish it to the House?

The Board of Trade have no general information as to cotton mills of which the shares are held by working-class shareholders, but I shall be glad to furnish the hon. Member with any official information which is available from the returns of any particular company which he may specify.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) why the regulation to the effect that in the case of specially convened meetings to discuss disputes or strikes accommodation at Labour Exchanges shall not be granted applies to Labour Exchanges in the Eastern Counties and not to those in other districts; and (2) why the regulation that accommodation for meetings at Labour Exchanges shall be granted only to labour unions and associations who have no office of their own applies in the case of the East Midlands and not in that of other districts?

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member on 17th June, the Statutory Regulations made under the Labour Exchanges Act make the Advisory Trade Committees responsible for laying down the conditions upon which accommodation may be granted in the Labour Exchanges in their respective areas. The natural result is that the conditions so laid down vary somewhat in different districts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the nearest letter box to the village of Stonehall, in the parish of Temple Ewell, Kent, is fully one mile distant; that Stonehall is a new and increasing village mainly inhabited by miners, who are inconvenienced by this lack of facilities for posting letters; that Stonehall is not far distant from the main road between Canterbury and Dover where a postman passes daily; and whether he will provide a, letter box at the junction of these two roads where the people of Stonehall may post their letters?

I am having inquiry made; and will acquaint the hon. Member with its result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures for the annual output of gold during the last twenty years, showing what proportion has been used for currency and what for other purposes; and whether he can also give the fluctuations in two of the chief series of index numbers over the same period?

It is not possible to state what proportion of the output of gold in any one year is used for currency purposes, but the following statement shows for each of the years 1890–1910 the total value of gold produced, and the total value of gold coined (distinguishing recoinages so far as the information is available), according to the estimates of the Director of the Mint of the United States of America. Provisional figures for gold output have been added for 1911, and the results of the principal index numbers of prices are given for each year.