asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state how many returns have been asked for from owners of property within the Dublin Metropolitan Police district under Form IV. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

Sixty-five thousand Forms IV. have been issued in the Dublin metropolitan Police district.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what arrangements have been made for the examination of tubercular persons in Ireland who will become contributors under the National Insurance Act on 15th July; what arrangements will be made, if any, with the governing bodies of existing sanatoria as to payment for treatment of insured persons; and will chronic cases of tuberculosis be dealt with under the provisions of the National Insurance Act?

Negotiations are in. progress between the Local Government Board for Ireland and the Irish Insurance Commissioners on the one hand and local authorities and the governing bodies of voluntary organisations on the other, as recommended by the Astor Report. Insured persons suffering from tuberculosis will be qualified to receive sanatorium benefit if recommended by their Insurance Committee, whether their case is chronic or not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what has been the amount of Consols outstanding on the 1st of April each year since 1908?

The amounts of Consols outstanding were:—

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what was the amount contributed last year by the Treasury in the shape of guarantees and out of the Local Taxation Account to the upkeep of railways in Ireland; and what was the amount contributed for the same purpose by the local rates of the country?

The amount contributed in the year 1911–12 by the Treasury in respect of the guaranteed dividends of the various railways under the Tramways and Public Companies (Irelnd) Act, 1883, was £18,544. The amount contributed by counties for the same purpose and for any deficit on the working expenses of the same railways was £25,405. During the same year a sum of £11,703 was paid from the Local Taxation Account for railway and harbour charges under Section 58 (4) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, and Section 5 (3) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1902.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will give the names of the various railways in Ireland to which the State and the local rates contribute Grants annually as well as the amount in each case?

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement given on pages 106–109 of the Report of the Viceregal Commission on Irish Railways (Cd. 5247 of 1910).

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the case of the Roberts estate at Elfeete and Lough farm, parish of Newtowncashel, there are two large farms of untenanted land which are properly distributable amongst uneconomic holdings in the district; whether any proposal has been or will be made to the owners for the acquirement and sub-division of these farms; and, if not, will they now be inspected with a view to the making of an offer for these farms?

This estate, which is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners, includes 458 acres of tenanted, and 88 acres of untenanted land, and the vendor states she is not the owner of any other lands in the neighbourhood. The estate will be dealt with in its due order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any steps are being taken by the Estates Commissioners to secure the untenanted lands of Clonfin for division among the uneconomic holdings on the Thomson estate; whether any offer has yet been made to the landlord, who is only too anxious to sell; and, if not, will he say why this has not been done; and will he direct that it be made immediately?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by him on 1st April last, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked when the estate of Colonel Napper, Loughcrew, county Meath, is likely to be reached by the Estates Commissioners?

The estate of W. L. Napper, counties Meath and Westmeath, is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants, and is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). Having regard to its position on the register and the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Estates Commissioners are at present unable to say when its turn will be reached.

asked the Chief Secretary upon what grounds the Local Government Board, on appeal by the pension officer, disallowed not only the old age pension of 5s. per week granted by the Newport, county Mayo, sub-committee, to John Burke, of Derradda, but one of 3s. per week which the appellant pension officer reported that claimant was entitled to; will he state what is the yearly rent or valuation of the land which the pension officer alleges is in the sole occupation of claimant; was there evidence before the Newport sub-committee that claimant is not sole occupier of this holding, but that it is occupied jointly by him and his brother, who is entitled to and receives half the profits of the farm; and will the Local Government Board direct an inspector to inquire into the question of the extent of claimant's interest in the holding?

John Burke's claim for a pension was disallowed on the ground that his means exceeded the statutory limit. He was reported to be the occupier of a farm comprising 12 acres of land, partly tilled, and carrying on it two cows, two heifers, and four calves, in addition to pigs and fowl. The valuation of the farm is £7 5s., and the rent £4 12s. 5d. He also had £100 in the bank, and there was no evidence to show that the farm did not belong to John Burke. Claimant has a brother residing with him, who is a deaf mute, and who is dependent upon him. As the appeal has been decided, the Board have no power to reopen consideration of the case, or to send an inspector, as requested.

asked the Chief Secretary whether deductions to the amount of £5,062 have been made from the Grants to the Kerry County Council in respect of asylum, railway and harbour, medical charities, and other Grants, and £5,671 in respect of land purchase losses, a total of £10,733; and. if so, whether steps will be taken to have the Report of the Local Taxation Committee published as soon as possible?

Owing to the insufficiency of money in the Local Taxation Account, under Section 58 of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, deductions have been made from sums payable to the Kerry County Council for services mentioned in that Section in the past two years, amounting in all to £3,940. During the past six years the sum of £5,671 has been deducted in respect of land purchase liability. As regards the last paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the question of the hon. Member for North Londonderry.

asked the Prime Minister whether, under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill, the members of the Joint Exchequer Board are to receive a salary; and, if so, by whom will the salaries be paid?

The Bill makes no provision in the matter. I presume that if it were found necessary to pay special salaries to the members of the Board, the Imperial and Irish Treasuries would respectively make themselves liable for their own representatives and share the remuneration of the chairman.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether complaints have been received in regard to the fact that the Admiralty are allowing German leather to be used in the boots required for the Navy?

This matter has been the subject of correspondence between the Light Leather Trades' Federation and the Admiralty, and the present position has been fully stated in my replies of the 20th instant to the hon. Member for Darlington, and of the 24th instant to the hon. Members for Chippenham and Portsmouth.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the heavy armament of the fixed defence of Malta consist only of 9.2-inch guns; whether, in view of the withdrawal of the battle fleet from the Mediterranean, the Government propose to substitute 14-inch guns for guns of the lesser calibre; if so, how many 14-inch guns it is proposed to mount; and what is the estimated cost per gun?

It is not customary, nor it is desirable, to discuss the armament of fortresses. I should have been glad to have been consulted privately before this question appeared on the Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether secondary schools in England must, in order to qualify for a Grant from the State, give 25 per cent. free places to children from the primary schools; what was the rate of Grant paid last year; and what arrangements are made to enable residential colleges to qualify for the Grant?

The hon. Member will find the Regulations as to free places in secondary schools in Article 20 of the Regulations for Secondary Schools now in force [Cd. 4691 of 1909], and the rates of Grant in Articles 36–38. No distinction is made with regard to the conditions under which recognition for Grant is given between day schools and boarding schools.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if the Ordnance Survey Department survey the whole country every fifteen years?

The maps on the scale of 1–2500 and of 6 inches to 1 mile are revised once in twenty years. The 1-inch map is revised once in fifteen years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that 950 or some number of the Metropolitan Police force were sent to Wales in 1910 during the Tonypandy riots; will he state what was the total cost in expenses and pay of these men during their service in the provinces, and by what fund such expenses and pay were borne and provided; and whether any and, if so, what sum has been paid by the local authority in respect of such expenses and pay; and what steps have been taken to make the local authority bear or contribute to such expenses and pay?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to questions put by the hon. Member for West St. Pancras on the 27th February last, and by the hon Member for East Nottingham on the 4th June. The sum of £33,800 has been repaid to the Metropolitan Police Fund from the Votes for Police, England and Wales, 1910–11 and 1912–13, in respect of the expenses of the Metropolitan Police sent to South Wales in November, 1910. No part of this sum has so far been recovered from the local authority; the claim has been deferred until a kindred question in a case now pending in the Courts has been decided.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he can give the House any information regarding the Regulations issued by the Sultan of Muscat regarding traffic in imported arms?

The following is the text of the notification regulating the trade in arms and ammunition issued by the Sultan of Muscat on the 4th inst.: "Whereas large quantities of arms and ammunition are at present stored without proper control in private buildings distributed in this our town of Muscat, and thus exposed to the risks of attack, robbery, or fire, We, impressed by the serious menace to the safety of our capital arising therefrom, have resolved to remedy this state of affairs in accordance with the needs of the times and the requirements of our municipal administration by the construction and establishment of a special Customs House, Magazine, or Arms Warehouse, for the storage of arms and ammunition under safe precautions. It is proposed to introduce this warehouse arrangement from on or about 1st September next. It will be conducted on the following general lines: Firstly, on or after 1st September next all arms and ammunition or parts thereof imported into my territories will be taken direct from the steamer to the Control, of which a Special Superintendent will be appointed. Secondly, similarly all arms dealers in my territories will be required to deposit stocks remaining in their hands on 1st September in the said warehouse. Any trader offending against this Regulation will, in addition to other penalties, render all future consignments of arms and ammunition arriving in his (name) liable to confiscation unless and till he complies with this regulation in full. Thirdly, no arms will be allowed to issue from the warehouse until duty has been fully paid thereon to the Customs Superintendent in the usual way. Fourthly, the withdrawal of arms from the warehouse will be regulated by the issue of special licences, prepared by the superintendent and countersigned by myself. Fifthly, such licences will not be granted to traders, but only to approved individual purchasers or their duly authorised agents on the production of satisfactory proof that the number, quantity, and destination of arms and ammunition, etc., to be withdrawn from the warehouse are free from justifiable objection. Sixthly, all arms issuing from the warehouse will be with a special warehouse mark and serial number. Seventhly, special rules will be drawn up providing for and regulating issue to approved traders of sample stock for exhibition in their shops. Eighthly, rules providing for the collection of arms, warehouse charges, on stocks therein deposited, will be drawn up on the analogy of the present Customs House Regulations for the levy of such fees on general merchandise. Ninthly, special rules will be drawn up governing transfer between traders of stocks deposited in the arms warehouse. Tenthly, special relaxations will be arranged for leniency (? towards) flint-locks, muzzle-loading guns, and caps in reasonable quantities. Lastly, detailed rules embodying the above principles are under preparation, and will be published in due course for further information of all concerned."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is the intention of the Secretary of State to concede his drafts to Karachi?

The question of granting drafts on Karachi was carefully considered by the Secretary of State about a year ago in communication with the Government of India. The arrangement would entail some additional expense on Government, which, for the present, it is not considered necessary to incur.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that millions of the women of India decline to be treated by a male doctor; and whether the Government have taken any steps, and, if so, what, to arrange for the addition of any number of women doctors to their medical staff in India?

The number of women in India objecting to treatment by male doctors in public hospitals is no doubt large, but I know of no figures by which the statement in the first part of the question can be confirmed or disputed. Much has already been done to provide female medical aid in women's hospitals for such women by the local authorities in cooperation with the Countess of Dufferin's fund. In 1908 there were in India, including native States, fifty-two lady doctors of the first grade, eighty-seven female assistant surgeons with the Indian qualifications, and 529 female hospital assistants. Later figures are not available. I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Sevenoaks on 15th May.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, for each of the years 1890, 1900, 1905, 1910, and 1911, the exports of iron and steel by the United Kingdom the United States, and the German Empire, respectively using for each country the classification in the British Trade Returns: Articles wholly or mainly manufactured (a) iron and steel and manufacturers thereof.

The following statement shows the value of the exports (domestic produce) of Iron and Steel and Manufactures thereof from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States of America to all destinations in the years specified:—

Note.—For the purposes of the above statement the German and United States official figures have been reclassified so as to bring them into line, as far as possible, with those for the United Kingdom. The latter give the values of the exports of "Iron and Steel and Manufactures thereof," as shown in the official trade returns, with the addition of hollow-ware, the exports of which were not separately distinguished prior to 1904.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the Board of Trade Price Index each year since 1904; and what has been Sauerbeck's Price Index in each of the same years?

The figures asked for were included in the reply to a somewhat similar question by the hon. Member for South Salford and circulated with the Votes yesterday. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the Postmaster-General what further progress has been made towards completing the instalment of the trunk telephone between Longford, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Mullingar?

The canvass at Longford and Carrick-on-Shannon—which has just been completed—has resulted in nineteen subscribers being obtained at the former place and eight at the latter. This result is somewhat disappointing; but the financial aspect of the case is being examined, with every desire to proceed with the extensions if that course can be justified. I hope to arrive at a decision shortly.

asked the Postmaster - General, whether Post Office officials are allowed to attend political demonstrations condemning the action of the Government on the subject of Home Rule; and, if not, will he say what steps will be taken to prevent officials of the Post Office in Ireland, who take no part in Nationalist demonstrations, attending Unionist meetings for this purpose?

There is no regulation which prevents a Post Office official, in his private capacity, from being present at a political meeting; but he is expected to maintain a certain reserve, and not to put himself forward prominently on one side or the other.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Edgeworthstown postal delivery is to be curtailed by the services of one man, with the result that postal deliveries in the country around which now take place at 9, 10, and 11 o'clock in the morning will not take place till 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon; and whether, for the sake of the small extra cost, the full service hitherto given will be retained?

Proposals are in hand affecting part of the Edgeworthstown rural district. The hon. Member's representations will be considered before any alteration is made.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the reasons which induced him, in defiance of local opinion and notwithstanding the application of at least twelve respectable suitable persons for appointment to the vacant post office of Portumna, county Galway, to appoint a person from county Kildare who had no previous connection with the county; whether amongst the applicants was the name of Miss Morrisey, who had three years' experience of the postal work, for the discharge of which she was highly commended, and, in addition, had a memorial in" her favour most influentially signed by the people of the district; and whether it is the intention of his Depart- ment in future to ignore public opinion in making these appointments?

I appointed Mrs. Murphy because from the reports furnished regarding the various candidates she appeared to be the most suitable. Full local inquiry was made before she was selected, and it appeared that opinion in the locality was much divided.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the ecclesiastical assessment is being imposed on the heritors in the parish of Kirkintilloch, and the building of the new parish church is being proceeded with on the understanding that £7,000, equivalent to half the cost, will be raised voluntarily; how much of that £7,000 has as yet been raised voluntarily; what is the total amount of the assessments imposed on the heritors; what is the amount which the heritors have as yet paid; and whether, if the sum of £7,000 is not raised voluntarily, the assessments which the heritors have paid will be returned to them?

I have no responsibility in this matter, but will give my hon. Friend such information as I have received. I am informed that the £7,000 to be raised voluntarily has been guaranteed to the satisfaction of the heritors' committee, that the heritors are assessing for the other £7,000, and that of that about £3,300 is now due and about £2,600 has been paid.