asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many armoured ships were under construction for the British and German Navies, respectively, on 31st March, 1902, and 31st March, 1912?

The figures asked for are as follows:—

Is the right hon. Gentleman including the "Benbow," the "Tiger," and the "Delhi"?

I do not know whether they are included or not. I think they certainly could be, as three or four months of constructive work has already been completed.

asked the number of armoured ships launched for the British and for the German Navies from 1898 to 1902, inclusive; from 1903 to 1907, inclusive; and from and including 1908 to the present time?

The figures asked for are as follows:—

Is not the right hon. Gentleman depressed at the great loss of relative importance in these fighting ships?

No; I am not depressed at all, for I have not at all minimised the importance of the developments taking place elsewhere. It is obvious that a Power beginning to create a Navy will build at a greater rate than a Power which has already naval establishments in existence.

asked whether the German Naval Law Amendment Act, 1912, provides for the maintenance in permanent full commission of twenty-nine battleships; whether, including the four battleships withdrawn from the Mediterranean, the total number of British battleships in full commission in home waters is 27; and whether, if the facts are as stated, the First Lord of the Admiralty can hold out hope of adequate naval protection being restored to British mercantile and territorial interests in and beyond the Mediterranean?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The figures, of course, refer to a future date, and four of the German ships will belong to the Reserve Squadron. The total number of British battleships in commission with full crews at the present date is correctly stated. I do not propose to anticipate the discussion of the Mediterranean situation.

asked whether the alteration in composition and base recently effected in respect of the Imperial naval force in Mediterranean waters was adopted after consultation and with the approval of general officers in command of the Mediterranean garrison; whether the Committee of Imperial Defence met to discuss such changes before they were carried out; and whether, in the event of the answer being in the affirmative, he is able to make any statement to the House?

:The arrangements as regards the naval force in Mediterranean waters are still under consideration. I can make no statement at present on the matter.

May I ask if the Committee of Naval Defence met at all before these changes were carried out?

I say the changes are still under consideration.

I say the changes have been carried out.

May we ask that nothing shall be done until the Committee on Imperial Defence has been consulted?

Undoubtedly the Committee of Imperial Defence will be consulted.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the standard in strength of armoured ships as compared with Germany has been publicly laid down, he will also state what is the standard aimed at in the case of destroyers?

I do not propose to prescribe a precise standard in destroyer strength with reference to Germany. To explain it and argue it would involve detailed public examination of the characteristics and values of the various destroyer types in both countries which would not be desirable For some years past, however, we have laid down twenty destroyers to the twelve which Germany lays down annually.

Is it not true that during the present century we have laid down a little over 100—I think 107, and the Germans a little under 100–94; and is that a right proportion?

I have not verified the figures, but it may be true. We have forty-three destroyers now under construction.

asked whether the Naval War Staff has been consulted as to the inclusion of Clause 19 in the Pilot age Bill, presented by the President of the Board of Trade, and ordered to be printed 22nd May, 1912?

The Admiralty have not been consulted on the specific point mentioned in the hon. Member's question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to deal with this matter before the Second Reading of the Pilotage Bill is even attempted?

The Admiralty were frequently consulted on the general question by the Board of Trade in 1903, but there is no record of the correspondence between the two Departments since that date. I will communicate with my right hon. Friend, but I do not anticipate that there will be any difference of opinion.

Were the Admiralty consulted in 1906, when the Merchant Shipping Bill was brought in, as to alien pilots?

The hon. Member must give notice of that question. The First Lord was not at the Admiralty in 1906.

Is it the case that the Admiralty has not been consulted by the Board of Trade in regard to this change of policy and change of the law under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906?

I think we were represented on the Committee.

Am I to understand that the Admiralty were not directly consulted by the Board of Trade previous to bringing in this Bill, which alters the law as established by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906?

The question I was asked by the hon. Member had reference to Clause 19 of the Pilotage Bill, and the reply is that the Admiralty were not consulted on the specific point mentioned. That is the answer. If further questions are to be asked, I hope I may have notice.

asked whether the Admiralty intend to use as pilots, in the event of pilots being required, such foreign masters or mates as may obtain British pilotage certificates under Clause 19 of the Pilotage Bill presented by the President of the Board of Trade on the 22nd May, 1912?

The answer is in the negative.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the working of this Bill will reduce the number of British pilots?

I doubt if I could answer a question of that kind, but I wilt consider the matter.

If the Admiralty requires pilots would they call in British pilots?

We do frequently call on them, and shall continue to do so.

I hope they will be there for you to continue to do so.

asked whether newspaper correspondents will be allowed on board any of His Majesty's ships during the forthcoming manœuvres as in former years; and, if not, why not?

Newspaper correspondents will not be allowed on board His Majesty's ships during the actual period of manœuvres. It has, I think, been very generally accepted for several years past that it is not in the public interest to proclaim to the world at large the ideas which are embodied in plans of strategical and tactical exercises, and the manner in which they are executed by the officers concerned. I may perhaps add that I have every desire to encourage a real knowledge of the Navy on the part of the Press, and (through the Press) of the public, and special facilities are being offered to newspaper correspondents next month prior to the commencement of the manœuvres proper.

May I ask whether the Board of Admiralty have any reason to complain of indiscretion on the part of newspapers?

I have very great respect for the manner in which a great many of the newspaper correspondents do their work on naval affairs, but I should not like to say that a lot of things have not appeared in the newspapers in the last twelve months referring to technical details which had much better be omitted.

Will naval attachés of foreign Powers be on board?

No.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether, previous to this year, the specifications for Navy boots and shoes required that, except for the outer soles, all leather used must be dressed in Great Britain and supplied by British manufacturers; and, if so, will he say why this custom has been departed from?

As I stated on Monday, in reply to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, the specification for uppers of Navy boots ordered prior to October, 1911, provided for English kip leather being used; the outer soles were permitted to be either English or foreign. On the introduction of the new pattern boot, box calf for uppers was adopted as being more flexible and comfortable, and questions of cost and supply rendered it essential to leave it open to contractors to obtain material equal to pattern and specification from any source.

I beg to ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the sealed pattern was of British manufacture?

Not the uppers.

Is it not the fact that the tender has gone abroad?

The contracts are in this country to the British contractor, British bootmakers and contractors, of course, also. The soles are exclusively British. The upper may be from any source. We do not know where the contractor will get his supplies.

And you make no inquiries?

Certainly not, for they can get the supply of material of the upper from any source.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has information from bootmakers in Kettering, Northampton, and Leicester, that English box-calf leather is quite as suitable for boots used in the Navy as Continental and American leather; if so, what action he proposes to take?

Our information is to the effect that English leather of the same quality and substance is dearer than foreign, and moreover that there is some doubt whether a sufficient quantity of home dressed skins of the desired substance and quality is at present available for the number of boots expected to be required annually. I am going closely into the matter, but so long as the position both as to price and supply stands as stated, we must obviously keep open all sources of supply.

Have the bootmakers in the districts named in the question made any representations that there should be included any restrictions as to the source where they will get their supply of raw material?

No. What has happened is that the Allied Leather Trades Federation (have asked us to receive a deputation on this matter, and what we have said is that we are prepared to allow them to come and give an expert demonstration that they can get flexibility and durability at a price not greater than that supplied from foreign material. I shall be very glad to meet them on that ground.

asked what were the precedents for the expenditure of public funds on Parliamentary visits to the Fleet on lines closely similar to those now proposed for the visit on 9th July?

The following recent precedents may be cited for the expenditure of public funds in connection with special arrangements such as are now proposed for Members of both Houses of Parliament to visit the Fleet:—The joint visit of the Colonial Premiers and Members of the two Houses to the Fleet at Portsmouth on 3rd May, 1907. The visit of Members of both Houses of Parliament to the Fleet on the occasion of the Naval Review held by King Edward VII. on the 31st July, 1909. The visit of Members of the two Houses to the Fleet on the occasion of the Coronation Review on 24th June, 1911.

Is there any precedent before the year 1907?

I cannot say offhand.

Is it proposed that the House should sit on 9th July, the day of the review?

That is not a question for me.

Is there any parallel for the present case?

The proposed visit on 9th July is not quite similar to some of the precedents I have quoted. This is a day upon which we desire that Members of both Houses should see the Fleet in working guise, and, that being a public duty, we propose to pay their expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can state whether there is any improvement in the position in the New Hebrides in regard to the kidnapping and illegal recruitment of natives for the plantations, and the sale of liquor to them, and whether these offences are dealt with by the Joint Court; whether he has received a Report on the state of affairs in the New Hebrides from the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and, if so, if he can lay the same before the House; and if he can state if another British resident has been recently appointed, and, if so, will he give the name of the gentleman?

Infringements of the New Hebrides Convention in regard to kidnapping, illegal recruitment of natives, and the sale of liquor are dealt with by the Joint Court. There has not yet been time to judge how far improvement in these respects has taken place as the result of joint proposals made by the English and French High Commissioners at the end of last year, since only some of the proposals have been brought into operation, and that only quite recently. Other proposals are still being discussed with the French Government. The changes which are actually in operation are, in the first place, the imposition of Import Duties on liquor and arms, which will it is hoped materially restrict the sale of those commodities; and in the second place, the appointment of two Government Agents (two others will it is hoped shortly be appointed) who will be stationed on different islands, and whose duties will especially include the supervision of recruiting operations and the reporting of any infringements of the Convention. The High Commissioner's report on his visit to the New Hebrides last November was of a confidential character and cannot be published. There has been no new appointment to the post of British Resident, but that officer, Mr. Merton King, is proceeding on leave of absence, and Mr. Mahaffy, the Assistant to the High Commissioner, will act in the post during his absence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will say why the terms of reference of the Dominions Royal Commission have been materially varied in several important respects from the terms of the resolution agreed to at last year's Conference; whether any correspondence has taken place with the Dominion Governments with regard to these changes; and, if so, whether he will publish that correspondence?

The terms of reference which follow closely the Resolution of the Conference were agreed to by all the Dominions. I will consider whether any correspondence which exists on the matter can be published.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think the exclusion of investigation into the resources of the United Kingdom and the exclusion of all inquiry into fiscal matters that are consistent with the policy of those Dominions is a close following of the terms of reference?

From my knowledge of what took place in the Imperial Conference and correspondence subsequently I do not think there has been any material departure from the intentions of the Resolution.

Was it not the intention of the original Resolution that the Commission should inquire into the resources of the United Kingdom as one of the States represented at the Conference, and is not the present reference one which directly excludes the United Kingdom?

I do not think that the hon. Member has rightly translated the intention of the Conference. I do not believe the Conference ever intended to inquire into the resources of the United Kingdom, which are so well supplied in statistics in this country.

Is it not the case that at least one of the oversea Dominions has protested against the exclusion of those words, "United Kingdom resources," from the terms of references?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will say what the Uganda Railway has cost up to the end of the last financial year; what the gross and net profits were during the last financial year; whether any interest is being earned on the capital expenditure beyond depreciation; and, if not, how many years the interest has now been in arrear?

The cost up to 31st March, 1911, the end of the last financial year for which actual figures are available, is £5,448,662 6s. 3d. The gross receipts for the year 1910–11, the last financial year for which actual figures are available, were £300,116 and the total expenditure £201,596, leaving a net profit of £98,520. The gross receipts and expenditure are merged in the general revenue and expenditure of the Protectorate, which is not charged with interest on the above capital expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has taken into consideration the importance of making known to the public at the earliest possible moment any judicial decisions of the Insurance Commissioners, and what steps he proposes to take for that purpose; whether the Press and public will be allowed to attend the hearing of cases by the Commissioners; and whether any judicial decisions have yet been given?

The Commissioners are required by the regulations made, under Section 66, of the National Insurance Act to take such steps as appear to them to be necessary for the purpose of making known to all persons interested any decision given by them under that Section, and it is intended to insert a corresponding provision in the regulations to be made under Section 67. They will use the public Press for this purpose. Any members of the public, including representatives of the Press, will be allowed to attend any formal hearing of cases under Section 66 or Section 67. No judicial decisions have yet been given.

asked what numbers of the leaflet entitled N.H. leaflet have been printed and circulated; what is the cost, or estimated cost of printing and circulating such leaflet; and under what Vote does such cost appear in the Estimates?

Twenty-five million copies of the N.H. leaflet have been printed for circulation at an estimated cost of £8,000. This amount will be borne by the Stationery Office Vote. I am not in a position to give an estimate of the cost of circulation which is being undertaken mainly by the Post Office. The cost, so far as the Post Office is concerned, will be borne by the Vote of that Department.

Is that £8,000 included in the £25,000 estimated cost of bringing the Act into force?

No, it is included in the general Estimate made for all Services, including leaflets in the Stationery Office Vote.

Is it in the £25,000?

I do not think so. I think it is in the Stationery Office Vote alone.

asked what is the length of the working day referred to on page 3 of the N.H. leaflet.?

The working day referred to is the normal working day of the trade and locality in which the particular person is employed, and will therefore vary in length, in accordance with the custom prevalent in that trade and locality.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that it will be a matter of some difficulty for the employers to determine what is the normal working day, particularly in the case of casual labour?

It is a matter of some difficulty; therefore we are giving the employers every assistance possible to obtain the information.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say what is the normal working day of a charwoman?

I think that that is a matter for investigation.

asked whether the Government were prepared to make good the representation contained in the N.H. leaflet that sickness benefit will be paid to working men at 10s. a week for twenty-six weeks, commencing on the fourth day of sickness, and disablement benefit at 5s. a week afterwards if still incapable of work?

The benefits mentioned are the ordinary benefits of the Act. They are paid first from the funds of the approved society and guaranteed by the National Insurance Fund, unless and until a valuation has disclosed a deficiency. These benefits are as stated in the N.H. leaflet, subject to certain waiting periods and other conditions. These conditions are explained in the official leaflets, of which a list is given on the last page of the N.H. leaflet, and of which supplies can be readily obtained from local Customs and Excise officers.

Does the right hon. Gentleman still say that there is ninepence for fourpence?

More than ninepence for less than fourpence.

Is it correct to say, as is stated in the leading article in the "Daily News" this morning, that—

We cannot discuss the leading articles in the "Daily News."

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain why, in the N.H. leaflet recently circulated, the benefits are specified without specifying the waiting periods and without any reference to arrears; and whether he will alter the leaflet so as to summarise the provisions as to waiting periods and arrears in the same manner as the provisions as to benefits, so as to prevent false hopes being raised?

It is expressly stated in the N.H. leaflet that the benefits are "subject to certain waiting periods and other conditions." It is not practicable in a leaflet intended to be of a general character to give particulars of all the provisions of the Act affecting insured persons. Such a leaflet is necessarily of limited dimensions and lays special emphasis upon what knowledge is immediately required.

Would it not be perfectly easy to summarise in three or four lines the waiting period and the arrears provisions, just in the same way as the benefits are summarised?

It would be very difficult to summarise in three or four lines the arrears provisions. It would include a full table of the various reductions which have to be made and the different sickness benefits which would then be given, and all the various conditions as to the amount of arrears the insured person is in.

asked how it was proposed to pay doctors under the National Insurance Act in cases of hotel staffs who moved in different seasons of the year from one hotel to another, and in cases of domestic servants who were in service in Scotland for six months and moved to England for six months in each year; would the doctor in the district where the employed person commenced the year receive the capitation fee for the whole year, or would the fee be apportioned between the doctors in the various districts where the employed person might reside during the year; and, if the fee was to be apportioned, would any difference be made between the summer and winter seasons?

The Act gives full power subject to regulations to the insurance committees and medical profession in each district to make such detailed arrangements for dealing with matters of the kind referred to in the question as may be found most expedient and agreeable to all concerned. The Insurance Commissioners will facilitate such arrangements as may be necessary for such purposes between the committees of different districts. It is not to be assumed that doctors will necessarily be paid by capitation fee. If locally preferred a system of payment per attendance may be adopted.

Will regulations be laid down by the Insurance Commissioners in conjunction with the local committees?

Regulations will be laid down, and they are now being discussed by the medical representatives on the Advisory Committee in conjunction with the Insurance Commissioners.

asked if representations have been received from the Manchester Unity or other friendly societies as to the detrimental effect upon border societies of the provisions of Section 83 (3) of the National Insurance Act; and if the Chancellor of the Exchequer is going to receive a deputation on the subject?

Representations have been received on this subject. The alterations which the society desires could not, however, be given by regulations, and would require legislation. Amending legislation would be premature until some experience has been gained of the actual working of the Act, and my right hon. Friend does not consider that a deputation on the subject would serve any useful purpose at present.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, if a single member of an approved society on the borders happened to reside in Wales whilst all the other members lived in England, or vice versa, that single member would, by Section 83 (3) of the National Insurance Act, be compelled to form himself into a separate branch, and, if necessary, fine himself, visit himself, and if he finds himself in a deficiency make a levy on himself?

The Act does not contemplate that a person resident in Wales would join an English society of which he would be the only Welsh Member. If he joined such society while resi- dent in England and subsequently transferred his residence to Wales he would take from his society his full transfer value to enable him to join a society with Welsh members. The Commissioners will encourage arrangements whereby societies having members on the border line between the national boundaries agree to reciprocal transference of membership for those who change their residence from one side to the other.

Has the right hon. Gentleman not received a good deal of evidence as to the extreme inconvenience of having different Commissioners for Wales, England, and Scotland, and is he aware that many other people do not want to leave their own societies?

I do not think I have received any evidence, or evidence that was not before the House of Commons when the House decided to make these national arrangements.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman state, in reply to a previous question, that he had received a request to hear a deputation upon the subject from the Manchester Unity?

That is not evidence; the question of a deputation is not evidence. There is nothing, to my knowledge, which was not before the Members of the House of Commons when they agreed that the advantages of making such arrangements outweighed what disadvantages there may be.

Is not a request for a deputation to be received a sign of discontent and inconvenience?

Not necessarily.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how many officials have been borrowed or transferred from other Departments to take part in the administration of the National Insurance Act?

Two hundred and seventeen officials of all grades have been permanently transferred from other Government Departments to the various Insurance Commissions, and, in addition, the service of fourteen others have been placed at the disposal of the Commissioners as a temporary reserve during the present period of pressure.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain how these other Departments are carried on without this large number, 217, transferred?

It is quite simple. These officials have been promoted, and the people who would have received places under them have been promoted?

Are young and untried officials brought in to do their work?

No, not at all. The position is normal, as when a member retires, or dies, or otherwise leaves a particular Department.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it will be in the power of local insurance committees under the National Insurance Act to sup port village and district nurses by paying the whole or a part of the salaries of such nurses; and, if so, upon what funds the local insurance committees will be able to draw for this purpose; and whether, in the event of such a course not being at present open to local insurance committees under the Act, he will, in view of the probability that insured per sons will not be able to continue to support such nurses in the same manner as heretofore, and in view of the benefit to national health to be derived from the regular attendance of properly qualified nurses in the homes of the sick poor, consider the advisability of so amending the Act or issuing such a Regulation as to enable local insurance committees to defray the cost of providing the services of a nurse in each village or district where it is proved to the satisfaction of the local insurance committee that the services of such a nurse have been or will be dispensed with as the result of the coming into operation of the National Insurance Act?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 21 of the Act, and to the answers given to the hon. Member for Wilton on 1st and 10th April, to which I can add nothing at present.

asked whether unemployment benefits under Part II. of the National Insurance Act will be paid at the same rates by Labour Exchanges and trade unions; and, if not, will he state the reason for the difference?

An association of workmen in the insured trades, which has made an arrangement with the Board of Trade under Section 105 of the Act, may pay unemployment benefit to its members at such rate as it thinks fit, but the Section provides that it shall only be able to obtain subsequently from the Unemployment Fund repayment of such benefits as its members would have been able to obtain had they claimed direct through the local office of the Unemployment Fund. Under Section 106, associations making payments to persons whilst unemployed can also, under certain conditions, obtain a subsidy not exceeding one-sixth of such payments, exclusive of the sum (if any) repaid to the association under an arrangement as described above.

asked whether it is intended to frame Regulations to exempt from the operation of Part II. of the National Insurance Act the sons of master builders working with their fathers in the building trade, where the conditions of employment differ from those of the ordinary employés in that their remuneration continues whether they are actually working or not?

The Board of Trade have no power to exempt from the operations of Part II. of the National Insurance-Act workmen engaged in one of the insured trades except under the provisions of Section 104 ( a ) and ( b ) and Section 107 (4). Neither of these Sections would enable exemptions to be made on the grounds suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked if the right hon. Gentleman will say how many extra letters, notices, etc., it is estimated that postmen will have to deliver during the early days of next month in connection with the National Insurance Act; and whether he proposes to pay them any overtime for this increase in their labours?

The National Health Insurance leaflets are to be delivered to every house in the Kingdom, and the number is estimated by the Insurance Commissioners as about twelve millions; but I cannot frame any estimate of how many extra letters, etc., will pass through the post in connection with the Insurance Act. As regards the leaflets I have instructed postmasters that, while every effort should be made to arrange for their distribution without incurring overtime, payment will be made for extra duty due to such distribution, subject to a certificate that the duties were performed with due expedition, and that the time claimed for is reasonable and proper to be allowed.

I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury a question of which I have given him private notice: Whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the explanatory leaflet, "N. H.," distributed broadcast among householders in the United Kingdom, neglects to state how often contributions are due, and is therefore seriously misleading, and might be understood as requiring contributions from employers and workmen only on each occasion when wages are paid; and whether, in view of the importance of circulating accurate statements about the Insurance Act, an amended leaflet will be promptly issued to all persons to whom the first leaflet has been delivered?

I do not think that the leaflet as printed can be misleading to anyone. The actual times at which contributions are paid and the periods in respect of which they are paid will, of course, vary with the times at which wages are paid and with the conditions of employment. It would be clearly impossible to set these forth at length in a leaflet of this character. Fuller particulars are, however, given in the other leaflets, and also, for employers in particular in the special Explanatory Pamphlet A.

Would it not be perfectly simple to say the ordinary weekly rate was 7d., instead of having a paragraph, "Contributions, the ordinary rate," without saying for what period the amount of 7d. is calculated?

I do not think anyone could be under any misunderstanding.

Is this not extremely misleading in the case of domestic servants where the wages are paid monthly, and is it not likely to make them think the contribution fixed here at 6d. can be deducted when the wages are paid each month instead of 6d. per week?

We are issuing special information in leaflets with regard to domestic servants.

asked whether in view of the increase in the cost of living during the past twelve years, as evidenced by the Report of the Board of Trade, Treasury sanction would be given to an immediate increase in the pay of the writing staff of the Admiralty and Royal dockyards, observing that the present pay of this body of public servants was practically the same as originally fixed in 1879; (38) whether the Secretary to the Treasury could now say when Treasury concurrence would be given to the Admiralty proposals based on the Macnamara Staffing Committee's Report; and, if a date could not be given, would he say how many Departments had yet to be consulted, observing that these proposals had been under reconsideration of his Department since October, 1909?

I fear I am still unable to add to my former answers on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when the further figures of the Census of Production, which it was hoped would be ready soon after Easter, would be published?

The figures to which the hon. Member refers were published last week. I shall be glad to send him a copy of them.

Could it not be supplied through the Vote Office in the usual way?

I will communicate with the authorities of the House on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he had received any statement from Mr. Joseph Fels relative to the experiment in small holdings carried out by that gentle man at Maylands, in Essex; and, if so, would he circulate the statement to Members of this House?

I recently received from Mr. Fels a personal letter describing an experiment in small holdings carried out by him at Maylands, in Essex. If the hon. Member desires to obtain information about the experiment, perhaps his best course would be to address himself to Mr. Fels personally.

Has the right hon. Gentleman forgotten that he promised an hon. Member on the other side that if he received a statement from Mr. Fels he would circulate it to the House?

I have no recollection of having made such a statement. Mr. Fels has written me a personal letter, and I could not undertake to circulate personal letters.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he would consider the advisability of introducing legislation with a view to reducing the frequency of farm fires caused by the dropping on parched hedges and grass of live coals from the funnels of railway engines?

So far as the Board are aware, the Railway Fires Act, 1905, has provided a satisfactory remedy for losses occasioned by fires such as those to which the hon. Member refers. I have no reason to think that any further legislation on the subject is needed.

If it is brought to the attention of the right hon. Gentleman that fires are caused which are not covered by the Act, will he consider the advisability of taking steps to prevent such fires by the application of some mechanical appliance?

I should be only too pleased to consider any case the hon. Gentleman brought to my notice. So far every case brought to my notice has been covered by the Act.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether nine gardeners employed in Hyde Park were discharged last week; and, if so, could he state the reason for the discharges?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Addi- tional men are always taken on for a short time in the spring for work in the plant houses, and are discharged when the plants have been bedded out.

asked what amends were made to a person entitled by age and circumstances to an old age pension who applied giving evidence of age, but, owing to technicalities over which he had no control, got no pension for 14 months, to whom the local committee then voted a pension dating from the first application, and the Local Government Board for Scotland disallows the retrospective part of this vote; and whether the arrears of pension so due to Patrick Gormley, Tranent, Landward, No. 810 on pension officer's register, would now be paid?

The applicant referred to did not furnish evidence of his age when he lodged a claim for a pension fourteen months ago, and from the information supplied by him his age could not be ascertained. It was not until he lodged a subsequent claim that he furnished the Board with proof that he had attained the statutory age. In view of the terms of Section 5 of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, there is no power to make pensions retrospective.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he would state the precise value of the property, real and personal respectively, of the next-of-kin of the late Mrs. Helen Blake, née Sheridan, intestate, acquired by the Crown by means of omitting to advertise for next-of-kin in Ireland, to which Mrs. Blake was known to belong and where the name Sheridan was common; and, if the precise value would not be stated, would he say why and on what authority the information was refused?

The residue of the personal estate of the late Mrs. Blake is £96,778 4s. 11d. The "precise" value of the real estate cannot be stated. As a rough estimate the value may, however, be given as £48,000. With regard to the advertisement, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given him.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the wages of all Government officials were exempt from attachment for debt; if not, would he say in what Department of the Government the officials were in the same position as to attachment for debt as those who were not Government servants; what was the ground for this difference of treatment; and would he introduce legislation making all men in this respect equal before the law?

I am advised that the salary and wages of servants of the Crown in the hands of the Crown are not liable to attachment, the reason being that proceedings in attachment do not lie as against the Crown. I have no knowledge that any amendment of the law in this respect is called for. I may perhaps refer the hon. Member to the Wages Attachment Abolition Act, 1870 (33 and 34 Vic. cap. 30), under the provisions of which no order can be made in any case for the attachment of the wages of any servant, labourer, or workman. This Act applies to England only, but there is a somewhat similar enactment in Scotland.

asked how many new class assistant clerks were employed in the Education Office, in the Savings Bank Department, and in the Customs and Excise Statistical Office; and how many had been promoted to the second division or analogous class in each case.

The figures are as follows:—

Board of Education: Number employed, 308; promotions since 1908, 33.

Customs Statistical Office: Number employed, 193; promotions since 1908, 16.

Savings Bank Department: Number employed, 265; promotions since 1908, 21.

asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury the number of appointments made since 1st January, 1906, to the Customs and Waterguard Preventive Officers' service; and how many of the persons so appointed were nominated by Members of the Opposition and by all other Members of the House respectively?

Since January, 1906—the date referred to in the hon. Member's question—537 preventive men have been appointed by my two-predecessors and myself. The Patronage Secretary, prior to 1906, left no record of the distribution of his patronage amongst Members of Parliament, nor have I any record available of the recommendations made to my two predecessors to which effect was given. During the years 1910–11–12, for which I am responsible, 122 appointments have been made. In the last batch of twenty appointments made in March, twelve of the candidates were specially recommended by Liberal Members, and eight by Members of other parties in the House. The applications annually number several hundreds, and the task of selection is an invidious and difficult one. I have endeavoured, as I think my correspondence with Members of the Opposition and other parties in the House will attest, to give careful and fair consideration to their recommendations. I may say that recommendations from this side of the House appear to preponderate over those from the other side, and, no doubt, the same tendency was observed by the Patronage Secretary prior to 1906. A Departmental Committee has been considering the whole question of the Waterguard service. In any case, Members who are inundated with applications for these appointments will be glad to know that, with the approval of the Prime Minister, I am taking steps to waive, in the public interest, the patronage attached to my office, and to transfer the work to suitable-permanent officials directly in touch with the requirements of the service. But in the meantime I will continue to do my best carefully to consider any special recommendations that may be put forward by hon. Members from any quarter of the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the possibility of dispensing with necessity for nomination by a Member of this House?

That, I think, I have answered in my reply.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his Department has made a Grant for dental treatment in the schools under his jurisliction; if so, what is the amount of that Grant; and is it distributed equally over the whole country or given only to certain localities?

No Grant has hitherto been made in aid of dental treatment but, under regulations already issued, a Grant will be made this year towards the expenditure of local education authorities on medical treatment, which will include dental treatment.

asked whether the local authorities in England and "Wales will be called upon to make any contribution to the superannuation fund for teachers?

Under the Act of 1898 no such contribution was payable by local education authorities, and the Government are not proposing to make any alteration in the scheme in this respect.

asked the President of the Board of Education, if he will state when the new scheme for improving the pensions of elementary teachers will come into force, and if it includes any provision for teachers who have retired within the last five years?

If the House approves the new scheme will apply to all teachers in recorded service on the 31st March, 1912, but I propose to ask a Departmental Committee to advise me to what extent the money at my disposal will enable me to make provision for the purpose, amongst others, of improving the allowances paid to teachers whose recorded service terminated before the date I have mentioned.

Is it proposed to make any provision to enable those who have not subscribed to the superannuation scheme in the past to come into the new superannuation scheme by paying up the back money?

Is it not a fact that these teachers had the option of joining, and would it not be very unfair to those who have built up the fund to allow the fund to be open to these teachers?

I cannot admit that it necessarily would be unfair; but the subject is one which I propose to reserve for the Departmental Committee, and to await their report upon it.

Will the scheme apply to all teachers?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Lords of Appeal are called upon to arbitrate in important cases in the country, for which they receive fees; and whether, in view of the fact that it is proposed to increase the number of these Lords of Appeal in order to overtake arrears of work, he will make it a condition in future appointments that no remunerated arbitration work should be undertaken by them?

I am not aware that Lords of Appeal are called upon to arbitrate in important cases for which they receive fees, nor do I see any reason for making any conditions on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what were the quantities and what were the values of flour and wheat meal exported from British ports during the years 1901 and 1911, respectively, to all ports on the South African Coast between and inclusive of Beira and Table Bay?

The total exports of wheat meal and flour to British South Africa and Portuguese East Africa in 1901 were 25,200 cwts., valued at £15,700, of which 1,230 cwts., valued at £670, were of United Kingdom manufacture. In 1911 the totals were 12,000 cwts., valued at £8,500, of which 2,000 cwts., valued at £1,400, were of United Kingdom manufacture. Partculars are not available as regards the exports to individual ports.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Nurses' Registration Bill is now supported by the British Medical Association, the Matron's Council of Great Britain and Ireland, the Royal British Nurses' Association, the Society for the State Registration of Trained Nurses, the Fever Nurses' Association, the Scottish Nurses' Association, the Association for the Promotion of Registration of Nurses in Scotland, and the Irish Nurses' Association, and that Acts providing for the State registration of nurses have been passed in South Africa, in Queensland, in New Zealand, in Ontario, in thirty-four of the States in the American Union, in Germany, and in Belgium; and whether, in view of the necessity for the protection of the sick from unqualified nursing which assumes to be qualified, he will give facilities for the passage of the Bill already passed by the House of Lords or some other?

I was not previously aware of all the facts cited by the hon. Member, but in any case I fear I cannot give facilities for the passage of a Bill on this subject.

asked whether the Board of Trade Report on co-partnership and profit-sharing schemes to be issued in September will contain Reports on the working of such schemes conducted in the Colonies and in foreign countries; and what steps have been taken, both at home and abroad, to obtain information as to the working of co-partnership schemes from small employers and in other cases where it is not generally known that such schemes are in existence?

Detailed information with regard to profit-sharing and co-partnership schemes now in operation in the United Kingdom is being sought for both by direct inquiries and by notices in the Press. A preliminary analysis of a large number of schemes will appear in the July number of the "Board of Trade Labour Gazette." It is proposed that the Report, which will appear in the autumn of this year, shall be confined to the United Kingdom. Such information as can be obtained respecting schemes in operation in the more important. British Dominions and Colonies and in foreign countries will be published in a summary form as soon as possible after the issue of the Report on schemes in the United Kingdom.

Is it not a fact that where co-partnership has been introduced it has been the cause of speeding up work, causing the dismissal of a number of men and preventing old men from being employed?

Is it not the case that where a scheme of co-partnership has been introduced it has drawn employers and employed together and has tended to employ more men?

asked the Prime Minister if he will say when he hopes to be able to introduce the legislation promised at the Imperial Conference dealing with the question of naturalisation?

I am unable to fix a date, and I understand that the Government are still awaiting communications from the Australian and Canadian Governments, whose attention has however again been called to the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an undertaking, amounting almost to a pledge, was given by a former Home Secretary that the fees for naturalisation in this country would be reduced?

That question does not arise out of the question on the Paper.

asked whether, in view of the fact that the services of Members in this House are now rewarded by a yearly salary, it is his intention to propose any Standing Order dealing with the length of absence from duty of hon. Members, more particularly when such absence is from a cause other than physical incapability?

The answer is in the negative.

Is it not a fact that there are at the present moment Statutes in existence which deal with the case of hon. Members who get salaries and do not do their duty?

Perhaps the hon. Member would kindly supply me with a list?

Would it not conduce to public business if the Government paid some Members to remain away?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider this question, in view of the desirability of keeping the Government majority up to the normal pitch?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of having brass discs to register when we come in and out?

asked whether it is the intention of the Government to make provision other than by means of a Bill for the payment of returning officers' expenses at Parliamentary elections; and, if so, when it is intended to do so?

The Government are not proposing to make any such provision during the present Session.

asked whether the Government will consider the desirability of separating the Reform Bill into two parts, one dealing with improvements of the machinery of registration, etc., and the other with the question of the extension of the franchise to either men or women or both, in order that the fate of the Bill may not be jeopardised by an issue which has no real bearing upon the pressing need of improved facilities for securing a full and adequate representation of those who are at present entitled to the franchise?

The improvements of the machinery of registration are necessary in order to give full effect to the extension of the franchise, and the question of improved machinery has, therefore, a very real bearing on the question of the franchise. The Government cannot entertain the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

asked when the Bill carrying out the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion, which the Prime Minister, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for the Harwich Division of Essex, stated on 30th October, 1911, the Board of Trade were then considering and hoped it might be possible to introduce before long, may be expected to be introduced?

A Bill is being prepared on the subject, but I cannot name a date for its introduction.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a Bill was promised "before long," and that is eight months ago, and that large slices of the coast are slipping into the sea while the Government are doing nothing?

I think the hon Gentleman exaggerates the extent of the coast erosion. He knows as well as I do that in the present state of business further legislation cannot be introduced.