asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Crown is aware that John Sheridan, father of Mrs. Helen Blake, was born in Ireland on the 19th December, 1764, and had sisters and brothers, Mary Anne, Thomas, Elizabeth, Ellen, James, Susan, and William; what steps, if any, were taken by the Court or by the Crown to find out what became of those persons or to make their descendants, as next-of-kin of Mrs. Blake, aware of her derelict property; and if he will say which of those persons have been claimed as ancestors by claimants of that property?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the only information in the possession of the Crown bearing upon the antecedents of Mrs. Blake is a statement that she was the daughter of William Lafanue Sheridan, of Baltimore, U.S.A., and Galway, Ireland. I fear I can add nothing to the answers given on Wednesday, 19th June, and on Thursday last, on the first two parts of the question. A search made amongst the papers having reference to claims by alleged next-of-kin shows that certain persons claimed that one John Sheridan was their ancestor, but whether this "John Sheridan" was the same "John Sheridan" as is referred to in the question I am unable to say. The claims, extending as they do over a period of thirty-five years and upwards, are so numerous and in most cases of so confused a character that it is impossible to make a clear and definite statement on this part of the question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the President of the Local Government Board has had sent on to him some fifty resolutions from boards of guardians asking for an amendment of the Old Age Pensions Act to permit boards of guardians to recover the cost of maintenance of old age pensioners who have become chargeable to the common fund by making it obligatory on pension officers to issue orders for the payment of pensions falling due to such pensioners during the period of chargeability direct to the guardians; and, if he has received these resolutions, whether he proposes to introduce legislation to this effect?

I have received numerous resolutions of the kind referred to, but I regret that I am unable to propose legislation to the effect desired by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how many medals have been struck of the three following classes: the King's police medal, the medal to commemorate the Union of South Africa, and the Coronation medal, 1911; and what the approximate cost of these medals has been?

The number of medals struck is as follows:

The approximate cost of the medals issued, including the charge for procuring designs, was, in the case of the Union of South Africa medal, £303, and in the case of the King's police medal £231. I fear there are no figures available to show the cost of the official Coronation medals, but an account showing the cost of all medal work in connection with the Coronation will be published in the forthcoming Report of the Deputy-Governor of the Mint.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many of the new class of assistant clerks are employed in the offices of the Board of Education, in the Savings Bank Department, and in the Customs and Excise Statistical Office, respectively; how many are now eligible by service for promotion; and how many have been promoted to the second division or analogous grade since the institution of the class?

The following are the particulars desired:

In accordance with Paragraph 45 of the Order in Council of the 10th January, 1910, an established civil servant below the second division may only be appointed to that division if he receives a certificate of special merit from the head of his Department. Such certificates can only be granted exceptionally after not less than six years' established service. The number of assistant clerks of over six years' established service in the Departments mentioned above is 118, 183, and 84 respectively; but the hon. Member will observe that six years' service is not the only test of eligibility for promotion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a person who receives and fills up a form of return of Income Tax is entitled to ask for and receive from the Inland Revenue officials a duplicate blank form, in order to have a record of his return, on payment of the cost of such blank form if required?

The answer is in the negative; I am informed, however, that in practice a request from a taxpayer for a duplicate blank form is generally acceded to.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the responsibilities and labour entailed on those in charge of post offices and their staff under the National Insurance Act in connection with the stocking and sale of stamps, furnishing and collection of cards, and similar duties; and whether any extra remuneration or salary is to be granted in respect of such added duties?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 6th June to a similar question by the hon. Member for the Eastbourne Division of Sussex.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the cause of the delay in proceeding with the repairing of Kilkeel Harbour, county Down; and whether, in view of the importance to the fishermen of completing the work before the end of September, he will arrange to expedite the operations?

The carrying out of the repairs required at Kilkeel Pier is a matter for the Down County Council. The Department have offered a contribution in aid of the work.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, having regard to the fact that Irish primary education is a public service supported by public money, he will supply a copy of the form of the confidential Report of 1910–11 by means of which one-third of the Irish teachers were forced out of the service and the lowest type of teacher was increased from 31 per cent. to 67 per cent. of the whole?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, no useful purpose would be served by publishing a copy of the form of Report. The Commissioners of National Education have no reason whatever for believing that there is any foundation in fact for the allegations contained in the latter part of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it was at the instance of the Treasury, and, if not, at whose instance, the policy of economy in Irish national education was adopted in 1900, whereby £83,132 has been returned to the British Treasury and the higher class of unmarried teachers driven out of the service; and whether there is on record any expression of satisfaction or dissatisfaction by the Commissioners with the scale of treatment which deprives them of the services of the best teachers who have not contracted domestic ties in Ireland?

No new policy was adopted by the Commissioners of National Education in 1900. It is an elementary principle in dealing with voted moneys that unexpended balances shall be surrendered at the close of the financial year, and this rule does not affect teachers in any way.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, when the loan for a teacher's residence has been repaid by the teacher and the commissioner, it becomes the property of the patron or manager; is the manager at liberty to charge the occupying teacher a rent when the loan has been so repaid and to appropriate the rent to his own uses; and will the Board exact that, when the loan has been repaid, the residence becomes the property of the Board of Works, to be held by that Board in trust as a free dwelling-house for the principal teacher?

The Commissioners of National Education are not in a position to express an opinion as to the ownership of the teachers' residences when the loans are fully paid off. Managers are empowered to charge teachers rents for the residences not exceeding one-half the annual rent charge. The Commissioners have no power, so far as they are aware, to exact that the residences should ultimately become the property of the Board of Works.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps have been taken to reinstate Mr. Laurence Griffin, of Stradbally, county Kerry, who was evicted from his holding at Maghanabo, Hickson estate; and whether, seeing that the land is vacant, steps will be taken to have him reinstated?

The Estates Commissioners cannot trace the receipt of any application for reinstatement from Laurence Griffin, and, the application not having been lodged within the period mentioned in the Evicted Tenants Act, the case does not come within the provisions of that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Robert Kellet, an evicted tenant from lands near Virginia, county Meath, and also from lands on the Chapman estate, has applied for reinstatement in his former or an equivalent holding; and what action has he taken in his case?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners have decided to take no action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of residents in Ireland, as given in the last Return, unable to speak or understand English; and whether it will be possible, under the terms of the Government of Ireland Bill, for officials of the Irish Civil Service to be penalised or dismissed for inability or failure to make themselves expert in the Gaelic language if so required?

According to the Census of 1901, which is the latest available Return, the number of persons of all ages returned as speaking Irish only was 20,953. The power of dismissing officials will be vested in the Irish Government, but an official dismissed, otherwise than for incapacity or misconduct, will be entitled to compensation to be awarded by a special Civil Service Committee set up by the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any negotiations have taken place between the governors of Simpson's Hospital, Dublin, who are the owners of the lands of Gernonstown, county Meath, and the Estates Commissioners with regard to sale and purchase?

The reply is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners are making inquiries as regards the lands.

asked whether the offer made by the Estates Commissioners for the estate of the Countess de Kervegne, situate at Virginia, county Meath, has been accepted?

The owner has intimated her willingness to accept the Estates Commissioners' estimated price for the lands referred to.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the state of the tongue and feet of the Irish cattle found at Liverpool after slaughter to have been affected by foot-and-mouth disease indicated the existence of the disease in such animals for at least a week prior to their consignment from Ireland; and whether during this period the Department of Agriculture in Ireland or its inspectors had any knowledge, official or otherwise, of the existence of the disease in any part of Ireland?

I am aware that an opinion to this effect has been given by Mr. Stockman, of the Board of Agriculture. Neither the Department nor any of its officers had the slightest knowledge or suspicion of the existence of foot-and-mouth disease in the country, which has enjoyed complete immunity from its ravages for thirty years. The Department is now pursuing an investigation as regards the origin of the disease on the Russell Cruice Farm at Swords, where it was found by the officers of the Department to exist on Sunday last; and until I receive the report, I would prefer to say nothing.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why it is that, other than two Yeomanry regiments, there are no units of the Territorial Force in Ireland; and whether, in view of the shortage in numbers in the Territorial Force in Great Britain, it is proposed to raise any Territorial units in Ireland?

The two regiments of Irish Horse mentioned form part of the Special Reserve and not of the Territorial Force. As regards the question generally, I would refer the Noble Lord to my reply to a question put by the hon. Gentleman the Member for the Ludlow Division of Shropshire on the 1st May.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War (l) under what Regulation the capitation Grant is paid to chaplains in respect of men who do not belong to their denominations; and (2) whether he will explain why the War Office pay a chaplain full capitation Grant for 200 men when only 15 per cent. of them belong to his denomination and attend his church, while 85 per cent. of that number attend their own church and the minister of their denomination receives no capitation Grant; and under what Regulation he justifies such a course?

I will reply to this and to the next question at the same time. Denomination in the Regular Army is religious denomination and not church denomination, and accordingly Presbyterianism is treated as one denomination. Only such an officiating clergyman as is appointed under Article 361 of the Royal Warrant for Pay, etc., draws remuneration.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Army Chaplains Committee has powers to refuse to put forward the name of a candidate for a chaplaincy of a Territorial Regiment, such candidate being of the same denomination as the great majority of the men in that regiment, until and unless the commanding officer also puts forward the name of another chaplain nominated by the Army Chaplains Committee who belongs to a denomination which is only represented by about 6 per cent. of the men in that regiment; and what numbers of a denomina- tion there must be in the regiment before a chaplain can be claimed for any denomination.

The procedure with regard to the nomination of candidates is laid down in paragraph 77 of the Territorial Force Regulations, and the numbers necessary to secure an appointment in paragraph 79. If the Noble Lord has any particular case in his mind, I should be glad if he would communicate with me on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many batteries of horse and field artillery, respectively, in the United Kingdom are short of their establishment of horses; what is the total amount of this shortage; and what is the peace and war establishment of horses for a battery of field or horse artillery, respectively?

The shortage of horses is as follows:—

The establishments are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for War on what grounds the War Office, in accordance with Cadet Regulations, 1912, page 16, Appendix 11, while supplying necessary articles of equipment for camps for recognised cadets, refuses to supply paillasse cases; and whether, seeing that it is as necessary for cadets to have paillasses to sleep on in camp as it is for full-grown territorials who are supplied with them, the War Office will allow the issue of paillasses to recognised cadet units when in camp?

The scale of camp equipment for cadets is based upon what it was found that Cadet Units hired, when the hiring system was in force, and which therefore was accepted as presumably representing what they found to be absolutely necessary. The addition to scale now suggested by the hon. and gallant Member is under these circumstances not considered necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he can state the grounds upon which the War Office has repeatedly refused to sanction any recognition being given to the British soldiers who took part in the Boer War of 1881; and whether he is now in a position to reconsider the matter?

In 1881 it was decided by the Secretary of State for War and His Royal Highness the Commander-in-Chief that as the general result of the campaign was not successful no general decoration commemorative of the operations against the Boers should be granted to the troops. The matter has been reviewed on subsequent occasions, and on each occasion it was decided that there were no grounds for reversing the original decision.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will instruct or advise the police authorities, in districts where there is great distress, to assist any women, children, or other persons who are necessitous and are unable to obtain, or do not know how to obtain, Poor Law relief, to make their application to the relieving officer or the master of the workhouse as occasion may require?

It is customary for the Metropolitan Police to give advice to any person who is necessitous or in distress who may appeal to them for such advice, or who may otherwise come under their notice. The instructions are that such persons shall be directed to the nearest workhouse, infirmary, charitable agency, or other place of shelter suitable to their case.

asked how many parents were summoned under the Education Act in 1911, and the total amount of fines paid, and the number of imprisonments in lieu of fines?

Tables XL and XXXV. of the Annual Judicial Statistics for the year 1910 give figures with regard to the criminal proceedings taken under the Education Acts which may serve the hon. Member's purpose, but these tables have not yet been completed for the year 1911, and the total amount of fines cannot be given. In 1910, 36,823 persons were summoned under the Education Acts; 26,235 were fined, and 1,494 went to prison in default of paying their fines.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Norman Tree, aged nineteen, is in the tubercular cell at Wandsworth Prison; and whether, in view of the youth of the prisoner and the readiness of one of the visiting justices to send him abroad free of all expense and to find work for him in new surroundings, he will order the immediate release of this prisoner?

My attention has been called to the case by my hon. Friend's question, and I will at once make inquiry into it. I have received a letter from one of the members of the visiting committee, but he does not make any such offer as the question suggests. The reports received from the prison show that the prisoner is receiving sanatorium treatment in the prison in such modified form as the circumstances allow, and that the condition of his lungs has considerably improved during the two months that have passed since his reception.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will give the prisoner Crowsley the benefit of Rule 243A, seeing that the offence he committed did not involve moral turpitude, etc.?

No, Sir. The offence of which Crowsley was convicted is not one to which Rule 243A can properly be applied.

asked the Secretary of State whether he received on 27th June a communication signed by Sir Victor Horsley, Mr. Arbuthnot Lane, Professor Halliburton, and 117 medical practitioners, protesting against the practice of forcible feeding when that operation is resisted by the patient, on the grounds that, in their opinion, it is accompanied by immediate risk of life in addition to the danger of permanent damage to the health, both of body and of mind; and whether he proposes to discontinue and end the practice?

I have received the memorial referred, but as the memoralists are unable to suggest any alternative method by which prisoners who refuse food can be prevented from committing suicide, I am unable to attach much weight to their representations. I may add that I have received another memorial signed by most distinguished medical men, stating that feeding by tube, if carried out in accordance with the usual rules of procedure, is neither dangerous nor painful. The compulsory feeding of recalcitrant prisoners is a most unpleasant process, extremely distasteful to those whose duty it is to carry it out, and everything is done by the medical staff of the prisons to avoid it where possible, and, when it is necessary, to guard against any risk to health and to minimise the discomfort to the prisoner.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to make any statement in regard to the case of Mr. Jetha Nand, of Delhi Gate, Multan City, Punjab; whether he is aware that the authorities contemplate in the coming season a further prosecution for the non-vaccination of his child; and whether any steps can be taken to prevent a fourth case against this man, who objects to this operation on religious and medical grounds, in view of the fact that he has already been fined twice and imprisoned once for the same child?

The Secretary of State has not yet received a Report on the case from the Government of India. He has asked that it should be expedited, and has inquired whether further proceedings against Jetha Nand are contemplated by the local authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary when the House is to be informed of the purport of the instructions given to Field Marshal Lord Nicholson's Commission; and whether he is in a position to say that the British garrison will not be reduced before the House has an opportunity of expressing an opinion on that question?

With regard to the first part of the question, if the hon. Member will read the reply which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Kincardineshire on the 30th April last, he will see that I then stated the terms of reference to the Committee. With regard to the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War on the 31st May to the hon. and gallant Member for Melton, and to the speech made by my noble Friend the Secretary of State in another place on the 2nd November last.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, referring to the joint memorandum issued in January, 1911, with regard to co-operation between labour exchanges and local education authorities, in which the date specified for local authorities to decide as to exercising their powers under the Choice of Employment Act, 1910, was 31st December, 1911, and having regard to the Circular 782 of the Board of Education, issued only in August, 1911, introducing the new condition of a partial Grant-in-Aid of expenses to the local authorities desiring to exercise their powers, and having regard to the extension of time to 30th June, 1912, granted last November, and to the fact that in the interval several very important local authorities have formulated schemes, which have been approved, and others have submitted schemes for approval, he will further extend the time to 31st December, 1912, for local authorities to decide whether they will exercise their powers under the Choice of Employment Act?

Local education authorities may submit schemes for the exercise of their powers under the Choice of Employment Act at any time and the Board of Education will give the same consideration as at present to any scheme submitted after the date mentioned in the question. The period during which it was agreed in the Joint Memorandum referred to that my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would delay taking any steps to extend the system of Juvenile Advisory Committees under the Labour Exchanges Act has been already once extended and there seems no sufficient reason for any further extension, but my hon. Friend may rest assured that nothing will be done by either Department to dissuade any local authorities from exercising their powers under the Choice of Employment Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that shippers using the port of London are compelled, under threat of ruin by boycott, to confine their trade to certain firms which have entered into an agreement to regulate freights and conditions on the great trade routes, particularly to South Africa and the East; and what action he proposes taking to establish free shipping for the trading community of the Port of London?

On many of the great trade routes there are conferences of shipowners, which regulate freights. The whole question of shipping conferences and rings was investigated by a Royal Commission, which reported in 1909, and in view of their findings, my right hon. Friend is not, as at present advised, prepared to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that at Erith five men who were peacefully picketing were summoned by the police for molesting and intimidation, and, on the case being heard at Dartford on Friday, the men were acquitted; and whether he will state what foundation the police had for taking this action?

The summonses were taken out by the captain of the barge, who alleged that he had been intimidated by the pickets. All the police did was to obtain the names and addresses. The summons was dismissed on a point of law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Erith branch of the Amalgamated Society of Watermen notified the police of their intention to parade in the streets an effigy of a man who was working on a tug, and that the superintendent refused permission for the procession; whether he will say by what right the police then entered the men's club-room, demanded the effigy, took it to the police station and burnt it, and threatened at the next Session to oppose the licence of the proprietor of the Crown Hotel, who had nothing to do with the matter, he only allowing the club to be held on his premises?

I cannot agree that the facts are as stated in the question. A demonstration had taken place outside the residences of two employés five days previously, and had resulted in two police officers and one of the men being injured, and it appeared to the police that to parade the streets with this effigy would inevitably provoke a further breach of the peace. They therefore very properly warned those concerned. The landlord of the Crown Hotel, who was present, expressed a wish that the effigy should be removed from his premises. It was therefore removed by two watermen to the police station, and at their request it was burned there. No threats of any description were used by the police towards the landlord.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of illiterate voters, and the proportion they formed of the number of electors voting, in England and Wales, at each of the General Elections from that of 1868 to that of December, 1910, both inclusive?

The figures, so far as they are available, are as follows:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade, if he will give the Return relative to legislation respecting trade disputes in the Dominion of Canada, notice for which stands on to-day's Paper. [Mr. Needham,—Canada (Legislation regarding Trade Disputes),—Return giving the Acts of Parliament of the Dominion of Canàda relating to investigation and conciliation of Trade Disputes; and, in regard to such Acts, the number of Disputes in which application was made ( a ) by employers and ( b ) by operatives; the average length of time taken to set up an investigation and conciliation board after application by one of the parties; the average length of time taken between the appointment of such board and the publication of its findings; the number of Disputes investigated, their nature and the number of persons affected; the number of cases which resulted in settlement without strikes or lock-outs; the number of cases which were investigated unsuccessfully and which were followed by strikes or lockouts; the number and amount of penalties imposed, if any, on ( a ) employers and ( b ) operatives in cases of contravention of these Acts; and the cost to the public funds of Canada in connection with these Acts.]

Information as to the working of the Canadian Industrial Disputes Investigation Act, 1907, is contained in a recent Report (Cd. 6081) prepared by the Board of Trade, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the death rate amongst children of six to ten years of age, distinguishing, if possible, between boys and girls, during each of the years 1901 to 1910, both inclusive?

I have obtained the following particulars from the Registrar-General. The mortality in England and Wales during the years 1901–1910 among children aged five-ten years was as follows:

The above rates are subject to correction when the results of the 1911 Census are fully ascertained. The Registrar-General is unable to state the mortality among children aged six-ten years.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Advisory Committee for the county of Sussex has made any recommendations of names to be added to the commission of the peace for Sussex; and, if so, why no magisterial appointments have been made since the Advisory Committee was set up?

Several names were added to the Commission for Sussex last week.

asked the Postmaster-General the reason why the Ceylon mail, which left there on the 2nd May per the steamship '"Osterley," which was due for delivery in London on Monday, the 20th of May, was not delivered until Tuesday, the 28th of May?

I regret to say that, through an error in the "way bill," part of the Ceylon mail was not landed at. Naples for transmission to this country by train but was brought on to London by sea.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of applications for land to the Scottish Board of Agriculture according to counties, showing the number of applications in each county and the amount of land applied for?

Up to 27th June the number of preliminary inquiries was 5,746, and the following Table shows the number of applicants who have completed their applications for new holdings and enlargement of existing holdings, and the total acreage applied for in each of the counties of Scotland up to and including that date: