asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the conditions on which the British Government would lend military officers to the Turkish Government; and whether they will include the condition that the officers shall have executive authority?

The conditions, including that relating to the executive authority of the officers, are still under consideration.

Will the conditions be laid before the House before the appointments are made?

I could not say that. The House might not be sitting at the time the appointments are made. But I will make known the conditions.

asked whether the British Consul at Odessa has been in structed to keep a watch on the movements-of the ex-Shah of Persia; whether the Government has recently received any reports from the British Consul at Odessa, as to the proceedings of the ex-Shah; and whether the British Government adhere to their often repeated declaration that under no circumstances will they recognize the ex-Shah as ruler of Persia?

The answer to the first point is in the negative; a report has been received from His Majesty's Consulate that the Shah was preparing to leave for Carlsbad, but there has been no confirmation of it from other sources; as to the third point, His Majesty's Government have seen no reason for modifying their attitude.

asked whether Shuja-ed-Dowleh is still acting as Governor of Tabriz; and, if so, why the pledge contained in the dispatch of Sir G. Buchanan, dated 14th February, 1912, has not been carried out?

The answer to the first, point in the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative. As regards the second point, the telegram to which he refers mentions no pledge, but merely intimates the acquiescence of the Russian Government in the transfer of Shuja-ed-Dowleh to another post and the appointment of Sipahdar as Governor-General at Tabriz. Though Sipahdar's departure for his post has been postponed, his appointment has not been cancelled, and it is hoped that he will soon leave Teheran.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give any indication when Shuja-ed-Dowleh can be removed from the Governorship of Tabriz?

No, I have no more definite information than is given in the answer.

asked the nature of the guarantees of this country to support the status quo in the island of Crete, and if such guarantee has on more than one occasion in recent years compelled the presence in Cretan waters of a force of His Majesty's warships; and if the force in the Eastern Mediterranean at the present time is sufficient to ensure the carrying out of this country's obligations there?

The nature of the engagements undertaken by the Powers in respect of Crete are to be found in the Blue Books issued in 1897–98–99, on pages 118, 110, and 57, respectively. The presence of more than one of His Majesty's ships in Cretan "waters has been necessitated on three occasions since those undertakings were given. The naval forces of His Majesty in the Mediterranean are amply sufficient for any purposes connected with the maintenance of existing obligations.

Are any British warships in Cretan waters at the present moment?

I am not quite sure "whether there are one or two.

Have we got the three ships that might be required to act in the Mediterranean?

I do not think I said three ships were required. I said that more than one was required on three occasions since 1895. I think that that there were only two at a time. The ships required in connection with Crete are not necessarily ships of a high fighting value as against modern ships.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been drawn to the charge delivered by the Judge of Assize to the Grand Jury of King's County, on Monday last, the 1st instant, with reference to the state of a portion of King's County; whether he is aware that the number of specially reported outrages in this county have risen from ten in the period between the Spring and Summer Assizes of 1911 to twenty-six in the corresponding period of this year; and whether any special steps have been taken to deal with this disturbed area and to protect law-abiding people therein?

I have seen a newspaper report of the charge delivered by the learned judge. The police authorities inform me that the increase in the number of offences reported is almost entirely due to a dispute about one farm near Ferbane, and that the sixteen additional cases referred to in the question include a number of threatening letters and notices in connection with the matter. The people of the district, other than those immediately concerned, are not taking any part in the dispute. The necessary protection is being afforded to the occupiers of the farm.

Is the Chief Secretary aware that these charges which are made by the judges in Ireland on the state of the country have no parallel in England, and are not known, and that the judge is only speaking on information supplied to him by the police authorities?

What has that got to do with the question which my hon. Friend has put upon the Paper?

It has long been the practice in Ireland for judges in Ireland before commencing their proceedings to receive a report from the police in the district as to the general state of affairs. There is, pi course, no corresponding practice to that in England, and, whatever value belongs to the Report, it is made by the persons responsible in regard to the state of affairs in the county.

asked whether the Chief Secretary is aware that on Friday evening, 28th June, when the Protestant rector and the Sunday school children and teachers connected with his church were returning from the rectory at Glenone to Innisrush, several shots were fired at them when passing Harrystown, a hamlet inhabited by Roman Catholics; whether any arrest have been made; and what means are being taken to prevent a recurrence of outrages of this kind?

The police authorities inform me that on the 28th June, when the Innisrush Protestant Temperance Band was returning through Harrystown from a Sunday school fete, a woman struck one of the drummers with a stick. She was at once removed by the police, and the person assaulted refused to prosecute. Soon afterwards five shots were fired from near her house, which is about a hundred yards from the road and surrounded by trees, but the police could not see who fired them, or whether they were fired at anyone. Some stones were also thrown from a neighbouring shrubbery, but no one except this one woman attempted to attack the band. The police were present in sufficient number to prevent any disturbance, and the necessary precautions will be taken on other occasions of the kind.

asked what steps the Chief Secretary has taken to institute a full and searching inquiry into the facts connected with the late attack on Whitehouse Presbyterian Sunday School children by members of a procession of the Ancient Order of Hibernians at Castledawson?

The facts will be fully investigated in a Court of Justice. Proceedings have been taken against thirty-six persons, some belonging to one party and some to the other, and the cases came before the magistrates at Magherafelt Petty Sessions yesterday, when the defendants' solicitors applied for an adjournment on the ground that they had not had time to prepare their defence. On this application the cases were adjourned to the 22nd instant, the defendants being admitted to bail.

May I ask the Chief Secretary whether, in view of the fact that he has already promised the fullest and most careful investigation by an independent person, he will do more than simply give the result of the proceedings about to be taken in a Court of Law?

I am in the hands of people generally in this matter. Being a member of the legal profession myself, I have always thought that nothing was more satisfactory than an inquiry in a Court of Law. I do not know whether the hon. Member quarrels at all with that view, but for my own part I think my promise is fulfilled by these proceedings.

In view of the fact that any inquiry which may take place in a Court of Law will only be on the facts as affecting the parties to the dispute in Court; in view of the fact that there cannot possibly be a proper report of the whole occurrence; and in view of the fact that he has already promised us a full inquiry, may I press him to institute such inquiry?

I prefer to wait to see the result of this legal inquiry. It was the kind of investigation I had in my mind when I made the promise.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also consider what has been going on in the Belfast shipyards, where Orangemen have made brutal attacks on trade unionists, Catholics, and Socialists.

asked whether the Lord Chancellor has yet considered the Report of the County Court judges on County Court Procedure; and, if so, when will action be taken on the Report, and when will the Report be made public?

I am informed by the Lord Chancellor that owing to his engagements it has not been possible for him as yet to fully consider the Report referred to, but he will take the first opportunity of doing so.

In view of the fact that it is a month since I asked this question and no action has been taken, will the right hon. Gentleman ask the Lord Chancellor to deal with this matter as quickly as possible, as the legal profession are very much interested in it?

I, too, am very much interested, and I will convey to the Lord Chancellor the desire of the hon. Gentleman.

asked if the Chief Secretary will state what progress has been made in the preparation of the Return promised by him some time ago as to the number of agrarian outrages in Ireland?

The Return which the hon. Member asked for on 15th April was published with the Votes on that date. I am forwarding a copy to the hon. Member, as he does not appear to have seen it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the India Council has created a new appointment of secretary for Indian students; if so, what is the salary attached to the office, and what are the duties connected with it; and whether the status of the educational advisor to Indian students is in any way affected thereby?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for East Nottingham.

asked whether the attention of the Under-Secretary for India has been drawn to the fact that an application was made more than a year ago to have a copy of the Report of the British-Indian Commercial Mission to South-Eastern Persia, by Mr. Glendowe Newcommen, placed in the Library; whether, up to the present, this Report has not been placed in the Library; and whether he will see that a copy is furnished to the Library without delay?

So far as I am aware no such application has ever been made before, but the Secretary of State will cause a copy of Mr. Newcommen's Report (which is now six years old) to be placed in the Library. I may add that the Report is not in any sense an Official Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the case of Tobin v. Gardiner, in the Supreme Court at Singapore; whether he is aware that Mr. Tobin alleges that when he was a prisoner in gaol his wife, who was left destitute with her children, was taken advantage of by Mr. E. A. Gardiner, assistant superintendent of police; whether he is aware that Chief Detective Inspector Nolan gave evidence that in July or August last he was instructed by Mr. Gardiner to watch Mrs. Tobin, and on his failing to find anything against her he was then asked by Mr. Gardiner to get some body to take her out for a rikisha ride or to come forward and say that he had had relations with her; whether he is aware that in the action which Mr. Tobin brought against Mr. Gardiner for criminal conver- sation with his wife, the Chief Justice, Sir William Hyndman Jones, stated that he was satisfied that Chief Detective Inspector Nolan was a true witness, and awarded $1,000 damages against Mr. Gardiner; and whether the Colonial Office has taken or proposes to take any action?

I have seen a report of the case in a local newspaper, which confirms the statements in the second, third, and fourth parts of my hon. Friend's question. It also appears from that newspaper that the officer in question has been suspended from duty. I am awaiting a report from the Governor.

asked whether the Report of the Commission appointed to inquire into the state of English education in the Straits Settlements, referred to by the Secretary of State for the Colonies in his dispatch of 29th January, 1903, and also the Report of the Committee of which Sir Cecil Smith was chairman, referred to in the same dispatch, have been published or are available for the information of Members of this House?

Copies of the two-Reports to which my hon. Friend refers-will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he will consider the desirability of deferring the proposals for new Government buildings under the Post Offices (Sites) Bill, in view of the extent of public offices recently erected and the dissatisfaction with their architectural features?

In view of the fact that these new offices are urgently required, the First Commissioner regrets that he cannot accede to the suggestion of my hon. Friend and postpone the Bill. He hopes that the architectural features of the new buildings will meet with general approval.

May I ask whether it is the fact that nearly the whole of the architectural work of the Board is now carried out by the Board's own architect, and whether, as regards these new buildings, designs from outside architects will be invited?

As regards the plans for the new buildings, the proposition put forward by the hon. Member as to a competition is under the consideration of the First Commissioner.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a memorial to the Treasury from the whole body of permanent valuers and surveyors of the General Valuation Office, Ireland, asking for an inquiry into their salaries and the administration of the Department, was presented to Sir John Barton, the Commissioner of Valuation in Ireland, on 3rd June, 1912; whether the memorial has yet reached the Treasury, and, if so, why has no reply or acknowledgment of any kind been given to the memorialists; and whether, if the memorial has not reached the Treasury, will investigation be made into the cause of its delay in reaching them?

The memorial has been presented to the head of the Department as required by the rules of the public service and has been forwarded by him to the Treasury, where it is now receiving consideration. No direct communications pass in such cases between the Treasury and memorialists.

asked what extra remuneration the permanent valuers and surveyors of the General Valuation Office, Ireland, are receiving for having fixed, by Sir John Barton's directions, over 17,000 gross and full-site values and made over2,000 complete provisional valuations under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, which work is outside the scope of their duties under the Irish Valuation Acts; whether they have been furnished with warrants entitling them to enter premises for other purposes than valuation for rating; what proportion, if any, of the cost of the above valuations has been charged against the Vote for the rating side of the General Valuation Office; and, if any, why the whole was not charged against the Finance Act side of the Department?

No extra remuneration has been paid for the valuing work in question which has not involved extra hours' work and is not outside the scope of the valuers' duties. No special warrants were considered necessary. The work is required both for valuations under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and for rating valuations, and the cost has been divided and charged accordingly, as shown in Class II., Vote 43, of the Civil Service Estimates.

asked the Prime Minister how many Members it is estimated will be summoned under Clause 26 (3) of the Government of Ireland Bill to this House?

It is impossible to form an estimate of the number of Members to be summoned from Ireland to this House in the events referred to in Clause 26 of the Bill, as the number will depend on the relative population of Great Britain and Ireland at the time.

asked the Prime Minister in what manner and when it is proposed to redeem the pledges given by him to the railway companies in August, 1911, with regard to the increase of rates; and if, in view of the extent to which the interests of railway employés are affected, precedence will be given to the necessary legislation to ensure its passage before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. It is proposed in the Railways Bill, which has been introduced, to give effect to the undertaking given to the railway companies in August last, but it is not possible for the Bill to become law before Parliament rises for the Recess.

Is that in consequence of the general dissatisfaction felt in regard to sundry Clauses in the Bill?

I have not the least idea to what the hon. Member is referring.

Clause 2.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the Education (Scotland) Bill introduced by the Member for Banffshire; whether he is willing to grant facilities for its passage into law, and, if not, whether he can hold out any hope of the whole subject of school board areas being dealt with by legislation at an early date?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; to the second and third parts in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that, owing to the Report of the Commissioner who inquires into the matter of amalgamations of school districts, held by order of the Scottish Education Department, being held as confidential, the school boards concerned have no means of knowing what relation the Report bears to the evidence adduced at the inquiry, and are, in consequence debarred from making further representations to the Department, as provided for by the rules of procedure; and whether he will consider the possibility of modifying the Regulation which forbids the Report being made available to the school boards interested?

I would point out that before the making of any Order following upon an inquiry of the kind referred to, the terms of the proposed Order are communicated to the school boards, and are otherwise made known precisely in accordance with the rules of procedure laid down in the Act. A period of not less than forty days is then allowed to elapse for the receiving of representations, and I am unable to admit that the fact that the Report is treated as confidential in any way debars school boards from making representations respecting the proposed Order, as provided for in the said rules of procedure.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the number of people who have friends in Australia and who cannot afford expensive messages, he will consider the advisability of extending the deferred delivery cable rate so that it may be possible to send a message to Australia of ten words for 5s. with a condition that the message may, if necessary, be delayed in its delivery for 48 or 72 hours or even longer?

I am engaged in negotiations on the subject of the extension to Australia and New Zealand of the system of week-end cable letters which is now in successful operation between the United Kingdom on the one hand and Canada and the United States on the other. The negotiations are not yet concluded.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Select Committee appointed to inquire into postal questions has declined to consider the case of the retrenched Civil servants from South Africa on the basis that they do not constitute a separate class in the postal service; and, in the circumstances, will he take into personal consideration the case of men who are doing highly skilled work at a learner's salary?

I understand that the Select Committee are unable to consider specially the case of the retrenched officers. That case is only a part of the wider question of starting pay in the Post Office service. There is a general rule, applicable to retrenched South African Civil servants as to others, that officers entering the class of sorting clerk and telegraphist above the age of twenty-one must enter at the age pay fixed for officers of twenty-one. I am unable to reconsider this general question until the Committee has reported. In no case at present do qualified officers receive only learner's salary.

Is it the case that the Committee will inquire into the case of these retrenched Civil servants?

I cannot in any way control the proceedings of the Select Committee, but the matter is certainly within their terms of reference, and I should imagine it would be difficult for them to arrive at a conclusion on the question of wages scales without entering into the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman personally communicate with the Committee asking their special attention to this class, who have suffered greatly?

I have already communicated with the Chairman of the Committee in reference to the hon. Member's question, so that he is cognisant of the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that many London postmen were called upon to perform protracted duties owing to interrupted mails during the recent coal strike, and that payment for the extra time performed has been refused; and will he reconsider the matter with a view to these men receiving proper compensation?

My attention has been called to this matter and I am inquiring into the circumstances with the view of ascertaining whether I should be justified in this case in departing from the rule which prohibits overtime payments to postmen for prolongation of delivery.

asked whether the Post Office has declined to deliver telegrams to the "Lady Jocelyn"; and whether this is in accordance with the practice obtaining or arises from apprehension of the pickets who have been told off to watch the vessel and to interfere with operations in connection therewith?

The answer is in the negative.

asked what was the number of men employed in the London docks in the week ended 6th July, 1912, and the number in the corresponding week of 1911?

I am not in a position to give the figures asked for in the question now, but I will endeavour to obtain the information and send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the total number of charges for assault arising out of the railway strike in 1911, and the number which have taken place in connection with the present dock strike?

I am unable to give the number of charges for assault arising out of the railway strike in 1911. As regards the present dock strike, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 8th instant to a question by the Noble Marquess, the Member for the West Division of Perthshire.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take the necessary steps in order that this information shall be placed before the House?

It has been placed before the House.

The right hon. Gentleman has just stated that he was not in a position to give the number.

The hon. Member is not entitled to argue the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the practice of the Home Office to adopt the advice of those in, charge of the police in regard to the steps to be taken to preserve order and protect life and property; and if that practice has been followed as regards the present dock strike?

The steps to be taken for the preservation of order and the protection of life and property are primarily matters for the magistrates and the police authority in the district concerned. As regards the present dock strike, the steps taken by the Metropolitan Police have been taken upon the authority of the Commissioner, and have had my entire approval.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the statement of Judge Rentoul, at the Old Bailey, on 6th July, in connection with a charge arising out of the dock strike, to the effect that picketing had been practised in a manner and to an ex-text not allowed by the Trade Disputes Act; and whether, in view of the way in which this criticism is borne out by what has occurred in connection with the dock strike and other industrial disputes, legislation will be introduced to place picketing on a proper basis and to lighten the burdens of the Home Secretary?

As the hon. Member's question mentions that the statement of the judge was that picketing has been practised in a manner and to an extent not allowed by the Trade Disputes Act, I have no sufficient indication of the legislation which the hon. Member desires to see introduced.

Arising out of that, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether his reply now is in accordance with the reply he previously gave, which was, first of all, that there was no intimidation, and later in the dispute that the intimidation Was not more than might have been expected under the circumstances?

If the hon. Member will be so good as to refer me to the exact passage in which he alleges that I said there was no intimidation, I shall be happy to answer him.

I shall have very great pleasure in giving it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that small yachts frequently anchor in the Firth of Clyde and lochs at night without displaying a light, in contravention of the Regulations, and not in the shallow water of unfrequented bays; that they are encouraged to do so by the recent decision of the Glasgow Sheriff Court, awarding damages against a steamer which ran down a yacht which exhibited no light; and that the danger of a collision with such yacht constitutes a serious risk to Glasgow passenger steamers; and whether, in view of the near approach of the Glasgow holiday season, he will take immediate steps to obviate these risks?

My right hon. Friend is, as was stated in answer to my hon. Friend's question on Monday last, making inquiries as to whether any action is necessary in this matter.

Will the Board of Trade consider that the water where the steamers are going is shallow water?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can promise that the Second Reading of the Pilotage Bill will not be taken before the Autumn Recess?

I cannot yet say if the Second Reading will be taken before the Recess.

In view of the great opposition that this Bill evokes can it not be put off till a later part of the Session?

I have just said that we cannot say exactly what course will be taken.

Does the hon. Gentleman know that the Prime Minister stated that small contentious Bills would not be taken?

This is not highly contentious.

May I ask whether when the Pilotage Bill comes before the House sufficient time will be given for it to be fully and freely debated?

That may be taken as certain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can inform the House the reason why he is unable to keep his promise to issue the Coronation Medals for the provincial police in five weeks from the 25th April last?

I expressed the hope that the Mint would be able to supply the medals in five weeks from the 25th April last. I am now informed that owing to an unusual pressure of work the Mint has been unable to get all the medals struck in the time. It is hoped that all the medals will be issued early next week.

Would it not add to the prestige of His Majesty's Government if they sometimes tried to keep their promises?

Will the hon. Gentleman refer me to any promise that he alleges has been made?

I shall certainly do so, Sir.

No, Sir; the hon. Gentleman would be unable to do so.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state the number of suffragists still in prison; and how many of them are being forcibly fed?

Two suffragists are in prison, both convicted during the present month. Neither is being artificially fed.

asked whether Elsie Rachel Helsby, a prisoner in Shrewsbury Gaol, is receiving prison treatment under Rule 243a; whether this includes the sending in of food from outside; and what are the rules with respect tovisits to her?

Elsie Rachel Helsby is being treated under Rule 243a. The Regulations under this rule permit a parcel of food, not exceeding 11 lbs., to be sent in once a week, and she may be visited once a month by not more than three friends or relations at the same time for a quarter of an hour if her conduct continues to be good.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received two letters from the vicar of Milborne St. Andrew's, Dorset, stating that fever had broken out in the village; that some of the cottages there were shamefully insanitary; that the village stream was fouled with sewage, and that neither landlords nor farmers would stir in the matter; and whether he intends to rest satisfied with the local sanitary inspector's report to the rural district council that the draining of the cottages was perfect, and no alteration was necessary?

I have received the letters in question alleging that typhoid fever had broken out in the village, and complaining of various insanitary conditions, and I am still in communication with the district council on the subject. I learn that one case of scarlet fever has occurred, which was promptly removed to hospital. The district council do not at present admit the accuracy of all the allegations. I propose to send an inspector to visit this village.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has issued any Order or other communication to boards of guardians in England and Wales requiring or advising them to separate feeble-minded persons from those of sound mind in Poor Law institutions?

The Regulations in force provide for the classification and subdivision of inmates of workhouses with reference to the moral character or behaviour or to the previous habits of the inmates, or to such other grounds as may seem expedient. The Local Government Board have frequently drawn the attention of boards of guardians to the necessity of separating the feeble-minded from other inmates of workhouses, and their inspectors, when necessary, press this point.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state what was the maximum amount of the Grants received under Article 34 by local education authorities in respect of technical instruction in agricultural subjects and in connection with other industries respectively; and whether, under the recent arrangement with the Board of Agriculture, any larger amount than the above maximum can be paid by that Department in respect of such subjects?

Separate Grants for particular technical subjects are not paid by the Board of Education under Article 34, and I cannot, therefore, state the amount paid in respect of agricultural instruction. It has been estimated, however, that about £6,000 of the Grants paid for the year ending 31st July, 1911, represents the Grants for agricultural instruction of the kind to be aided in future by the Board of Agriculture. There will be transferred from the Estimates of the Board of Education to those of the Board of Agriculture for the financial year 1913–14 an amount based upon a similar estimate in respect of the year ending 31st July, 1912.

Is there any reason why in the arrangement made with the Board of Agriculture the Grants for agricultural technical instruction should not be increased?

I am not aware that there is any reason why the Grants should be increased, decreased, or changed. There is nothing against the arrangements one way or the other being taken into consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will state how many of the children attending elementary, secondary, and special schools, respectively, are mentally defective?

I can only give figures relating to children in special schools recognised by the Board of Education for mentally defective. In such schools there were in average attendance for the year 1910–11 10,337 children in England and Wales.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any information as to whether either or both of the parents of the children are mentally defective?

I have some particulars, but I think I should prefer to have notice before I give a definite answer.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the action of the Birmingham education authority in allowing the Navy League access to the council schools for the purpose of establishing branches of the league amongst the school children; and whether he proposes to take any action?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I understand that the proposal to establish branches of the Navy League related only to secondary schools. I do not myself think that the local education authority were well advised, and I strongly deprecate the introduction into schools maintained out of public funds of any kind of political propaganda, whether of a party or non-party character, and it is obviously undesirable that any persons or associations should be allowed to exercise inside the school any influence over the minds of the scholars to which their parents could reasonably object. I do not think, however, that I should have any power to intervene except on the ground that the formation of such associations among the scholars in schools aided by the Board's Grants prejudice their education or their school life in general.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether these visits were not paid during school hours, and in that way interfered with the time-table, and has not that time-table to receive the approval of the inspector?

At present I have no information. I do not think that any of the branches have commenced their work in the secondary schools up to the present moment.

Was not this recent visit to the schools in the nature of an educational one and in working hours?

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries as to whether these visits of the Navy League emissaries were undertaken during school hours, and will he not make some representations in this connection?

I am trying to obtain the facts with regard to the establishment of these branches, but at the present moment I have not got any definite information. I am sending a copy of the question and the replies to the education authorities, drawing their attention to the views of the Board.

Will the right hon. Gentleman send copies of the supplementary questions as well?

May I ask if the time-table of any school is so rigidly fixed that interruption in case of special emergency cannot be permitted at the discretion of the manager of the school and not the Board of Education?

The Board of Education have taken the view that the curriculum has already enough subjects without increasing the number.

May I ask whether this was a special emergency?

Tuesday! It was.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the post of assistant secretary for Fisheries in the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has been filled; if so, who has been appointed to the vacancy and what are his technical and professional qualifications for the appointment; and, if not, what fishery qualifications, if any, are expected from a person who, as assistant secretary, will be responsible for advising the Board on fishery subjects?

I propose to appoint to the vacant assistant secretary-ship of the Fisheries Division of the Board, Mr. H. G. Maurice, who is at present acting as my private secretary—a post which he has filled for nearly three years. I hope it may be possible for him to take up the duties of the post at an early date. I have selected Mr. Maurice solely for his administrative qualifications, which I have had exceptional opportunities of judging. As I have already stated in this House, I believe that the work of the division can best be carried out under an administrative head supported by an expert staff. I have obtained the authority of the Treasury for a modest increase of the strength of the technical and scientific staff of the division, by means of which I hope to be able to give it a more effective organisation.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not consider that the person appointed to such a post should have technical as well as administrative qualifications?

I discussed that point when the Board of Agriculture Estimates were taken in this House, and I said my intentions were to provide a man of administrative capacity who would have the experts under him.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether on one of the farms at Swords, in county Dublin, where the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurred, the land had recently been dressed with manure taken from the Government remount farm at Lusk, about nine miles distant, in the same county; and, if so, whether the straw or peat moss contained in such manure had been previously imported into Ireland from any and, if any, what foreign country?

The Department have already instituted inquiries in this matter. These inquiries have not yet been completed, and I am not, therefore, in a position to make any further statement on the subject at present.

Have the inspectors of the right hon. Gentleman's Department realised the infectivity of manure as well as of foodstuffs of this kind?

Is it not clear that this manure or the straw connected with it must have been imported into Ireland before the right hon. Gentleman put a stop to the importation of hay and straw under the Hay and Straw Order?

The hon. Gentleman had better wait until we find whether the hay and straw have been there.

asked whether, in view of the admitted inefficacy of spent lime as a disinfectant against the germs of foot-and-mouth and other contagious animal diseases, he will, during the prevalence of the above disease, order the disinfection of cattle trucks and cattle boats with formalin, mercuric chloride, or other more powerful disinfectant?

Article 18 (1) of the Animals (Transit and General) Order, 1912, which deals with the cleansing and disinfection of vessels, prescribes the use of quicklime as a disinfectant, not spent lime. As regards cattle trucks, I have asked the railway companies to arrange for the present for the sides and floors of trucks and pens to be scraped and thoroughly soaked with a solution of crude carbolic acid (5 oz.), soft soap (1 lb.), and water (1 gallon), in addition to the disinfection prescribed by the Order, and for all dung, litter, scrapings, and sweepings to be removed and immediately burnt. I shall be glad to confer with the veterinary officers of the Board with regard to the suggestion made by the hon. Member.

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that quicklime soon after application becomes spent lime under atmospheric influences?

I have discussed the whole of these points with my expert advisers.

asked whether any further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in Great Britain; how many outbreaks have now occurred since the reappearance of the disease in England; whether the source of all of them, with the exception of the Surrey outbreak, has been traced to Ireland; and whether the cause of the Surrey outbreak has been discovered?

A fresh centre of disease was brought to light yesterday at Knedlington, near Howden, in the East Biding of Yorks, disease having been found to be present in a cow which had been purchased by a dealer, named Wild, in Selby market on 1st inst., and sold to the occupier of the premises on which the disease was discovered. A second cow was found to be affected. An Order was at once issued prohibiting the movement of animals over, along, or across a highway within a radius of approximately 15 miles of Howden. The Order also prohibits the movement of animals out of, or the holding of markets within, the Petty Sessional Divisions of Tadcaster and East Ainsty, and, the City of York, in the West Riding of Yorks; the Petty Sessional Divisions of East Bulmer and Malton, in the North Riding of Yorks; and the whole of the remainder of the East Biding of Yorks not covered by the Prohibition of Movement Order. This morning disease has also been found to exist on the premises of the same dealer, Wild, at Dyke Road, Howden, making two outbreaks already confirmed in this area, which must be regarded as an extension of the "West Biding of Yorkshire area. The slaughter of the, animals in immediate contact on both these premises has been authorised this morning, and will be carried out forthwith.

No further outbreaks have occurred in any of the Scheduled areas. The total number of outbreaks is now 43. The information which we have so far obtained clearly suggests that except in the Surrey case, and possibly in the original case in Cumberland, all the outbreaks were directly or indirectly of Irish origin. The evidence, of course, varies considerably in each individual case, but in none of them have any facts as yet been elicited which suggest any other source of infection. The cause of the Surrey outbreak has not so far been discovered.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman where the infected cow bought in Selby market came from?

I am afraid I cannot give that information at present, but we tracked the purchase of the animal back as far as we possibly could.

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture a question, of which I have given him private notice, whether he will permit, by special movement licences, cattle within the restricted areas that have been under supervision for fourteen days to be sold privately and transferred, as has been done in other countries?

The Order modifying the restrictions in the Surrey district so as to allow movement of animals into the Metropolis for slaughter, was issued last night, as well as the Order prohibiting the holding of a market or the movement of animals out of the borough of Preston. Orders have been issued modifying the restrictions in the outer zone of the Lancashire (Salford) district, and the Lancashire (Liverpool) district, so as to allow of the movement of animals, by licence, within such zones for necessary purposes, and for the movement of animals by railway into the zone for slaughter. In view of the substantial improvement in the position in Cumberland, an Order has also been issued modifying the restrictions in those parts of the area most remote from the outbreaks, so as to allow of free movement of animals within the zone, and the holding of licensed markets for fat stock, and permitting the movement of animals by licence for necessary purposes within the remainder of the area, excepting substantial zones round Penrith and Carlisle, which are the two centres in which disease has declared itself.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when the Order against exporting hay from Ireland was made; what notice exporters got of it; did it apply to hay at sea when made, and what is the necessity for enforcing such an Order at all ports in Ireland, because of disease localised in one Irish parish, and if the Department of Agriculture in Ireland was consulted.

The Order to which the hon. Member refers was made on the 5th instant, and came into operation on the 8th instant. No special notice was given or could be given to exporters, nor was the Irish Department consulted prior to the issue of the Order. No representations have reached me with regard to cargoes at sea, and I should suppose that the interval which elapsed between the making of the Order and its coming into operation was sufficient to prevent any inconvenience arising under this head. As regards the necessity of the Order, I would say that, in view of the special danger of the conveyance of infection by hay owing to its use as fodder, it is the well-established practice both of the Board and of the Irish Department to prohibit its importation altogether from any country in which foot-and-mouth disease exists. The course adopted by me on the present occasion has been repeatedly adopted by the Irish Department with regard to Great Britain whenever an outbreak of the disease in this country has occurred.

With regard to the shipments of hay now at sea, is there any reason why they should not be allowed to be landed? Also with regard to chopped hay from the South of Ireland, may I ask is there any objection to that being landed in Wales? It comes from places in the South of Ireland 150 miles away from Swords.

I am afraid I cannot agree to allow chopped hay to be landed in Wales at the present time. I am doing no more than the Board of Agriculture in Ireland have done over and over again with regard to England. As to the cargoes of hay at sea the Order was issued on the 5th, so that three days elapsed before it came into operation, and, therefore, I think the shippers had ample notice that they could not land it.

Will the right hon. Gentleman extend the modified restrictions to this extent to Ireland, so as to enable fat cattle to be sent by the breeders to the market of destination and slaughtered here in England?

Yes, I have extended the facilities in respect of two ports—Westport and Sligo. At the moment I do not see my way to further extend them. I am watching them day by day.

Would it not have been reasonable to have given the shippers of hay more notice, because they will be at great expense and loss?

They had three days' notice, which is more than is usually given. Of course I cannot undertake to communicate with every shipowner in the United Kingdom. Notice was given in every possible way, and it was announced here in this House.

I wish to ask the right hon. Gentleman a question, of which I have given him private notice: Whether he is aware that about seventy-six head of cattle sent from Derry to Glasgow, and shipped back again during the period the port was closed, are now stabled in Derry by the order of his officials, and the owners are refused permission to remove them; that the cattle are being fed on hay only, whereby their value is depreciated; and will the right hon. Gentleman give orders that the cattle be at once handed over to their owners?

I have telegraphed to Dublin for information, and when I receive it I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (24) how many beds are available in sanatoria for consumption throughout the country; how many are now vacant; (25) how many new buildings for consumptive sanatoria have been started since 1st January, 1912; how many schemes are now known to be in existence for the supply of consumptive sanatoria; how many beds will be available in these buildings when completed; (26) how much money has been actually expended during the past six months in the provision of consumptive sanatoria?

asked how many, and where, sanatoria and tuberculin dispensaries have been, or will have been provided by the 15th July, 1912; and how many beds in existing institutions will on that date be available for insured persons entitled to sanatoria benefit as from that date?

It is not possible to state with accuracy the number of sanatoria and dispensaries which will be available by 15th July for the local Insurance Committees. According to the latest information, however, there are some seventy-six institutions designated as sanatoria in England with about 2,500 beds, while accommodation for tuberculosis cases also exists in a very large number of hospitals, in addition to some fifty-seven tuberculosis dispensaries. Local authorities have for some time past been preparing schemes for the provision of institutions for the treatment of tuberculosis, and with the co-operation of the Insurance Committees which have now been constituted these schemes are now being proceeded with. In Scotland the Local Government Board are proceeding with the inspection of the sanatoria with a view to their approval. In Ireland there are about 700 beds available in sanatoria, and the provision of the dispensaries is being rapidly pushed on in the several counties. In Wales a few sanatoria are available and negotiations are now proceeding with a view to increasing the number. The provision of dispensaries is being undertaken to a great extent by the Welsh National Memorial Fund. The Commissioners have no information as to the number of these institutions which have been started since the 1st of January in the present year, nor as to the total amount expended in this period. The scheme for dealing immediately with Sanatorium Benefit (which is not confined to treatment institutions) is before the Local Insurance Committee and Local Authorities and has been published in the official Memoranda No. 112/lc, 102/lc, and a Circular issued by the Local Government Board dated 6th July.

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the last part of the question. I do not think he has stated how many beds there are in England and Scotland?

That cannot be stated until we get information from the local Insurance Committees, who are making arrangements.

In view of the fact that open-air treatment is largely resorted to for tuberculosis, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will not think it inadvisable to make any very great expenditure in the way of buildings?

That, no doubt, will be one of the subjects which is now being considered by the Local Government Board in connection with the local authorities.

Might I ask an answer to the last part of Question No. 27?

That is the question which I was asked just now, and I said it could not be answered until the local committees inform us how many.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how much of the million and a half put aside by the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been expended in finding sanatoria?

That is a question for the Local Government Board. It is under the Regulation of the Local Government Board. It is not left to the Insurance Commissioners.

Is any of it being spent?

Better ask the President of the Local Government Board.

asked if it is proposed to commence sanatoria benefits under the National Insurance Act on and after 15th July; and if it is possible to give sanatoria benefits without the co-operation of the medical profession?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have no reason to suppose that sanatoria will reject cases, or that medical practitioners will refuse to attend their ordinary patients, merely because they are insured under the Act.

asked what justification there is for the statement on the leaflet announcing that the National Insurance Act will come into operation on 15th July, that as regards working men the first benefit to be conferred by the Act is doctor and medicine or, in special circumstances, money payment instead, seeing that until arrangements shall have been made with the doctor the Commissioners are unable in any circumstances at present known to offer to the insured working man medical attendance and medicine in consideration of his payment of 4d. a week?

I have nothing to add to my answer of the 4th July. The statement made by the leaflet is entirely correct. The Commissioners will give, as provided in the Act, medical benefit, or the alternative of money payment.

asked whether, under Part I. of the National Insurance Act, an employer of married women outworkers the wives of insured persons must pay contributions for the week commencing 15th July, and whether the employer is liable for a penalty up to £10 if he fails to do so; whether pamphlet B (outworkers) is correct in so stating; when the draft special order including such married women outworkers was published; and whether objection can be taken to it for forty days from the date of publication, and whether it is in force during such forty days?

A draft special order under Section 1 (2), bringing married women outworkers under the operations of the Act was issued on 5th July. The proceedings upon this special order will follow the ordinary provisions of Section 113 and the IXth Schedule. Under the Special Orders Acceleration Order made under Clause 78, a provisional order will be made identical with the draft special order which will bring its provisions into operation from the commencement of the Act, and will remain in force until the substantive Order is made unless previously annulled. If, and so far as any class of these outworkers is after inquiry excluded in the substantive order, any contributions which have been paid in respect of that class before the substantive order comes into force will be refunded.

May I ask whether I understood the right hon. Gentleman to say that those outworkers had been put in, notwithstanding that the inquiries have not been held?

There is a general Order under Clause 78 of the Acceleration Order which brings in all the special orders as from the commencement of the Act.

asked (32)why the Insurance Commissioners have not appointed to the provisional insurance committee of the Isle of Wight a single representative for the western district of that island 1(33) If the Insurance Commissioners have appointed Mr. L. C. Hudson, of Portsmouth, as a representative on the Provisional Insurance Committee for the Isle of Wight; and, if so, if he will state why a representative was selected from Portsmouth and not from the Isle of Wight? (34) If the Insurance Commissioners have appointed to the Provisional Insurance Committee of the Isle of Wight eight representatives for the Cowes district, and amongst this number not a single representative for the friendly societies of that district; and if the Insurance Commissioners can see their way to rectify this state of affairs? (35) Why it is that the National Insurance Commissioners have only appointed to the Provisional Insurance Committee of the Isle of Wight one representative for the north-eastern district of that island, seeing that this district includes Ryde, St. Helen's, Seaview, Bembridge, Lake, San-down, Brading, Binstead, and Wootton, containing between 6,000 and 8,000 insured persons; if he is aware that the representative appointed is an agent to a collecting society; and what steps the Government propose to take in the matter with a view to securing a more fair distribution of representation 1 (36) Whether he is aware that the representative of the National Insurance Commissioners who attended the first meeting of the Provisional Insurance Committee for the Isle of Wight stated that the Commissioners had not had time to make local inquiries before appointing members of the committee, and also stated that it was impossible to verify local recommendations received and make detailed inquiries respecting the different individuals appointed in the time at their disposal; and if he will explain why the Act is being administered in this way? (37) Why the Insurance Commissioners have not appointed to the Provisional Insurance Committee for the Isle of Wight a representative for the Ventnor district of that island, in which district there are over 3,000 insured persons; and if the Government propose to take any further steps in the matter?

I propose to take Questions 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 and 37 together. The steps which have been taken by the Insurance Commissioners to secure the formation of these Committees, the methods of obtaining the representation of insured persons in each area, and the reasons for adopting these methods are fully explained in the Memorandum, of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member. The same methods of securing representation have been adopted in the case of the Isle of Wight as elsewhere in the country. The object of the Commissioners has been the inclusion on the Committee of persons who could bring various kinds of experience to bear upon the questions with which the Committee will have to deal, rather than the representation of particular interests or localities. I may, however, add that, as the Committee for the Isle of Wight is not yet complete, there is no reason why in the further appointments members should not be drawn from residents in districts in which no members at present appointed reside; and if the hon. Member has any points which he wishes to place before the Commissioners I shall be glad if he will communicate with me on the subject.

It seems perfectly useless for me to ask any questions. The right hon. Gentleman has not answered one of my questions.

Send him a lecturer.

Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman will answer one of the questions?