asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the precise amount of the dividend on Guaranteed Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Irish Land Stock, payable on 1st July, 1912, on which the sum of £14,242 13s. 9d. was deducted for Income Tax; and why no Income Tax was so deducted in respect of the remainder of the total dividend of £656,894 13s. 8d?

The sum of £14,242 13s. 9d. represented the Income Tax on £244,243 10s. 9d. of the dividend on Guaranteed Two and Three-quarter per Cent. Stock; the tax on dividends to the amount of £41,291 5s. in respect of stock held in the form of certificates has still to be collected; and the balance of the dividend, amounting to £371,359 17s. l1d., is exempt from tax.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the "Board of Trade Journal," published on the 4th instant, had not been received at the House of Commons Library on the 10th instant; and whether, in view of the fact that the Umpire's decisions under Part II. of the National Insurance Act are first published in that journal, he will take steps to see that a copy of the journal is placed each week in the Library immediately after publication?

The supply of copies of the "Board of Trade Journal" to the House of Commons Library is in the hands of the Stationery Office. I have communicated with that Department, with a view to securing that copies of all future issues may be sent to the Library immediately on publication. The file in the Library is now complete.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the purchase of the FitzGerald estate, Turlough, county Mayo; and, if so, has the landlord accepted the offer?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the Supplementary Navy Estimates will be printed and circulated, having regard to the fact that Navy Estimates will be discussed on Monday, 22nd July?

I hope at an early date next week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon the Commission appointed to inquire into the working of the divorce law may be expected to present their Report?

As I stated in reply to a question on the 3rd instant, the Commission hope to present their Report in the course of next month.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he intends, in the allotment of the increased allowance for superannuation for teachers in elementary schools, to make any provision for the teachers who, during their apprenticeships, understood that on retirement they would receive an adequate pension provision, but who have been compelled to retire on the existing insufficient scale; and whether he will give consideration to this class of teachers, as well as to the teachers who happen to be retiring at the present time?

I have asked a Departmental Committee to consider and report whether, and by what amount, the total cost of the proposed Amendments of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, which I foreshadowed in my speech on 6th June, will fall short of the money at my disposal, and to consider, amongst other suggestions, proposals for improving the pensions of teachers who have already retired.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether managers of a non-provided school have the power to dismiss a head teacher because he remains unmarried, when his marriage was not a condition of his appointment?

Under the Education Act, 1902, the dismissal of a teacher in a non-provided school rests with the managers, but the consent of the local education authority is required unless the dismissal be on the grounds connected with the giving of religious instruction in the school.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case of George Higgins, of Pershore; and whether, in view of the provisions of the Act, he will take steps to prevent a husband and wife from obtaining an old age pension when they have separated temporarily for the express purpose of securing such pension?

My attention has been called to the case referred to. It appears that the husband and wife were residing with a married daughter, when the wife, who is an invalid, went to live with another daughter for the sake of her health. There was no evidence before the Board that the couple had separated temporarily for the express purpose of securing an old age pension.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce the Fair-Wage Clause in respect of adult labour, or, alternatively, whether he will move an Instruction to the Select Committee now sitting to take evidence to enable it to remove the hardships of skilled telegraphists of many years' standing in Home and Colonial service, and to place them in a position to receive a fair day's wage for a fair day's work?

I do not think the Fair-Wage Clause would be appropriate in the case of Civil servants. The terms of reference to the Select Committee are wide enough to enable them to consider the wages of all classes of telegraphists.

asked the Postmaster-General by how many officers of each sex it is proposed to increase the permanent establishment of the Central Telegraph Office during the current year; and how many officers of each sex it is proposed to transfer from the provinces to this office?

I have recently sanctioned the addition of forty-five men and twenty women to the permanent staff of the Central Telegraph office. It is estimated that nine further appointments for men and six for women will be required, bringing the total number of additional places up to eighty. Twenty-eight places for men and sixteen for women have already been filled by transfers from the provinces, and most of the remaining vacancies will be filled in a similar way. I am, however, not yet in a position to furnish the Noble Lord with the exact figures.