asked (1) whether deductions are to be made under the National Insurance Act from the pay of soldiers of British regiments serving in India; if so, whether the assent of the Government of India was obtained to the diversion of funds provided by it for pay to other objects; and (2) whether, under the National Insurance Act, compulsory deductions are made from the pay of soldiers belonging to regiments of the British Army while they are serving in India; and, if the answer be in the affirmative, whether the concurrence of the India Office has been obtained to such diversion of funds provided by that Government for the specific purpose of paying troops and not for providing benefits which for the most part cannot be enjoyed until after the return of such troops to home service?

Under the National Insurance Act British soldiers serving in India are placed in precisely the same position, both as regards deductions and benefits, as those serving at home. This arrangement is fully concurred in by the Secretary of State for India.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many positions have been set up and officers appointed in Ireland under Part II. of the National Insurance Act; the nature of the appointments, rank, and sex of the officers who have been selected; how many have been allocated to existing Civil servants, and the Departments to which they have been previously attached; in the case of non-Civil servants, what their previous occupation was, and whether they are whole or part-time officers and the salaries fixed for their offices; and whether all necessary appointments in Ireland have been now made under this Part of the Act?

I am sending my hon. Friend a list of officers giving the information which he desires.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the position under the National Insurance Act of a caretaker and his wife who are paid a joint sum as wages for work rendered by both: and will it be necessary for the employer to pay the weekly sum for each of the two, or will the wife be exempted from the Act?

I am advised that in such a case both the caretaker and his wife must be insured.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount of money collected by county authorities in England and Wales from carriage and motor car licences during the year 1911; and what was the sum of money paid out of these receipts to the several county authorities towards the cost of the up-keep of the main roads during the same year?

The figures are as follow:—

CARRIAGE (INCLUDING MOTOR CAR) DUTY FOR 1911–12.
		Total Collections.			Paid to Exchequer for Road Board.			Paid to Councils Direct.
England and Wales—		£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Counties	…	631,544	0	9	243,383	14	3	388,160	6	6
County boroughs	…	155,250	1	0	61,817	7	6	93,432	13	6
London	…	123,128	4	3	67,766	16	3	55,361	8	0
Total	…	909,922	6	0	372,967	18	0	536,954	8	0
					£909,922 6 0

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Report of the Customs Waterguard Inquiry will be laid upon the Table of the House of Commons?

The Report of the Committee was laid on the Table of the House on the 3rd instant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the attention of the Law Officers has been called to the prosecution against Mr. Galvin Clahane, Tralee, for trespass on an evicted farm on the Foley estate; and whether, seeing that the people of the district are put to trouble and expense because the fences of the evicted farm are in a wretched condition, steps will be taken, in the interest of public peace, to compel the owners to put the fences into proper repair?

This matter has been brought under the notice of the Attorney-General, who, on inquiry, can find no grounds calling for action on his part. The estate is in Chancery, and if there is any cause for complaint the matter can be brought under the notice of the Court.

asked why the Estates Commissioners failed to fence the portion of land in Kiltegan apportioned to Hugh Byrne; whether, in consequence of the default of that body, Hugh Byrne has been threatened by the Baltinglass Board of Guardians with an injunction in the High Court of Justice in Ireland to restrain him from trespassing on their lands; and, if expense be incurred in these proceedings, will the Estates Commissioners pay the cost of the same?

The Estates Commissioners allotted four acres to the guardians of Baltinglass Union for a dispensary residence. The guardians then asked the Commissioners to fence the plot allotted to them, and alleged that Byrne, the occupier of an adjoining allotment, was trespassing on their land. The Commissioners are not prepared to sanction any expenditure in fencing the plot allotted to the guardians, which is a matter for the guardians themselves. The reply to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.

asked the cause of the delay in reinstating Mr. Barry, Ventry estate, near Annascaul; whether, seeing that he has a large family, is badly off, and without a home, steps will be immediately taken to have him reinstated and grants given for building and stocking?

The Estates Commissioners decided to take no action in reference to Maurice Barry's application for reinstatement, but they communicated with the Congested Districts Board, by whom the Ventry estate is being acquired, as regards the case of Barry's mother, who is the evicted tenant. The Board have agreed to reinstate Mrs. Barry, with the assistance of the Commissioners, and this will be done as soon as possible.

asked how many sites have been acquired by the Cootehill (No. 2) Rural District Council for the erection of cottages, and for which tenders have not been accepted as yet by this council; what time has elapsed since when, in the ordinary course, tenders might have been accepted; and what steps, if any, the Local Government Board have taken, or propose to take, to have these sites built upon and supply the pressing demand that has so long existed for the provision of labourers' cottages?

A loan for the erection of twenty-five cottages was sanctioned in 1909, and the erection of only eight of these cottages appears to have been proceeded with up to the present. On the 10th instant the Local Government Board addressed a letter to the rural district council urging them to proceed with the erection of the remaining houses, if necessary by direct labour, and to this letter the Board have not yet received a reply.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will make inquiries and ascertain if a by-law was instituted some years ago by County-Inspector Hayes, of Limerick, whereby members of the Royal Irish Constabulary are actually bound to make out cases if they are to gain any favour or promotion from the county inspector; whether a record is kept from month to month showing the number of cases brought forward by each constable, and the convictions, etc., obtained; and, if so, in view of the danger which such a by-law constitutes, will it be withdrawn as Limerick is the only county in Ireland where it now exists?

The Inspector-General informs me that some years ago County Inspector Hayes, who was in charge of the county Limerick force, but is now retired, directed that a record should be made every month at each station showing the number of prosecutions by each member of the force, the intention merely being to see how the men were discharging their duty. As such an order is liable to be misinterpreted, the Inspector-General has ordered its withdrawal.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any extra police have been recently brought into Pallas and Oola, stationed at county Limerick; if so, will he state the reason for this course; was a report made that a cattle drive was to take place on the lands of the late Sir Heppernan Considine, at West Pallasgrean, county Limerick, and will the name of the gentleman who supplied this report be furnished; and, in view of the fact that this district is peaceable, and seeing that there was no intention whatever of interfering with the Considine lands, will the extra police be withdrawn and more caution exercised in the future about taking such reports?

No extra police, entailing any charge on the county or locality, have been sent to either of the stations named, but the county inspector recently in the exercise of his discretion augmented the police at these stations when allocating his men to the best advantage for the preservation of the peace and good order of his county.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the lands of Kilbarry were offered by the Marchioness of Winchester for sale to the Estates Commissioners; if so, why the purchase did not lake place; whether he will state the price asked by (he vendor and the offer made by the Commissioners; and if negotiations are still going on?

The Estates Commismissioners had an inspection made of the lands referred to and communicated to the owner their estimate of the price which they would be prepared to advance if formal proceedings for the sale of the lands to them were instituted, but the owner was not willing to accept the Commissioners' estimated price, and purchase proceedings have not been instituted for the sale of the lands. It would be contrary to the practice of the Commissioners to give the information asked for in the concluding portion of the question.

asked whether inquiries are yet completed into the application of a youth named Farrell for an advance to purchase a holding on the estate of Nicholson, near Carlanstown, county Meath; and, if so, what is the result?

The Estates Commissioners have ascertained that Joseph P. Farrell is a minor, and they have refused to sanction the advance applied for by him for the purchase of his holding on the Nicholson estate, county Meath.

asked whether the untenanted land on the estate of Dominick More O'Farrell, Orestown, county Meath, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; whether they have received a memorial from residents in the district requesting them to purchase an allotment for pasturage for the cows of labouring men; whether the Commissioners are aware that there are a number of occupiers of uneconomic holdings in the neighbourhood; and what steps they propose to take to give them relief?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1909. There does not appear to be any untenanted land on the estate, and the Estates Commissioners have not received the memorial referred to.

asked whether Mr. Edward More O'Farrell has applied for an advance to purchase a holding on the estate of Dominick More O'Farrell, Orestown, county Meath; at what date the alleged tenancy was created; what is the amount applied for; and whether it is in excess of the amount which the Commissioners are empowered to advance for non-residential holdings?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that no agreement has been lodged for the purchase of Mr. Edward More O'Farrell's holding, the tenancy in which, the Commissioners understand, was created in 1884.

asked when the estate of Ryan Welshe, at Ballyculleen, Croom, county Limerick, will be vested in the tenants; when were purchase agreements lodged; and what is the cause of delay?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash). The purchase agreements were lodged in July, 1907. Having regard to its position on the above register and the claims of other estates in priority to it, the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached in its turn.

also asked whether the late Mr. Cornelius Power, of Ballinahinch, Elton, Knocklong, county Limerick, had a judicial tenancy in the holding he occupied on the Gascoyne estate; if the land which he held, namely 400 acres, is offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, will it be bought for distribution among the deserving classes in the locality?

The Estates Commissioners understand that Mr. Power held the lands under lease. They are not the subject of proceedings for sale before them.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, according to the conditions for promotion by the National Board of Teachers from the second-of-first to the first-of-first grade it is necessary that their schools should get at least one excellent report within three consecutive years; and, if one excellent report is not necessary, will he explain why a number of teachers who, after having been in receipt of the highest salary attached to the second-of-first grade, have got three consecutive very good reports have not been promoted to first-of-first grade, though their schools have the required average attendance of 70 or above?

One of the conditions for promotion of a teacher to first-of-first grade is that the school in which he is serving has received "very good" reports for three consecutive years. It is not a condition that one of the reports must be "excellent." A number of teachers have qualified for promotion to the first-of-first grade and will receive the salary of that grade on the occurrence of vacancies, and the cases of several others are under consideration.

asked the number of male teachers promoted to the second-of-first and the first-of-first grades, respectively, for each of the years 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1911, whose length of service on the date of promotion was under fifteen years, fifteen years but under eighteen years, eighteen years but under twenty-one years, twenty-one years but under twenty-five years, twenty- five years but under thirty years, thirty years and upwards, respectively; was Rule 105 (a) observed as regards the promotion of the 1907 and 1008 teachers; has this rule and 108 (b) been observed as regards those teachers promoted in 1910 and 1911; did the teachers promoted in 1910 and 1911 fulfil the same spcified conditions as those promoted in 1907 and 1908; and, if so, will they receive the same financial treatment?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the Return asked for could not be given without a minute examination of all the circumstances connected with each individual promotion during the years mentioned. It would take months to prepare, and its public utility would not be at all commensurate with the expense, labour, and loss of official time involved in its preparation.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what grounds Laurence Ryan, of Ballyfaskin, Ballylanders, county Limerick, was refused an old age pension by the Local Government Board, though his claim was passed by the local pension committee?

This man's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that his yearly means exceeded £31 10s.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that on the sub-division of the Dickson property, at Lacknagooneeny, Doon, county Limerick, some two years ago, two tenants, named James Ryan (Margaret) and Martin Ryan signed agreements by which gateways were to be erected giving them water rights and right of way; is he aware that these rights have been modified so as cut off water rights within the last week and the substitution of a passage, which will mean loss of land; what is the reason the Estates Commissioners have made such modifications; and will he recommend the Commissioners to institute an inquiry into the matter so as to preserve the peace of the district?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The undertakings to purchase signed by the Ryans do not provide for the erection of gateways as stated, but they do provide for the Estates Commissioners allotting and vesting in any other purchaser or purchasers such right of way or right to water or such other easement over, upon, or through the land as to the Land Commission may appear requisite or necessary, and to fence off any portion for the purpose of the better enjoyment of such right, or easement, in such manner as the Commissioners may think fit. The Ryans recently attempted to interfere with the Commissioners' representative in fencing portion of the land, and were bound over to keep the peace for twelve months. The fencing is being proceeded with, and if the Ryans attempt any further interference the necessary proceedings will be taken against them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what has been the total cost, including equipment, of the ships of all kinds which constituted the Fleet visited by Members of Parliament on Tuesday last; and the total cost, including equipment, of ships of all kinds in the Navy?

I should not be justified in directing the Department to undertake the preparation of the figures asked for, which would involve a very considerable amount of labour at a time when the pressure of other and more important work is particularly severe.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that over 14.000 women teachers recently signed a petition in favour of earlier optional retirement, and to inquire whether he will arrange that the Departmental Committee he proposes to appoint shall take evidence on this question; and whether he can see his way to grant earlier optional retirement to women teachers at fifty-five or sixty, and, if so, what the pension would be?

I have no knowledge of the petition referred to. The question of taking evidence in this matter is for the Departmental Committee, but they will have first of all to consider whether any funds will be available for the various proposals for improving the existing system which have been referred to them. I can make no statement with regard to the last part of the question until I have received the Report of the Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in view of the Departmental Committee he has formed to consider the question of teachers' superannuation and amendments thereof, he will state the number of certificated teachers now in recorded service who failed to accept the Teachers' Superannuation Act of 1898?

It is estimated that between 10,000 and 11,000 teachers now in employment in public elementary schools did not accept the Elementary School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act of 1898.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give, for each year since 1907, and for the first six months of this year, the percentage which the number of persons killed in the London area by motor omnibuses and trams, respectively, bears to the number of such vehicles licensed in the London area and to the number of passengers carried?

The figures for the London area are not available, and can only be obtained at the cost of prolonged inquiry, for which, owing to the pressure of work, the officers cannot at present be spared.

asked the Home Secretary if he has any official information showing that the Town Police Clauses Act, 1847, which empowers the licensing authority to license such number of carriages as they think fit, has worked satisfactorily with provincial authorities; and, if so, whether he will consider the advisability of extending it to London, in view of the fact that under the system of licensing and control now prevailing in the Metropolis the number of persons killed by motor omnibuses has increased out of all proportion to the increase in the number of omnibuses, that complaints have been made by tradesmen and residents of damage to their trade and property by these vehicles, of the opinion frequently expressed by coroners' juries that the omnibuses as now licensed are not safe, and of resolutions passed by the London municipal authorities demanding a better system of licensing and control?

There is no official information in my Department as to the working of the provisions of the Town Police Clauses Act which are referred to by my hon. Friend. The extension of those provisions to London would involve legislation, which I am not prepared to introduce.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the statement of Mr. Ben Tillett on 10th July in Southwark Park that arrangements would be made for the dock strikers to be provided with revolvers; and if he proposes to take any steps to pi event further incendiary speeches by this person?

I have seen no shorthand report of the speech referred to, but I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the statement made by Mr. Ben Tillett was not as given by the hon. Member, and no action on my part appears to be called for in respect of it.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to an assault in Gravel Lane, on 1st July, by a number of dock strike pickets on a labourer, partially blind, who had obtained a job after a long period of unemployment; if he can state whether there were any circumstances justifying this attack on a man working to keep his family from starvation; and if he will take steps to increase the police available in the district for the protection of men desiring to work?

Nothing is known of any assault in Gravel Lane on 1st July. On the evening of the 3rd, however, a man complained to the police that he had been attacked by four men, whom he could not identify, struck on the eye and kicked. He was escorted on his way by police, and was ultimately treated at the London Hospital as an out-patient for contused eye and shock. Ample police arrangements are made in this neighbourhood, and assistance is promptly rendered whenever and wherever it is called for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the demand of the Transport Workers' Union for the reinstatement of all men on strike as a condition of the resumption of work extends to those who have been convicted of violence and intimidation in connection with the dock strike?

I am not in a position to give the hon. Member the information asked for.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the total imports from the United Kingdom and from all foreign countries to Brazil and Chili in the years 1900 and 1911, showing the percentage increase during that time?

The latest year for which detailed statistics of imports into Brazil and Chile are available is 1910, whilst in the case of Brazil comparable figures have only been available since 1902. The following statement shows the information desired for 1902 and 1010 in the case of Brazil, and for 1900 and 1910 in the case of Chile:—

(1) BRAZIL.
—	Total Imports from all Sources.	Of which from
		United Kingdom.	Other Countries.
	Million	Million	Million
	£s.	£s.	£s.
1902	23.3	6.5	16.8
1910	49.1	14.0	35.1
Increase in 1910 over 1902—
Amount	25.8	7.5	18.3
	Per rent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Proportion	110.7	115.4	108.9

(2) CHILE.
—	Imports from all Sources.	Of which from
		United Kingdom.	Other Countries.
	Million	Million	Million
	£s.	£s.	£s.
1900	9.6	3.2	6.4
1910	22.3	7.1	15.2
Increase in 1910 over 1900—
Amount	12.7	3.9	8.8
	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Proportion	132.3	121.9	137.5

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the daily complaints in the telephone service as to subscribers being told that numbers are engaged when this is not the case, and when, in answer to calls, the local exchange has stated that the number was not wanted; to delays in getting lines cleared and in attracting the operator's attention after getting a wrong number; to delays in getting the operator's attention when desiring a fresh number; to delay in getting lines cleared after ringing off trunks; and to interruptions of conversations by questions from operators and by disconnections in the course of conversations; whether his attention has been called to delays in the installation of telephone instruments contracted for; to complaints as to indistinct and faint lines and as to intermittent and incessant ringing during heavy rains; to complaints by message-rate subscribers of being asked to make deposits far in excess of likely calls, and, on remonstrating, receiving a demand for a much larger sum, in some cases as much as £5 after having asked for £2; and complaints as to the manner of conducting correspondence from exchange managers' departments and as to excess call charges; whether these complaints emanate from shortage of lines, inadequate or overworked staff, or are due to organisation on different lines to that of the National Telephone Company; and what steps he proposes taking to make the service at least as effective as it was before the transfer of the telephone took place in January last?

I assume that the hon. Member's question refers principally to the service in the London area. Although there has been of late a considerable improvement in the service, and calls as a rule are expeditiously and correctly dealt with, I am aware that in connection with certain exchanges in this area a number of complaints are still being made by telephone subscribers with regard to the various kinds of difficulties of service which are described by the hon. Member. A large number of these complaints are undoubtedly due either to mistakes made by the operators or to electrical faults on the lines and instruments. With respect to the faults arising in operating work, the operators are to some extent responsible, but it must be remembered that many of the exchanges acquired from the National Telephone Company had more lines connected with them than could be properly worked by means of the equipment in those exchanges without imposing strain upon the operators, and that the necessary work of extension creates further difficulties in working the equipment.I do not regard the present situation as satisfactory or as representing the conditions which may reasonably be expected when the difficulties arising out of the transfer have been overcome. I endeavoured to arrange some time ago with the National Telephone Company for the extension of their exchanges, but their staff were so fully occupied on the company's work in preparing for the transfer that they could not undertake either the extensions or the preparation of plans. In these circumstances it has been necessary for the Post Office to prepare plans and to make contracts for this work since the transfer on the 1st January last. There has not yet been time for much of this work to be completed, and, as I have pointed out, the work itself adds to the difficulties. The provision of extensions and the construction of new exchanges to make good these deficiencies and to meet the rapid growth of business are being pushed on with the utmost speed, and a full supply of trained operators will be held in readiness to work the new equipment as soon as it is ready.The hon. Member also refers to the time occupied in providing subscribers' lines, and this matter is also engaging my serious attention. But the speed of this work necessarily depends on the staff available, and at the present time several causes combine to restrict its numbers. The National Telephone Company, for the purposes of the arbitration which is proceeding, still retain the services, as they are entitled to do, of a considerable number of their former staff, and many of the Post Office engineers are needed for similar work on behalf of the Post Office which cannot be postponed. At the same time the amount of work in the extension of exchanges and in the transfer of overhead wires to underground lines is abnormal. We have also had to transfer many subscribers from overloaded exchanges to exchanges where they can be better served. As far as possible the pressure which thus arises has been met by the employment of additional and temporary staff, but it is not practicable to obtain much skilled assistance of this kind outside the staffs of the Post Office and the National Telephone Company, and the employment of partially skilled assistance in the endeavour to secure an adequate number of men, has, I am afraid to some extent, increased the difficulties. I am, however, as rapidly as possible increasing the trained staff available for providing subscribers' lines.Probably the complaints mentioned by the hon. Member as to requests for apparently excessive amounts in prepayment of calls have arisen from the application to the former Post Office subscribers of the system of prepayment which was in. force in the National Telephone Company's system. Post Office subscribers were formerly asked at the end of each month to pay for calls made during the month. This practice was inconvenient to subscribers owing to the numerous accounts rendered for very small sums, and the cost of account-keeping in proportion to the revenue was very high. The Company's practice was to ask subscribers to pay in advance for the number of calls likely to be made during the ensuing three months. This system is better, I think, both for the subscriber and for the service, but the reasons for its application to the old Post Office subscribers have not been generally understood and a certain number of complaints have been made on this subject. These are likely to cease when the object of the arrangement is better known and its working has become customary. The demands have in all cases been based on the use made by subscribers of their lines during the preceding three months, and reductions have been made whenever this use was shown to be abnormally large. No complaints as to the manner of conducting correspondence from exchange managers' offices can be traced, and exchange managers do not undertake written correspondence with subscribers.I append some statistical facts bearing on some of the points in the question with respect to which figures are available.1. Percentage of complaints due to the giving of "engaged signals."The total originated traffic and incoming trunk traffic for the month of June last was approximately equal to 8,295.030 calls. The total number of verbal complaints of engaged calls during this period was approximately 18,352, of which 14,204 were due to subscribers being actually engaged. The balance (4,148) was due to certain indeterminate causes, such as maintenance trouble and operators' irregularities. In other words, engagement advices (on verbal complaints) not necessarily incorrect but about which there is some uncertainty and which may be incorrect equal only 05 per cent., or five calls in every 10,000 handled.2. Complaints that in answer to calls the local exchange has stated that the number was not wanted.The complaints of false rings and "called-in-error" cases on 8,295,030 calls in June last are approximately 2,857, or about seven such complaints for every 20,000 calls dealt with.3. Delays in getting lines cleared.The observation results at ex-National Exchanges are as follows:—

—	Average Time taken by Operator to Disconnect Clearing.
	When Signal Given.			Not Given.
	Outward.	Inward.	Average.
	Secs.	Secs.	Secs.	Secs.
6 months ended December, 1911	5	15.2	10.1	45.4
6 months ended June, 1912	5	15.1	10.l	38.0

4. Delay in attracting operator's attention after getting a wrong number.The observation results at ex-National Exchanges are as follows:—

	Average Time taken by Operator to Answer Supervisory Signal.
6 months to December, 1911	7.1	secs.
6 months to June, 1912	6.9	secs.

The figures in the case of Post Office ante-transfer exchanges for June, 1911 and 1912, are 7.1 seconds and 4.5 seconds respectively, but a larger percentage of such signals passed unanswered in June, 1912, than in June, 1911.5. Delays in calling exchanges.

Ex-National Exchanges.	Percentage of Calls Answered in
	5 secs.	10 secs.	20 secs.
6 months to December, 1911	65.7	86.3.	96.3
6 months to June, 1912	68.4	88	97.2

Post Office ante-Transfer Exchanges.		Percentage of Calls Answered in
		5 secs.	10 secs.	15 secs.
June, 1911	…	59.8	84.9	92.8
June, 1912	…	70.3	88.6	94.3

6. Disconnections in course of conversation.The ex-National Exchange observations show the percentage of irregular "cutoffs" to total calls observed was for—

6 months to December, 1911	…	.75
6 months to June, 1912	…	.62

The total number of complaints of "cutoff" trouble on all exchanges for June, 1912, was about 3,305, being equal to 04 per cent, of the calls handled, or four in every 10,000 calls. Since December last seventeen exchanges have been closed, involving the transfer of 8,142 subscribers to other exchanges, and six new exchanges have been opened. Five entirely new exchanges are in course of erection; while seven new exchanges are being built to replace existing boards. Eight extensions of exchanges have been completed since the beginning of the year, while twenty extensions are in course of provision. Eight further extensions required through growth are about to be applied for.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether the wife of a postal overseer is at present employed in the telegraph department at Sheffield on a wage of 25s. per week; whether other temporary female assistants are receiving only 21s. per week; whether a soldier is also temporarily employed, receiving 9s. 8d. from the Post Office per week; whether he will state why the overseer's wife is in receipt of higher wages than the other assistants; and whether no other persons more desirous and deserving of temporary employment were available?

The facts are correctly stated by the hon. Member. The overseer's wife was for five years an established sorting clerk and telegraphist and her longer experience and greater skill are considered to justify a higher wage than is paid to the other assistants. It is the case that no other persons more deserving of temporary employment were available. I may add that the soldier to whom the hon. Member refers is in receipt of Army pay, and that the 9s. 8d. which he receives from the Post Office represents the difference between his Army pay and 26s. a week.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state approximately the total values of the livestock imported from Ireland to Great Britain in each of the two years ending 21st March, 1911 and 1912?

The following Table gives the information asked for in this question:—

Table showing the Total Numbers and Estimated Values of the different classes of Live Stock exported from Ireland to Great Britain during each of the two years ended 31st March, 1911, and 31st March, 1912.
			Numbers.		Estimated Value.
			12 months ended 31st March, 1911.	12 months ended 31st March, 1912.	12 months ended 31st March, 1911.	12 months ended 31st March, 1912.
Horses	…	…	31,837	32,539	1,486,785	1,509,765
Cattle	…	…	857,629	689,559	11,330,665	9,508,083
Sheep	…	…	731,626	652,278	1,265,654	1,074,159
Swine	…	…	329,896	364,360	1,355,568	1,421,922
Other animals	…	…	4,244	3,741	7,698	6,825
Total	…	…	1,955,232	1,742,477	15,446,370	13,520,754
NOTE.—These figures do not include Exports from Ireland to the Isle of Man.

asked the Secretary for Scotland who are the members of the Scottish Fishery Board, or of their scientific staff, who are representative of the Scottish Fisheries at the International Council for the investigation of the North Sea Fisheries at the meetings in Copenhagen; and what salaries do they receive out of moneys voted by Parliament for these investigations?

Professor D'Arcy W. Thompson, Scientific Member of the Fishery Board for Scotland, is a delegate to the International Council for the Investigation of the Sea at Copenhagen, and Dr. T. W. Fulton, Scientific Superintendent of the Board, attends as an expert. The former receives £350 from the Parliamentary Vote as director of the Scottish side of the investigations and £50 as delegate, and the latter receives £100 for services in connection with the Scottish investigations.

asked the Attorney-General the conditions under which His Majesty's Government may acquire and use for the public service patented articles and inventions?

Section 29 of the Patents and Designs Act, 1907, provides that: "A Patent shall have to all intents the like effect as against His Majesty the King as it has against a subject. Provided: that any Government Department may, by themselves, their agents, contractors, or others, at any time after the application, use the invention for the ser-vices of the Crown on such terms as may, either before or after the use thereof be agreed on, with the approval of the Treasury, between the Department and the patentee, or, in default of agreement, as may be settled by the Treasury after hearing all parties interested." Further provision is made under Section 30 of the Act for the assignment of the benefit of any invention relating to any improvement in instruments or munitions of war to the Secretary of State for War or the Admiralty, and in such cases a certificate may be issued authorising the Comptroller to keep the particulars of the invention and of the manner in which it is to be performed secret.

asked the Lord Advocate whether it is now optional for a litigant in the Court of Session, who has an agent acting for him, to employ counsel; whether it is so understood by the judges there; and, if not, will he introduce legislation to bring this about?

It is well understood that a litigant in the Court of Session, whether or not he has an agent acting for him, may appear in person instead of employing counsel.

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state how many of the present sheriffs-substitute in Scotland were members of the law-agents' branch of the legal profession, and how many were members of the Faculty of Advocates?

The numbers respectively are five and forty-four.

also asked whether the sheriff substitute of Inverness-shire at Fort William has recently retired; if so, will he say to what branch of the legal profession he belonged; has a successor been appointed in his place; who is that successor; does he belong to the same branch of the legal profession; and, if not, why has the tradition connected with this post been departed from?

Mr. Donald Davidson, who belongs to the law agents' branch of the profession, recently retired from the position of sheriff-substitute at Fort William, and was succeeded by Mr. R. C. Malcolm, Advocate. The qualifications for the office are defined by the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act, 1907, and do not depend on tradition.