asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what is the position, under the National Insurance Act, of an employer who, by contract with an employé and as part of the consideration for such employment, contracts to provide medical attendance during sickness without deduction from wages and to free benefits at least equal to those provided by the Act, but whose employé is not an employé in respect of whom, under the Act, exemption can be claimed; whether the employer is bound to make the contribution provided by the Act, and whether he is also bound to fulfil the stipulations of his contract as regards medical attendance and benefits; and whether the employé is bound to submit to the deduction from his wages provided by the Act without any increase in his wages during the currency of his contract of employment?

Apart from the special provisions in regard to certificates of exception, which are confined to employment under the Crown, or any public authority, or under a statutory company, the Act provides for the special case in which an employé is entitled to receive from his employer benefits corresponding to those under the Act. Where the employer has bound himself to pay full remuneration during sickness a reduction in the rate of contribution amounting to 2d. a week in the case of men, and 1½d. in the case of women may be made subject to the conditions laid down in Section 47. There is no provision in the Act enabling either employer or employé, except by mutual agreement, to vary the terms of any existing contract of employment.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether an employed person who some years ago made a single payment of a considerable sum to his friendly society in exchange for which he receives 10s. per week during sickness and will receive 5s. per week on attaining the age of sixty-five, and who has made arrangements for medical attendance, is now bound under the National Insurance Act to contribute 4d. per week in addition to the provision he has already made?

Voluntary insurance effected by a person who is compulsorily insured under the National Insurance Act, will not relieve that person from liability to pay his statutory contribution under the Act. In such a case as that stated the benefits of the Act would be in addition to those the man has at present—e.g., he would receive £1 a week in all when ill—unless he arranged with his society to commute the benefits he has contracted for, either for other benefits, or a money payment.

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 appointments 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 made under this Part of this Act?

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state by whom the employer's contribution, under the National Insurance Act, is payable in respect of a man casually employed during the first four days of the week and regularly employed on the last two days of the week; and whether he will state by whom the employer's contribution, under the National Insurance Act, is payable in respect of a charwoman employed for half-an-hour of each morning by one employer and by another employer during the rest of the day?

In the case stated, if the man is casually employed for the purpose of the employer's trade or business, the first employer must pay; otherwise the regular employer will be liable. In the case of the charwoman, the first employer is responsible for the payment unless an arrangemnt is made between the employers in accordance with the regula- tions, although of course any private agreement may be arranged whereby the employers' contributions are shared by the various employers in proportion to the work done.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state, in the case of apprentices between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, earning (a) 2s., (b) 10s. weekly, what contributions under the National Insurance Act are payable by the employer and apprentice, respectively; in the case of apprentices over twenty-one earning (a) 5s., (b) 10s. weekly, what contributions under the National Insurance Act are payable by employer and apprentice, respectively; and whether the fact that an apprentice has paid a premium makes any difference to the rate of contribution payable by apprentice and employer?

In the case of the apprentices between sixteen and twenty-one, 3d. will be payable by the employer and 4d. by the apprentice, if a male; 3d. if a female. In the case of an apprentice over twenty-one earning 5s. per week of six days, 1d. is paid by the State, and the whole of the remaining contribution (6d. for a man and 5d. for a woman) will be payable by the employer. Where the remuneration is 10s., 1d. will be payable by the State, 1d. by the apprentice, and 5d. by the employer in the case of a man, or 4d. in the case of a woman. The payment of a premium does not affect the rate of contribution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the evidence laid before the Committee on Imperial and Local Taxation will be published; and when the Committee will present their Report?

I regret that a further delay has occurred in this matter, mainly owing to the pressure of other work upon the printers. I understand that they expect to complete the volumes in question in time for them to be issued before the end of next week. It is impossible at present to say when a further Report will be completed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Dis- tricts Board, at its meeting on 16th July, considered the applications for expediting the purchase of the Trinity College, Knight of Kerry, Fuller, Colomb, and F. G. Williams estates in the barony of Iveragh; and can he state what progress has been effected in these estates, respectively?

The Congested Districts Board, at the meeting referred to decided to make an offer for the purchase of the F. G. Williams estate. The Trinity College estate has been valued, and the Board expect to consider the question of making an offer for purchase at their next meeting. The Board hope to be in a position to issue an offer at an early date for the purchase of the Knight of Kerry's estate. With regard to the Fuller and Colomb estates, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to his previous questions regarding these properties.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local pension committee allowed a pension of 5s. per week to James Daly, of Knockanes, Headford, and that on appeal to the Local Government Board they decided he was not entitled to any pension; on what evidence was this decision arrived at; and whether, seeing that the rent of applicant's farm is £1 19s., and its Poor Law valuation only £2 5s., he will explain how they come to the decision that on the score of means he is disentitled?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. Two claims have been made by this man, and the Local Government Board carefully considered all the evidence submitted to them. Two farms are held in his name with identical rent and valuation, one of which the claimant alleged belonged to his son, who is of the same name, but no statutory evidence was produced in proof of the claimant's allegation.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local pension committee allowed John I. Sullivan, of Barraduff, Headford, county Kerry, a pension of 5s. on the 3rd April, 1912, which the Local Government Board, on appeal, decided he was not entitled to; and whether, seeing that the man is old and unable to work the farm and transferred it to his nephew in payment for the labour he gave him during the past twelve years or more, he will say on what grounds the Local Government Board holds that he is not entitled to a pension?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. Having regard to the stock and crops on his holding, and to the circumstances under which the assignment was made, the Local Government Board were not satisfied that the claimant's means did not exceed the statutory limit.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Denis Coakley, Rathmore, county Kerry, was allowed an old age pension of 5s. per week from May, 1909, to February, 1912, but that on the appeal of the pension officer the Local Government Board decided that Coakley's means were over £31 10s.; is he aware that the Board came to this decision without hearing any evidence from Coakley, and that more than three years ago Coakley assigned his farm to his son, receiving only £10 per year with a small quantity of potatoes, turf, and milk, together with a room in the house; will he say on what grounds the Local Government Board values these at more than £31 10s. per annum; and whether, seeing the treatment this man has received, his case will be reopened and more fully investigated?

In this case the Local Government Board, before giving their decision, had before them statements made by the solicitor employed by Coakley, and, as the solicitor has already been informed, the Board disallowed the pension on the ground that, having regard to the stock and crops on the farm assigned the benefits reserved in the agreements could not be regarded as adequately representing Coakley's means.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he has received a complaint that the firm of Messrs. Crampton, shipbuilders, Portsmouth, who are contractors to the Admiralty, are paying the joiners in their employment 2s. per week less than the standard rate of wage; and whether he will take steps to enforce the provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause in that case?

A complaint has been received respecting an alleged infringement of the Fair-Wages Clause by the firm in question. The matter is being inquired into.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what train arrangements between London and Spithead were made for the Press in connection with the Naval Review of last week; whether the accredited representatives of the English and Canadian Press were refused permission to make use of the train facilities provided by the Admiralty, with the exception of those journalists who were officially described as the personal guests of the First Lord; and whether he will consider the advisability of avoiding discriminations of this character in future?

No special trains between London and Portsmouth were arranged for in connection with the official visit to the Fleet. The only special trains arranged for were between London and Southampton, in connection with the "Armadale Castle," which sailed from Southampton. It was impracticable for the representatives of the Press, selected by the various newspapers and agencies to which invitations had been sent, to make use of these special arrangements, as they embarked in the "Harlequin" at Portsmouth, but the hours of the departure and return of this vessel were carefully timed to fit in with the ordinary express train service. As the hon. Member's question might seem to imply that the comfort of the representatives of the Press was not properly provided for, I should like to add that amongst a number of expressions of satisfaction with the arrangements made, is one from the council of the Institute of Journalists.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is the intention of the War Office to compensate the labourer of the name of Hodges, of Portsmouth, who was recently discharged at the age limit but who some time ago received serious injuries and received medical treatment in consequence and was medically examined prior to his discharge?

This case is now the subject of inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that at Portsmouth workmen employed in confined spaces, such as cleaning inside boilers and buoys, receive no extra payment when the work is done on land; and whether he will take steps to have this work paid for at the same rate as similar work performed away from land?

I will make inquiries, and I will let the hon. Gentleman know the result in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that workmen on being discharged at the age limit have to wait for months before receiving their gratuities; and whether he can have these payments expedited?

Every endeavour is made by the War Office to ensure the payment of workmen's gratuities as soon after their discharge as possible. The cases have, after discharge, to be recommended, with complete statements of their service, to the Treasury, and only in rare cases is there much delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any reply has been forwarded to the Portsmouth Government Labourers' Union's letter of 21st February last relative to wages paid to civilian subordinates, vide paragraph 21 of the Regulations for Civilian Subordinates, Army Ordnance Department, or whether the subject matter of their letter is still under consideration?

The subject is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the men employed at the Gun Wharf, Portsmouth, who received an increase of 1s. per week as from the 1st April, 1911, seventeen in number, are not participating in the readjustment of wages consequent upon the coming into operation of the National Insurance Act; and whether he will have uniform treatment meted out?

I am not aware of this, and I will make inquiries, and I will see that uniform treatment is meted out.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he is aware that certain Infantry battalions of the Territorial Force have been supplied with Mark II. tripod mountings for their machine guns; and whether, in view of his statement that Mark IV. tripods would be supplied in time to be used at the annual trainings of the present year, he will take steps to provide the 5th Battalion (Cinque Ports) Royal Sussex Regiment with Mark IV. tripods, in place of Mark II., before the commencement of the annual training on 27th July?

No statement that the Territorial Force Infantry would be supplied with Mark IV. tripods in time for the present year's annual training can be traced. Mark II. tripod is a serviceable article and it is not proposed to discard it at present. A proposal to alter the legs to make the tripod more adjustable is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the police have any information with the regard to the discovery of a bomb in his study; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?

No, Sir. I think this story must have been derived from the fact that the housemaid, while dusting the room, found two small paper vessels containing an inflammable, but not explosive mixture. Whether they were placed there with a serious intention of arson I am unable to say.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists amongst the Class I. Instructors of His Majesty's prison service owing to the privileges granted to them on their appointments having been withdrawn; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made with a view of any existing grievances being redressed?

A number of additional posts of Class I. Instructors have recently been created, and the men promoted to these appointments are required to do certain Saturday and Sunday duties from which Class I. Instructors were formerly exempt. This is necessary owing to the larger number of Instructors who hold the Class I. rank. If any dissatisfaction exists among these men it does not seem to rest on any reasonable ground, as the officers have received promotion in rank and increase of emoluments, and they are not required to do more duty than they did in Class II.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state what was the total amount of election expenses paid for each General Election in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively, in 1910?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, before any agreement is made for the return of the Ægean Islands to Turkish sovereignty, His Majesty's Government will press for effective guarantees for the better administration of those islands?

It is desirable to take one step at a time. The step which we have taken is described in my answer to the hon. Member for North Somerset on the 16th instant, and I cannot go into further hypothetical questions, nor would it be desirable to do so at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that Frederick Rhodes, chief mate of the steamship "Marquess of Hartington," War Department vessel, sat, in accordance with the Board of Trade regulations, for a master's certificate on 20th October, 1910, and passed the necessary examination; that the proper form was given to be presented to the Board of Trade for the issue of a master's certificate, and that this has been refused; and will he arrange for such certificate to be issued without delay?

The Regulations relating to the examination of masters and mates provide that if, after a candidate has passed the examination for a certifi-

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Return showing the methods employed by certain foreign States of associating with the Departments of State a Standing Committee of Parliament will be presented?

It is impossible to make any statement of the policy which His Majesty's Government would pursue in a situation which has not yet arisen, and the actual circumstances of which must therefore be a matter of pure speculation.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make endeavours to provide that the recommendations of Sir Edward Clarke's Report on the conditions of employment at the Port of London shall be given effect to?

I do not know to what recommendations the Noble Lord refers.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the particulars of the claim made by the National Telephone Company in respect of the transfer of their undertaking?

I have now placed in the Library for the information of hon. Members a copy of the National Telephone Company's claim. As I explained in an answer to the hon. Member for South-West Manchester on the 12th July, certain amendments have been made in the claim in the course of the current arbitration proceedings, and the company are preparing a revised form. I have also placed in the Library a copy of the Post Office valuation of plant, which is the chief item in the company's claim.