asked the Secretary to the Treasury, why the charwomen employed at Somerset House, whose wages are 11s. 6d. per week, are being deducted 3d. per week for insurance in view of the fact that their wages do not exceed 2s. per day?

The charwomen employed in the Inland Revenue Department at Somerset House are paid 11s. 6d. for an average of five hours work a day and are thus employed for a portion of each day only, and, as a matter of fact, many of them do obtain other employment. Their rate of remuneration therefore exceeds 2s. in a normal working day and their contribution under the Second Schedule to the Insurance Act is 3d. a week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the unofficial committee, of which Mr. Arthur Acland is chairman, will have access to information in possession of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, and acquired by them in the exercise of their powers and duties under Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; and whether the council of the Surveyors' Institution will be asked to give evidence before the Committee?

With regard to the first part of the question, the position of the Committee is precisely the same as the position of any other unofficial body would be. As regards the second part, I am not aware of the intentions of the Committee; it is for them to determine the manner in which they may best achieve their object.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the position in which solicitors, executors, and trustees find themselves placed owing to the uncertain period of delay in assessing the amount of Increment Duty payable (if any) on the death of a testator, and, particularly, with regard to the fact that they are prevented from winding up their trust estates lest, subsequent to such winding-up, a claim for Increment Duty should be made and they should have no available funds; will he state whether there is any period to the limit during which executors and trustees are liable in such cases for the payment of such Increment Duty; and, if there is no such limit, whether he will consider the question of fixing a limit?

The delay in the cases to which my hon. Friend refers is generally due to the period which must necessarily elapse before the original value on which the Increment Value Duty depends becomes finally settled, and this period may be considerably and unavoidably extended where the provisional valuation is not considered satisfactory in the first instance. I am not prepared to introduce legislation to deal specially with these delays, which will tend to disappear when the original valuation is completed.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Viceregal Commission on Irish Railways reported in July, 1910, in favour of Grants from public funds being made to the Cork and Muskerry and the Donoughmore Extension, the Schull and Skibbereen, and the Timoleague and Courtmacsherry Railways, in respect of improvements necessitated by original defective construction; whether an application was made on behalf of these lines for the amounts specified by the Commission to the Development Commissioners; whether any Report was made upon this application by the Board of Public Works or the Irish Agricultural Department; what was the effect of such Reports; and whether the Development Commissioners have recommended any, and what, Grants considered necessary by the Viceregal Commission to the Treasury?

The answer to the first three questions is in the affirmative. The Development Commissioners were unable to recommend that any Grants should be made from the Development Fund.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) how many cases of swine fever have come under the notice of the veterinary surgeons of the Department of Agriculture in the district of Glin, county Limerick, during the past twelve months; and from what source are the veterinary surgeons being paid for carrying on their investigations?

The number of cases of supposed swine fever in the district of Glin, county Limerick, brought under the notice of the veterinary inspectors of the Department during the twelve months ended 30th June, 1912, was seventy-one. The existence of the disease was confirmed in only two of these cases. The Department's veterinary inspectors are paid out of moneys voted by Parliament.

asked the Vice-president of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what is the nature and result of the experiments which are being carried on in the district of Glin, county Limerick, by the veterinary surgeons of the Department of Agriculture during the past two years with cattle and pigs; what is the expense of the same, and out of what money is it being paid; and whether, as there is no local veterinary surgeon there, the Department would allow their surgeons to treat small farmers' cattle at a reasonable fee in urgent cases?

Two investigations have been carried out in the Glin district, county Limerick. One was into the nature of a disease among swine which was prevalent in that district, and which in many ways resembled swine fever. Ex- periments in this connection were made in the years 1909 and 1911. An account of the first series of experiments is given in the Department's Report under the Diseases of Animals Acts for 1909. Reference is also made to the investigation in the Report for 1911, page 23. The results so far obtained are not conclusive, and further experiments are necessary. The other investigation was in connection with contagious abortion in cattle with the object of testing the method of immunisation referred to in the Report of the Committee of Inquiry into the disease issued in 1909. Further experiments in this matter are under consideration. The cost of the swine experiments, £230, was paid out of the Parliamentary Grant-in-Aid for Diseases of Animals. The expenses of the cattle abortion experiments amount to about £50 up to the present, and are a charge on the Department's Endowment Fund. As regards the last paragraph of the question, the Department's permanent veterinary inspectors are debarred from engaging in ordinary local practice.

asked the Chief Secretary why, in the case of Michael Murphy, of Dundalk, who was unanimously granted by the Dundalk Board of Guardians an artificial leg for the purpose of enabling him to earn his livelihood, the Local Government Board have refused to sanction the expenditure, although the same was passed by the board of guardians after full consideration and with full knowledge of the circumstances of the case, which was recommended by the medical officer?

The proposal in this cast involved an expenditure of £12 10s., and was adopted by the guardians without the prescribed notice having been given. The Local Government Board have not refused to sanction the expenditure, but requested the guardians to bring the matter up again after the usual notice has been given to each guardian.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds the pension officer and the Local Government Board refused an old age pension to Mrs. Shine, of Finol, Ballyhahill, county Limerick, who has been an invalid for over two years, having regard to the fact that the local pension committee granted it to her on production of a statement from the parish priest that she was over seventy years, and also on that of the oldest inhabitants of the district who knew her since her childhood; and whether, as her birth certificate cannot be obtained he will direct the pension officer to inquire fully into her case?

Mrs. Shine's claim for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal as she was unable to produce any satisfactory evidence of age, and she could not obtain a baptismal or birth certificate. When deciding her case the Board had before them statements from the parish priest and other persons as to the claimant's age, but, as these were merely expressions of opinion unsupported by any evidence, they could not accept them as sufficient proof that she was over seventy years of age.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in preparing the promised Bill relating to intermediate education in Ireland, he will try to remedy the want of Parliamentary control over the Intermediate Education Board of which he has frequently complained, so that control of that Board may pass to the Irish Parliament on the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law?

No, Sir. The Bill which I have promised to bring in is intended to remedy one defect only in the Act constituting the Board of Intermediate Education, namely, the provision which makes the payments to managers of schools dependent on the results of public examinations.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is in a position to announce that any, and, if so, what steps have been taken with a scheme to increase the emoluments and improve the position of assistant teachers in intermediate schools in Ireland?

I am not at present in a position to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that no part of the expense of the London police who did duty in Glamorganshire during the labour troubles has been paid by the local authority; and, seeing that the claim has been deferred until a kindred question in a case now pending has been decided and seeing that the case of Wexford is on the same footing as the case of Glamorganshire, will he take steps to see that Wexford is not pressed for payment until the case in question is decided?

I understand that the facts regarding the expenses of the Metropolitan Police sent to Glamorganshire are as stated in the question. The case of county Wexford is not, however, on the same footing. The law with respect to the charges for extra police in Ireland is quite clear, and there is, therefore, no reason why the settlement of the claim against county Wexford should await the result of the legal proceedings referred to in the case of Glamorganshire.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Wexford County Council, when striking the county rate, were not aware that they would be compelled to pay £3,000 for extra police in connection with the Wexford labour troubles; that they have made no provision for this extra charge, and will consequently be unable to meet it; and if, in the circumstances, the Government will give the council time to meet this extra charge until July next, on receipt of a resolution from the county council that they will raise this £3,000 by a separate charge in the next rate?

The sum charged to the County Council of Wexford as extra police expenses in connection with labour troubles in the town of Wexford is £2,848. As the county council at several of their meetings postponed consideration of the claim, and as it seemed unlikely that they would alter their attitude on the subject, the amount has been deducted from sums payable from the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account to the County Council of Wexford. I am afraid, therefore, that the request for the postponement of the charges is too late.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in view of the Perjury Act, 1911, which simplified and consolidated the law of perjury and repealed provisions relating to perjury in more than 130 Acts so far as England and Wales are concerned, whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a similar measure for Ireland, so as to simplify and consolidate the law of perjury in these countries and to complete, so far as Ireland is concerned, the repeal of these and various other statutory provisions relating to perjury?

It would doubtless be an advantage if the law relating to perjury in Ireland were consolidated, but, so far as I am aware, no great inconvenience arises from the absence of a consolidating statute, and, in the present state of business, it would not be possible to deal with the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the correspondence that has passed between the Secretary of the Local Government Board in Ireland and the Tralee Rural District Council in reference to the labourers' cottages; and if he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of the Report of the inspector of the Local Government Board as to the cottage scheme of the Tralee Rural District Council, in which 382 cottages were authorised, and for which a loan of £65,750 was obtained?

The Report is a voluminous document extending to 180 pages, and I see no adequate reason for laying a copy of it, or of the correspondence between the Local Government Board and the rural district council, on the Table of the House.

asked whether the Commissioners of National Education take any steps to see that school teachers in Ireland are insured under the Workmen's Compensation Act, and to prevent the managers from making the teachers pay the premiums on such insurance; and are the Commissioners aware that many managers deduct the premiums from the teachers, and even make them insure against liability to pupils?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they do not take any steps to see that school teachers in Ireland are insured under the Workmen's Compensation Act nor to prevent the managers from making the teachers pay the premiums on such insurance. The Commissioners have been advised that managers of national schools are liable under the Workmen's Compen- sation Act in the case of accidents to teachers. The Commissioners have no information as regards the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many Irish national teachers were intergraded in the year 1900; how many of such teachers have since been promoted to the grade above; and whether he can state why it is that such teachers are seldom or never promoted, whereas teachers of a grade below are frequently promoted to a grade above?

The information asked for is not available, and could not be procured without an expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its public utility. The Commissioners of National Education, however, inform me that there never have been any such discrimination between intergraded and other teachers in the matter of promotion as is suggested in the question, and that the case of every teacher is periodically examined with a view to his promotion if found eligible.

asked the Chief Secretary the condition of the negotiations with respect to the O'Donnell estate, Kildysart; whether, in view of the fact that an inspection of the property is reported to have taken place, he can give the date of the inspection; whether the tenants were communicated with at the time of the inspection; and whether steps will be taken to deal with this property without further delay?

It now appears that the Congested Districts Board's inspector did not visit the lands or communicate with the tenants, but he satisfied himself by inquiry and an examination of the rental that the estate was not a suitable one for the Board to acquire compulsorily. The Board decided in January last that they would not take further steps to purchase the estate.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that on the night of 15th July, a cow was shot, the property of the president of the Portumna branch of the United Irish League, and on February last the house of the treasurer was fired into; and whether, up to the present, any arrests have been made?

The facts are as stated, but the cow was shot on the night of the 8th instant. No arrests have been made up to the present.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has completed his inquiries into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by Messrs. Easton, Gibb, and Son, contractors for the naval base at Rosyth; and, if so, will he state the result of the inquiry?

A full inquiry has been made into the matter. It appears that no carpenters have been engaged as such at 7d. an hour. Two men with Labour Exchange tickets with the rating of carpenter noted on them presented themselves for work as carpenters. It transpired that they were in fact house joiners. They were told that there were no vacancies for this class of work. They refused work as timbermen at 7d. an hour.

asked if the artificer engineers are to be included in the 100 commissions promised to young warrant officers; if so, to what extent, and, if not, why this is not to be done, having regard to the dearth of engineer officers; and if the engine-room artificers are to be included in the promised rise of pay to officers and men?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the number of commissioned engineer officers borne at present is sufficient to meet requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the firm of Liverpool brewers who supplies the beer for the canteen at the Liverpool barracks works the bar assistants seven days per week to the extent of ninety hours, and pay a wage of about 20s. per week; whether this is a breach of the Fair-Wages Resolution; and, if so, if he intends taking action in the matter?

My hon. Friend is presumably alluding to the Seaforth Barracks, where Messrs. Dickeson and Company are contractors for the canteen. The bar assistants are the servants of this firm, and not of the brewers. A report, however, has been called for.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the new experimental service rifle is to have an adjustable wind-gauge; and whether there will be an open V or U-shaped back-sight, for use in failing light, as well as an aperture sight?

The experimental service rifle will not be provided either with an adjustable wind-gauge or an open V or U-shaped back sight.

asked the Secretary for War if arrangements are made to enable clerks in the service of the War Office to undertake work in connection with the settlements on the Stock Exchange?

I have no official information regarding the work undertaken by officials of the War Office after office hours. There is no objection to such a course provided that the work does not in any way interfere with their official duties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that the Returns of the Trinidad sugar crops of 1911 show that, whilst it took only nine tons of farmers' canes to produce a ton of sugar, it required twelve tons of factory canes to produce the same amount; and, seeing that this difference is due to the skilful handling of farmers' canes by the factory owners, whereby they manage to receive twelve tons of cane while paying only for nine tons, whether he will direct the Governor to inquire into the matter?

I have no information on the subject, but, assuming the facts stated in the question to be correct, it does not appear to be a matter into which the Governor could usefully inquire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he could obtain a Return of the number of cases tried in the New Hebrides before the Joint Court during the last two years, showing also how many convictions have been obtained and punishments actually inflicted upon offenders, or fines levied and paid?

I will obtain a complete Return from the Joint Court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been directed to complaints that have reached Australia of the supply of intoxicants to natives, the irregular recruitment of women, kidnapping and illegal detention of natives in the New Hebrides, to the further statement that any decision of the Joint Court against the French is quite useless, and that kidnapping or murder of natives by white men is not triable before a Joint Court; and whether, under all the circumstances, he will consider the possibility of arranging for an Anglo-French Commission to inquire how the interests of the natives and the credit of France and Great Britain might be best withheld?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to fresh complaints from the New Hebrides as to the supply of intoxicants to natives, kidnapping, and illegal detention; and what steps he intends to take to put a stop to these practices?

My attention has been drawn to Press reports of the character indicated. It is true criminal offences by Europeans against natives as distinct from offences against the provisions of the Convention are not justifiable by the Joint Court, but the offenders are amenable to the criminal jurisdiction of the national Courts. In view of the recent changes in the existing system, and the proposals for its further amendment, to which I referred in my reply to a question by my hon. Friend on 26th June, I do not think that it is yet necessary to consider the setting up of an Anglo-French Commission to investigate the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will be able to supply at an early date full particulars of the labour conditions in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands?

I shall be glad to supply my hon. Friend with the information he desires, or to obtain it from the High Commissioner, if he will specify more exactly the nature of the particulars for which he asks.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to a claim of the Coupé Company, of 47, Graham Street, Sloane Square, S.W., against His Highness the Jam Sahib of Nawanagar for £900 in respect of work done and designs supplied to his order in connection with His Highness's proposed summer palace; whether he is aware that correspondence has taken place between the early part of 1908 and the present time between His Highness's agents, private secretary, and solicitors, on the one side, and the company and their solicitors on the other side, and that such correspondence discloses the fact that His Highness has repudiated the claim in question; and whether any steps have been taken by the Secretary of State in the case?

The attention of the Secretary of State has been drawn to the correspondence referred to, the effect of which is as stated by my hon. Friend. His Highness the Jam Sahib has not asked the Secretary of State to advise him, and it has not hitherto been the practice of the India Office to intervene between ruling chiefs and their private creditors.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India what is the present state of affairs in Tibet; whether there are any Chinese troops still left in the country; and whether the Chinese Amban is still able to exercise any authority or not?

The latests reports received indicate that there has been no material change in the situation in Tibet, The Chinese garrison at Lhasa is believed to be still holding out. But, as I stated on the 10th July, in reply to the hon. Member for East Nottingham, the Chinese, so far as our information goes, are no longer in a position to exercise effective authority in Tibet. The Dalai Lama reached Ralung, on the road to Lhasa, on the 16th July.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the liquor bill for the British-Indian Empire and at how much per head the figure works out for the latest year for which statistics are available; and whether he will give the like information, if it is obtainable without undue research and trouble, for compounds and derivatives of opium, cocaine, and drugs of a similar character?

The taxation receipts under Excise in 1910–11 amounted to £7,030,314, distributed in round numbers as follow: From foreign liquor and liquor made in India by European methods, £300,000; country spirits, £3,700,000; Toddy and pachwai, £1,200,000; opium and other drugs, £1,800,000; fines, etc., £30,000. There are no reliable data from which the consumers' total disbursements on account of liquor and drugs can be computed with any accuracy, but on a conjectural estimate they might be put at about £10,000,000, or 10d. per head of the population of British India.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India, if arrangements are made to enable clerks in the service of the India Office to undertake work in connection with settlements on the Stock Exchange?

No such arrangements are made, but clerks are not prohibited from undertaking work outside office hours provided their official duties are not interfered with.

asked the President of the Board of Education, when will the Board be able to bring in legislation to carry into effect the recommendations of the committee of inquiry into the education endowments [Cd. 5662].

The recommendations, I understand, are regarded in some quarters as controversial, and I can, therefore, hold out no prospect of introducing legislation this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the death of one William Morris at Wandsworth Prison; how long it has been the custom of leaving tools in the cells at night; whether it was introduced on the ground that it would entail the labour of two extra men to collect tools in each wing of the prison; whether he will inform the House of the number of complaints made by debtors and other prisoners at Brixton Prison during the months of March and April concerning the food and short rations; whether a debtor prisoner during the year at Brixton, named Fuller, was severely punished by the acting-Governor for having in his possession a periodical called "John Bull"; will he say what was the punishment; whether he will inform the House the number of days the Governor has been absent from the gaol; what is his salary; and will he give the number of prison inspections made during the year at Brixton Prison by Government inspectors?

My attention has been called to the case. Small tools have been left in the cells overnight, since 1st April last, except in cases where the Governor thought they might be misused. The reason for this rule was to facilitate arrangements for reducing the hours of work of the officers. During April and May one prisoner in Brixton complained of his food once, and another four times—both were debtors. No case can be traced where any debtor of the name of Fuller has been punished in Brixton prison during the past twelve months. The Governor was absent on leave for forty-four days, and for some months during a vacancy the Deputy-Governor acted as Governor. The Governor's salary is £500, rising by increments to £650. During the last twelve months the prison has been inspected on six occasions by inspectors, and has been visited by an inspector on two or three other occasions.

asked the Home Secretary whether and, if so, when he intends to act upon that portion of the unanimous Report of the Royal Commission on Vivisection which recommends the appointment of additional inspectors under the Cruelty to Animals Act?

The recommendations of the Commission are being considered as a whole. I hope to be able to deal with the matter before long.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that on Wednesday the 24th instant, at 1.30 p.m., a number of persons were attacked, assaulted, knocked down, and kicked by the police at Tower Hill at the back of the premises of the Mazawattee Tea Company; and, as the persons were peaceful spectators, will he take steps to inquire further into the statement contained in this question if furnished with the numbers of some of the policemen who committed Some of the offences and the names and addresses of witnesses?

I understand that the place in question is within the jurisdiction of the City Police, of whom I am making inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that detectives are joining the trade unionists engaged in the transport workers' dispute, appearing as members of the union, wearing the union button, and taking part in the work of organisation; and by whose authority these officers have been instructed to undertake this kind of espionage?

I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that so far as he is aware there is no foundation for the allegation that officers of the Metropolitan Police have appeared as members of trade unions, wearing union buttons, and taking part in the work of organisation, during the progress of the strike. No such procedure would have received the Commissioner's sanction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the clause of the agreement of the 19th August, 1911, dealing with the taking on of men outside the dock premises in the Port of London, is admitted by the representatives of both sides in the strike to be the only outstanding point of difference; and, if so, whether negotiations are being resumed upon this point?

From such information as is in my possession, it would appear that the dispute largely centres upon the point to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Home Secretary how many prisoners, men and women, connected with the suffrage agitation are or have been forcibly fed; how many times each prisoner has been so fed; and if any prisoners have been released owing to breakdown of health in connection with such feeding?

I am sorry that, beyond saying that no prisoners are now being forcibly fed, I cannot undertake to give the information for which my hon. Friend asks. It would involve the collection of figures from a considerable number of prisons and over a period of several years; but with regard to the last head of the question, I may say that, while a considerable number of cases have occurred in which prisoners who were being artificially fed have been released on grounds of health, the failure was due to the feeble condition of health in which they were received into prison, to the injurious effect of the voluntary starvation to which they subjected themselves, and to the violent resistance they offered to what is merely necessary medical treatment.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is by his authority that the Governor of Pentonville Prison has refused permission to Thomas Henry Maddox, now under sentence of one month's hard labour for assault in the City of London, to sign a petition to His Majesty for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy by reason of the mental state of his wife, although the Recorder of London, after sentencing him at the Guildhall, intimated that the right course for the prisoner to adopt was to petition His Majesty?

I am informed that a firm of solicitors applied for the prisoner to be allowed to sign a petition drawn up by them, and, in accordance with the usual practice, they were told that this would not be allowed, as the prisoner himself had the privilege of petitioning. The prisoner has himself petitioned in the ordinary way. It is, of course, open to a prisoner's solicitors to address to the Secretary of State any representation they may think necessary with regard to the prisoner's case.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the recent fire in the City, he can see his way to introduce a short Bill before the Recess dealing with regulations for the manufacture and handling of celluloid and kindred substances?

The manufacture of celluloid is already, in cases where the nitro-cellulose is used in a dry state, subject to control under the Explosives Act. The manufacture of articles from celluloid has been the subject of inquiry by the Factory Department, and recommendations as regards injury to health and danger from fire were issued in 1905. I will consider whether anything further can be done; but I fear it would be impossible to deal with the matter before the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has examined the numerous Bills now before the House giving increased power to the police, which seriously affect the liberty of the people; whether he intends to support every one of such proposals; and, if so, will he recommend an increase of pay to accompany the additional difficult duties which were not contemplated when the existing staff was engaged?

I do not know to what Bills my hon. Friend refers, except the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, which I supported and will support. I am well aware that new duties have been from time to time imposed by Parliament on the police, and these have been taken into consideration in connection with the revisions of their pay and the frequent augmentations of the force.

asked the Home Secretary if any statistics are available for the current year of the cases of wrongful arrest by the police in London or in the provinces, and of the cases where persons have been released as innocent after police testimony has been given against them; and whether he has sanctioned the principle of promotion in the police force by the number of convictions obtained?

In reply to the first part of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave him on the 15th of this month. With reference to the second part, no such "principle of promotion" as is alleged, is recognised in the Metropolitan Police, and I do not know of its existence in any other force. It would be so inimical to the public interest that I cannot imagine any police authority adopting it.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the wrongful arrest of a Birmingham manufacturer by the police; whether heavy fines have been inflicted upon the two constables concerned; whether the gentleman was arrested because he protested against the treatment of a prisoner; and what action the Home Office intends to take?

My attention had not been drawn before to this matter, which is one for the local police authority; but on inquiry, I am informed that damages to the amount of £20 have been awarded in the County Court against one of the police constables concerned, and he has been called on by the Watch Committee to resign. The case against the other appears to be still sub judice.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the case of a man, whose allowance under the Workmen's Compensation Act was reviewed by the County Court judge, and at the instance of the insurance company reduced from 7s. to 1d. a week; is he aware that this man lost his right hand a year ago in a clay-crusher at some brickworks; that he is an orphan brought up by foster parents who took him from the union; that he has no relatives; that his own doctor declared him to be unfit to work; and that the funds for carrying on his case have been subscribed by his friends and neighbours; who cannot afford the further cost of an appeal; and will he consider whether, by legislation or otherwise, a further hearing in such cases could be secured without the heavy expense of an appeal?

I have seen the newspaper report of the case winch the hon. Member has been good enough to send me, but I have no information otherwise as to the facts of the case. I gather from the report that the judge came to the conclusion that the man was able to do light work and that his health would improve if he tried to do something; and by his decision reducing the compensation to 1d. a week, he left it open to the man to make a further application subsequently to the Court in the event of his condition becoming such as to render him altogether unfit for work. The question at issue seems to have been one of fact, and on questions of fact there is no appeal given by the Act nor in my opinion would it be in the interests generally of injured workmen that there should be. I may point out that under paragraph 15 of the First Schedule to the Act it will at any time be open for the parties to refer the question of the man's condition to one of the Referees appointed under the Act, whose fee for the examination will be payable by the State.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of lunatics in England and Wales, and the proportion they bore to the total population on 1st January in each of the following years: 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, and 1912?

The information is given in the following Table:—Table showing, for England and Wales, the total number of lunatics, idiots, and persons of unsound mind, on the 1st of January in each year, with their ratio (per 10,000) to the population:—

Year.	Population (at the time of the Census).	Total Number of Lunatics, etc. (on 1st January).	Ratio (per 10,000) to Population.
1851	17,927,609	16,456	9.18
1861	20,066,224	39,647	19.76
1871	22,712,266	56,755	24.99
1881	25,974,439	73,113	28.15
1891	29,002,525	86,795	29.92
1901	32,527,843	107,944	33.19
1911	36,075,269	133,157	36.91
1912	36,545,076*	135,661	37.12
* Estimated for the middle of the year.

asked the Home Secretary if he can state the educational tests demanded of applicants for naturalisation in this country as well as in the principal States of Europe and America?

I am not aware whether any educational tests are applied to applicants for naturalisation in the principal States of Europe and America. There is no such test in this country. Probably my hon. Friend is referring to the well-known practice in accordance with which the Secretary of State, in performing the duty laid upon him by Statute of deciding these applications "as he thinks most conducive to the public good," requires to be informed whether the applicant can speak and read or write the English language reasonably well. This practice is founded on the principle that, save in very exceptional circumstances, a person can have no claim to be invested with the full rights of British nationality in the United Kingdom if he has not identified himself with the life and habits of the country to the extent of becoming reasonably proficient in the language.

asked the Home Secretary the cost incurred per individual of making inquiries concerning applicants for naturalisation, and how such cost is arrived at, adding whether those who are granted letters of naturalisation are charged also with the cost of making inquiries respecting those who are refused; and whether, if such be the case, he will consider a reform of the procedure?

As I informed the hon. Member for Mid-Lanarkshire on the 17th of this month, it is impossible to say exactly what is the cost to the State of all the proceedings which are involved in the grant of a certificate of naturalisation. These proceedings form part of the manifold operations of the Home Office and the police, and the cost of them can only be arrived at by estimating the proportion which they bear to the total. In making this estimate it would be wrong, even were it possible, to exclude the cases where the proceedings end in a refusal of a certificate. According to the best estimate which I have been able to make, the cost per case absorbs much the greater portion of the fee of £5. I have gone into the matter very carefully; but, as I stated on the 17th of this month, I do not feel that a reduction of the fee would be justified.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the complaints by residents in London that, owing to the introduction of new motor-omnibus routes, they have been inconvenienced by deprivation of the peaceable enjoyment of their premises, and that injury is done to the roads through excessive wear and tear, thereby imposing additional burdens on the ratepayers, he can put in force the provisions of 24 and 25 Vic, c. 70, s. 5, and restrict the use of such vehicles in certain thoroughfares where this can be accomplished without detriment to the convenience of the travelling public?

The Section referred to by the hon. Member was repealed by Section 2 of 28 and 29 Viet., c. 83. I am advised that I have no power to restrict the use of omnibuses in particular streets.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if, in view of complaints by residents in London of the introduction of new motor-omnibus routes in highways unfitted for such traffic, or where they cause inconvenience to the residents, and of the use of wagons drawn by locomotives, he will advise borough councils to exercise the powers conferred on them by the Highways Locomotive Act, 1898, 61 and 62 Vic., c. 29, s. 6, and make suitable by-laws for the better regulation of such traffic?

Motor omnibuses are light locomotives within the meaning of the Locomotives on Highways Act, 1896, and are therefore outside the scope of any bylaws which could be made under Section 6 of the Locomotives Act, 1898. The powers of Section 6 of the latter Act with respect to heavy locomotives and the use of wagons drawn by such locomotives are exerciseable in London (outside the City) by the London County Council, and not by the Metropolitan Borough Councils. I understand that the London County Council have had under consideration from time to time the question of framing bylaws on this subject, with respect to particular highways, but that they have not found themselves in a position to deal with it in a satisfactory manner.

asked the Home Secretary the number of on-licences, off-licences, and clubs registered for the sale of intoxicants in England and Wales on 1st January, 1912; and the respective increases or decreases compared with 1904 and 1911?

Verified figures for 1st January, 1912, are not yet available, and exact figures for 1st January, 1904, do not exist. In the annexed Table estimates are given for 1912; and for the purposes of comparison the figures for 1905 are shown:—

ENGLAND AND WALES.
—	Estimated Number on 1st Jan, 1912.	Increase (+) or Decrease (-) as compared with
		1905.		1911.
		Actual.	Per cent.	Actual.	Per cent.
On-licences	89,914	-9,564	-9.61	-1,333	-1.46
Off-licences	23,851	-1,554	-6.12	-264	-1.09
Registered Clubs	8,180	+1,591	+24.15	+268	+3.39

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, provides that the clerk of any sanitary authority which maintains a hospital for the treatment of small-pox patients shall keep a register containing full particulars of all cases treated therein and shall supply copies of such details when asked for, he will explain why he cannot obtain information which the Act says shall be at his disposal in regard to the vaccinal condition of the small-pox patients treated at Bradford this year?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in assuming that I am unable to obtain the information. The register is being kept, but it has been found more convenient for the Board to obtain the particulars at the end of each year, rather than from time to time. I am, however, making a special inquiry in regard to the two Bradford cases.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Government inspector's report on the Hebden Bridge Railway accident will be issued?

This report will, I hope, be issued before the end of next week.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has received from the Newport (Salop) Urban District Council and the Newport (Salop) Tradesmen's Association resolutions asking him to provide better and more central post office accommodation in the town of Newport (Salop); and if he can say whether he can see his way to grant the requests made?

The resolutions were received a few days ago. I am having inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Imperial wireless stations it is proposed to construct under the Marconi agreement; what are the points at which such stations will be located; and what is the distance between each of such points respectively?

It is proposed that six long-distance wireless stations should be erected under the agree- ment referred to by the hon. Member, and that they should be situated in England, Egypt, British East Africa, South Africa, India, and the Malay Peninsula. The sites for the proposed stations have not yet been finally selected, but the approximate distances between them will be as follows:—

	Geographical Miles.
England—Egypt	1,880
Egypt—British East Africa	2,180
British East Africa—South Africa	1,450
British East Africa—India	2,500
India—Malay Peninsula	1,700

asked the Postmaster-General if the £60,000 to be paid to the Marconi Company for the electric installation at each of the Imperial wireless stations covers both the dispatching and receiving stations; is the wireless station about to be constructed by the Australian Government to be erected in accordance with the draft specification drawn up for the other stations of the chain of Imperial wireless stations; and will he say if the draft specification of Imperial wireless installations was submitted to and estimates obtained from any other wireless telegraph construction companies as well as the Marconi Company?

The £60,000 to be paid to the Marconi Company for each station to be erected under their contract covers a complete wireless installation at each place, capable both of sending and receiving telegrams on the conditions specified in the contract. I have no information as to the specification which will be adopted by the Australian Government for the purpose of the station which they will erect to communicate with the proposed Imperial station at Singapore. The possibility of securing the erection of the stations by some other company was fully considered, but it was decided not to invite tenders, for reasons which I will state when the contract is brought before the consideration of the House.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the girl clerks employed in post offices by sub-postmasters and mistresses, who were already hard worked, have had many additional duties placed upon them through the working of the National Insurance Act, without receiving any additional remuneration; would he say whether any arrangements have been, or are being, made to provide for increased assistance or remuneration to sub-postmasters and postmistresses, in view of the considerable increase of work caused by the introduction of this Act; if so, will he stipulate that any such improvement is to be participated in by their girl clerks; and whether for work of such a useful and responsible nature, and demanding the greatest possible accuracy combined with speed and continual mental application, as is required of telegraph and counter clerks in post offices, he will provide that the working hours should, as a rule, be limited to seven per day?

With regard to the remuneration of sub-postmasters for National Health Insurance work, I beg to refer the hon. Member to replies given to similar questions on the 11th and and 22nd instant. The pay and conditions of employment of assistants at Scale Payment Sub-Post Offices, as distinguished from Salaried Sub-Offices, which am staffed by officers in the direct employ of the Department, rest with the sub-postmaster. He provides the requisite staff and accommodation for the work of the office in return for an inclusive payment based on the amount of work transacted. Usually the assistants are engaged both on Post Office work and on the private business of sub-postmaster. I am not prepared to take the course suggested in the question.

asked the, Postmaster-General whether the cases of those engineers denied the benefits of the new scales of pay authorised under the reorganisation of the engineering department as from the 1st July, 1911, have now been reconsidered, as promised; whether he is now able to announce the result of his reconsideration; and, if not, whether he will give an undertaking that no further appointments of persons outside the Post Office service will be made to the class of assistant engineers until the cases of the above-mentioned officers have been finally settled?

The question raises a number of points of difficulty and is not yet settled, but I hope a conclusion will be reached shortly. No examination for outside candidates will be held meanwhile.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that delay occurred in the transmission from Dublin of the telegraphic reports of the Prime Minister's speech in Dublin on the 19th instant; whether he is aware that reports which were handed in at the General Post Office, Dublin, while the meeting the Prime Minister was addressing was in progress and which were completed before 11 o'clock, were not completely delivered to London newspapers until 4 o'clock next morning; whether he is aware that similar delay was experienced in transmission of the reports to provincial towns in Great Britain and Ireland; whether he is aware that on similar occasions elsewhere Press reports of speeches occupy about one hour in transmission as against five hours on this occasion; whether he is aware that as a consequence of this delay it was impossible to publish the Prime Minister's speech in full in the early editions of Saturday's newspapers anywhere outside of Dublin; and whether, in view of the foregoing facts, he will take steps to bring home to the officials responsible for the inadequate telegraphic arrangements in Dublin a due sense of their shortcomings?

I am making a close investigation into the circumstances of the very regrettable delay to which the hon. Member refers, and will acquaint him with the result as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a postman's position on the seniority list is taken as from the date of his entry into the service or as from the date of his Civil Service certificate placing him upon the establishment?

The seniority of provincial postmen is normally governed by the dates of their appointment as established postmen; but, if several officers are appointed on or about the same date, other factors, such as the length and nature of their previous service, are taken into consideration. In London all the postmen are on one seniority list, their positions being determined by the dates of their selection for the appointment of postman. The date of a postman's Civil Service certificate has, as a rule, no bearing on his seniority, the certificate being usually obtained in advance.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the continual delay experienced in getting through to the Purley telephone exchange; and whether he will take steps to ensure a better service at the exchange in question?

Some instances of delay have come under notice. The growth of the exchange has been very rapid, and additional junction lines are being provided.

asked the Postmaster-General what the estimated loss to the revenue would be in the first year and in subsequent years if penny postage were established between this country and France, Germany, and all other countries, respectively?

The immediate loss to the revenue is estimated approximately as follows:—

(a) on letters for France	£107,000
(b) on letters for Germany	£101,000
(c) on letters for all other countries	£232,000

I am unable to furnish estimates as to the future. The stimulus given to increase of correspondence by reduction in postage rates would operate to diminish the initial reduction in gross postal receipts. The cost of conveyance of correspondence to different countries abroad varies, of course, with the distance and facilities of communication. Even in the case of France, the most accessible of Continental countries, it is estimated that the loss of revenue resulting from penny postage could not be made good without an increase to fully fivefold in the correspondence. The margin of profit on each new letter after handling it and its reply for a charge of one penny would be very small. In the case of Germany a still greater increase would be necessary, while a general postage charge of 1d. per ounce on letters for all places abroad could leave no margin of profit; and it follows that no increase of traffic could, under existing conditions, reduce the initial sacrifice of revenue.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the advisability of reducing the charge for registration of letters and postal packets from 2d. to 1d.?

I have recently made inquiry on this subject, and regret to find that the cost of the registration service does not admit of any reduction in the present charge.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that a very serious disease has broken out among Swiss trout; and if he will make inquiry about it, and take whatever steps are necessary to prevent its introduction into the United Kingdom by live fish or ova imported from the Continent?

My attention has not been called to any disease peculiar to Swiss trout, but I am aware of the existence of epizootic disease among trout in some parts of the Continent. I will have inquiry made, and will consider what steps, if any, are necessary to prevent the introduction of the disease into this country. Legislation, however, would be required to enable the Board to prohibit the importation of live fish or ova.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the sentence of twenty days' imprisonment passed upon Mary Conn, at Kirkcudbright, by Sheriff Napier, for a breach of the peace; and whether he will inquire into the matter with a view to reducing the sentence, if possible?

My attention was drawn to this case on Wednesday, and I thought it my duty to order the woman's release.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can see his way to allow periods of educational service in England to be reckoned as recorded service for the purpose of the Scottish superannuation scheme for teachers?

It is quite impossible to allow service for which no contribution has been made to the Fund to be reckoned for the purposes of the scheme. Certificated teachers in England are required to contribute to the Fund under the Act of 1898, and when they retire they will be entitled to an allowance under that Act in respect of their services in England, in addition to any allowance to which they may be entitled under our scheme for service in England.

asked the Lord Advocate how many public inquiries into cases of sudden or suspicious deaths in Scotland have been held under the provisions of Section 3 of the Fatal Accidents, and Sudden Deaths Inquiry (Scotland) Act, 1906?

The number is 103.