asked the Postmaster-General whether rural auxiliary postmen in Ireland are compelled to pay 3d. per week as a contribution to the National Health Insurance; and whether, in the case of those postmen whose wages are below 9s. per week, they will be placed in the same position as those in other employments who are free from payment when their wages are below 9s. per week?

The contribution payable by rural auxiliary postmen in Ireland is as stated. The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in supposing that these officers are treated differently from persons similarly situated in other employments. Although receiving in some instances less than 9s. per week, their employment under the Post Office is for part of the day only. The Act provides for a reduction in the rate of contribution only in cases where the rate of remuneration per working day does not exceed 2s. 6d., and this does not occur in the case of any of the officers in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether seamen not domiciled or having a place of residence in the United Kingdom are not deemed to be employed within the meaning of the health provisions of the National Insurance Act; whether the shipowner is nevertheless called upon to contribute in respect of such seamen, such contributions becoming available for the purpose of securing additional benefits in the shape of pensions or otherwise to British seamen; whether he is aware that foreign seamen without a British domicile or place of residence in the United Kingdom are being induced to give fictitious addresses in this country for their contribution cards; whether the effect of bringing such seamen under the operation of the Act will be to diminish the funds intended by the Act to be available for the provision of additional benefits for British seamen; and what steps he proposes to take to put an end to this practice?

The effect of the Act is as stated in the question. I have no information with regard to the practice described by my right hon. Friend, but if any specific cases can be brought to my notice I will have them inquired into with a view to putting a stop to such irregularities.

asked the Chief Secretary under which Section of the National Insurance Act a Grant for the erection of sanatoria has been made to the Women's National Health Association; and if he will give the reference to any Section of the Act which empowers the Local Government Board to deal with private persons or associations in regard to the erection or provision of sanatoria or which prescribes regulations or conditions under which money may be paid to such persons?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 64 (1) of the National Insurance Act, 1911. Save as regards the consent of the Treasury, no conditions are attached to the exercise of the discretion of the Local Government Board in distributing the Grant in aid of sanatoria under that Section.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what central authority, if any, in Ireland is responsible for the distribution of the capital sum of £145,000 provided for the erection of sanatoria, etc., in Ireland; whether that distribution has yet been made to local authorities; if so, on what basis; and is he in a position to state how many schemes have been so far prepared by local authorities and submitted to the central authority charged with the distribution of the Grant?

Under Section 64 of the National Insurance Act the Grant is to be distributed by the Local Government Board for Ireland with the consent of the Treasury, and the Treasury before giving such consent is required to consult with the Insurance Commissioners. The matter is under consideration by the three Departments concerned, and the procedure proposed to be followed will be announced at an early date. I am not in a position to state how many schemes have already been prepared by local authorities and submitted to the Local Government Board.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will consider the possibility of supplying insurance stamps of larger value for use of employers who pay wages at longer intervals than one week?

Health insurance stamps representing thirteen contributions will be supplied to employers to whom quarterly stamping facilities are given. As regards other employers, such stamps would only be of use if the employers were prepared to pay the contributions in advance, or if the quarterly wages day coincided approximately with the expiry of the contribution card. Such cases are presumably few, and in no other case could a thirteen-week stamp be used without a breach of the regulations. The question of supplying such stamps under proper safeguards to those employers who could use them is, however, under consideration. As regards stamps representing less than thirteen contributions, the Act requires that societies shall be able to ascertain the particular weeks for which the contributions are paid, and the use of stamps representing several contributions would make this impossible unless some ether machinery for indicating to societies the particular weeks to which the stamp relates were set up. The subject is receiving careful consideration, but no system which would not give employers at least as much trouble as the one of single-contribution stamps has yet been devised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, where a person is in receipt of an income of £26 or upwards per annum not dependent on his personal exertions, he may, if he wishes, obtain a certificate of exemption, but the employer of a person holding such a certificate will have to pay the usual employer's contribution in respect of him; and, if so, how it is proposed that the employer's contribution shall be collected in such cases, and who will get the benefit of it?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The employers' contributions are being collected in the usual way by means of stamps affixed to a card which the employer should obtain from the Post Office. I am sending to the hon. Baronet copies of this card and other forms which explain the procedure. Under Section 4 (4) of the Act such contributions are to be carried to such account and dealt with in such manner as may be prescribed by Regulations made by the Insurance Commissioners. The Regulations under this Section are now being drafted and I hope that it will be possible to issue them at an early date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, having regard to the statement of the National Insurance Commissioners to the effect that if, after valuation under Section 36 of the Act, a deficiency is found in the funds to provide the benefits, an approved society may impose a levy on its members and their employers and require the employers to pay such levy, with recourse against the employé, will he say which of several successive employers of the employed person would be required to pay such levy, or whether such levy may be made upon all his successive employers; if he is lastly employed only as a casual, would the last of his employers so employing him as a casual be required to pay such levy; and how are any of such employers to recover the levy from the employed person?

In any case in which a society has given notice to an employer of a compulsory levy payable by any of his employés under Section 38 (c) of the Act, the weekly amount of the levy will be payable as if it were part of the contribution to be paid by the employer on behalf of the employed person, and the provisions of the Act as to the recovery of contributions paid on behalf of employed persons and the regulations for the collection of contributions will apply accordingly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Estate Duty account re Elizabeth Finch was sent to Somerset House in April last after the district valuer had made his provisional valuation, under the Finance Act, on 4th March, 1912; that the secretary of the Estate Duty Office, by letter dated 3rd May, 1912, addressed to Messrs Heath and Blenkinsop, solicitors, of Warwick, D.B. 605,400/12, File 60,496/12, stated that the matter had been referred to the valuation branch as a matter of form, and that there would not be any delay in deciding the value of the real estate and in passing the Estate Duty account; and that the matter has not yet been dealt with; and if he will explain the delay and state why so long a time has been occupied, and take steps to have the matter completed?

I regret that there has been delay which should have been avoided in dealing with this case. Instructions have now been given for it to be expedited, and the matter will be completed in the course of a few days. Steps are also being taken which will obviate delay in clear cases of this nature in future.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that district valuers in certain localities are sending in claims for Undeveloped Land Duty on the site value of woodlands and open spaces to which access is enjoyed by the public and by the inhabitants of the district; and whether he will request the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to issue instructions to their valuers not to make such demands, in view of the fact that Section 17, Sub-section (3) (b), of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, exempts from Undeveloped Land Duty woodlands, parks, gardens, or open spaces to which reasonable access is enjoyed by the public?

I am not aware that claims for Undeveloped Land Duty are being made in cases where it has been shown to the Commissioners that the exemption contained in Section 17 (3) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, applies. If the hon. Member will furnish me with specific instances in which charges have been improperly made, I will cause inquiry to be made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a copy of a resolution unanimously adopted by the County Down National Teachers' Association calling upon the Government to bring in a Supplemental Estimate of £500,000 for Irish primary education; whether he is aware that similar resolutions were adopted by various managers' associations and by the general council of the county councils, and that Dr. Starkie, Resident Commissioner, made a public statement to the effect that a large sum would be required to be voted by Parliament for educational purposes; and whether, in view of these facts, he will state when the Government proposes to take action in the matter?

My attention has been called to the resolutions in question and to Dr. Starkie's speech advocating increased expenditure on Irish education, but I have nothing to add to my statement on the subject in the House on the 31st July.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Patrick M'Avinne, Lisanover, Ballyconnell, county Cavan, was granted an old age pension; and, if so, has this pension been stopped; and will he state, if the grounds of withdrawing this pension be means, what exactly the means of this old gentleman are alleged to comprise?

Patrick M'Avinne's first claim for pension was disallowed by the pension sub-committee on the grounds of means. He then assigned his farm to his son, and made a further claim, which was passed by the committee and came before the Local Government Board on appeal. The Board, having regard to Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act of 1908, upheld the view of the pension officer that M'Avinne was not entitled to a pension.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the alterations in the Rules for 1912–13 of the Intermediate Education Board of Ireland in regard to exhibitions; whether a student in the mathematical course of middle and senior grades cannot earn even a £l prize unless he takes honours in five subjects; whether he will state the number of exhibitioners in the middle and senior grades in the year 1911, and how many of these would have been disqualified if the present contemplated Rule of having to take honours in five subjects had been applied; and whether he will advise the Board to reconsider and alter the Rules so as to put mathematical students more on an equality with others as to the conditions on which exhibitions are to be obtained?

The Rule referred to was made by the Board of Intermediate Education with the concurrence of the representatives of the Catholic and Protestant Head Masters' Associations, and of the Christian Brothers. The effect of the Rule is as stated in the question. Exhibitions were awarded to 156 students in the middle and senior grades in 1911. Twelve of these, six belonging to the mathematical and six to the literary group, would not have qualified under the new Rule. The Rule would therefore appear to affect both groups equally. The Rules for 1913 cannot now be altered, but if Rule 40 appears to work unfairly it will be open to the Board to reconsider it when the Rules for 1914 are being made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state what the Estates Commissioners propose doing with the farm 31,097/11, on C. F. Stewart property, situate at Ray, Rathmullan, county Donegal; and whether he is aware that it was promised to divide, as the town is much congested?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The owner has, however, offered to sell some untenanted land on the estate to the Estates Commissioners, who have the matter under consideration. They have no information as to the promise referred to in the second paragraph of the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the terms of reference to the recently-appointed Committee on Oil Fuel for the Navy; and whether they will be sufficiently wide to cover the whole question of internal combustion engines for propelling purposes?

The terms of reference are as follows: "To report on the means of supply and storage of liquid fuel in peace and war and its applications to warship engines, whether indirectly or by internal combustion." The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is proposed, when the 12th Infantry Brigade go into camp at Aldershot for five weeks on the 10th instant, to so restrict the scale of camp equipment that officers below field rank will be expected to double up two in each bell tent; and whether in view of the increasing need of rendering the Army attractive as a profession both to potential and existing officer, and of the readiness of British officers cheerfully to face discomfort and privation when on active service, such needless discomfort can be avoided at a home camp in time of peace?

No special restriction of camp equipment is being made in the case of the 12th Infantry Brigade; one circular tent for every two officers below field rank is the usual scale for standing camps. It cannot be admitted that this scale of accommodation causes needless discomfort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the proportion of juvenile to adult offenders sent to prison in the past year; whether the proportion is increasing or decreasing; what are the numbers of cases put under the operation of the Probation Act; and whether the number is satisfactory to the Home Office, or whether any steps can be taken to encourage magistrates to make a wider use of this Act of Parliament, with a view to reducing the number of first offenders sent to prisons?

In 1911, out of 159,745 convicted offenders received in prison, only twenty-one were under sixteen; the number of juvenile prisoners has been diminishing very markedly for years past, and has been brought by the operation of the Children's Act almost to a vanishing point. The number of persons put on probation during 1911 is not yet available, but in 1910 it was 10,223, and there were 63,735 other cases where the Court of Summary Jurisdiction held that the charge was proved, but discharged the offender without punishment under Section 1 of the Probation of Offenders Act. No doubt there are numerous cases to which the Act might properly be applied but is not, just as there are undoubtedly cases in which the discharge of an offender without punishment is shown to have been mistaken leniency; but I think the figures make it clear that on the whole magistrates are ready to take full advantage of the Act. I am, however, considering whether by means of a further circular I can assist magistrates towards a more general and uniform exercise of the powers given them by this most useful Act.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is the practice of the Home Office, when an offender is committed to prison in default of payment of a fine, to add to the fine the cost of conveyance from the town of committal to the prison; and how far the promised reform of allowing time for the payment of fines before committal to prison has been carried?

The cost of a convicted prisoner's conveyance to gaol may be included among the costs he may be ordered to pay, and at present it is the usual practice to do this. I do not think the practice is a good one, and am taking steps to secure its discontinuance. I hope next Session to introduce a Bill providing, inter alia, for time for the payment of fines being allowed in all cases where this is proper and practicable. Circulars from the Home Office have recommended magistrates to follow this practice wherever possible, and, pending legislation, I shall take every opportunity that may occur for encouraging the extension of the practice.

asked the Home Secretary if he will state whether the Commissioner of Police has received from the Corporation of Richmond (Surrey) a complaint concerning motor omnibus traffic within the borough and excessive rates of speed; and if the police have been instructed to observe and take proceedings against persons responsible for exceeding the twelve miles an hour limit?

The Commissioner of Police has received a representation from the Richmond Borough Council on this subject, and the police have been instructed to do all in their power to enforce observance of the limits of speed for omnibuses and other motor vehicles within the borough.

asked the Home Secretary whether Lord Devonport called on the Home Office to surround his house with policemen; whether Lord Devonport called on the Home Secretary and the City Police force to fill up the Dock House; did Lord Devonport make any applications for police protection of himself and the premises in question, and, if so, were they oral or written?

The answer to all the questions is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, for each of the years 1900–11, inclusive, the imports for home consumption and the exports of own manufacture, respectively, of cotton yarns and manufactures by the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, and France?

The following statement gives the information desired:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the authority for altering the conditions of service in the Indian Forces, which have been laid down by the authority of a Royal Warrant, 1861, by an Indian Army Order (No. 511 on 18th July, 1904); whether it is intended that the relative course of promotion in the senior ranks of the Indian Cavalry and of the Indian Infantry, which have from time immemorial been identical, namely, by length of service, shall henceforward be brought into line with the conditions which exist in the British Service, and which has existed in that Service since purchase was abolished; whether he is prepared to say that the fact of Cavalry colonels being superseded by upwards of fifty Infantry colonels will not practically deprive the former officers of all hope of attaining to the rank of major-general; and whether steps will be taken, in consultation with the Government of India as to regulations, which may in the future govern promotion to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, to repair the injustice which has already been inflicted on Cavalry colonels?

The Royal Warrant of 13th August, 1877, directed that promotion through successive ranks up to that ofcolonel should be made "in our Indian Staff Corps, under such regulations as shall be made from time to time by our Secretary of State for India in Council," and this power of regulating promotion in the Indian Army has been continued to the Secretary of State for India in Council by subsequent Royal Warrants down to the present time. As I stated in my answer to the hon. Member's question of 11th July, the Government of India will be consulted as to whether any change in the regulations regarding promotion to lieutenant-colonel in the Indian Army is expedient.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the attention of the Indian Government has been directed on several occasions during recent years to the inadequacy of the supply of water to the town of Tuticorin; whether representations have been received from the chamber of commerce; and what steps it is proposed to take in the matter, having regard to the fact that Tuticorin, though it has a native popula- tion of about 36,000, and a yearly trade of close upon £6,000,000, and is the site of large cotton mills, is at present wholly dependent upon a supply drawn through open tanks, liable to contamination, and quite inadequate during the greater part of the year for the needs of the population, both native and European?

The latest information that the Secretary of State has on the subject is to the effect that a project for a joint supply of water to the three towns of Tinnevelly, Palamcottah, and Tuticorin at an appropriate cost of £130,000 is, with the sanction of the Madras Government, being investigated by the sanitary engineer of the Presidency.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Bishop of Bombay, whose jurisdiction is both conferred and limited by the Crown, under the 53 George III., c. 155, and 3 and 4 William IV., c. 85, publicly announced to his clergy at his diocesan conference in February last that vestments, lights, and incense may be used by them in divine service, and that what he calls eucharistic vestments are actually prescribed by authority, and that this bishop further claims a right to rule all such matters for his clergy and to forbid them even to speak against such illegal practices; whether the jurisdiction of the said bishop, limited to him by His Majesty's Letters Patent, authorises the Bishop of Bombay to lay down such laws for the clergy of the Established Church in his diocese; and, if not, whether the attention of the Bishop of Bombay will be called to the fact that he has exceeded his jurisdiction?

The duties, functions, rights and privileges of the bishops of Bombay are limited and prescribed by Statute, but the Letters Patent under which the present bishop was appointed do not define his jurisdiction except by the words that he is "to enter into and possess the said bishopric as the bishop thereof and perform the duties thereof and have and exercise and enjoy the rights, privileges and advantages thereto belonging." The present bishop is reported by the newspapers to have announced to his clergy on the occasion specified his decision, until a superior authority should decide against him, that certain ornaments are prescribed; and to have enjoined "that no man speak against his brother for wearing or not wearing the eucharistic vestments." It would appear that in issuing certain requirements to the clergy of his diocese the bishop followed the example of his immediate predecessor. It may be assumed that if he has exceeded his jurisdiction his attention will be called to the fact by the Metropolitan, to whom the Bishop of Bombay has by statutory-provision given his oath of obedience.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the high mortality amongst men engaged as jinriksha coolies in the Straits Settlements, and the strain involved by the double jinriksha drawn by one coolie; and whether any regulations have been or are to be made to deal with this form of labour in the Colony?

I have not received any information on this subject, but I will send the question to the Governor, and ask him to consider the matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether legislation in reference to the reconstruction of the House of Lords will be introduced next Session?

I can make no statement on the matter at present. The intentions of the Government with regard to next Session will be announced in due course.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the total number registered as successfully vaccinated and the proportion to the births in the year 1910?

The total number of certificates of successful vaccination received by vaccination officers during 1910 was 531,567. The proportion of such certificates to the births registered during the year 1910 is 59.3 per cent. The corresponding figures for 1911 are 491,260 and 55.7 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the price paid by the Crown for the Swaton estate of 2,700 acres, in Lincolnshire, after its valuation by the Crown agent, Mr. H. Canton Jones; and what is the present income yielded to the Crown by this property after taking into account capital expenditure upon its development and improvement since its purchase?

The Swaton estate, comprising about 2,737 acres, was purchased by the Crown as from Ladyday last for £70,500. The present rents amount to £3,267 per annum. No capital expenditure has yet been made, and the question what is necessary is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Crown have been offered and propose to purchase the lordship of Folkingham, in Lincolnshire; and, if so, whether the land is deemed suitable for small holdings, and what is the general condition of the cottages and other buildings upon this property?

An estate at Folkingham has been offered to the Crown, but no decisions as to its purchase has yet been come to.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if there have been any additional outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Cheshire or elsewhere in addition to the five outbreaks announced yesterday; and whether, as the measures which the Board have adopted seem not to be efficacious, the Board will not put Ireland under the same restrictions as any other country where foot-and-mouth disease exists, and not allow cattle to come in for slaughter?

There have now been five outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in the neighbourhood of Nantwich, Cheshire. With regard to the apprehensions which have been expressed that these or any other outbreaks may in some way be connected with the landing of Irish fat stock for slaughter at the foreign animals' wharves, I have made careful investigation and inquiry, and, in view of the fact that all the animals so landed have been carefully examined by veterinary inspectors both on embarkation and on arrival, and that the most stringent precautions are taken at the wharves, I am satisfied that there is no reason whatever for supposing that disease has been introduced in the manner suggested.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, having regard to the fact that there has been no case of foot-and-mouth disease in any part of county Meath, and to the considerable distance of its nearest border from the district in county Dublin where the outbreak occurred, he will consider the advisability of revoking all the restrictions placed on the movement of cattle in the county and declare it exempt from all restrictive regulations?

The restrictions were removed on 18th July from about two-thirds of the county of Meath. The restrictions on the remaining portion of the county, the nearest part of the border of which is only two miles from the Swords infected area, will be modified as soon as the Department are fully satisfied that such a course can be taken without risk.

asked the Attorney-General the date at which proceedings for fraud were commenced against the Law, Car, and General Insurance Corporation; the date at which those proceedings were stopped to await the result of the civil action by another party; whether the Director of Public Prosecutions concurred; what previous connection the liquidator had had with the directors; whether he is an officer of the Court; at what date he became aware of Fowler's malpractices; how much of the property he has found that Fowler misapplied; at what date he became aware that Fowler was about to leave the jurisdiction; at what date Fowler did leave; and why in a case of this character the Public Prosecutor allowed Fowler to escape?

I am not aware that any proceedings for fraud have ever been taken against this corporation against which a compulsory winding - up order was made on the 20th December, 1910, and on the 31st October, 1911, an order was made for the public examination of some of the directors. On the 18th November, 1911, an application was made that in view of the civil action which was then pending against the directors individually, the public examination might be postponed, and an order was made adjourning it until after the determination of the action, which was heard in July, 1912, and resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff. On the 19th July, however, a stay of execution was granted at the defendant's instance by the learned judge who tried the case, with a view to an appeal, and this appeal is now pending. No public examination of the directors having preceded the civil trial, the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions was not directed to the case until it was reported in the newspapers. I am informed that the liquidator was appointed by the Court, which must have been satisfied with his fitness. I am told that Mr. Fowler, who was dismissed from the company's service in August, 1910, left this country early in 1911, and at a time when there was no power to detain him.

asked the Attorney-General what distinction the Director of Public Prosecutions draws between the offence known as obtaining money by false pretences and the practice of an insurance company in obtaining money by a promise, continued for twenty years, that insured persons would be entitled to a specified sum, and at the end of that time paying less than half that sum; and, the Board of Trade being unable to prevent the continued use of this promise by the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society of Australia as a means of obtaining money, whether the Director of Public Prosecutions, on being satisfied of the facts, can prevent the practice?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on the 26th day of June last to a question similar in its effect to that which now appears on the Paper, and I have only to add to that answer that, if the hon. Member is, as his question rather suggests, in possession of any evidence of the commission of any criminal offence by this life insurance society, it is, in my opinion, his duty to submit it to the Director of Public Prosecutions.