asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many insurance stamps of each different value have been sold up to the last date for which such information is available; and what is the total amount of money so collected?

The following health insurance stamps were sold up to 28th September:—

Denomination of Stamp.			United Kingdom.
1½	…	…	175,790
2	…	…	375,860
2½	…	…	234,380
3	…	…	1,762,610
3½	…	…	727,410
4	…	…	411,800
4½	…	…	2,181,900
5	…	…	5,576,900
5½	…	…	3,354,910
6	…	…	30,469,970
7	…	…	. 73,634,100
1/-	…	…	537,520
½	…	…	699,200
Total	…	…	120,142,350

In addition arrangements had been made by quarterly payments and through the Labour Exchanges, representing another 14,206,098 weekly payments, making a total for the eleven weeks of 134,348,448.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received the report of the inspector sent to report on the deductions made from wages by the owners of the St. Thomas Collar Factory, Exeter; and what was the nature thereof?

The case has been investigated and the report is in the hands of the Commission. It appears that the charge of 1½d. is an agreed payment by the employés in connection with the clearing up of the factory.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when he intends to publish the details of his scheme of scholarships for secondary education, and also his proposals for applying the Grant of £40,000 per annum?

I would refer the hon. Member to the draft schemes which were published in the Irish newspapers a month ago.

asked the number of persons in Ireland aged seventy and over who were in receipt of outdoor and indoor relief, respectively, on each of the dates 1st January, 1910, 1st January, 1911, and 1st January, 1912?

The Local Government Board do not possess the desired information, and it will take some considerable time to prepare. When the necessary information has been obtained I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked whether, when the wife of a person is getting the old age pension, the district council are prevented from giving him outdoor relief when they consider that on account of his bad health he is entitled to it; and, if so, under what Act of Parliament are they prevented from giving it?

The fact of a wife being in receipt of an old age pension does not necessarily disqualify her husband from being afforded outdoor relief if he is destitute and qualified to receive it under the Poor Law.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the existence of foot-and-mouth disease in the county of Fermanagh and seeing that fairs are not permitted to be held and cattle cannot be removed or sold, and that the farmers are being processed by the Land Commission for the annuities, which they are unable to meet in consequence of being unable to sell their cattle, he will urge the Land Commission not to proceed with the processes at the coming Court of Quarter Sessions but adjourn to the January Sessions, so that people may be enabled to dispose of their stock in the meantime?

The Land Commission are bound to enforce the prompt payment of land purchase annuities, and cannot delay the taking of the necessary legal proceedings for their recovery.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have come to a decision on the applications for free grants made by John Floyd, Patrick M'Laughlin, Patrick Gallon, Michael Carolan, and John Kelly, reinstated evicted tenants on the estate of James B. Delap, county Donegal; whether a settlement has been arrived at with regard to the arrears of interest in the cases of Patrick M'Laughlin, John Floyd, and John Kelly; and whether he is aware that it is almost a year ago since the Estates Commissioners directed inquiries to be made in these cases, and that the inspector's report regarding these cases was received in June last?

The Estates Commissioners have sanctioned free grants to the five reinstated evicted tenants referred to by the hon. Member to assist them in working their holdings. No arrears of interest in lieu of rent are now due by McLaughlin, Floyd, and Kelly referred to in the latter part of the question.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the appellate judgment of the Calcutta High Court in the Midnapur case has received the attention of the Secretary of State, and, if so, what action the Secretary of State proposes to take in view of the effect upon public confidence in the administration of the law of the reversal of the original judgment, with severe strictures upon the proceedings of Mr. Justice Fletcher by Mr. Justice Woodroffe and the other appellate judges; and whether he will also state what was the cost of the said original trial and how much of the amount can be recovered from the nominal plaintiff in the case?

The Secretary of State has received the appellate judgment. He is not aware of the necessity for taking any action with the object indicated by the hon. Member. The cost of the original civil trial was estimated at about £10,000, but the Secretary of State is not in possession of the exact figures, and has no information as to possible recoveries from the plaintiff.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether memorials have been received from the officers of the Public Works Department, India, with reference to increase of pensions; whether any reply has yet been given; and, if not, why has this not been done; whether the pensions of these officers have been actually reduced during the last fifteen years, although the cost of living has largely increased; whether the increase of revenue in India during recent years has been largely due to the Public Works Department; and whether a favourable reply will be given to the officers of this Department?

The Secretary of State is aware that a number of memorials have been addressed by officers of the Indian Public Works Department to the Governor-General of India, praying for enhanced rates of pension. The question raised by the memorials is now under examination by the Government of India. Pending the result of this examination, the Secretary of State can make no pronouncement on the subject. The hon. Member is no doubt aware that the conditions of pension applicable to members of the Public Works Department come within the scope of inquiry entrusted to the Royal Commission on the Public Services in India.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the actual cost to the Government of India in terms of gold of the silver contained in the rupee, which has the legal value conferred upon it in India of 1s. 4d.; and whether rupees are being coined in India not alone for local purposes, but also for exportation to and use in other parts of the British Empire?

The actual cost of the rupee in terms of gold necessarily varies with the price of silver. The rupee contains three-eighths of an ounce of silver of eleven-twelfths fineness, and the cost of coining a rupee, after including all charges, is slightly more than three, eighths of the price per ounce paid for the silver used in its coinage. Thus when standard silver is bought at 24d. per ounce the cost of a rupee, after minting, is approximately 9.181d.; with silver at 32d. it is approximately 12.24133d., and so on. Rupees are coined in India to meet the requirements of that country, and not directly for exportation. The Indian rupee however, circulates in Ceylon and in parts of East Africa, and passes, in the course of trade, from India to those countries and from them to India; and, in so far as such movements affect the stock of rupees in India they influence the amount of coinage of rupees in that country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what was the proportion of merchandise imports into India and of merchandise exports from India during 1910–11 in the case of the United Kingdom, other British possessions, and foreign countries, respectively?

Of the imports of merchandise (excluding Government stores) into India in 1910–11, 61.1 per cent, came from the United Kingdom, 8.0 per cent, from other British possessions, and 30.9 per cent, from foreign countries. Of the exports, including re-exports, the percentages were: United Kingdom, 24.8; other British possessions, 17.4; and foreign countries, 57.8.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the number of Indian rupees imported into East Africa for currency purposes up to the 30th June last; and whether such importation is still going on?

I am informed by the officer administering the Government of the East Africa Protectorate that 248½ lakhs of Indian rupees have been imported into the Protectorate up to the 30th of June, 1912, and that the importation is still going on, 13 lakhs having been imported in the June quarter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the development of fast motor traffic and its effect on locomotion in the streets generally, he will recommend the appointment of another Royal Commission on the lines of that which reported in 1905–6, to consider the whole question?

The development of motor traffic and its effect, especially in London, on locomotion in the streets is being carefully watched by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and myself, but I do not think any useful purpose would be served by the appointment of another Royal Commission at the present time.

asked if steps have been taken to ascertain the amount of damage caused to the bridges and roads of Norfolk by the flood visitation of 26th August; if and what schemes of repair and reconstruction are contemplated; and whether it is proposed to make Grants from national funds to assist the local authorities to meet the extraordinary expenditure attributable to this unparalleled disaster?

The county council and other local authorities have taken steps to ascertain the amount of damage to roads and bridges caused by the flood referred to. Some schemes of repair are now being carried out. Conferences have taken place at the Local Government Board between the officers of the county council and the officers of the Board, and I have arranged for one of my engineering inspectors to confer with the council's officers locally on the plans and proposals for works of reconstruction as soon as the county council are ready for this. A loan has already been sanctioned in respect of bridges in the Erpingham rural district. The question of a Grant from national funds will, I understand, shortly be brought before the Road Board.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is able to state the amount of damage caused to housing and other property in the city of Norwich by the recent flood visitation; and whether, having regard to the fact that a large housing scheme has been rendered urgent by that catastrophe, the Government propose to give assistance in facilitating this project; if so, will he indicate the nature and extent of the aid thus contemplated?

I have seen the damage referred to, and have a fairly accurate knowledge of its extent, both from personal investigation and a perusal of my inspectors' reports on the subject. I regard the flooding as affording a good opportunity for the town council to take the matter of housing in hand, of which I have no doubt they will avail themselves. I shall be happy to give the council any assistance I can in connection with the matter of loans or otherwise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether his attention has been drawn to the loss of the smack "Naomi and Lizzie," of Rye, which was run down while trawling on the 9th September by the barque "Lawhill," with the loss of two lives; whether the Board of Trade declined to send a representative to the inquest; whether the inquest was adjourned in order that the Board of Trade might be represented; and whether he will undertake to send a representative to the adjourned inquest on 15th October; and. (2) whether, in view of the recent loss by collision of the smack "Naomi and Lizzie," of Bye, and the frequent accidents of a similar nature, he will take active steps to provide for the better protection of boats engaged in fishing, and rendered helpless by their nets?

As regards this case, in the first instance the Vicar of Rye Harbour suggested that a representative of the Board of Trade should attend the inquest on the bodies of the two men who were unfortunately drowned. It is not, however, usual for the Department to be represented at an inquest unless the coroner specially asks for assistance. I have, however, now received a communication from the coroner, and have replied that a representative of the Board of Trade will attend the adjourned inquest for the purpose of giving technical assistance to the coroner, if desired. Full provision is already made in the Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea for the lights and signals to be carried by fishing boats engaged in trawling and for other sailing vessels to keep out of their way. On the conclusion of the inquest I will carefully consider whether any further action is required in the case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the firm of John Stones, Limited, of Dragley Beck Foundry, Ulverstone, manufacturers of folding partitions, hoists, lifts, etc., are contractors to his Department; and, if so, whether he is aware that this firm pays from 7½ per cent, to 15 per cent, less than the current rate of the district to the joiners employed by the firm; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

The firm is not on the Post Office list of contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the firm are on the list of contractors to the War Office; and, if so, whether he is aware that this firm is paying from 7½ per cent, to 15 per cent, less than the standard rate of the district to the joiners employed by the firm; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

The firm in question is on the War Office list, but does not hold any War Office contract at present. Should an order be entrusted to them they will be required to observe the Fair-Wages Clause.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the firm are on the list of contractors to the Office of Works; if so, whether he is aware that this firm is paying from 7½ to 15 per cent, below the standard rate of the district to the joiners in its employ; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The firm in question is not on the list of contractors employed by the Office of Works.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture the number of live cattle and sheep imported into Great Britain from Ireland for the months of July, August, and September, 1911, and the number for the corresponding period this year; and whether he will also state the quantity of dead meat imported from Ireland during the respective periods?

The number of cattle and sheep for slaughter imported into Great Britain from Ireland, in the months of July, August and September, 1911 and 1912, was as follows:—

		Cattle.		Sheep.
		1911.	1912.	1911.	1912.
July	…	31,774	11,209	132,368	42,748
August	…	38,126	25,967	113,446	85,382
September	…	70,177:	32,131	87,268	72,653
Total	…	140,077	69,307	333,082	200,783

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether, having regard to the fact that the export of store cattle will be permitted from the ports of Dublin, Belfast, Derry, Cork, and Waterford to certain specified ports in Great Britain from this date, he will state the reason for the exclusion of the ports of Dundalk and Newry from similar facilities, in view of the fact that these ports have usually handled at this time of the year, and during the next three months, a much larger number of store cattle than the ports of Belfast or Derry; and if he will take steps to remove the disability in question?

So far as I am concerned there would be no objection to the landing of Irish store stock, except, of course, from prohibited areas, from Dundalk and Newry under the prescribed conditions if arrangements can be made for their inspection and detention prior to shipment. I will communicate with the Irish Department on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether Bristol, which is the port principally used for the cattle trade of the South of Ireland, will be added to the list of ports to which Irish cattle are now admitted?

Inquiries are now being made as to the possibility of providing a landing place at Bristol, at which Irish store cattle could be inspected and kept under supervision in conformity with the requirements of the Orders of the Board, but nothing definite has as yet been decided. Fat stock can be landed at the foreign animals wharf at Avon-mouth for slaughter there.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that the ports of Newcastle and Hull are quite out of the way for the landing of Irish store cattle, he will substitute for the same the ports of Barrow and Fleetwood, pending the removal of all restrictions upon the landing in Great Britain of healthy cattle from healthy districts in Ireland?

No suitable accommodation is available at Barrow for the reception and detention of Irish store stock in accordance with the requirements of the Order, and it was found impracticable to arrange for its provision. I am under the impression that Fleetwood is in the same position, but I will make further inquiry on the point.