asked the Postmaster-General whether the officials of post offices throughout the country have received any remuneration for the extra work and responsibility thrown upon them by the issue of insurance cards and the sale of national insurance stamps; and, if not, whether it is proposed to give them remuneration either by a percentage on the sale of insurance stamps or by an allowance for work done, similar to the allowance made in connection with the payment of old age pensions?

As regards offices staffed by persons in the direct employ of the Post. Office, additional work in connection with national insurance business will be met where necessary by the employment of additional staff. It has not yet been possible to settle the question of the remuneration to be paid for the work to scale payment sub-postmasters.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the event, of Section 46 of the National Insurance Act being modified, it is the intention to refund the contributions to those soldiers who, being in receipt of private incomes in excess of £26, are now paying under compulsion; and if he will state what steps, if any, were taken to ascertain if there were any soldiers serving who were in receipt of private incomes, with a view to making provision for them in the Act?

No inquiry into the private incomes of soldiers serving in this, country or abroad was made in this connection. As the soldier will be in a position to receive the benefits, I do not contemplate any refund of contributions.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he has received further information with regard to the opposition to the National Insurance Act in the South and West of Ireland and the alleged neglect of numbers of farmers to take any steps to obtain cards or purchase stamps in respect of the labourers they employ; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The Commissioners' inspectors report that a certain number of employers are neglecting to carry out their duties under the Act in some districts of the West (and to a less extent the South) of Ireland. The Commissioners investigate any case of non-compliance which is brought to their notice, and will take legal proceedings where necessary.

asked the Secretary to-the Treasury whether, if a man omits to join a society during this month and becomes a Post Office contributor, he can subsequently transfer to a society and receive a reserve value; and, if not, will he, if of the age of thirty, be required to pay more than 4d. a week by the average approved society?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A person who has become a deposit contributor may transfer to an approved society, and that society will be entitled to claim the reserve value which would have been credited in respect of him if he had joined on his first becoming an insured person. Section 43 of the Act provides that in certain circumstances a deposit contributor, whose account has already been drawn upon, may on joining a society be treated as in arrear in respect of the value of his previous contributions (or some part of them). This, however, may be practically neglected in the case of those who join a society within a few months. Delay in joining an approved society now, of course, involves the risk of rejection at a later date, but deposits contributors who transfer at once, while still in good health, will pay, and receive, the same as other employed contributors.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any provision has yet been made in the Isle of Wight for the sanatoria benefits under the National Insurance Act; and, if no provision has been made, whether he will state the reasons for the delay?

I am informed by the Isle of Wight insurance committee that they have made arrangements with two sanatoria and are in negotiation with a third.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the case of May Down, a domestic servant, of Little Langford, in the county of Wilts, who is suffering from the early stages of phthisis, which necessitated her relinquishing her employment on the 2nd July last, and who has applied to the Wilts county insurance committee for sanatorium benefit both for her own sake and for that of the two young children who also occupy her mother's small cottage home, has recently been considered by the Health Insurance Commissioners, who have decided that she is not entitled to any such benefit; and, if so, on what grounds have they given such decision?

The Commissioners have not been asked to decide whether the person referred to in the question is entitled to sanatorium benefit. But the case has been brought to their notice by a private inquirer, who desired to know in what way the girl, who is not an insured person under the Act, could become insured and thereby qualified for sanatorium benefit. In response to this inquiry, the Commissioners pointed out that no person who has not been employed within the meaning of the National Insurance Act at some period subsequent to the 14th July last, or who is not engaged in some regular occupation upon the earnings of which he or she is wholly or mainly dependent for livelihood, is entitled to be an insured person under the Act. The girl is not, therefore, entitled to treatment at the expense of the insurance fund unless she is a dependant of an insured person and the insurance committee in the area decide to extend sanatorium benefit dependants.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if there is in New Zealand either a society similar to an approved society or a branch of an approved society to which a woman contributor and a member of an approved society in this country is entitled, under Clause 32 (1) of the National Insurance Act, to have her transfer value paid if she emigrates on 31st October, 1912?

Yes, Sir, at least two approved societies, the Manchester Unity of Oddfellows and the Ancient Order of Foresters, have branches in New Zealand, to which the transfer value of such a person could be paid, provided that the Insurance Commissioners were satisfied that the branches gave corresponding rights to any of their members becoming resident in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will consider the advisability of the Insurance Commissioners issuing a pamphlet for the information of insured persons likely to emigrate, containing a list of those British Possessions and foreign countries in which there is either a society similar to an approved society, or a branch of an approved society, as referred to in Clause 32 (1) of the National Insurance Act, and to which transfer values can now be paid?

The Commissioners are approaching the leading friendly societies in order to obtain further information as to the number of societies having branches in other countries. When they have this further information they will consider the advisability of adopting the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what societies have been approved in Ireland under the National Health Insurance Act, and the number of insured persons who have become members of such societies?

I am sending the hon. Member a list of approved societies in Ireland. The exact number of their members cannot be stated until the return of the first quarter's cards.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how it will be practicable for the Irish Government under the Government of Ireland Bill to raise loans on the security of the transferred sum through the Exchequer Board, in view of the fact that Clause 26 contemplates the abolition of the whole financial system, of which the transferred sum is a part, and the grant to the Irish Parliament of the power of collecting taxes as soon as the Irish revenue shall for a period of three years balance Irish expenditure?

Legislation by the Imperial Parliament would be necessary for the readjustment of the financial provisions of the Bill contemplated by Clause 26, and such legislation would certainly provide for the continued security of loans which might have been charged on the transferred sum.

asked how will the Exchequer Board be in a position to raise loans for Ireland on the security of the transferred Bum, in view of the fact that the said sum is liable to be reduced in order to make good any deficiencies on land purchase payments and any diminution in the yield of Imperial taxes in Ireland owing to the variation of Imperial taxes by the Irish Parliament?

As the transferred sum will constitute almost the whole revenue of the Irish Government, apart from Post Office revenue, it is not probable that its resources would be exhausted by prior claims, such as those mentioned in the question, specially since they are in most cases merely contingent.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give the names of the rural district councils in Ireland which have obtained money at the lowest rate of interest for labourers' cottages, with the amount obtained by each and the names of the councils which have applied for money for this purpose at this rate and have not obtained it?

With the exception of the rural districts of Belmullet and Castletown, in which, so far, no cottages have been authorised to be provided, every rural district council in Ireland has obtained a loan for the erection of labourers' cottages at the same rate of interest as for land purchase, which is the lowest rate at which money has been advanced for the purpose. The names of the rural districts and the amounts of the loans from the Land Commission sanctioned each year since the passing of the Act of 1906 will be found in the Annual Reports of the Local Government Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Shaen Carter has, as a means of forcing his tenants at Knockmant, Westmeath, to sign purchase agreements, served civil bills upon some of them for rents never demanded in the ordinary way; whether he is aware that this duress is rendered acute by the departmental restrictions which have made the sale of livestock impossible in that district; whether in these circumstances arrangements will be made that any decrees obtained on technical grounds shall not be enforced this season; and whether the Estates Commissioners will relieve the situation by requiring this vendor to sell his estate to them in its entirety under Section 6 of the Act of 1903, in accordance with his written undertaking to the tenants?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1909, and will be dealt with in order of priority. The Estates Commissioners have no information as to any legal proceedings which the owner may have instituted for the recovery of rents due by the tenants who have not signed purchase agreements, nor have they any power to interfere in the matter. The reply to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary in what order of priority estates are dealt with which are sold under Section 6 of the Land Act of 1903; and by what time the Estates Commissioners expect to be able to deal with the Talbot estate, Westmeath?

The order of priority in which estates the subject of proceedings for sale under the Irish Land Acts, 1903–09, are dealt with is that prescribed by the Regulations made on 28th March, 1911, under Section 23 (8) of the Act of 1903, and Section 4 of the Act of 1909. The Estates Commissioners hope to be in a position to issue at an early date their proposal to purchase the estate referred to in the second paragraph of the question.

asked whether any further steps have been taken to acquire the King-Harman estate, at Ballinamuck and Newtowncashel, county Longford, respectively, now that the trouble about the bogs on these properties has been satisfactorily arranged?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that their formal proposal for the purchase of this estate has now been issued.

asked when the tenants on the J. W. Bond estate, at Farragh, Rhyne, Drumhaughly, and Mucknagh may expect their vesting orders; whether any steps have yet been taken to secure the untenanted lands of Rhyne for sub-division amongst the uneconomic holdings in the district; and when this matter may be expected to be dealt with by the Estates Commissioners?

The Estates Commissioners hope to be able to deal with the tenanted lands which are the subject of direct sale proceedings at an early date. The untenanted land which is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Commissioners will be dealt with as soon as practicable in order of priority.

asked whether any application to the Estates Commissioners has been received from Daniel Murtagh, of Esker, a tenant on the Ireland estate, county Longford, for a grant to enable him to rebuild his house, which had been levelled after an eviction in 1894; and whether, as this is essentially a congested area, this man's prayer will be granted?

The application has teen received, and will be considered by the Estates Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Mill Farm and Clonmacawn, in the parish of Lorrha, county Tipperary, are about to be offered for sale by the representatives of Mr. W. T Trench; and will the Estates Commissioners take steps to purchase these farms for distribution among the uneconomic holders in the parish?

The Estates Commissioners cannot identify these lands as the subject of proceedings for sale before them under the Land Purchase Acts. If proceedings for their sale to the Commissioners are instituted by the owner, they will be dealt with by the Commissioners in order of priority.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received a claim for battle honours from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers on account of Trichinopoly and Fort St. George; and, if so, what will be the disposal of this claim?

The claims mentioned have been received, and are now tinder consideration by the Army Council.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether old rifles and ammunition for miniature ranges can be served out to enable National Reservists to fire at night, seeing that this is the only-convenient time at which they can practice; and whether he is aware that such rifles could be converted to fire the 22 long or short ammunition at small cost?

By existing regulations Territorial Associations can obtain part worn but serviceable 303 long rifles for the use of the National Reserve up to 10 per cent, of strength of the rifle club concerned. No money is available from public funds for the conversion of such rifles for firing 22 ammunition, the cost of which is about £1 10s. per rifle.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will have inquiries made into the case of W. B. Jackson, who, on the 12th day of May last, was sentenced by the Supreme Court of Jurisdiction of Southern Nigeria to four years' penal servitude for the manslaughter of a Kroo boy on board the ss. "Ethiope," while lying at Lagos; whether he is aware that the act was unpremeditated, committed under provocation, and largely attributable to trying climatic conditions; and whether, seeing that Jackson has always borne an exemplary character, he will review the case with a view to the remission of some portion of the sentence, which is now being worked out in Maidstone gaol?

The Secretary of State has received a report on the case in question. The question of a possible remission of a part of the sentence is under consideration by the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received any representations from the Newcastle-on-Tyne Corporation with reference to the Shops Act and the position in which those shopkeepers, who have chosen Wednesday for the weekly half-holiday, will be during Christmas week and the week after by reason of the fact that Christmas Day this year falls on the Wednesday as well as New Year's Day, which is also recognised as a general holiday; and whether, in view of the fact that the shopkeepers referred to will be in a disadvantageous position as compared with those whose half-holiday is on a Saturday, he can take any steps to mitigate this disadvantage?

Yes, Sir, I have received representations on this subject from the Newcastle Corporation. The difficulty is that shops which close for the half-holiday on Wednesday will not be able to take advantage of the provision in Subsection (5), of Section 4 of the Act, and keep open on the half-holiday in the week preceding Christmas; and I have pointed out that the difficulty can be overcome by the shopkeeper altering the day of the half-holiday in Christmas week from Wednesday to Saturday. Where Wednesday has been fixed as the day of the half-holiday by an Order made by the local authority, the Order must under the Statute allow a shopkeeper who so desires to substitute Saturday as the day of the half-holiday; and where no Order has been made, I am advised that under Sub-section (3), of Section 4, it is permissible for a shopkeeper, once in any period of three months, to change the day of the half-holiday for a particular week, reverting to the ordinary day in the succeeding week.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been drawn to the case of two labourers who were found not guilty at the East Kent Quarter Sessions of the theft of a piece of sailcloth, valued at 5s., after being in custody three months awaiting trial; whether he is aware that Lord Harris referred to the case in his charge to the grand jury, and said that it seemed to him some amendment of the law was required to bring a person up for trial at an earlier period; whether his attention has also been drawn to the case of Alexander Anderson, who was bound over at the Northumberland Quarter Sessions on a charge of stealing a loaf of bread after being in custody since the 13th of September awaiting trial; and whether consideration will be given to the need for an amendment of the law on the lines indicated?

I am aware of the hardship that may sometimes be caused to defendants by the length of time that may elapse before the charge against them can be tried, and magistrates have repeatedly been asked to remedy this as far as possible by granting bail freely. The matter is a difficult one, and I am afraid I cannot hold out any prospect of legislation with regard to it at present. I will, however, communicate with Lord Harris, and see whether in Kent the occurrence of such cases could be avoided by holding adjourned sessions at intervals between the ordinary Quarter Sessions as is done in London and Middlesex.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state the views of the Metropolitan police authorities as to the causes, direct and contributory, of the accidents caused by motor omnibus traffic; and what percentage is due to excessive speed and to improper driving, respectively?

The Metropolitan Police authorities find it impossible to present a definite analysis of the causes of these accidents generally. But if the figures for the current year are examined, it appears that a large proportion of those killed by motor omnibuses in London were cyclists, and that another important factor is the scarcity or absence of refuges. The question of speed and of the quality of the driving must always be considered in such cases, but at the inquests on the persons killed the jury in all but three instances exonerated the driver from blame, implying an opinion that the speed had not been so excessive or the driving so bad as to call for prosecution or censure.

asked the Home Secretary if he will say how many children under ten years of age have been killed by motor omnibuses in London during the first nine months of this year?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that twenty-four children under the age of ten years were killed by motor omnibuses within the Metropolitan Police district during the first nine months of this year. The majority of these accidents occurred at places where there were no refuges, and this is one of the matters which are receiving my attention.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will state when he? hopes to be in a position to say what steps he intends to take to compel the London motor omnibus trust to reduce the number of fatal accidents caused by their vehicles?

For the present I can only repeat that the question of the possible steps to be taken to reduce the number of accidents caused by motor omnibuses is engaging my careful attention. The matter is one which presents very great difficulties.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that in many parts of the south-eastern district of London motor omnibuses are commonly driven at a speed of twenty miles an hour or more; that the police make no attempt to check these infringements of the law; and whether he will issue to the police and to the motor omnibus trust a notice reminding them that the legal speed limit for motor omnibuses is twelve miles per hour, and that it is the duty of the police to see that the law is carried out?

It is undoubtedly the fact that motor omnibuses, as well as other power-driven vehicles, at times exceed the speed limit. During the present year the Metropolitan Police have prosecuted the drivers of 528 motor omnibuses and 143 electric tramcars, besides many drivers of other motor vehicles. Notices of the nature indicated by my hon. Friend have been issued by the Commissioner of Police to the motor omnibus companies—the last in August of this year. The police have full instructions on the matter in the general orders of the force.

asked the Home Secretary if his Department was responsible for the statements in the Press on Saturday that, as a result of a conference between the motor omnibus compani and the police, it was agreed that excessive speed was not a cause of the terrible death roll caused by motor omnibuses, and that the way to reduce the number of deaths was not to reduce the speed but to reduce the number of omnibuses; if this correctly represents the attitude of Scotland Yard on this question; if so, on what it is based; and whether he is aware that in 1907, when 1,205 omnibuses were licensed, the number of deaths was only 35, and that in the following year, when the number of omnibuses licensed was 72 less, the number of deaths increased to 62?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I have, indeed, been unable to trace any such statement in the Press as that referred to by my hon. Friend. As I have just stated, the Metropolitan Police find it impossible to express any general view as to the causes of these accidents. The figures quoted by my hon. Friend are correct.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will have inquiry made into the conditions under which the Coronation medals have been awarded to the police; whether the medals were intended and promised to be given to members of every police force in the country selected for long and meritorious service; whether he is aware that there are members of the Manchester Ship Canal police fully qualified for selection on the ground of long and meritorious service; and whether there is any adequate reason why the Manchester Ship Canal police should not be placed on an equal footing in respect of the award of the Coronation medals with members of the county and borough police forces?

The Police Coronation Medal was instituted by His Majesty for members of the Metropolitan, County, and Borough Police Forces who were on duty at the time of the Coronation. It was not intended for nor promised to constables in the private employment of railway, dock, canal, and other companies.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons compulsorily detained in inebriates institutions in 1910 and 1911, and how many in each year were classified as being feeble-minded or other wise mentally defective?

The number of persons detained on 1st January, 1910, was 917; on 1st January, 1911, 807. Of these, seventy-eight and sixty-seven could at once be definitely classified as so defective as to require permanent control. A large number of others were defective in a minor degree.

The amounts granted for the services of the Union Steamship Company to England for the year ended 31st March, 1911, were as follows:—

asked the Postmaster-General what was the loss on the Post Office telephones and telegraphs for the years 1904–5 to 1910–11; and, in estimating such loss, what allowance is made for depreciation of plant and buildings and interest on capital?

The information required by the hon. Member is contained in the accounts which I presented to this House on the 24th November, 1911 (No. 328). As far as telegraphs are concerned special provision is made in those accounts for interest on the original capital expenditure up to 1879 when the telegraph capital account was closed and depreciation is met by the provision for the maintenance and renewal of plant included in the voted expenditure. As regards the telephone service, the separate telephone accounts show the amount of the annuities provided for the repayment of the capital which has been expended in the construction of plant and in the provision of buildings. The provision made for depreciation in this way is in addition to the actual expenditure which is incurred from year to year in the maintenance and renewal of plant. The amounts charged against the two services do not include any charges in respect of the use of premises except in so far as telephone buildings have been provided by telephone capital expenditure redeemable by annuities spread over a period of fifteen years. Arrangements are being made to issue new forms of commercial accounts for both services in which full allowance will be made for the depreciation of plant and buildings as well as for interest on capital.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Tenants' Association of the Central Meat Markets have re-issued, as the rules under which consignments of meat are sold and prices returned to consignors are fixed, regulations which have been twice condemned by the Markets Committee of the Common Council as inimical to the interests of consignors and contrary to the good of the markets; whether he will see that such rules are cancelled forthwith; and if he will state what steps will be taken to prevent tenants from issuing rules affecting prejudically the food supply of the Metropolis?

The Board of Trade have no jurisdiction over these rules, but I have received the following information from the City Remembrancer. In the rules recently re-issued by the Central Meat and Poultry Markets Association a portion of a regulation affecting accounts sales, to which the Central Markets Committee took special objection as inimical to the interests of consignors, has been deleted. While the rules of the association are not subject to the approval of the Markets Committee the possible adverse effect of certain of the rules upon supplies to the market is under the consideration of the committee. Complaints from consignors addressed to the committee are immediately fully investigated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the trade of England with the Oversea Dominions and Colonies in the years 1891, 1910, and 1911 respectively; what was the trade with India for the same periods; what was the foreign trade with the British Oversea Dominions and Colonies for the same years respectively; and what was the trade of foreign countries with India for the same periods?

The following statement shows the value of the trade of the United Kingdom with the Oversea Dominions, Colonies, and British India in each of the years 1891, 1910, and 1911; and also the value of trade of the Oversea Dominions, Colonies, and British India with foreign countries during the same years. The figures throughout are inclusive of bullion and specie:

asked the President of the Local Government Board the amount expended during each of the last three years on medical services for employés of his Department?

No sums have been paid by my Department during the period named I for the medical treatment of any of the staff.

asked the Postmaster-General how many home safes have been purchased by the Post Office; and how many have been taken up by the public?

The number of home safes purchased by the Post Office is 200,000. Of this number, 125,000 have been supplied to post offices throughout the country; and up to the present time 40,000 safes have been issued to the public. I propose shortly to take steps to advertise the home safes more widely.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention had been called to the statements contained in the report of the Senior Official; Receiver on the affairs of the Bank of Egypt; and if, in view of the facts thereby disclosed, he will consider the advisability, in the public interest, of ordering a prosecution of all or some of the directors responsible for the failure of the bank?

I have caused inquiry to be made, and I am informed that, as far as the Official Receiver's investigation has proceeded, he sees no ground for the institution of any criminal proceedings against any of the directors or against any of the officers of the bank.

asked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to a speech delivered by I Mrs. Pankhurst on Thursday last, in which she urged her hearers to break windows and to do other injury to property; and whether the Government are going to take any proceedings against her in consequence?

It is not proposed to take any proceedings.

asked the Attorney-General the number and the names of the cases in England, Wales, and Scotland, since the year 1883, in which persons who have been reported by an Election Court for the corrupt practice of undue influence or bribery through their agents with their knowledge and consent, have been convicted on indictment of a misdemeanour under Section 6, Sub-section (1), of the Corrupt and Illegal Practices Prevention Act, 1883?

No complete records exist of the number of convictions, and the information could only be obtained after long and laborious search. The results of such an inquiry could not possibly be adequate to the labour involved.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he can say whether leading contractors will be given an opportunity of tendering for the work of re-fronting Buckingham Palace with Portland stone?

The contract for this work has been placed by the Queen Victoria Memorial Committee. It is not usual to put out to tender work on palaces in the personal occupation of His Majesty the King, it being desirable to employ workmen well known to the authorities. The builders of the new front hold the triennial maintenance contract for the London district.