asked the Postmaster-General, whether the sub-postmasters are allowed any extra remuneration for the additional work which they have to perform in connection with the National Insurance Act; and, if so, upon what scale are they paid?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar question on the 22nd instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that in the case of certain approved societies members are informed that if they desire to ascertain the extent and character of the benefits to which they are entitled and the mode of procedure to be followed in applying for them they must purchase a book of the rules of the society; and will he say if the charge thus made for the information is in accordance with the provisions of the Act or of the regulations of the Insurance Commissioners?

A society may provide by its rules that copies of the rules shall be supplied to members on demand at a fixed charge. I may point out that the sums so received are set off against the cost of printing, which would otherwise have to be defrayed wholly out of the administration account of the society.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government of Ireland Bill imposes any limitation on the power of an Irish Parliament to grant bounties either on the production or export of Irish products or manufactures?

Bounties on export would affect trade with places out of Ireland and are therefore precluded by Clause 2 (7). As I have stated in reply to previous questions, the Irish Parliament is not prevented from making grants from Irish revenues to particular industries.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Government of Ireland Bill requires that any deduction should be made from the transferred sum where any addition to the rate of a tax should be accompanied by a diminution of the total proceeds of the tax or where the cost of collection and administration of any Irish tax should be in excess of the proceeds?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will give a Return of the total number of persons now receiving police protection, either constant or by patrols, with names and districts in which such persons reside; and a Return of the number of persons now boycotted in any way, and the total number of extra police now employed in Irish counties, showing the number by counties in each case?

presented the following Return of persons receiving special police protection on the 30th September, 1912:—

asked the Chief Secretary whether 44 per cent. of bankruptcies in Ireland came before the Belfast Court; whether the assets there realised on an average 3s. 11d. in the £; whether he can state what is the average in the £ of assets returned in the bankruptcies which occurred in the rest of Ireland; whether he can give the numbers of Presbyterians in Ulster in the Census of forty years since, and the number returned in the last Census; and whether he can give the emigration figures during the same period?

During the year ended 31st December, 1911, the latest date for which statistics are available, there were 121 cases of bankruptcy initiated in Ireland, of which 39, or 32.2 per cent., came before the Belfast Court. The amount of assets realised in these cases cannot be given until the estates are finally wound up. As regards the state of bankruptcies not finally wound up on 31st December last, full particulars will be found at pages 49, 50, and 51 of the Judicial Statistics for 1911. The number of Presbyterians in Ulster, according to Census of 1871, was 477,729, and at last Census 421,410. The natives of Ulster who emigrated from Irish ports during the forty years ended 31st March, 1911, numbered 649,676. In 1871 the number was 28,066, and in 1911 it was 12,032.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is his intention before Christmas to proceed with the Dublin Police Bill to extend Sunday trade in intoxicating drink to Druncondra, Fairview, and Clontarf, which have for nearly forty years had Sunday closing?

Having regard to the state of public business, it is obvious that unless there is a general feeling in favour of the Bill it cannot be proceeded with before Christmas.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Leonard estate, in Warrenstown, has been sold; and, if so, will he say why Richard Casberry and two other tenants were excluded from the purchase, seeing that other tenants similarly situated have been included?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. In the case of the three tenants referred to in the question the Estates Commissioners did not consider the holdings security for the advances applied for under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the names of the present Members of the Board of Superintendence of the Dublin Hospitals, and why their last report has been issued without date or signature?

The names of the present members of the board of superintendence of the Dublin hospitals are: Lord Ardilaun; J. Magee Finny, Esq., M.D.; Sir John Barry; James Inglis, Esq., J.P.; Joseph O'Carroll, Esq., M.D.; Ambrose Kelly, Esq.; Sir L. H. Ormsby, M.D.; W. F. Cotton, Esq., M.P.; C. E. Lampkin, Esq.; Miss A. M. McDonnell; Sir John Lentaigne, F.R.C.S.I.; and Miss Margaret MacNeill. The original report was dated and signed by all the members of the board, but I understand that by an over-sight the date of the report and the names of the members of the board were omitted from the report when being sent to the printer.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is now in a position to say that Rule 92 (j) of the Commissioners of National Education will be withdrawn or modified, or that the Treasury will pay substitutes for the teachers penalised by it?

The whole question of the application of the rule is engaging the consideration of the Irish Government, and I hope to have before me the observations of the Commissioners of National Education on the subject after their next meeting on the 29th instant.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any name has been allotted to the armoured vessel commenced at Portsmouth on 21st October; and whether he can give the approximate dates of her launch and completion?

It is expected to launch the ship in June next, and complete her in two years from the date of laying down. No name has yet been allotted to this vessel.

asked when it is intended to lay down a new armoured vessel at Devonport dockyard, and her probable dates of launch and completion?

As soon as possible after the launch of His Majesty's ship "Marlborough," which takes place to-day. The probable date of the launch of the new vessel is June, 1913, and of her completion October, 1914, i.e., two years from laying down.

asked whether tenders have yet been invited for the two armoured ships of the current programme to be built by contract; if so, when it is hoped work on them may be commenced; and what is the date of the expiration of the contract?

Tenders for these ships have been received, and it is anticipated that work upon them will begin shortly. It is expected that the ships will be delivered early in 1915.

asked on what dates it is proposed to commission the "King George V.," "Centurion," "Queen Mary," "Princess Royal," "Conqueror," "New Zealand," and "Australia," and the reason for any probable delays?

The "Princess Royal" is the only one of these ships as yet ordered to be commissioned, the date proposed being the end of November. The latest estimate of the date of completion for the others is as follows: "King George V.," February, 1913; "Centurion," April, 1913; "Queen Mary," June, 1913; "Conqueror," November, 1912; "New Zealand," January, 1913; "Australia," April, 1913. With regard to the question of delay, it is not considered expedient to give details of the reasons whilst the ships are still uncompleted.

asked the number and names of the firms who were asked to tender for the new dock works at Rosyth, and the amount of each tender?

Nineteen firms were asked to tender for the works at Rosyth. I will circulate the names with the Votes if the hon. Member wishes. It has not been customary to publish the amounts of the tenders.

asked the number of workmen employed on the Rosyth dock works on the 19th September and on the 21st October, day and night, inclusive?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has received any request from the contractor for Rosyth docks for permission to dispense with the night shift, so that an artificial surplus of labour may be temporarily obtained in the Dunfermline district to assist the local contractors in their dispute with their workmen?

The answer is in the negative. The contractor states that he intends beginning the full night shift as soon as the labour for it is available.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the date when the contract of Messrs. Easton Gibb was signed, and the date when the works are to be completed; what amount has been so far earned by the contractors for completed work, and how much remains to be earned before the contract is completed; and what is the amount of the bonus offered to the contractors per week for completion under contract time?

The contract was signed on 1st March, 1909. The works are to be completed by 30th September, 1916. The amount earned up to 1st October is, approximately, £1,000,000, leaving about £1,500,000 to be earned before the contract is completed. The amount of bonus offered to the contractors for earlier completion is £900 per week.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether a torpedo station is to be established at Alexandria; and whether it is intended to convert Sollum into a naval base in order to the adequate protection of the Suez Canal?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I am not aware of any project for the establishment of a naval base at Sollum.

asked whether any Austrian or Italian armoured ships of the "Dreadnought" era have been commissioned for effective service with their respective fleets; and, if so, on what dates?

The Austro-Hungarian battleship "Viribus Unitis," commissioned on 6th October. The Italian battleship "Dante Alighieri," commissioned during the first week of September. In both cases the ships have been undergoing trials since commissioning, but we have no information as to whether they have yet joined their respective fleets.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Admiralty have, at short notice, made a considerable increase in the rents of a number of cottages at Bexhill, formerly part of the coastguard station; and whether, in view of the fact that the tenants of these cottages have planted their gardens and made due provision for the winter's supply of vegetables, and that loss and hardship must be inflicted if they are compelled to move to cheaper cottages, he will allow them to continue their present tenancies at the former rents?

Seven of the cottages originally occupied by the coastguard at Bexhill are let to civilians on weekly tenancies. These tenancies were arranged as a temporary measure pending the consideration of a proposal to dispose of the property. The Admiralty having decided to retain the property, it became necessary recently to rearrange the tenancies on a yearly basis with a view to obtaining a fair rental. This rental has been fixed on the advice of a responsible local estate agent. The weekly tenants have been given the option of continuing in occupation on the revised terms and conditions. As it appears difficult for the tenants to find other suitable accommodation, it has been decided to allow them time to make other arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the fact that Mrs. Carmody, of Limerick, who is a widow and who is also an invalid, has asked for the discharge of her son, J. Costello, who is a bandsman in the 1st King's Regiment, stationed at Aldershot; that she asks for his discharge under the Widows Act; and, as he is assured of permanent employment and wishes to keep his aged mother, will he see that her prayer is granted and that her son obtains his discharge?

No application concerning this case has reached the War Office. Applications of this character are dealt with locally by General Officers Commanding-in-Chief in accordance with the King's Regulations. Inquiry shall be made into the facts of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether the Fair-Wages Clause is included in the contract for the painting of Colchester barracks; whether painters employed there on overtime and on Sundays are only receiving the ordinary day rate of wages; whether his attention was called to the matter on the 11th September last; and what steps he has taken?

Inquiry has been made and the Report furnished states that the painters have been paid at the rate of time and a half for work on Saturday after 1 p.m. and at the rate of double time for work on Sunday.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether among the British attachés who may be sent to the Near East to join the operating armies, he will include an officer of the Territorial Force?

The number of military attaches for whom permission has been received to accompany the forces in the field in the Balkans is strictly limited, and all the vacancies have been filled.