asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what provision he proposes to make to secure adequate medical attendance and treatment, as provided by Section 15 (2) of the Act, for cases requiring more than can be afforded by a practitioner of ordinary competence; (2) whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that under the regulations of the Insurance Commissioners, dated 1st October, 1912, the cost of any consultation with a second doctor will fall upon the medical practitioners on the panel collectively, since the amount available for their collective remuneration will be diminished by the consultant's fees; whether he really intends thus to discourage the recourse to a consultant in grave cases which, in order to secure the adequate treatment which the Act provides, require a consultant; and (3) whether the regulations made by the Insurance Commissioners, dated 1st October, 1912, contemplate provision only of such medical treatment as can be undertaken by a practitioner of ordinary competence; and whether this is a breach of Section 15 (2) of the Act, which contemplates treatment adequate to the disease whatever its gravity?

The regulations referred to have been drafted in compliance with the provisions of the Act, including the particular Sub-section to which the hon. Member refers, and fully carry out the intentions of Parliament. With respect to the question of remuneration, full regard has been had in calculating the amount available for the provision of medical benefit under the Act, to the various forms of treatment referred to in the hon. Member's questions, in so far as they fall within the scope of medical benefit under the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the sanatoria to which the seventeen patients from Munster have been sent for treatment; how many of these patients are in the incipient stages of tuberculosis, and how many are chronic cases; and have arrangements been made for the isolation of chronic tuberculous patients?

Fifteen of the cases were in an early stage. They were sent to the Newcastle Sanatorium, county Wick-low, the Heatherside Sanatorium, Doneraile, the County Clare Sanatorium, and to the Allan A. Ryan Home Hospital. Two were advanced cases, and of these one was sent to a general hospital, and the other, temporarily, to the County Clare Sanatorium. The answer to the last part c f the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there are at present engaged in Ireland in the administration of the National Insurance Act a number of Inland Revenue officers who have been retired on pension; how many of these pensioners are so employed; have these appointments been made by the Irish Insurance Commissioners; and have the Commissioners in fixing their salaries taken into consideration the amount of their pensions?

No Inland Revenue officers who have retired on pension are engaged in the administration of the National Insurance Act in Ireland. Some of the Customs and Excise officers who volunteered to return to duty are being temporarily re-employed on revenue, not insurance work, in order to set free officers for duties in connection with Part I. of the National Insurance Act. These retired officers are paid by the Board of Customs and Excise, and during the period of their re-employment payment of their pensions is suspended.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that many workmen over seventy years of age are unable to obtain employment in consequence of the age limit for health insurance being fixed at seventy; and, in view of the fact that a workman who cannot produce an insurance card is known to be over seventy and his chance of employment is reduced, if he proposes to take any action to remove this hardship?

I have no direct evidence of any such hardship, but I should be happy to consider any suggestions my hon. Friend can make.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the wishes of the employés of the Earlestown Industrial Co-operative Society have now been ascertained with regard to the application by the society under Sub-section (7) of Section 47 of the National Insurance Act; and whether the Insurance Commissioners now propose to grant the application?

The wishes of the employés have now been ascertained, and the question of making an Order is now "before the Joint Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any further special Orders or Regulations amending the National Insurance Act, to include or exclude outworkers or classes of outworkers, are about to be issued or announced?

The inquiry which Mr. Pope was appointed to make into the objection to the special Order including married women outworkers within the e scope of the Act is still proceeding, and pending the result of that inquiry I am unable to make any statement on the subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Insurance Commissioners propose to take over the Brompton Hospital for Consumption; and if this is part of a scheme to take over all the hospitals in the country for the purposes of the National Insurance Act?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any part of the additional £1,600,000 to be spent on the medical service under the National Insurance Act will be devoted to supplying better, attendance, drugs, and appliances for the fishermen who are absent for such long periods from their homes and cannot obtain the usual medical benefits under the Act?

:As I stated in answer to the hon. Member for Colchester, the necessary modifications in the Regulations consequent upon the announcement, of the Chancellor of the Exchequer are now being considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that workmen at Epsom are put to inconvenience and expense owing to the fact that they have, when unemployed, to travel to Sutton, a distance of four miles, to deposit their unemployment cards, and when they have obtained employment they have to make the same journey to get their card; and whether he will make arrangements whereby the cards can be deposited at Epsom?

Although the present arrangements contemplate that workmen living at Epsom should deposit their unemployment books at Sutton or Leatherhead when unemployed, it is not necessary for them to attend in person to obtain their books when they secure employment, as they are provided with a special postcard which can be sent to the Exchange or Agency in return for which the unemployment book will be posted to them or to the employer. The question of the establishment of a local agency of the Unemployment Fund at Epsom is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before finally settling the conditions with the doctors in the Highlands of Scotland under which they will work the National Insurance Act, he will consider the advisability of first awaiting the Report of the Commission on Medical Services in the Highlands and Islands, which is now sitting?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state the number of appointments made to the audit staff under the National Insurance Act, and how many of them have been filled by persons who were already holding positions in the Civil Service and how many by the outside public; and the number of applications for appointments on the audit staff sent in by members of the Civil Service and the number sent in by the outside public?

Appointments made to the audit staff under the National Insurance Act, 1911:—

—	Total No. of appointments.	No appointed from Civil Service.	No. appointed from Outside Public.
Chief Auditor	1	1	—
Secretary to the Audit Department	1	*1	—
Staff Clerk	1	1	—
Minor Stuff Clerk	1	1	—
Second Division Clerk	1	1	—
Inspectors of Audit	6	—	6
Auditors	42	3	39
Senior Assistant Auditors	2	2	—
	55	10	45
*Originally appointed Inspector of Audit and subsequently promoted to be Secretary.

Three hundred and six persons, of whom six were Civil servants, were nominated to compete for appointment as senior assist- ant auditors. Two of the Civil servants so-nominated were, however, on grounds of urgency appointed without examination. The result of the examination has just been announced, and it is proposed to make eighty appointments from the list of results which has been compiled in order of merit. Four hundred and thirty persons, of whom four are Civil servants, have been nominated to compete for appointment as junior assistant auditors; the examination has not yet been held, but is expected to take place next month.The applications received were as follows:—

Position.	From Civil Servants.	From the Outside Public.	Total.
Inspector of Audit	61	266	327
Auditor	187	1,211	1,398
Senior Assistant Auditor	172	2,381	2,553
Junior Assistant Auditor	90	1,828	1,918
	510	5,686	6,196

asked the hon. Member for St. George' s-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that Messrs. Leslie and Company, who are undertaking painting and other work on a building in Leonard Street, Finsbury, for the work of the Insurance Commissioners, employed painters for from 100 to 115 hours during the weeks ending 12th and 19th October; and whether, seeing that the average working week for painters in London is fifty hours, this employment of painters for such hours is in accordance with the fair conditions of employment required to be afforded by contractors to His Majesty's Government?

The building in question has had to be prepared for occupation by the Insurance Commissioners by the 1st of November. In order to accomplish this it was found necessary to employ two shifts of men, who had to work a considerable amount of overtime, but not to the extent indicated. The greatest number of hours worked by any of the painters in the weeks ending 11th and 18th October was 84 for each week. Seventy men in all were employed, and it was not found possible to put on a larger number.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can say how many persons suffering from tuberculosis, and entitled under the National Insurance Act to sanatoria benefits, have been provided for by the London County Council; and how many cases are there waiting for accommodation?

According to figures supplied to me on Saturday last, the London Insurance Committee have recommended 114 insured persons for sanatorium benefit, and this they are receiving. I am not aware that there are at present any insured cases waiting for accommodation. On Saturday last the committee had forty-seven vacant beds available, in addition to the services of dispensaries.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many persons suffering from tuberculosis are being treated in the Poor Law infirmaries of the Metropolis and in the hospitals of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, distinguishing those of sixteen years of age and upwards from those under sixteen years of age?

According to a Return which I obtained in November last, the number of cases of tuberculosis being treated in the Poor Law infirmaries, sick wards, and district sick asylums of the Metropolis comprised 2,352 persons of sixteen years and upwards, and 163 under sixteen years of age. The numbers in the children's institutions of the Metropolitan Asylums Board were 588, of which all but two were under sixteen.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is the reason that Gladys Evans has been rearrested; what were the conditions attaching to her release; did she agree to those conditions, and which rule or condition has she broken; and whether one condition was that she should on no occasion leave her place of residence?

Gladys Evans was rearrested for failure to comply with the statutory obligation under the Penal Servitude Acts to notify to the police her place of residence. The conditions of her licence were that she should abstain from any violation of the law. There was no such condition as that referred to in the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what were the original valuations of the sites, buildings, and plants of the Dublin training colleges under clerical management which are being paid off by the State; what are the annual payments made on that account; who are the owners of these State-purchased institutions; as they have been purchased and endowed by the State, is it the intention of the Government to open them to all denominations; did Cardinal Logue address a communication to him protesting against a sanitary hostel being erected for the girl students of Marlborough Training College, the only State-governed and non-sectarian training college in Ireland, on the ground that Presbyterians and Nonconformists attend the same; has he seen the report on the sanitary condition of the college; and does ho propose to continue the residence of girl students in a house where their health is daily undermined?

The original valuations of the Dublin training colleges under clerical management which are being paid off by the State, and the annual payments made on that account are as follows:—

—	Original Valuation.			Annuity for 35 years.
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
St. Patrick's Training College	28,143	10	0	1,407	3	6
Our Lady of Mercy Training College	22,790	5	0	1,139	10	3
Church of Ireland Training College	20,629	10	0	1,031	9	6

These colleges were built and equipped out of private funds, but reimbursement in respect of the value of the premises, as ascertained in 1892, is being made to the college authorities out of the Vote for Public Education, Ireland, by payments of the annuities specified above, which commenced in 1892, and will terminate in thirty-five years from that date. So far as. the Commissioners are aware no change in the management of these colleges is intended. I have received no such communication from Cardinal Logue as that referred to in the question. As regards the remainder of the question, I have nothing to add to my reply to the questions of the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh on this subject on 7th December, 1908.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if in 1911 a memorial signed by eight signatories, representing 111 schools of the Belfast circuit, came before the National Board, praying that an inquiry should be held on the lowering of reports throughout Belfast; what was the result of that memorial; was any inquiry held into the cause of the death of Mr. Hull, national teacher, Lisburn, and what was the result; was Mr. "Welply promoted over the heads of older candidates to the position of senior inspector, and on what grounds; and what is the money loss consequent on lowering of reports since his appointment?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the memorial referred to was received. A deputation from the Belfast Teachers' Association waited upon the Commissioners, when the statements in the memorial were fully considered and discussed. The Commissioners, after inquiry, decided that there was no evidence to show that the standard of marking was unduly high in the Belfast circuit, but that, on the contrary, for some years subsequent to 1900 the standard of marking in the County Down was unduly low as compared with other parts of Ireland. No inquiry was held by the Commissioners into the circumstances attending the death of Mr. Hull. Mr. Welply was promoted to the position of senior inspector because the Commissioners considered that he was the most eligible candidate. The information asked for in the last paragraph of the question could not be obtained without an exhaustive and prolonged investigation of the reports and school records for several years.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the amount expended by the Department in the financial year 1911–12 upon inspection of secondary and technical instruction, inspection of agricultural instruction, administration, and all other purposes, respectively?

The amount expended by the Department in 1911–12 on inspection of secondary and technical instruction was approximately £7,625, and on inspection of agricultural instruction £7,375. It would not be possible to state the amount expended on administration and all other purposes, respectively, within the limits of a reply to a Parliamentary question, but the latest Appropriation Account (that for the year 1910–11, pages 179 to 187) shows the exact expenditure and the respective services on which the expenditure was incurred.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what grounds the assistant teacher in School No. 14,668, county Wexford, is threatened with dismissal in December next; what experience in teaching Messrs. Alexander and Dickie had prior to their appointment as inspectors under the National Board; and if the Commissioners of National Education will take steps to secure that in the South Dublin district teachers who have given long and faithful service shall not be threatened with compulsory retirement before they have reached the maximum age for retirement?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the assistant mistress referred to was very unfavourably reported on by the senior inspector in July last, and she was accordingly informed that a special report on the standards under her charge would be furnished by the inspector next December, and that if the report was unfavourable the question of her continuance in the service would be considered. Dr. Alexander has thirty-six years' experience as an inspector, and Mr. Dickie twenty-four years. The Commissioners are unable to state what teaching experience either had before appointment as inspector, but before confirming their appointments the Commissioners satisfied themselves that these officers were fully competent to discharge their duties. In the interests of the pupils the Commissioners cannot sanction the continuance in the service of any teacher who notwithstanding warnings and reprimands, and after sufficient time for improvement, remains inefficient.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have purchased the farm in Lislin, near Mullagh, county Cavan, containing twenty-seven acres, three roods, nineteen poles, which forms in itself a separate estate, lately held by D A. Mortimer, from which Bartle Lynch was evicted; and whether, if purchased, the Commissioners will reinstate the said Bartle Lynch?

The Estates Commissioners are in negotiation for the lands referred to and, if they acquire them, they propose to reinstate Bartle Lynch, son of the former tenant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board or the Estates Commissioners have investigated the case of Charles O'Connell, Foildrinagh, a tenant on the D. C. O'Connell estate, near Mastergeehy; and whether he will be enabled to purchase his holding?

The Congested Districts Board have recently agreed to purchase the estate of D. C. O'Connell, county Kerry. The case of Charles O'Connell will be considered by the Board.

asked whether James Woods, of Argery, Ballindrait, county Donegal, is on the Estates Commissioners' list of applicants for reinstatement as evicted tenants; and, if so, whether they will be in a position to consider his case at an early date?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The Estates Commissioners are not yet in a position to provide Woods with a holding.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Congested Districts Board communicated with Mr. M. J. Cullinane, Oranmore, county Galway, in respect to the purchase of his farm, known as his Kiltulla farm; whether the Board is aware of the state of congestion to be found in the neighbourhood of Kiltulla; and whether, seeing that Mr. Cullinane is willing to part with his interest in the farm, he will explain why no practical steps have been taken to assist the congests by acquiring the farm?

The Congested Districts Board have not communicated with Mr. Cullinane regarding a sale of the farm referred to, nor do they propose to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. F. S. Taylor, of Castle Lambert, Athenry, offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners four years ago the farm known as Castle Lambert- farm; whether he is aware that negotiations fell through owing to a difference in price as between what the Commissioners were prepared to give and Mr. Taylor was willing to accept; whether repeated applications have been made to the Commissioners by the small tenants adjoining this farm for an increase in the size of their holdings; and whether the Congested Districts Board will open negotiations with Mr. Taylor for the purchase of the farm?

The answer to the first two paragraphs of the question is in the affirmative. In June, 1910, the Congested Districts Board communicated with Mr. Taylor and were informed that he did not wish to open negotiations with them for the sale of the land referred to.

asked the reason which determined the Local Government Board to refuse Edward Corcoran, of Sonnagh, Aughnacliffe, county Longford, No. 854 in Granard pension officer's register, an old age pension, notwithstanding the fact that by deed of assignment, dated 24 th November, 1911, the said Edward Corcoran assigned his farm and house to his nephew, Owen Murtagh, on his marriage with Rose Fagan, as a result of which this old man is now without means; and whether, having regard to the fact that this man's age is not disputed, another inquiry will be ordered into his circumstances to enable him to receive the pension which the local pension committee think he is entitled to?

The claim for pension in this case was disallowed as the Local Government Board considered that the assignment of the farm came within the scope of Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908. The Board have no power to re-open consideration of this case.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) why animals found infected with foot-and-mouth disease at Mullingar were not promptly isolated, but were left for several days among other cattle or driven along the roads without restriction; why inspectors from the department go straight from infected animals into close proximity to healthy cattle without using any visible precaution; and whether he has taken effective action to have those practices discontinued?

All animals found affected were promptly isolated pending slaughter in sheds or houses where such means of isolation existed on the premises or, where no such means existed, were restricted together with those in contact with them in the field in which they were found infected. No affected cattle were driven along the roads. Inspectors on all occasions disinfect themselves when leaving infected premises. Inspectors working on infected places do not visit non-infected places.

asked the date of the last occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease in county Kildare; and when the restrictions will be removed in the county?

The latest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in county Kildare occurred on 16th September, but a case occurred in county Wicklow less than six miles away so recently as 1st October, and in such circumstances it is not possible to mention a date at which the restrictions can be removed from the county. The Department are, however, in communication with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to release a portion of the northern part of the county Kildare.

asked whether any case of foot-and-mouth disease has arisen in county Sligo for the past fifty years; and, if not, whether some arrangements will now be made for the exportation of store cattle through the ports of Sligo and Londonderry, and thus enable the small farmers of the West of Ireland to discharge their liabilities to the landlords, the State, and the shopkeepers which, owing to existing restrictions on the trade, they are at present unable to discharge?

The county Sligo has been free from foot-and-mouth disease for very many years. Store cattle can at present be exported from the Port of Londonderry. The Department are in communication with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to the inclusion of Sligo in the list of ports from which such cattle may be exported.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture {Ireland) whether his Department is prepared to give facilities for the shipment of store cattle from Sligo for delivery in Scotch and English ports; if he will state whether Sligo and the adjacent counties are free from cattle disease; and whether, in his opinion, it would be safe, so far as the risk of foot-and-mouth disease is con- cerned, to open the port of Sligo immediately for the exportation of store cattle?

The answer to each paragraph of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the immunity of Sligo and the adjacent counties from cattle disease, he can now see his way to declare the port of Sligo open for the shipment of stores and fat cattle to Glasgow, Ayr, Greenock, and other ports in Scotland, and to such English ports as are open to receive store cattle from any Irish port?

Fat stock are already allowed to be shipped from Sligo to any of the ports at which accommodation for their inspection and slaughter is available. As regards store cattle, I understand that arrangements can be made for their inspection, as required by the Orders of the Irish Department, and that being the case, I see no objection to cattle being shipped from Sligo to ports on this side at which accommodation is available for their detention for the prescribed period. The necessary Order will be issued for the purpose forthwith.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that there has been no foot-and-mouth disease in the counties of Down, Antrim, Armagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone for thirty years; that these counties are far removed from any area recently or now affected by this epidemic, and that practically all the hay imported into England from these counties is used for the feeding of horses; whether, in these circumstances, he can see his way to remove or relax the existing embargo on the importation of hay from these counties, or any of them, into England; and whether he is aware that hay is at present being imported into England for horse-feeding purposes from foreign countries, and that the risk of disease to cattle attaching to such importation is far greater than the risk likely to be run by similar importation from any of the above-named counties?

I have received a deputation recently on this subject, and after carefully considering the representations made to me, I am still of the opinion that any relaxation of the restrictions at the present moment would be attended with risk. With regard to the last part of the question, no hay is allowed to be imported into England from countries in which foot-and-mouth disease exists.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, if the owners of cattle landed at Manchester under recent Orders of his Department desire to remove some to the public abattoir or their own slaughter-houses for the purpose of killing, licences will be granted for their removal from the landing wharf to the place of slaughter before a period of fourteen days have elapsed?

I regret that under existing circumstances I do not see my way to allow Irish stock at present to be moved alive from the landing places even for slaughter until after the expiration of fourteen days from the date of shipment. But I will keep the suggestion of the hon. Member in view.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can give any information respecting the collision between H.M.S. "Water-witch," whilst lying at anchor with her fires out at Singapore, on the 1st September, and the steam yacht "Sea-mew," which resulted in the sinking of the "Waterwitch" and the loss of two lives; whether any Court of Inquiry or court-martial has been held; and, if so, what was the cause of the accident and who was responsible for the disaster?

My right hon. Friend Las asked me to answer this question. The collision took place at about 11 a.m. on 1st September. The "Seamew" while returning to harbour ran into the "Waterwitch," which was lying at anchor off the North end of the harbour mole. The "Waterwitch" was badly damaged amidships on the port side, and sank in about 17 feet of water, while an attempt was being made to tow her to shallow; water. I regret to state that two lives were lost, a Marine and a Chinese servant being drowned when the vessel sank. A Board of Trade inquiry was held at Singapore on the 20th and 23rd of September. The report of the Court of Inquiry has not yet been received officially, but, if the account given in the local newspapers is correct, the Court found that the collision was caused by the default of the Captain, Chief Officer, and Chief Engineer of the "Seamew."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will publish the names of the nineteen firms who were asked to tender for the works at Rosyth, and the amount of each tender received?

The names are as follows:—R. McAlpine and Sons, S. Pearson and Son, Ltd., Holme and King, Ltd., Pun-chard, Kidd and Williams, Morrison and Mason, Ltd., L. P. Nott, Price and Reeves, J. Best and Sons, Ltd., Perry and Co., W. Scott and Middleton, Ltd., C. Brand and Son, Baldry and Yerburgh, Sir J. Jackson, Ltd., Topham, Jones and Railton, J. Young, Ltd., Easton, Gibb and Son, Westminster Construction Company, C. H. Walker and Co., Sir W. Arrol. With regard to the last part of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on 24th October.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a mason, named William Bowdren, of Rathcormac, county Cork, was injured in the leg while laying concrete blocks for the War Department at Kilworth camp by a block falling on him on 6th May last; whether, although since disabled, the Chief Crown Solicitor for Ireland has written denying liability; and whether the Government, as employers, decline to accept the same burdens which are imposed on ordinary masters whose workmen are injured?

The War Department is unable to accept Mr. Bowdren's account of the manner in which he sustained his injury. None of the other men employed upon the works at the time can support his statement, and Mr. Bowdren himself did not report having received any accident until two days after it is alleged to have occurred. The War Department has every wish to meet any liability which is imposed upon employers by the Workmen's Compensation Act, but in this case the Department is advised that the claim for compensation cannot be admitted.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether among the British attaches 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.