asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many health insurance inspectors were appointed for Ireland; how many applicants were there; and what positions had the successful applicants held previous to their appointment?

Forty-nine persons have so far been appointed to the outdoor staff of the Irish Commission; 4,713 applications

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether inspectors and assistant inspectors have been appointed by the Insurance Commissioners for England, and, if so, whether he will give their names; and, if so, whether any of the inspectors and assistant inspectors for England are persons who have had experience of friendly society work, and, if so, whether he will state their qualifications?

Inspectors and assistant inspectors have been appointed by the Insurance Commissioners for England. A statement of their names and the districts to which they have been assigned will be published shortly. In selecting candidates for examination special regard was had to experience in friendly society and trade union work respectively, and certain proportions of the appointments, as recommended by the Committee of Selection, were assigned to candidates possessing experience of either kind. Two of the inspectors and nine of the assistant inspectors appointed have had experience of friendly society work, their qualifications being as follows:—(a) Inspectors.(1) One was special visitor of a branch of a large benefit society.(2) One was on the management committees of two friendly society councils and president of the one for three years and of the other for one year.(

asked the Secretary of State for War how many beds in sanatoria, as distinguished from beds in hospitals, military or otherwise, are available for the reception of insured persons in His Majesty's Forces suffering from tuberculosis?

Soldiers who develop tuberculosis are discharged from the Army and then become entitled to sanatorium benefit. The method by which treatment in sanatoria can best be ensured for them is at this moment being investigated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether any allowance for the purpose of Income Tax is now made to directors of public companies or clerks in respect of the expense of travelling from and to their residences to and from their work; (2) whether there is any, and, if so, what case, other than that of Members of Parliament where a uniform allowance is made to hundreds of persons in respect of expenses for the purpose of Income Tax, though such persons incur expenses varying greatly in amount?

I will refer the hon. and learned Member to the answer that I gave on Wednesday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when the owner of an income liable to Super-tax dies when only six months of the current financial year have elapsed, it is the practice of the Income Tax Commissioners to charge the estate of the deceased for Income Tax and Super-tax until the date of death, and to charge the successor to the same income Super-tax and Income Tax on that income for the whole of the financial year; and, if so, will he give directions that, in similar cases to the above, the successor on death to an estate shall not be required to pay Income Tax or Super-tax for the period before he actually became possessed of the income?

When a person owning income liable to Super-tax dies in the course of a given financial year Income Tax is charged on his income up to the date of death and Super-tax proportionate to the part of the year which elapsed before the date of death. His successor is charged with Income Tax on the income arising after the date of death, but not with Super-tax for that year in respect of the income of the estate. There is therefore no necessity for giving the directions suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chief Secretary, having regard to his statement that the Government accepted the Amendment to the Government of Ireland Bill withholding from the Irish Parliament control of the University of Dublin because assured that such was the desire of that university, and to the fact since disclosed that the university never expressed such a desire, whether he will invite those engaged in the actual life and work of that university to furnish him with their considered opinion of that Amendment before the Report stage of the Bill is reached?

I am aware that there is a difference of opinion in Trinity College on this subject, but I am at present bound to assume in this House that the Members for the University represent the views of the majority of the electors.

asked under what Clause of the Government of Ireland Bill the Irish Parliament would be precluded from passing a law permitting women to be elected to the Irish House of Commons?

Under Sub-section (2) of Clause 12.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what are the Irish services which it is anticipated will exhibit increases or decreases in cost during the present financial year sufficient on balance to raise Irish expenditure from £11,533,500 to £12,354,000, as stated in the White Paper, Outline of Financial Proposals, circulated with the Government of Ireland Bill, giving the name of each service which shows any change and the amount of the difference in cost from that given in Return 190 of this year?

The figure for 1911–12 is based on the Exchequer Issues in that year, the figure for 1912–13 on the Estimates presented to Parliament, which were necessarily prepared some time before the close of the financial year 1911–12, and before the final issues in respect of the expenditure of that year had been made. I do not consider therefore that any useful purpose would be served by a minute comparison between all the separate items included in each total. With this reservation I will state under what heads of expenditure the principal increases are shown:—

asked the Prime Minister, having regard to the Departmental restrictions in Ireland preventing the sale of livestock, the consequent inability of agriculturists to meet their autumn engagements now falling due, and the unanimity of Members from Ireland on the necessity for relief, whether he will introduce immediately a short Bill to remit the current gale of purchase money, rent, and interest in lieu of rent?

Legislation of the character proposed would be out of the question.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has yet been able to trace the origin of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the town of Mullingar; will he say whether all the cases reported so far in county Westmeath have been confined to that town or its immediate vicinity; and whether, in view of the fact that the outbreak there is due to some local cause of infection, he will draw the cordon round the town in as narrow a compass as possible and remove the restrictions now imposed on farmers in the unaffected districts of the county?

The origin of the outbreak has not yet been traced. The disease so far has appeared only on premises in Mullingar or within a short distance of that town. It would, however, be premature as yet to conclude that the incidence of the disease is entirely local.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), in connection with the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Mullingar, county Westmeath, whether veterinary inspectros employed by his Department, who are engaged dealing with diseased animals, are sent to examine other herds of cattle in country districts hitherto free from disease; and, if so, will he at once issue an Order to prevent that practice with a view to prevent the spreading of infection?

The answer to this question is in the negative. The staff of veterinary inspectors who inspect animals not affected is distinct from the staff which deals with diseased animals.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has received a resolution unanimously passed by the Westmeath County Council, asking him to hold a, public inquiry into the cause of the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Mullingar, in that county; and, if so, what action does he propose to take in connection therewith?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The lion. Member is referred to the reply to the question asked by the hon. Member for North Westmeath on 29th instant on points similar to those mentioned in the resolution. The Department do not propose to hold the inquiry suggested.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), if he will state the total value of the animals slaughtered, and under order for slaughter, to the present date in Ireland in connection with this year's outbreak of loot-and-mouth disease; how much of that is payable out of the rates; how much out of the Cattle Diseases Fund; whether the latter, or any part of it, is to be subsequently recovered from the rates; and, if so, in what manner?

The amount of compensation paid, or due, m respect of animals slaughtered or to be slaughtered in connection with the foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in Ireland is £26,027. The com- pensation paid represents the value of the animals. The Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, provides that such compensation shall be paid from the Cattle Pleuro Pneumonia Account which is supplied by moneys voted by Parliament, and in the event of those moneys proving insufficient the General Cattle Diseases Fund, which is replenished when necessary by uniform assessments of a farthing in the pound on the net annual value of the property throughout Ireland, can be drawn upon. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament in due course for the purpose of meeting the special expenditure on account of foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Tie-land), whether, seeing that the county Wexford has shown a clean bill of health with reference to foot-and-mouth disease, he can say when the port of Wexford will be opened for the shipment of cattle?

The port of Wexford is at present open for the shipment of animals intended for slaughter. Under the Orders of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries cattle for store purposes landed in Great Britain must undergo a fourteen days' quarantine at the place of landing. Wexford has not yet been included by the Board among those ports from which store cattle can be shipped on the above condition.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he can state if the Congested Districts Board has acquired the farm known as the Boyhill farm, the property of Mr. B. W. Persse, near Athenry; is he aware that the maps have been lodged for a considerable time; and what is the cause of the delay in not immediately closing with Mr. Persse for the purchase of this estate?

I would refer the hon. ber to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 21st instant, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary on whose advice he penalises the Irish lauguage by withholding the Treasury contribution to the costs of scholarships from counties which make Irish essential to participation in their schemes?

The draft scheme for which I am myself responsible does not penalise the Irish language, but it is intended to secure that those scholars who prefer to pursue their education at universities where Irish is not compulsory shall be free to do so.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is now in a position to state his views on the dismissal of Mr. Mansfield by the Board of National Education; and whether, if so, he is prepared to grant a full inquiry into the case?

The Commissioners of National Education, who had the case under their consideration at their meeting yesterday, are forwarding me a full statement on the subject by to-night's post, and pending its receipt I do not think it would be desirable to express any opinion on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that for the labourers' cottages near Coachford, in the Macroom Rural District, for which Daniel Murray is now stated to be the original applicant, the fact is that, though this man sent in a representation form, he never attended the Local Government inquiry to sustain his claim; that, on the other hand, Daniel Cooney, who had also sent in a representation for the same site, did attend the inquiry, was examined on oath, had his claim supported by the district councillor for the division, and had it passed by the Local Government inspector, and that he actually appeared in the report of this inspector as the person entitled to the cottage; will he cause inquiry as to whether the facts are as stated; and, if so, will the Local Government Board order that the cottage be given to Daniel Cooney as the original applicant?

The facts generally are as stated in the first part of the question, but there is no mention of either Cooney or Murray as being entitled to the cottage in the inspector's schedule of "cases allowed," nor in his letter to the district council forwarding copies of his Order in the matter. The Local Government Board have no power to order the cottage to be given to Cooney.

asked the President of the Board of Education if cinematographs on religious subjects have been used in schools; and, if so, whether he has any intention of stopping them?

I have no information which would enable me to answer the first part of the question. The hon. and gallant Member will be aware that it is provided by Section 7 of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, that it shall be no part of the duties of His Majesty's Inspectors to inquire into any instruction in religious subjects given in public elementary schools.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to a statement issued by the police and the Citizens' Friendly Association on the neglect of feeding arrangements for the Metropolitan Police at State functions, strikes, and other emergencies; and whether, in view thereof, he is prepared now to give consideration to the question of establishing a permanent commissariat department, with officers told off for this duty in times of emergencies?

My attention has not been drawn to the statement, but I am satisfied that the arrangements now made for enabling police to obtain refreshments on special occasions are sufficient, and that the establishment of a special commissariat department would not benefit the police and would be a waste of public money.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the negotiations with the Chinese Government have been carried on by the respective Governments and their diplomatic representatives at Peking or by the Powers and their agents; and what powers for negotiating with the Chinese Government have been conferred on the bankers by their respective Governments?

The negotiations have been carried on at Peking between the representatives of the six groups and the Chinese Government. No powers were conferred on the bankers by their respective Governments, but the latter were consulted as a matter of course at every stage of the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will ascertain by telegraph whether a Note was addressed on the 5th August by the Chinese Minister of Finance to the six-Power banks informing them of the rupture of negotiations?

Inquiries have already been made whether such a Note was addressed by the Chinese Government to the groups' representatives, and I am informed that it was not.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish all agreements made with the sanction and approval of His Majesty's Government between the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and the Deutsche Asiatische Bank and other foreign companies since the agreement of 2nd September, 1898, between the two banks named?

His Majesty's Government are not in a position to publish agreements between private companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Danish Government has appointed a Commission to report whether State leaseholds should be substituted for, or established in addition to, State freeholds; and, if so, whether that Commission has reported; and what is the substance of their Report?

In the course of the Session 1910–11 a law was passed in the Danish Rigsdag to the effect that a Commission should be appointed to report:—(1) Whether State leaseholds should be established in addition to State freeholds. (2) Whether local government freeholds should be established on the same or similar lines as the existing State freeholds, or proposed State leaseholds. (3) What rules should be adopted generally modifying the existing legislation as to leaseholds, hereditary or not, or freehold, private, State or local, respectively. This Commission has not yet reported, but it is expected that the Report will be published before long.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that exception has been taken to the action of the Registrar-General in offering to place at the disposal of London borough councils the special information contained in the Census Returns of 1911 with respect to the population, the number of tenements of different sizes, and the number and ages of persons living in these tenements in the districts into which London boroughs were divided for the purpose of the Census, the objectors being under the impression that this constitutes an infringement of the promise of secrecy under which the Census Returns were obtained; and is he in a position to make any statement on the subject?

Section 9 of the Census (Great Britain) Act, 1910, states:—The Registrar-General may, if and at such time as he thinks fit, at the request and cost of any local authority or any person, cause abstracts to be prepared containing statistical information which can be derived from the Census Returns, but is not supplied by the Census Report, and which, in his opinion, the authority or person may reasonably require.Under the provisions of this Section many demands have been and are still being made by local authorities for special abstracts to be made from the Census Returns for the purposes of the administration of the Public Health Acts, etc. The pledge given at the head of the individual Census Schedules that the Returns were not to be used for any other purpose than the preparation of statistical tables has been strictly observed; no information has been or will be disclosed with regard to individual persons or families.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether any of the boys and girls under the control of his Department are being trained in a practical knowledge of the land; and, if not, whether he will encourage this policy?

Yes, Sir. There are a number of Poor Law institutions for children, having gardens or agricultural land attached to them, in which the children receive some training in gardening, dairying, or farming. Some of the larger institutions certified under the Poor Law (Certified Schools) Act, 1862, also afford similar instruction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what is the present position of policy-holders under the Irish Provident Assurance Company, Limited, in liquidation?

The Irish Provident Assurance Company, Limited, is being wound up under an Order of the Irish Courts, and the Board of Trade therefore have no information as to the position of the liquidation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at least six months ago the Morayshire Farmers' Club offered to guarantee the necessary minimum number of subscribers per mile in order that rural party line telephones might be installed at Lhanbryde and Duffus districts in Morayshire; whether any progress has been made with the work; and, if not, "what is the cause, of the delay?

I cannot find that any offer was made by the Morayshire Farmers' Club to guarantee the necessary number of subscribers for rural party lines at Llanbryde and Duffus until the 2nd instant, by which date the funds set apart for the experimental provision of rural party lines were exhausted. These appli- cations will be considered as soon as I obtain the additional funds, for which application has been made to the Treasury.

asked the I Postmaster-General whether an addition to the postal and telegraph stall of Middlesbrough has been sanctioned; and. If so, whether he will consider the desirability of filling these places by male officers with a view to returning those telegraphists now performing postal duties to their original sphere of work?

I am having inquiry made, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire as to the cost, etc., of buildings for I small holdings has finished taking evidence; and, if so, when the Report of the I Committee may be expected to be issued?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Report is under consideration, and will be issued as soon as possible.