asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Insurance Commissioners have made any regulations as to the terms under which patients will be admitted to sanatoria for treatment; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in some cases the patient is required to provide, an outfit of clothing to the value of £5?

No regulations have been made by the Insurance Commissioners as to the terms under which patients will be admitted to sanatoria for treatment. Such terms are primarily a matter for agreement between the insurance committee and the managers of the sanatorium, but the arrangements made require the approval of the Commissioners, and they would not approve of any agreement which would impose upon an insured person the liability mentioned in the question. I should be glad if the hon. and gallant Member would inform me of the case which he has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that approved insurance companies are offering a premium for the introduction of each member introduced; and whether he will take steps to prevent such companies from offering pecuniary inducements to a person introducing a member, seeing that friendly societies are not in a position to do so?

I believe that payments of the kind referred to in the question have been made, not only by insurance companies but also by other approved societies. The Insurance Commission sanctioned such payments out of the administration expenses account during the first few months, but in future such payments will not be allowed out of the insurance funds. I should add, however, to prevent misapprehension, that payments of reasonable amounts to a society's own officers or agents for actual work done in connection with receiving applications, enrolling members, and writing up contribution cards and registers will obviously be a proper charge against the administration account under the Act, provided that their object and effect is to provide proper remuneration for the services actually rendered in connection with these operations, and not to give a bonus for canvassing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that the amount expended by national health insurance societies in postage of cards and communications to their members is very large and the amount allowed for management expenses is comparatively small, he will issue instructions that all communications on purely national insurance business may be posted free of charge?

Free postage facilities are confined to communications sent out from, or addressed by the public to, Government Departments and it would be impossible without serious danger to the revenue to extend them to communications which come under official scrutiny at neither end. As I explained in my reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 23rd instant, communications on official business addressed to the Insurance Commissioners may be posted free of charge. This means that a large part of the correspondence of approved societies and insurance committees, in fact, passes post free in the ordinary course.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it has been decided from what date interest will be payable on the amounts represented by the stamped cards sent in to the Commissioners by the different friendly societies; and from what date interest is to be charged to the different friendly societies on advances which have been and will be made to them by the Treasury?

Under the Act interest can only be credited on sums transferred to the investment account, and not on current balances. The precise basis on which the interest available for distribution between societies (including interest so available on account of the temporary investment of sums in the National Health Insurance Fund not required to meet current liabilities) depends on accounting arrangements, which are not yet complete. Interest is not chargeable to societies on advances made to them out of their credits in the National Health Insurance Fund; the effect of such advances is ultimately to reduce pro tanto the amount on which they earn interest.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of health insurance stamps sold in Scotland for the week ending 19th October; whether this number is larger than usual; and, if so, what is the explanation?

The number of health insurance stamps sold through the Post Office in the week referred to was 2,095,080. This number was considerably above the average, the increase being probably due to sales for persons paid quarterly or for overdue or future contributions.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Isabella Prenderville, estate of Dr. McBride, county of Cork, was restored to her farm and recommended by the Estates Commissioners' inspector for a Grant or loan for equipment and restocking; that the Estates Commissioners have refused to make either to the tenant; and whether they intend to reconsider the question?

The Estates Commissioners considered on several occasions Miss Prenderville's application, and decided that they would not make her any Grant. The Commissioners are not prepared to alter their decision in the matter.

asked what stages the Congested Districts Board have reached in their procedings for purchase of the Lord Norbury, Phibbs Irwin, in lunacy, and Foy estates, in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo?

The maps and documents necessary to enable a preliminary inspection to be made of the estate of Lord Norbury have been lodged with the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable. The Board have been in correspondence with the solicitor having carriage of the Phibbs Irwin estate and the owners of the Foy estates, but these estates have not, so far, been offered for sale through the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Patrick Boland applied at the last inquiry held into an improvement scheme in the Kilmallock rural district for an additional plot on the farm of Denis Healy, at Kilfinane, of sixty-five acres in extent; whether he is aware that Healy holds two other farms and no cottage on either of them; and can he explain therefore why Boland's application for an additional plot was thrown out?

The reason assigned by the inspector for not approving of the proposed taking of an additional half-acre for Patrick Boland was given in his "schedule of cases disallowed "as" necessity not established." The Local Government Board have no information as to the extent of the land which Healy holds, but it would appear that the particular farm from which the plot was proposed to be taken comprises thirty-eight Irish acres. It also appears that the applicant is an old age pensioner, having only one boy at home with him.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Estates Commissioners have acquired the untenanted land on the estate of Lord Massy at Castleconnell; if so, how soon will it be distributed; and has the matter been placed in the hands of an inspector?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The lands referred to have been inspected and the Estates Commissioners will consider their inspector's report in due course.

asked whether, in view of the inconvenience caused to litigants and the public in general by having the Assizes for Connaught held in Limerick, arrangements can now be made to hold the Assize Courts for Connaught in Sligo?

Following the practice of the past five years, it has been decided to hold the Connaught Winter Assizes this year at Limerick. Many considerations, including the convenience of jurors, have to be taken into account in fixing the place of Assizes and, having regard to the railway facilities for reaching Limerick, I am not aware that any substantial inconvenience will be caused by the holding of the Winter Assizes in that city.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many beds in sanatoria, as distinguished from beds in hospitals, naval or otherwise, are available for the reception of insured persons in His Majesty's Navy suffering from tuberculosis?

There is no special sanatoria accommodation set apart for insured persons in His Majesty's Navy. Patients are treated in the ordinary hospitals.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state the reason why his Department refuses to publish the amounts of each tender submitted by each firm asked to give an estimate for the construction of the dock works at Rosyth?

In declining to publish the amounts of the tenders the Admiralty follow the general practice of Government Departments, adhered to after a full consideration of the subject; but I shall be happy, to investigate any arguments which my hon. Friend may care to advance in favour of a change of policy.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of skilled labourers in Pembroke Dockyard at present receiving the special weekly rates of 29s. 6d. for established men and 31s. for hired men; and will he state what number of skilled labourers in Pembroke Dockyard are in receipt of the new minimum rate of 23s. a week?

Five receive 29s. 6d. a week, ten receive 31s. a week, and 104 receive 23s. a week.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that it is proposed to establish a knacker's yard or slaughter house for worn out and diseased animals, and a factory for the conversion of fish and meat offal from the borough of Leicester and the vicinity, contiguous to the barracks at Glen Parva, in the county of Leicester, and within 150 yards of the married quarters at that station; whether he is aware that a protest has been made by the residents in the neighbourhood, including the medical officer of the barracks, to the district council on the grounds of injury to health; and if he will take steps to prevent what may be injurious to a number of His Majesty's troops quartered in that district?

Nothing is known of this matter at the War Office. Inquiries are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) what were the circumstances which from 1901 to April, 1912, justified a special ration allowance of 1s. to men on the administrative staff of the Southern Command at Salisbury, and which are deemed by the War Office no longer to exist: and (2) whether, in view of the fact that men on the administrative staff of the Southern Command at Salisbury have, in the absence of barrack accommodation, to provide their own rations out of a monetary allowance provided for the purpose, any increase in such allowance, similar to that granted to the established audit staff attached to the same command, has been made to meet the increased cost of living?

In 1889, when Tidworth was an isolated station on Salisbury Plain, a special ration allowance was granted to the first soldiers sent there, before the building of barracks. In 1901, for reasons of which the record has been destroyed in ordinary official course, this special allowance was extended to Salisbury city. In due course the necessity for its continuance came under review and it was decided that there was now no sufficient reason for giving a higher allowance at Salisbury than is given to men similarly situated at the numerous other places at which soldiers live out of barracks. As a concession to individuals six months' notice of withdrawal was given. The normal allowance of sixpence exceeds the cost of providing the regular ration in kind. I am unable to understand the hon. Member's reference to the "established audit staff."

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, as representing the Secretary of State for India, whether he is aware that the Indian Native Cavalry lines at Rawal Pindi collapsed in the spring of 1911, owing to which the quarters of over 200 sowars and native followers were in ruins; whether he is aware that, in spite of the expenditure of 10,000 rupees in repairs, the lines are still in an unsatisfactory condition; and whether he will publish the correspondence between the military authorities and the Government of India on the subject?

The Secretary of State for India is aware that the Indian Cavalry lines at Rawal Pindi were extensively damaged by rains of unusual seventy in the spring of 1911. He has no information as to what sum was expended in temporary repairs pending reconstruction of these lines. Reconstruction at an estimated cost of three lakhs of rupees has been sanctioned. He is not in possession of any correspondence on the subject between the Indian military authorities and the Government of India, nor does he consider that there would be any advantage in calling for and publishing such correspondence.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has required the Glamorgan Education Committee to furnish him with a detailed and tabulated Return of school staffs in the county area, in order to enable the Board of Education to secure fuller information than they at present possess regarding the deficiencies which exist in the staffs of the schools; if so, whether the Glamorgan Education Committee, at its meeting held on the 8th instant, resolved that the Return be not made; and what steps he proposes to take in the interests of the 70,000 children educated in Glamorgan schools?

With a view to obtaining all the information that is available upon the subject of the supply of teachers for elementary schools, the Board addressed, in May and June last, to local education authorities in England and Wales two circular letters asking for particulars which could not all be obtained from the ordinary Returns made to them with regard to the teaching staff in public elementary schools. Their inquiry referred especially to the estimated annual requirements of each authority, the extent of any deficiencies of the staff existing at a particular date, and the means taken by the authority to supply its annual requirements and to meet temporary emergencies. The Glamorganshire education authority appear to be under some misapprehension as to the purpose for which the information is required and the nature of the particulars asked for; but I am in communication with them, and I have no reason to believe that they will not be willing to help the Board to complete the information which has now been received from nearly all the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists by reason of the lack of systematic arrangement for the provision of means of refreshment for members of the Metropolitan Police force employed away from their own districts on special occasions or special emergencies; whether he is aware that this absence of system results on such occasions and emergencies in men being compelled to fast for long periods of time; and whether he will consider the advisability of establishing a travelling canteen or other form of movable commissariat to supply the needs of bodies of men engaged upon prolonged periods of police duty?

The Commissioner of Metropolitan Police informs me that he has no reason to think that dissatisfaction of the nature indicated exists. As I stated yesterday, I am satisfied that the arrangements now made for police to obtain refreshments on special occasions are sufficient. It would seldom be practicable to use a travelling canteen, and if a constable were led to rely on it for his food and, as would often happen, failed to reach it owing to the crowd, there would then be dissatisfaction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the long hours of duty performed by the Metropolitan Police when called away from their own districts to attend State functions, strikes, aviation trials, race meetings, and other special occasions, and the difficulty which occurs at these times for constables to obtain proper or adequate refreshment, he will at once take steps to arrange for a permanent commissariat department, with officers told off for this duty in times of emergency?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave yesterday to the hon. and learned Member for West St. Pancras.

asked the Home Secretary whether three superintendents have been appointed in connection with the vacancy caused by the resignation of Superintendent Moore, of the executive and statistical departments at New Scotland Yard; and, if so, will he state the reason for such appointments?

When Superintendent Moore retired, the executive branch at New Scotland Yard was in charge of one superintendent with two chief inspectors, and the officer in charge of the training of recruits at Regency Street was a chief inspector. Upon Superintendent Moore's retirement it was found necessary, in view of the growth of work, to sub-divide his charge into separate executive and statistical departments, with a superintendent in charge of each. The chief inspector in charge of the training school having become entitled by service and ability, was also promoted to superintendent. No increase of staff is involved; the two new superintendents take the place of two chief inspectors.

asked the Home Secretary if his Department was represented at any of the inquests held on the 120 persons killed by motor omnibuses this year?

The police attended all these inquests. The procedure in cases of serious or fatal accident laid down by standing Regulation is that the local police are required to obtain the assistance of an officer from the Public Carriage Branch possessed of the technical knowledge required to enable him to ascertain the cause of the accident and to form an opinion as to whether under the circumstances anyone could be held responsible.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that London motor omnibus drivers, plying on routes where there is competition with electric trams, make a practice of using the same stopping places as the trams and of driving into groups of people getting on or off the trams; and whether, as such a practice is dangerous and causes much alarm to women and children, he will instruct the police to put a stop to it?

It is an unfortunate necessity, when tram lines are laid in a thoroughfare, that overtaking vehicles are forced to pass on the near side of the tram instead of on the off. It is a fact that in many places trams and omnibuses have the same stopping points, because so many of these stopping points coincide with busy cross-traffic centres, but it is a disputed point whether there is greater danger to persons alighting if the omnibus stops opposite the tram or runs by without stopping. The subject of tram and omnibus stopping places is receiving special consideration. The police would certainly take proceedings against any driver acting in the manner referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will make inquiries as to whether the pay of London motor omnibus drivers to some extent depends on the number of trips completed or miles run, instead of their being paid a fixed wage; and, if he should find this to be the practice, whether he will, in the interests of public safety, use his powers as the licensing authority to put a stop to it?

As I stated on 30th July, in reply to a question by my hon. Friend, the men receive a fixed daily wage, but I am informed that they are required to do a given number of trips, and in case of breakdown a small deduction is made from their pay. Such breakdowns are, I understand, now rare.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the prosecution at Stratford Police Court on Saturday of a number of motor omnibus drivers for exceeding the speed limit, and to the suggestion of the magistrates that a speedometer should be fitted to such vehicles; and whether he will make it a condition of licensing motor omnibuses that they shall be supplied with a mechanical device which shall give audible warning as soon and as long as the speed limit is being exceeded?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for South West Ham. The proposal indicated in the second part of the question was carefully considered in the time of my predecessor, but it was decided that its advantages were more than counter-balanced by its disadvantages.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of an old man of about seventy years of age, who was charged at Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, with wandering abroad to beg alms; whether he is aware that the man pleaded that he was out in search of work and had walked from Gainsborough, twenty miles away; and whether, in view of the fact that no previous convictions are known against the prisoner, he will consider the possibility of reducing the sentence of seven days imposed?

My attention has not previously been called to this case, but I have made inquiry by telegraph and find no sufficient ground for advising interference with the sentence, which is for one week only and expires to-morrow.

asked the Home Secretary the number of rescue stations which have been constituted in Scotland under Section 85 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911; the number of mines in Scotland in which rescue appliances and ambulance appliances, respectively, have been provided; the number of rescue brigades which have been formed; and the number of miners who are being at present trained in ambulance work?

I would refer my lion. Friend to the answer which I gave to the lion. Member for North-East Derbyshire on 31st July. Until the returns which will be required from mine owners at the end of the year are received and tabulated, I shall not be in a position to give the detailed information asked for. One central station already exists at Cowdenbeath, and I believe it is intended to erect another at Kilmarnock, but it is open to owners, under the Home Office Order, to make separate arrangements for their own mines if they so prefer.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if certain Bengal agitators are holding seditious meetings among the Mahometans in India and trying to stir up hatred among them against the Government for alleged want of sympathy with the Turkish Government; and if the Government is taking any steps to extinguish this Swadeshi movement?

The Secretary of State has noticed certain statements in the Press on the subject, but they are not confirmed by any official information.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether William Channing Arnold, a son of the late Sir Edwin Arnold and editor of the "Burma Critic," has been committed to prison in Rangoon; and if so, for what offence?

The Secretary of State has seen a report in the newspapers that Mr. Arnold has been convicted, after trial with a jury in the Rangoon Chief Court, of defamation of a district magistrate, and has been sentenced to one year's simple imprisonment. The Secretary of State has asked for a full report of all the circumstances connected with the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has been credibly informed, and now realises, that the statement quoted in his letter to Sir J. Jordan, of 23rd August, part of the correspondence on the Chinese loan negotiations (White Paper, Cd. 6446), to the effect that Lloyds Bank, the London County and Westminster Bank, and the Capital and Counties Bank were members of a syndicate, and as such were negotiating a loan of £10,000,000 with the Chinese Government, is wholly without foundation; and that two of the said banks consented to act solely as bankers in the event of the loan being negotiated, but that none of them were otherwise concerned in the transactions to which the above White Paper refers?

The impression given by Mr. Crisp on his first visit to the Foreign Office certainly was that he represented a syndicate composed of Lloyds Bank, the Capital and Counties Bank, and the London and South-Western Bank. It was subsequently ascertained that the impression conveyed did not correspond with the facts. The London County and Westminster Bank was inadvertently named in the dispatch referred to in place of that of the London and South-Western Bank.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a recent meet-ins of the Stone Rural Council, and a report of the council's sanitary inspector as to the dilapidated condition of some labourers' cottages on the Trentham estate belonging to the Duke of Sutherland; and what action, if any, it is proposed to take in the matter?

My attention had not been drawn to this matter until notice of the question appeared. I then communicated with the Stone Rural District Council on the subject, and am informed that the attention of the agent for the property had been drawn to the cottages in question, and that he had promised to effect the necessary repairs at once.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he proposes to introduce this Session a Pure Bread Bill or otherwise to take any action in consequence of the reports made to his Department eighteen months ago by Doctors Hamill and Monier-Williams in reference to the bleaching and adulteration of flour?

A Bill is in preparation. It will be general in character and not confined to bread.

asked whether Dr. J. M. Hamill, or any other expert of his Department, has investigated the effect, both upon the soundness of the teeth and upon the nutritive value of bread, of the removal of the ferments from flour in the process of roller milling; and, if not, whether such an investigation will be conducted prior to the introduction of legislation in reference to the adulteration and sophistication of flour and flour products?

No experimental investigation into the matter referred to has been made on behalf of the Board. In view of the minuteness of the changes which take place in flour as the result of the action of ferments contained in it, I am advised that there would be great difficulties in making any satisfactory investigation by means at present available of the effect, if any, on nutrition generally or on the condition of the teeth produced by the action of ferments in flour. The matter is not one which calls for consideration in connection with the question of adulteration and sophistication of flour and flour products.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware of the increasing difficulty of boards of guardians in dealing effectively with vagrants, and of the fact that the cell system has failed to deter professional tramps from following their trade; and whether he will take steps to provide a few labour colonies, by way of experiment, where bonô fide working men, who have fallen on evil days and taken to the road, may regain their position and professional vagrants be made to earn their living?

I have had some representations made to me recently on the subject of vagrancy. The bonô fide working man, to whom the hon. Member refers, would not in my opinion be benefited by the establishment of labour colonies. To deal effectively with the professional vagrant in such colonies compulsory powers of detention would be required, and for this purpose legislation would be necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet made any Order for the first election of members of the Port of London Authority, and, if not, when such Order is likely to be made; and whether the Regulations under which this election will be held will be laid before this House?

The Board of Trade made Regulations, dated 22nd December, 1911, with respect to the formation and revision of the register for the first election of elected members of the Port Authority. These Regulations are printed as Statutory Rules and Orders, and placed on sale, but it was not considered necessary to lay these on the Table of the House. Further Regulations are being prepared with reference to the method of election, and will, I anticipate, be promulgated in the same manner before the end of the year. The election will take place in March, 1913.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the desirability of making Wales and Monmouthshire a separate district for administering the Factory Acts instead of combining Wales and Monmouthshire with the West of England for such purposes?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. For the purpose of the administration of the Factory Acts, Wales and Monmouth-shire are divided into three districts, with headquarters and a full staff, at Cardiff, Swansea, and Wrexham respectively. At one time the whole of South Wales and Monmouth were combined in one district, but it was found to be too large for administrative purposes, and it was again divided into two districts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a telegraphist at Dublin has been punished for occupying twelve minutes in preparing a punched slip of eight telegrams; whether, in view of the fact that the telegrams were dealt with at the rate of forty per hour, he will state what standard is required of a telegraphist before he can consider himself free from liability to be punished; and whether, whilst he expresses himself in disagreement with any policy of averages as applied to the individual, his controlling officials are left at liberty to unnecessarily harass the operators?

I am not aware of the case, but I will have inquiry made, and communicate the result as soon as possible to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is now in a position to state what arrangements he has been able to make for the conveyance of mails from the Northern counties so that the Northern mails will not be delivered practically twenty-four hours later in London owing to the ten hours' detention at Inverness which is threatened?

During the suspension of the 10.50 p.m. passenger train from Inverness to Perth, any mails which it would have conveyed will be forwarded by the company from Inverness at 10.30 p.m. to Aviemore (for which service a special payment will be made to them) and thence by goods train to Perth. In this way any delay in delivery of such letters as those which the hon. Member has in mind will be prevented.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the alleged inconvenience of present arrangements, he can see his way to extend telegraphic facilities to the existing post office in the Royal Parade, Harrogate?

I regret that the extension of telegraph facilities to the post office at the Royal Parade, Harrogate, would not be warranted, as this office is less than a quarter of a mile distant from the Harrogate head post office.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the requisite minimum number of subscribers for the establishment of a telephone service; and whether he is yet in a position to state the result of his further inquiries as to the establishment of such a service for the Pateley Bridge district?

The minimum number of subscribers required to justify the establishment of a telephone exchange depends mainly on the estimated expenses. I am glad to say that I have now been able to authorise the provision of an exchange at Pateley Bridge.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state what was the total price given for each of the twenty holdings purchased for the purposes of small holdings by the County Council of Wiltshire under the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908; and what was the acreage of each of such holding?

The particulars asked for are shown in the following table:—