asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reasons are adduced for sending tubercular patients from Munster to the Newcastle sanatorium, county Wicklow, when there is accommodation available in Munster at the Heatherside sanatorium, Doneraile, and the charge reasonable; and where are the hospitals available in Munster for the treatment of chronic tubercular patients situate?

The local insurance committees are responsible for making the most suitable arrangements for each person entitled to sanatorium benefit. They are not restricted to making arrangements with institutions in their own area, and the decision as to where a particular individual shall be sent necessarily depends upon several considerations, including the cost of travelling and of maintenance, and the character of the treatment required. No institution in Munster has yet been approved specifically for the treatment of advanced cases of tuberculosis.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the lack of accommodation in existing sanatoria at the disposal of the Reading Insurance Committee, as a result of which, out of six cases certified as suffering from tuberculosis requiring treatment, admission has only been obtainable for one; and whether he is prepared to give effect to the desire of the committee that the Act should be so amended as to permit of sanatoria provided by Poor Law authorities being used for the treatment of insured persons until such time as sufficient accommodation is available elsewhere?

My attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Reading Insurance Committee with reference to existing accommodation for cases of tuberculosis, and I understand that the Insurance Commissioners have supplied the committee with a list of approved sanatoria to which insured persons suffering from tuberculosis may be admitted. The complete separation of Poor Law institutions from sanatorium treatment under the Act was a principle definitely embodied in the Bill in its passage through this House, and I have no reason to believe that the House has any desire to reverse that decision.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the National Health Insurance Commissioners will allow an asylum attendant of ten years' service or more who is entitled, under the Asylum Officers' Superannuation Act, 1909, to a superannuation allowance of £32 or more, in case of being permanently incapacitated through illness, to be individually exempted from the National Insurance Act under Part II. (b) of the First Schedule?

The effect of a certificate of exception under Part II. (b) of the First Schedule to the National Insurance Act is to exclude employment on certain terms from the scope of the Act, and the certificate must necessarily apply to all persons serving on those terms under the same public author0ity. If the asylum attendant referred to in the question is in a class by himself, that class could, of course, be excepted, provided that the terms of employment satisfy the necessary conditions. I may point out, however, that a right to superannuation alone without adequate provision of sick pay would not justify the issue of a certificate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the event of insured persons who have filled in the declaration to become deposit contributors transferring to an approved society before the commencement of the benefits in January next, the reserve or transfer value of such insured persons will be credited to the approved society to which they transfer?

Yes, Sir. In such cases the society will be credited with the appropriate reserve value and with the value of the contributions paid before transference, calculated in accordance with Section 43 of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum of money was realised during the first quarter's operation of the National Insurance Act in respect of the employers' contributions in the cases of exempted employés; and to what purposes that sum is to be applied?

The amount of the contributions in respect of exempt persons cannot be ascertained until all the first quarter's exemption cards have been returned and scheduled. Section 4 (4) of the Act provides that these contributions may be applied for the benefit of the persons in respect of whom they have been paid in the event of their subsequently becoming employed contributors.

asked whether, in the revised system of payment of the doctors for their services under the National Insurance Act, any difference will be made in the mileage allowance for urban and country practitioners, respectively?

No part of the new Grant which Parliament will be asked to make is specifically ear-marked for mileage, but this does not prevent an arrangement for this purpose being made. The distribution of the total sum to be provided for medical remuneration, and the assignment of special portions to special services, is largely a matter for the medical profession, and any proposals which appear to command the general support of the profession will receive careful consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the. Exchequer (1) if he is aware that the Insurance Commissioners are issuing instructions that contribution books shall not be entered until after the Contribution Register has been completed; and, seeing that it is impossible for any but small societies to comply with those instructions and return the insurance books within twenty-one days, although there is a notice on each insurance book to that effect, he proposes to take any action in the matter; (2) if he is aware that many large societies are arranging for the insurance books to be entered and returned to the insured persons on the receipt of the first quarter's cards; and, if so, whether he will inform these societies that they are not complying with the instructions of the Commissioners in this respect?

The Insurance Commissioners have issued a general memorandum to societies informing them that the insurance book should be written up from the Contribution Register, this, being desirable in order that the two may agree. As, however, certain societies found it more convenient to have the insurance books written up locally from the contribution card on its surrender, the Commission issued supplementary instructions, dated 19th October (of which I am sending a copy to the hon. Member), in which this procedure is recognised in such cases while at the same time precautions are taken to ensure a due agreement between the two.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, whether his attention has been directed to the dismissal of Mr. Mansfield by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland; and whether he proposes to have an inquiry made into the facts and circumstances leading up to the dismissal?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the questions of the hon. Members for South Tipperary and West Kerry on this subject.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), having regard to the injury already done to Mullingar by restrictions affecting cattle, sheep, and pigs, and to the fact that horses do not take foot-and-mouth disease, whether the usual horse fair will be allowed to be held there on Monday, 11th November, subject only to restrictions as to stabling; and whether an announcement on the subject will be made at the earliest possible moment?

Having regard to the fact that no less than thirty-five out-breaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in and around the town of Mullingar since 18th October and to the risk of spreading the disease to other parts of the country by mediate contagion, owing to the great influx of people and hordes that take place on the occasion of such fairs, the Department regret that they cannot see their way to allow the horse fair to be held on the 11th November.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners have acquired a holding at Ahavrin, near Coachford, county Cork, which was intended for the reinstatement of Jeremiah Murphy, evicted tenant, since deceased; if so, will the land be allotted to any of his representatives; and, if not, will the Estates Commissioners consider the advisability of dividing it amongst the labourers of the locality who are in need of land for grazing and tillage purposes?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. Murphy was given possession of the holding last March, and subsequently died. The holding will be vested in his representative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether information is given in any of the annual Reports as regards the numbers and amounts of mortgages which have been effected on lands purchased or in process of being purchased under the Irish Land Acts since the purchase of such lands was commenced; and, if not, whether he will cause such information to be tabulated and included in future annual Reports?

The annual Reports of the Land Commission have not hitherto contained any statistics on this subject, but the Commissioners will consider whether the information can be given in their next annual Report.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners received an application for reinstatement from an evicted tenant on the Captain Marshal-Gleeson estate named Matthew Kelliher, of Rathbeg; Rathmore; was his claim investigated and favourably reported on; and will he be reinstated or provided with a holding elsewhere?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. Kelliher's former holding is in the occupation of his brother, and the Estates Commissioners cannot take any action in the matter of Kelliher's application.

asked the Secretary 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 Under-Secretary of State for India the amount of the cash balances of the Government of India held in England during the years 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912, respectively?

The, cash balances of the Government of India held in England on 31st March in each of the years named in the question were as follows:—

1905	…	…	…	£10,262,581
1906	…	…	…	8,436,519
1907	…	…	…	5,606,812
1908	…	…	…	4,607,266
1909	…	…	…	7,983,898
1910	…	…	…	12,799,091
1911	…	…	…	16,696,990
1912	…	…	…	18,390,013

The balance on the evening of 30th October last was £9,229,797. The amounts do not include sums held on account of the Gold Standard Reserve.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the amount of depreciation, shown by market prices taken at the most recent convenient date, as compared with the original cost, on the securities held in the gold standard reserve?

According to the last valuation, which was made on 16th October, 1912, the selling prices of the securities held in the Gold Standard Reserve showed a depreciation of £1,064,824, as compared with their original cost. Against this loss, however, there has to be set a net gain of £3,079,966 from interest and dividends on the investment of the Reserve. Thus there has been a balance of profit, from the policy of investing the Reserve, as against the alternative course of holding it in gold, amounting to slightly over £2,000,000.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the average market price of silver during the months of January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October of this year.

The average prices (for cash) in the London market were as follows:—

January	…	…	…	25 13/16 d.
February	…	…	…	27 3/16.d.
March	…	…	…	26 7/8.d.
April	…	…	…	27¼d.
May	…	…	…	28 1/16 d.
June	…	…	…	28¼d.
July	…	…	…	27 15/16 d.
August	…	…	…	28 5/16 d.
September	…	…	…	29 1/16 d.
October	…	…	…	29 5/16 d.