asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many persons have been appointed to the staff of the National Insurance Commission (England), distinguishing between the different grades and stating the nature of the employment; what are the names and salaries of such persons, respectively, and what were their occupations and addresses previous to their appointment; did they all or which of them pass a competitive examination and when, respectively; in the case of those who did not so pass what were the special qualifications for appointment; and how many applicants were there for the positions filled?

I will issue a memorandum as to the appointments made. As I stated yesterday, however, I am not prepared to give the private addresses of officials. Communications for them can be sent to their official address.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of cases in which legal proceedings have been taken against an employer for non-payment of his contribution under the National Insurance Act in England, Scotland, and Ireland respectively?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the number of persons in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively, that it is estimated should be insured under the National Insurance Act as employed contributors; for how many, in each country, fully-stamped cards were returned for the first quarter; in bow many instances in each country it has been ascertained that employers have failed to. work the Act; and how many prosecutions have been initiated in each country?

I propose to take Questions 95 and 98 together. The estimated numbers of employed contributors in approved societies in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, as given in the Actuaries' Report (Cd. 5983), are 9,461,000, 1,395,000, 771,000, and 577,000 respectively. The first quarter cards are now being scheduled, and it will not be possible to give their numbers for a few weeks. Prosecutions are instituted in cases of deliberate and persistent noncompliance with the Act. With regard to the number of cases in which this has been necessary I would refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Members for Great Yarmouth and Denbigh District on 14th and 28th October. Since the latter date proceedings have been instituted in two cases in England and in three cases in Ireland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of payment to doctors under the National Insurance Act of 7s. per person for attendance and 1s. 6d. for drugs, either amount will in any case be liable to deduction?

It is intended that the 7s., namely, the 6s. 6d. per insured person for medical attendance and treatment under medical benefit and the 6d. for the treatment of tuberculosis, shall be applied solely to remuneration of medical practitioners on the panel; and that the 1s. 6d. shall be applied solely to meeting the cost of drugs and appliances, a further 6d. being divisible between chemist and doctor according to the cost of the drugs ordered. Neither amount will be subject to deduction for any other purpose.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the actuarial value to a male person sixteen years of age of the additional Grant to doctors for medical benefit in connection with the National Insurance Act?

The actuarial value of the additional Grant it is proposed to make from the Exchequer for medical benefit is, for a boy of sixteen, £3 0s. 3d.

asked whether doctors responsible for attending members of approved societies under the National Insurance Act will be required to issue certificates to the societies for such insured persons?

Practitioners attending persons insured under the Act will be required, in consideration of the remuneration received under the new Grant which Parliament is to be asked to make, to give to insured persons attended by them the certificates required for the administration of sickness and disablement benefit under the Act.

asked whether, under the National Insurance Act, doctors chosen by insured persons can depute their assistants to attend to their patients?

When a practitioner on the panel is precluded by urgency of other professional duties, absence from home, or other reasonable cause from giving personal attendance to an insured person under his care, he may depute an assistant to act on his behalf.

asked whether the Metropole, Worthing, has been bought by the Government for use as a sanatorium?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Insurance Commissioners have made any inquiry into the stamping of the cards in the case of casual men employed in dock and riverside work; and, if so, whether he can state the result of these investigations?

I have nothing to add at present to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 17th October. Investigations are taking place, and I hope at an early date to publish a Memorandum dealing with the application of the Act to casual labour.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state why the Operative Stonemasons' Society, who have refused to pay superannuation benefits to their old members, have been allowed to become an approved society under the National Insurance Act; and whether he can state how much money this society has spent on politics during the last ten years?

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the Noble Lord to my reply to the Noble Lord the Member for Hitchin on the 15th October. I understand that the expenditure of the society in question in respect of labour representation during the past ten years amounted to £1,774 4s. 11 id. The Noble Lord will, however, understand that such expenditure does not in any way affect the funds under the Act or the financial position of the society as an approved society.

asked whether the Commissioners of the National Insurance Act can authorise the use of a quarterly stamp for the payment of their own and their employés' contributions in lieu of the existing system of weekly stamping of cards?

Arrangements are now being made for the supply of quarterly stamps. Under the National Insurance Act, however, it is necessary that in every case the contributions in respect of any week shall be paid not later than the time at which the wages in respect of that period are paid. Employers who pay weekly wages but desire to use quarterly stamps, must therefore adopt the special arrangements at present open to large employers for quarterly stamping with a preliminary deposit or, when those arrangements are not applicable, or have not been adopted, must stamp the cards at the beginning, not the end, of each quarter. Instructions, including the necessary safeguards in the use of these high value stamps, will be issued at an early date.

asked what arrangements it is proposed to make to safeguard the interests of the country doctors in Scotland in regard to mileage allowance?

The method of distribution of the amount available for medical remuneration is largely a matter for the medical profession themselves and the Government would favourably consider any proposals which command the general support of the profession. I may add that the Regulations provide for the adoption of any method of remuneration which may be considered desirable for any county in Scotland where, owing to sparseness of population, difficulties of communication, or other special circumstances, the normal methods of remuneration appear to be unsuitable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether there is any age limit in the unemployment part of the National Insurance Act; whether by administrative powers it is possible to omit from contributions an old man of seventy-three years of age who is still working; and what possible benefits can accrue to him from such contributions?

There is no upper limit of age under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, and there are no administrative powers to exempt a workman from contributions under this part of the Act on the ground of age. The workman referred to in my hon. Friend's question would be entitled to unemployment benefit if he lost his employment in the same way as a younger workman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the number of domestic servants who receive their wages quarterly, he will allow the insurance stamps of 6s. 6d. and 7s. 7d., respectively, to be obtained from all post offices in the same way as those of smaller value?

At all offices where there is a demand for denominations of high value stamps they will be kept in stock and sold, subject to proper safeguards, to employers who can use them. At all other offices they will be obtainable on signing a form by the applicant and two or three days' notice being given. There is objection to stocking a considerable number of varieties of stamps of high denominations, the total value of which would be large, at a great number of small offices where the stamps would usually not be required at all.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that Jews, as well as Catholics, are being sent by the Glasgow Burgh Insurance Committee for treatment to Quarriers Consumptives Home, at Bridge of Weir, Solomon Gold, of 78, Norfolk Street, Glasgow, a Jew, having been sent there; is he aware that Jews, as well as Catholics, are compelled, as a condition of treatment, to join in prayers inconsistent with their religious convictions; and if he will take early steps to carry out his recent promise to get treatment under the National Insurance Act in some other institution than the one in question, so as to protect patients against being called upon to join in religious services other than that of their own faith?

I understand from the Glasgow Insurance Committee that my hon. Friend has been misinformed. Mr. Solomon Gold has not been sent to the Bridge of Weir Sanatorium, but to another one where no such rule as that referred to is in force. The arrangements promised have been made and no appli- cants who are known to be Jews or Catholics are sent to the sanatorium mentioned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether some arrangement will be made, either by amendment to the National Insurance Act or otherwise, whereby the dealing with halfpence by the banks in Ireland in the payment of labourers' wages, by reason of the operation of that Act, can be dispensed with, as the introduction of halfpence into the accounts of banks would not only cause delay and dislocation of business, but would also raise difficulties in the clearings of cheques?

The requirements of the National Insurance Act will no doubt lead to an increased circulation of halfpence in Ireland, but I see no reason why this should lead to such modification of banking practice as is contemplated in the question. As the hon. Baronet is probably aware, there is a very large circulation, not only of halfpence, but also of farthings, in London for the purposes of retail trade, yet the London banks experience no difficulty in excluding fractions of a penny both from their accounts and from the cheques drawn upon them.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the present estimated cost of insurance under the National Insurance Act to the nation, deducting the amounts raised by the compulsory taxes or payments enforced by that measure?

The estimated cost to the Exchequer of State contributions, the State proportion of benefits and expenses of administration of approved societies and insurance committees, and the salaries and expenses of the National Health Insurance Joint Committee, the four Insurance Commissions, and the Audit Staff under Part I. of the National Insurance Act for the year 1913–14 is £4,400,000. To this amount must be added the cost of the proposed new Exchequer Grant for medical benefit (£1,650,000), making a total of just over £6,000,000. The estimated cost to the Exchequer of the State contributions to the Unemployment Fund, the State Grant under Section 106 and the cost of administration under Part II. of the Act for the year 1913-14 is approximately £766,000, making a total (exclusive of the amounts appearing in the Votes of other Departments for buildings, printing, and stationery, etc.) for both Health and Unemployment Insurance of about £6,800,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposals of the Board of Inland Revenue for the reorganisation of clerks to surveyors of taxes, referred to by Sir Mathew Nathan in his evidence before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, have been submitted to the Treasury; and, if so, when may the Treasury's decision thereon be expected?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Londonderry North on the 30th October last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in how many cases application has been made to the Treasury for payment of Estate Duty in land or buildings under Section 56 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and in how many cases such applications have been acceded to?

Application for payment of Estate Duty or Succession Duty in land or buildings under Section 56 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, has been made in forty-one cases. In thirty-three cases the property offered was not suited to the requirements of any public Department or authority and the remaining eight cases are still under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a joint deputation of the representatives of the Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in Ireland waited on him in August, 1911, in reference to the condition of Talbot House, the principal residence of the women students of Marlborough Street Training College, Dublin; whether they submitted to him a report, dated 7th August, 1911, of the medical officer of that college to the Commissioners of National Education, stating that a number of cases of diphtheria and other diseases had arisen owing to the condition of the building, and that it was to be deplored that so many strong and healthy young women should be housed in premises where their health is endangered and their energy be lost; whether Sir Charles Cameron agreed with the medical officer in condemning Talbot House as an unsuitable residence; and, if so, as this is the only college for Presbyterian and Methodist teachers, will he say why no steps have been taken to provide a new residence and to remedy the present state of things?

I am quite aware of the unsatisfactory nature of the accommodation provided for female students at the Marlborough Street Training College, which was referred to by the deputation, as my attention has been frequently called to the matter, and I have also visited the students' residence myself. The difficulty, however, is that a Grant of £50,000 was made to the Commissioners of National Education from the Irish Development Grant for the erection of residences for the men and women students, but they spent the whole of the money on a residence for the men only. In these circumstances, I have been unable to obtain a further Grant to them for the purpose.

also asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a new Grant of £3,000 a year was made in 1911 to the three Roman Catholic Training Colleges in Belfast, Limerick, and Water-ford, and that, as a result of a public investigation held in 1910 into the claim of the manager of the Waterford Training College for the model school as a practising school under his own management, the efficiency of the college was criticised by the chiefs of inspection in their report to the Board; whether he will ask the Commissioners to publish this report of a public investigation; and whether, as the Government had secured this Grant of £3,000 a year, and had included a Grant of £10,000 a year in the Irish Estimates of last year for scholarships in secondary schools which the Treasury had refused to make a short time before, they will exercise their authority over the Treasury in order to provide a new residence to replace Talbot House?

I am aware that an annuity of £1,000 to cover cost of housing was granted in 1911 to each of the Training Colleges at Waterford, Belfast, and Limerick. The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in the report of the Chief Inspectors regarding the public inquiry held by them relative to the application of the manager of the Training College at Waterford for the use of the Waterford model school, or portion I thereof as a practising school, reference was made to some defects in the arrangements in the college for the practical work in teaching of the King's scholars, but the Chief Inspectors did not criticise the efficiency of the college in general. The work of this college has been favourably reported on by the Chief Inspectors for several years past. It is not the intention of the Commissioners to publish the report of the Chief Inspectors, nor do I propose to ask them to do so. With regard to the last paragraph, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the similar question asked by him today.

next asked whether, as the Roman Catholic hierarchy are opposed to Marlborough Street College, and when the Grant for the men's residence was made in 1904, incorrectly described this undenominational institution, where students of all denominations are trained on equal terms, as for one or two small Nonconformist bodies, and condemned the making of the Grant, the Government will exclude this college from the control of the Parliament which the Government of Ireland Bill proposes to establish?

I am not aware that tiny such announcement has been made. The answer to the remainder of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the purchase of the estate of Mr. Michael Carey, situate at Clogher, etc., county Mayo, or what state the negotiations for purchase have reached?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for purchase of this property, but they hope to be in a position to do so at an early date.

asked whether Mr. Robert Acton has offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board his estate at Ballinlassa, Balearra, county Mayo; have the necessary maps and papers been lodged with the Board; and what stage the negotiations for sale have reached?

The estate referred to has been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board, and the necessary maps and documents have been lodged. A decision will be arrived at regarding the purchase of the property as soon as practicable, having regard to the present engagements of the Board's staff and to the priority of the case.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Carbery estate, situate at Ovens, county Cork, has been vested in all the tenants with the exception of seven; when did the major body of the tenants receive their vesting orders; why have these seven referred to been excluded; and when will their holdings be vested in them?

The majority of the holdings on this estate were vested in the purchasing tenants on 1st December, 1910. Seven cases were held over owing to difficulties which arose mainly in connection with the acquisition of labourers' plots on these holdings, and consequent amendment of maps, and other matters. Nearly all these difficulties have now been settled, and the Estates Commissioners hope to be in a position to close the proceedings at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Julia Coakley, of Rathmore, applied to the Headfort pensions sub-committee for an old age pension and was granted 5s. a week; whether this was appealed against by the pension officer on the ground that Mrs. Coakley's privileges amounted to 12s. a week; is he aware that the conjoint privileges of Mrs. Coakley and her husband under a deed of settlement with their son, if assessed on the current market value, do not exceed £20 12s. 3d.; how then did the pension officer arrive at his calculation of 12s. per week; and what further consideration will be given to the claim of Mrs. Coakley?

The facts are as stated in the first paragraph of the question. Julia Coakley and her husband live with their married son on an extensive farm which carries a good stock and is fairly well tilled. The farm was transferred by the husband to the son in 1909, and the privileges reserved in the deed of transfer to the father and mother, including maintenance on the farm, in the opinion of the Local Government Board were worth more than £31 10s. a year in each case.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the suggested amendments of the Irish judges for the reform of the County Court system have been submitted for the consideration of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland; if so, whether he will explain why they are withheld from the commercial community; whether he is aware that repeated application has been made to his Excellency the Lord Lieutenant for the information, and he has declined to give the same; and whether, as these interests are not always identical, he will undertake that both parties are treated fairly and alike?

The Lord Chancellor has already sent a copy of the suggestions of the County Court judges to the Incorporated Law Society for their observations. The report of the County Court judges has not yet been submitted to the Lord Lieutenant, who will give full opportunity to the commercial community to offer any suggestions they may desire before the question of legislation is considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will lay the correspondence that has passed between him and the Board of National Education, Ireland, in connection with the case of Mr. Mansfield, upon the Table of the House?

I had no correspondence on this subject with the Commissioners of National Education prior to the dismissal of Mr. Mansfield. Any correspondence I have had since is of a confidential nature, and cannot be laid on the Table of the House.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government has entered, or proposes to enter, into any arrangement with the firm of S. Pearson and Son for the supply of oil for the Navy?

No, Sir; and I can only add that whether any such contract-can be made in future is dependent on the usual comparison of tenders in respect of quality, price, accessibility of supplies, and consequent cost of freight.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is the intention of the Admiralty to present any Supplementary Shipbuilding Vote?

No, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any additional battleships will be brought into full commission in consequence of the absence from the Narrow Seas of the Third Division of the Battle Fleet now in the Mediterranean?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in co-operation with Lloyd's, confidential communications are addressed to the masters of British merchant ships in connection with the supplying of information, as regards the movements of foreign war vessels, to the Naval Intelligence Department of the Admiralty; if so, whether they attach no importance to the probability of such confidential communications and others of a similar character, wireless and otherwise, which may be necessary in war time, getting into the hands of aliens commanding and officering British merchant ships; and whether the officering of British ships as regards aliens and the manning of British ships as a whole are not in any way dealt with or looked upon by the Admiralty as important factors in case of war?

I have nothing to-add to the reply given to the hon. Member on the 30th of last month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any inquiry was held into the condition of His Majesty's Ship "Torch"; and if he will lay papers giving particulars and the finding of the Court of Inquiry, if held?

I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave yesterday to the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether next year Germany will have added a squadron of eight battleships to their fleet in full commission, thus bringing its total strength up to twenty-live battleships, and whether, in view of our responsibilities and obligations in the Mediterranean, the Admiralty will then be in a position to maintain a sufficient superiority of fully commissioned battleships in the North Sea; and what such margin of superiority will be?

No official information has been received as to the dates on which any further increases will take place or the total number be attained.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much public money has already been expended upon the several leased buildings comprising the present offices of the Southern Command headquarters at Salisbury now about to be abandoned as inconvenient and unsuitable?

The total rents for the past seven years amount to £3,095. A sum of £725 has been spent on alterations; the cost of maintenance cannot be obtained without considerable detailed inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether any arrangements are being made to include in the horse reserve of the Army suitable horses for Artillery purposes

An extension of the horse reserve of the Army will be carried out immediately. With the object of encouraging owners to keep horses suitable for Artillery purposes a special Artillery category of the horse reserve will be formed. An annual subsidy of £4 per horse, payable half-yearly in arrears, will be given for horses that are accepted for this category of the reserve.

asked the Secretary for War whether facilities will be given to the temporary civilians of the establishment for Engineer services to lay a statement of their case before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service now sitting; and if he will make known to these gentlemen the fact that such a Commission is sitting?

The Royal Commission has announced in the public Press its willingness to consider any representations addressed to it either by associations or individuals. I should suppose that all concerned are aware of this fact, but my hon. Friend's question will give-further publicity, and I do not therefore think that special notification is now necessary.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the inflated balances now held by the Secretary of State in London are due to the departure of the present Government from the practice of its predecessor, whereby the Secretary of State only sold bills to the extent of his own requirements without taking into consideration the financing of India's trade; whether a reversion to the former practice would lead to the due absorption of the present balances and, if so, what action does he propose to take in the matter?

There has been no departure from previous practice regarding the sale of bills. In six of the nine years from 1896–7 to 1904–5, when Lord George Hamilton and Lord Middle-ton were Secretaries of State, the sales were in excess of the Budget estimate of the Secretary of State's requirements, and in some years by very large amounts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if, in view of the increase in the depreciation in the value of the securities held in the Gold Standard Reserve from £932,759 on 31st July to £1,004,824 on 16th October, representing a further loss in eleven weeks of £132,065, he has considered the question of realising the securities and henceforth following the recommendations of the Fowler Committee that the reserve should be held in gold, thus increasing confidence and avoiding the risk of further loss and the difficulty of realising, even at depreciated prices on forced sales, should a time of financial stress make it necessary to utilise the reserve.

The form of the Gold Standard Reserve is varied from time to time to secure greater ease of realisation, and the matter is constantly considered; but so large a change as the hon. Member suggests is not now contemplated. In the period mentioned by the hon. Member the depreciation was less than the amount.

stated. The valuation on 31st July, referred to was based, at the request of the hon. Member for North Islington, on the middle market price, while that on 16th October was based, in accordance with the India Office practice, on the minimum. If the two calculations had been on the same basis, the depreciation in the period mentioned would have been shown as £104,354. I may add that in the same period £143,688 was received as interest, bringing the total interest receipts to £3,242,584.

asked the Under-Secretary for India if he can state what have been the sales of council bills in each of the last three years; what were the Home charges of the Government of India in these years, and of the balance of sales over Home charges; and what has been the general disposal of the money?

The sales of council bills and telegraphic transfers in each of the last three years, the Home charges (i.e., the net expenditure in London charged to Revenue), and the balance of sales over Home charges have been as follows:—

	Sales of Council Bills and Telegraphic Transfers.	Net Expenditure in London charged to Revenue.	Balance.
	1	2	1–2
	£	£	£
1909–10.	27,096,586	18,411,700	8,684,886
1910–11.	26,783,303	18,605,700	8,177,603
1911–12.	27,058,550	18,865,200	8,193,350
Total	80,938,439	55,882,600	25,055,839

Of the £25,055,839, the following sums have been added to the Gold Standard Reserve (in addition to the interest received in London) and to the Paper Currency Reserve:—

—		Gold Standard Reserve.	Paper Currency Reserve.	Total.
		£	£	£
1909–10	…	8,090,000*	1,000,000	9,090,000
1910–11	…	600,000	2,545,000	3,145,000
1911–12	…	—	1,988,333	1,988,333
Total	…	8,690,000	5,533,333	14,223,333
* To restore the Reserve after the diminution which occurred in 1908–9.

The remainder has been, and is being, used mainly towards the discharge of floating

debt. The discharges during the period from 1909-10 to 1912-13, have been and will be as follows:—

	£
India bills	6,000,000
India bonds	1,000,000
Debenture bonds of which the liability was assumed by the Secretary of State on the termination of contracts with railway companies	4,251,100
Total	£11,251,100
Of this, the amount discharged from the proceeds of loans was	2,723,500
The amount discharged from the proceeds of the extra sales of council bills and telegraphic transfers was thus	£8,527,600

The remainder of the proceeds of the extra sales of council bills and transfers has been and is being used to reduce

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state by whom, and when, Mr. Lionel Abrahams was appointed to his present position at the India Office?

The official in question who had been appointed Financial Secretary in 1902 by Lord George Hamilton with the approval of the Council of India, was promoted on 28th May, 1911, by the present Secretary of State, with the approval of his Council, to the post of Assistant Under-Secretary of State and Clerk of the Council.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether (he Secretary of State has telegraphed to India for a full Report regarding the imprisonment of Mr. William Channing Arnold, who has been sentenced to imprisonment for twelve months for criticising a local magistrate; whether a telegraphic reply to such message has been requested; and when is the receipt of such Report expected?

The answer to the first and second questions is in the affirmative. The Government of India have been asked to see that no unavoidable delay occurs.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state the names of the banks and approved borrowers to whom the sum of £8,950,000 of the cash balances of India is now on deposit or loan in England, with the maximum sums on deposit with or lent to them respectively during the past year?

Names of Banks and Approved Borrowers.	Maximum Sum on Deposit or Loan from cash Balances during the past year.
Deposits:—	£
Glyn, Mills, Currie, and Co.	1,550,000
London County and Westminster Bank	1,800,000
London Joint Stock Bank	1,500,000
National Provincial Bank of England	1,300,000
Union of London and Smith's Bank	1,250,000
Loans:—
Alexanders and Co.	650,000
Allen, Harvey, and Ross	100,000
Anglo-Egyptian Bank	200,000
Baker, Duncombe, and Co.	200,000
Biedermann and Co.	100,000
Blydenstein and Co.	150,000
Brightwen and Co.	500,000
Booth and Partridge	150,000
Bristowe and Head	200,000
Chartered Bank of India, etc.	500,000
Roger Cunliffe, Sons, and Co.	450,000
Eastern Bank	100,000
J. Ellis and Sons	200,000
Gillett Bros, and Co.	150,000
Haarbleicher and Schumann	150,000
Hohler and Co.	500,000
King and Foa	200,000
Laurie, Milbank, and Co.	100,000
Lazard Bros, and Co.	250,000
Lyon and Tucker	100,000
Matthey, Harrison, and Co.	100,000
Mercantile Bank of India	250,000
L. Messel and Co.	100,000
National Discount Co.	1,100,000
National Bank of India	550,000
National Bank of New Zealand	150,000
Reeves, Whitburn, and Co.	700,000
Ryder, Mills, and Co.	250,000
Samuel Montagu and Co.	1,050,000
Sheppards and Co.	500,000
Henry Sherwood and Co.	50,000
Smith, St. Aubyn, and Co.	250,000

Steer, Lawford, and Co.	150,000
Tomkinson, Brunton, and Co.	150,000
Union Discount Co. of London	1,150,000
Wedd, Jefferson, and Co.	750,000

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he can now give the names of the approved list of borrowers to whom loans are granted on security from the India Office Balances?

The list is as follows:—Approved List of Borrowers.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the Board collected from Mr. Henry Burgess, inter alia, the sum of one guinea as a teacher's registration fee in pursuance of a scheme of registration adopted by the Board; that the Board subsequently dropped the scheme, but have refused to refund to Mr. Burgess the guinea which they collected from him on the grounds that his application for such refund was received by them twenty-seven days after the 31st August; and, seeing that Mr. Burgess has stated to the Board that he received no notice that the Board would not consider applications for a refund after a specified date, whether the Board will persist in their refusal to pay back to Mr. Burgess the money which they have collected from him for a specific object which they are unable to carry out?

The statements contained in the question are not accurate. The Board, for instance, have at no time collected any money from Mr. Henry Burgess. His fee was paid to the Teachers' Registration Council set up in 1902 and dissolved in 1907. Upon the formation of a new Teachers' Registration Council this year, the Board were authorised to refund to teachers applying before 31st August the fees which they had paid to the old Registration Council. Six months' notice of the offer was given on the 29th February, and was made known to all the teachers' organisations having the power of appointment to the new Registration Council and advertised by the Board in thirty-nine newspapers. In spite of the publicity thus given, there have been a few teachers who have made application to the Board after the expiration of the six months. The Board are at present with- out any authority to pay to these late applicants; but I am considering how far it may still be possible to meet the cases of any of such applicants.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Committee now sitting on the subject of teachers' pensions have heard, or are prepared to hear, evidence from teachers, school managers, and members of local education authorities, as to the effect, both upon teachers and their schools, of their having no option to retire at an earlier age than sixty-five without losing their pensions?

I have no doubt the Committee will consider very carefully any requests made to them to hear evidence on the matter referred to in the question. I might add that under the Superannuation Acts, teachers retiring before sixty-five do-not lost their pensions, though they have to wait until attaining that age before receiving them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether certificated teachers who did not accept the Teachers' Superannuation Act of 1898 could now avail themselves of the superannuation offered under that Act by paying all back contributions with interest?

No; but I have asked a departmental committee to advise me whether the money at my disposal will be exhausted by the improvements made by the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1912, and, if not, to consider, amongst others, proposals for permitting teachers who did not accept the Act of 1898 to accept it now if otherwise qualified.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that the West Suffolk Education Committee informed the Board of Education on 24th July that they had given permission to R. Harper, a pupil teacher, to-attend the Territorial camp from 5th July to 22nd July; whether the Board stated, in reply, that, although they gave their approval, the absence in camp could not be taken into account under Article 24B (II.) of the regulations for the preliminary education of elementary school teachers; whether, therefore, the full grant will not be paid on account of this pupil teacher; and whether this is the general practice of the Board of Education?

The answers to the first and second parts of the question are in the affirmative. As regards the third part of the question, the full grant will be paid in respect of this pupil teacher, the ordinary conditions of grant having been complied with. The answer to the fourth part of the question is in the affirmative. The number of attendances at a pupil teacher centre required by the regulations allows a considerable margin, and absences for the purpose mentioned would not; in ordinary circumstances, prevent compliance with the terms of the Article referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the offer of the Board to receive a deputation on the question of the future site of King's College will include the intimately related question of a site for the University of London?

The Senate of the University have not suggested that the question of a site for the University of London should be raised by their deputation. If, however, they desire to make any statement on the subject, the Board will, of course, be prepared to receive it.

asked the President of the Board of Education on what grounds the Permanent Advisory Committee on Grants-in-Aid to Universities and Colleges was dissolved in 1911, after five years' existence; and in what respects the present duties of the Advisory Committee of the Board of Education, which took its place, differ from those of the body it superseded?

In order that all Exchequer Grants available in aid of the work of universities and university institutions, other than Grants-in-Aid of agriculture, might be brought under the cognisance of one Department, the old Treasury Committees were dissolved and a new Committee appointed by the President of the Board of Education. It is, therefore, the duty of the present Committee to take into account not only the Treasury Grants but also the Grants made by the Board of Education to university institutions.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many, if any, colleges for the training of elementary school teachers have land attached to them for the purpose of giving practical instruction to the students in the subjects of agriculture, horticulture, and nature study; and how many students at the present time are receiving such instruction?

Nature study normally forms part of the instruction in elementary science, which is a compulsory subject of the ordinary training college course. Expeditions, sometimes lasting over several days, are made in order to encourage an intelligent study of the subject. Three colleges at present enter students for an optional course in rural science; this course, which is only intended for selected students, involves a study of plant life, soils, and gardening. About sixty or seventy students are likely to take the examination this session, and the numbers seem to be increasing. In addition a number of colleges make use of their grounds, which are generally large, for encouraging a study of gardening. Students often have their own gardens. No college has as yet attempted to give instruction in the manipulative processes of agriculture, but one college is arranging for selected men students to take a three weeks course at a neighbouring agricultural college at the end of their training college course.

asked the Homo Secretary if his attention has been called to the efforts now being made to induce compensation authorities in England and Wales to abstain from imposing the statutory compensation levies, or to reduce the amount of such levies, for reasons other than those set forth in the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910; and whether his attention has been called to the fact that it is the statutory duty of such authorities, in considering the imposition of the statutory levies, to have sole regard to the existence or otherwise of redundant licences in their districts?

I am aware that efforts have been made in the past and are now being made with the objects stated in the question. As shown in the licensing statistics for 1911, some authorities abstained for that year from imposing the charges contemplated by Section 21 of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, for the purpose of the extinction of redundant licences; and others imposed charges at reduced rates. In consequence, the funds available in 1911 for compensating persons interested in extinguishing licences were very considerably less than they ought to have been. I believe the same thing has happened in the current year, but the figures are not yet in my possession. I have no authority to lay down the law in the matter, but Section 21 of the Act of 1910 provides in precise terms that every compensation authority shall in each year, unless they certify to the Secretary of State that it is unnecessary to do so in any year for the purpose of their powers and duties under the Act as Compensation Authority, impose charges at rates not exceeding the rates shown in the Third Schedule to the Act; and it appears to me that an Authority cannot properly certify that it is unnecessary to impose the charges unless they are satisfied that there are no redundant licences in their area— save, perhaps, in a case where other and not less effective arrangements for the extinction of licences without compensation are in active operation. In the same way, any reduction of the charge below the maximum must depend on the amount of work still to be done in extinguishing redundant licences. The Compensation Authority ought not to reduce the charge below the maximum unless they are satisfied after exhaustive inquiry that the total sum obtainable by levying the full charge will not be required for the purpose of paying compensation in respect of licences which ought to be extinguished.

asked the Home Secretary the number and names of the compensation authorities in England and Wales, who, in the present year, have imposed less than the maximum charges for compensation levy set forth in Schedule 3, Part I., of the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, and the proportion of the maximum charge imposed in each case?

This information is not yet in my possession. It forms part of the statistics for the year, which are collected as soon as possible after the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment if his attention has been called to two charges recently brought before the magistrate at Bow Street for driving to-the public danger, in one of which the accused, a taxi-cab driver, was severely punished for being intoxicated while in charge of a car, while in the other case, that of a young woman charged with a similar offence, a light penalty only was imposed; and if he will inquire into the matter and, if the facts justify such action, order the release of the man?

The cases referred to were not tried at Bow Street, but at other Police Courts. The difference in the sentences was due to the different circumstances. If the hon. Member has anything to urge on behalf of the taxi-cab driver, who had been twice previously convicted, and who on this occasion drove at^* twenty miles an hour in a dense fog and collided with another cab, injuring the occupants of both, my right hon. Friend will, of course, consider it; but the fact that another offender was less severely punished would not in any case be a reason for interference. The other offender mentioned in the question was a young girl, she caused no actual damage, and it was: her first offence.

asked the Home Secretary on what grounds shopkeepers are summoned for assembling crowds by attractive window displays, while no action is taken against theatre managers for the queues which are formed, especially in the Strand, causing loss of time and inconvenience to pedestrians?

When window dressing of an exceptional character causes crowds to assemble which actually obstruct the footway, the shopkeepers responsible can be proceeded against under Section 72 of the Highways Act, 1835. The police, however, rarely prosecute, and never until the usual notice has been given. Theatre queues have a kind of prescriptive status, but in the event of their being so badly regulated as to obstruct the free passage of pedestrians, the police will feel compelled to deal with them. I may say that it would be of assistance to the police if theatre managers would open their doors earlier.

asked the Home Secretary if steps will be taken by the Home- Office to relieve shopkeepers in various centres, who at present close under a local order on Wednesday afternoons, from the alternative either of closing on the Wednesday, preceding Christmas or of closing on the Saturday following Christmas Day, either of which would entail loss to the shopkeeper and inconvenience to the public?

The Secretary of State has no power to grant any exemption from the requirements of the Act and Orders made thereunder. The local authorities, however, have power in their Orders under Section 4 to fix different days for the half-holidays in different periods of the year, and the Secretary of State is advised that it would be open to them in an Order to fix a different day for Christmas week when Christmas Day falls on the ordinary day for the half-holiday, if the majority of the shopkeepers so desired.

asked the Home Secretary how many men have lost their lives in England and Scotland, respectively, from 1902 to 1907 and from 1907 to 1912 while using breathing appliances such as those prescribed by the Rescue and Aid (Mining) Order of this year; and how many lives have been saved in each country from their use?

No lives were lost in the first period; five were lost in the second, all in England and Wales: It is impossible, in the nature of things, to say what loss of life which would otherwise have occurred has been prevented through the use of breathing apparatus for rescue and exploring work, but it is undoubtedly the case that loss of life has occurred in the past which would have been prevented had trained men, equipped with breathing apparatus, been available, and that the risk attaching to rescue and exploring work is greatly diminished by their use.

asked the Home Secretary whether Mr. Denman, on the 28th ultimo, at the Marlborough Street Police Court, committed to the Sessions a youth of sixteen, charged with improper conduct, as an incorrigible rogue and vagabond, expressing, with an oath, the hope that the sessional magistrates would order him to be flogged; whether it is the view of the Home Office that such a punishment is calculated to instil into the boy's mind ideas of purity and virtue; and what is the minimum age at which a boy may become incorrigible within the meaning of the legal term?

My right hon. Friend has inquired into this case and has received from the magistrate a report in which he says: "Having only too often of late been obliged to descant upon the appalling increase in this neighbourhood in crimes of this shocking character, I took this opportunity of pointing out how inadequate at present are the powers of the magistrates to suppress them; and I did (not with an oath as suggested, but with fervent and heartfelt emphasis) express the hope that the Sessions would inflict corporal punishment for second offences, stating it to be my firm conviction,, founded on many years' experience at this Court, that the power to inflict and in proper cases the infliction of that form of punishment for this class of crime has-become a great necessity in the public interest." In view of the evidence given in this case, it is not surprising that he should express himself strongly. The Vagrancy Act does not fix any age limit for the conviction of an offender as an incorrigible rogue.

asked the Home Secretary how many vagrants have been sentenced to flogging during each of the last three years; how many times such sentences have been carried out; and whether his Department has the vetoing or otherwise of this punishment before it is carried out?

The calendars of prisoners for the years 1909-1911 show ten cases in which Orders have been made for the corporal punishment of men convicted as incorrigible rogues under the Vagrancy Act—one in 1909, five in 1910, and four in 1911. The execution of such a sentence is not subject to veto by the Home Office, but where sufficient ground' is shown for interference, the sentence may be remitted. The corporal punishment was wholly remitted in one and partially remitted in another of the cases above mentioned.

asked the Home-Secretary whether he has appointed any inspectors for pit ponies under the Coal Mines Act, 1911: and how many inspectors he proposes to appoint?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on this subject to a question of the hon. Member for the Wilton Division of Wiltshire on the 21st October. The Home Office have not yet received the recommendations of the Board for Mining Examinations.

asked the Home Secretary (1) the result of the conference he promised on the 10th of June last, between his Department and the gas companies, in reference to the thefts from automatic gas meters; whether he is aware that such gas meters are continually and increasingly being fixed in the homes of poor people, whether the number of cases of theft from such meters is increasing in an equal ratio; and (2) whether he is aware that in the agreements between the gas companies and the consumers in regard to automatic meters the consumer was bound to make good the amount of money which might be stolen from the meter box, although such theft was committed by a burglar or other person entirely unconnected with the tenant; and whether he is aware that over 13,000 of such robberies took place last year, and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

A conference on the subject was held on 4th July between the Home Office and representatives of the London gas companies. The main result of the discussion was to make it clear that these larcenies are facilitated by the use of flimsy boxes and that they can be checked by providing, the meters with boxes of stronger construction and fitted with better locks. A new form of box of much stronger construction than that generally in use has recently been adopted by one or two companies with good results; and all the companies have now agreed that stronger boxes shall be gradually introduced in those districts in which the larcenies chiefly take place Another conclusion reached at the conference was that the meter should be so placed as not to be readily accessible to any person save the occupier and his family; and the companies have accepted a rule that, in the case of tenement buildings and houses let in lodgings, the meter shall, whenever possible, be placed inside the tenement or room. The companies have also undertaken to bear in mind the importance of making frequent collections in the districts where the larcenies mostly occur. The Home Secretary trusts that this agreement, which has been arrived at after full consideration of the whole question, will result in a large reduction in the number of larcenies. The obligation of the consumer to make good any deficiency in the meter box is regarded by the companies as necessary for the prevention of crime, but they say that the rule is and will be enforced with discretion in individual cases.

asked the Home Secretary whether any proceedings have yet been instituted against any persons in connection with the disturbances at Wrexham and Llanystumdwy?

My right hon. Friend understands that the Carnarvonshire police are prepared to institute proceedings in respect of offences committed at Llanystumdwy as soon as they receive from the persons assaulted the necessary authority to lay a complaint before the magistrates. He has no information with regard to disturbances at Wrexham, but I will make inquiry.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has any figures showing? the number of vagrants relieved annually in each county of England and Wales during the past ten years; and, if so, whether he will give them?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The Returns of pauperism published monthly and half-yearly give information as to the number of casual poor relieved on certain days under the Poor Law, but it is not possible to state the number of individual vagrants who may receive relief in the course of a year. The total number of casual poor relieved in England and Wales on the 1st July in each of the ten years from 1902 to 1911 are as follows: 1902, 6,609; 1903, 5,121; 1904. 6,748; 1905, 8,556; 1906, 6,574; 1907, 6,997; 1908, 6,846; 1909, 9.699; 1910, 9,044; 1911, 9,000.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received a resolution passed by the guardians of the poor of the parish of St. Mary, Islington, expressing the opinion that the Local Government Board, either by promoting legislation or otherwise, should deal with the whole question of vagrancy, and that any alteration in the existing law should provide for the supervision, control, and maintenance of vagrants being handed over to the police authority; and does he see any early prospect of being able to deal with the question?

I have received a copy of the resolution referred to. The recommendations of the Interdepartmental Committee on Vagrancy are under the consideration of my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and myself, but I am not in a position to promise legislation on the subject in the near future. As regards London, the hon. Member is no doubt aware that I have recently transferred the administration of the casual wards from the boards of guardians to one authority for the whole Metropolis, the Metropolitan Asylums Board.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the decrease in the number of public vaccinations now being performed as compared with the totals before the passing of the Vaccination Act, 1907, he proposes to make a corresponding-reduction in the forthcoming Estimates for services connected with the administration of the Vaccination Acts, including the provision of calves and the manufacture and preparation of vaccine lymph?

The amount estimated to be required in the current financial year in respect of the services referred to is considerably lower than the Estimates for the period previous to the passing of the Vaccination Act, 1907. The practicability of still further reducing the Estimate is receiving my consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the inquest held at the Southwark Coroner's Court, on 26th October, upon the body of Albert Giusti, a labourer, who was killed by being crushed in a goods lift at St. Kathcrinc's Dock tea warehouse; whether he is aware that it was stated in the evidence that only qualified men are allowed by the Port of London Authority to use this lift, and that a notice to this effect was posted up near the lift, but that the deceased was unable to read English; and whether he will cause some inquiries to be made as to the capabilities of some of the men now employed by the Authority in place of the old permanent men?

The capabilities of the men employed by the Port of London Authority are not a matter in regard to which the Board of Trade have any powers, but I have sent a copy of my hon. Friend's question to the Port of London Authority for their observations, and will let him know their reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether ho can sec his way to collaborate with the Home Office in the Commission foreshadowed to deal with motor traffic in the Metropolitan area, so that the work of that Commission may be extended to deal with fast, traffic in all the large cities of the United Kingdom, in view of the fact that deaths and mutilations are becoming so frequent in all busy thoroughfares?

I shall be glad to render any assistance which may be in my power to any inquiry which my right hon. Friend may see fit to institute, but I understand that he is of opinion that it is undesirable to extend the inquiry beyond the Metropolitan area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the case of vessels sustaining serious damage when carrying deck cargoes, any official investigation by the Board of Trade is ever held; and, if not, will he explain why this is not done?

A preliminary inquiry-is held in every case in which a vessel sustains serious damage, whether a deck cargo is carried or not, and a formal investigation is ordered in every case in which it appears necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will issue a Return, covering a period of the last ten years, furnishing brief particulars of the casualties themselves, and the opinions in full, as regards the dangers of deck loads, of Board of Trade inquiries or other marine inquiries into casualties happening on the high seas to vessels carrying deck loads?

The Reports of Courts of Inquiry in Shiping Casualties do not always state whether deck loads are carried or not, but I shall be glad to furnish a Return which gives the particulars desired by the hon. Member in so far as they are contained in these Reports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the names of the gentlemen who are to conduct the Inquiry into the question of the confirmation or otherwise of by-laws submitted by the Port of London Authority with reference to the licensing of lightermen?

The Inquiry will be conducted by the following gentlemen:—

• The Right Hon. Sir Robert Romer, G.C.B.
• The Hon. Rupert E. Beckett.
• Alderman Thomas Smith, J.P.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now in a position to say that a public telephone call office will be established at Downpatrick, county Down?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply on this subject which I gave to the hon. Member for South Down on the 4th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the conditions under which three mechanics—Messrs. Samuel Pike, Herbert Kerridge, and Charles Hattaway—were transferred on 1st April of this year from the National Telephone Company's workshops at Dalston to the Holloway factory; whether, whereas eleven other staff pension mechanics who were transferred at the same date have been again transferred to the engineer-in-chief's staff, the three mechanics above referred to have been left on the staff of the controller of stores; whether the emoluments and privileges of those employed on the engineer-in-chief's staff are superior to those enjoyed by the staff of the controller of stores, who in addition are forced to make payments under the National Insurance Act; and whether he can state why a distinction has been drawn in the conditions of service between the two sets of staff pension mechanics referred to?

The mechanics in question will, like their colleagues on the Pension Fund, be attached to the engineering department of the Post Office, and be regarded as established officers as from the 1st January last.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to the fact that a plebiscite of the femals staff at the West Kensington Savings Bank branch was taken by his officials on the 31st October last as to their hours of attendance; and, if so, whether he will state if he intends to disturb the arrangement that has been in force and mutually agreed since the transfer of this department to West Kensington?

The question whether any improvement can be made in the hours of attendance of the general body of women sorters employed at the Savings Bank is now under consideration. Should any general change be found possible, every endeavour will be made to avoid disturbing the exceptional arrangements agreed to in favour of a few officers.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the standard of work for voluntary extra duty performed by women at the Postal Order branch has recently been raised considerably above the standard rate of work required during the day; and whether, having regard to the amount of extra duty which has been necessary during the past eighteen months at this branch, he will consider the advisability of permanently increasing the staff?

The work given out to the women sorters during the ordinary period of duty is of a mixed nature. For the purposes of extra duty, however, each block of work is given out to be performed at a rate appropriate to its character, and the standard rate for the easier work is of course higher than the average rate for the work taken as a whole. It is in respect of the easier work that the standard has recently been raised, in order that there may not be actual waste of time, and there is no reason for supposing that the alteration imposes strain on the staff. The extra duty is performed by volunteers, and the necessity for it is due to an exceptional number of vacancies arising from promotions and transfers. The vacancies are being filled as quickly as possible, and there is no occasion for any permanent addition to the establishment.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is that in the Post Office Guide no definite statement is made that the postage of receipts for value received, when sent abroad, is included under Commercial Papers and amounts in effect to the full-letter postage?

The Post Office Guide indicates that receipts for value received are transmissible abroad at the rate for commercial papers and not at that for printed papers, since they are not mentioned among the articles specified on page 56 of the current issue as transmissible exceptionally at the printed paper rate, although worded partly in manuscript. I have, however, given instructions for the point to be made clearer, and am obliged to the hon. Member for his suggestion.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered the case of a payee of a money order for £5, resident in Sunderland, to whom the letter containing the order in question was not delivered; whether he has taken steps to identify the person who arranged for the order to be cashed; and whether, under the circumstances of this case, a refund will be granted to the defrauded person?

No clue to the person who obtained payment can so far be found. As the amount of the order has been paid out it cannot be refunded, and on the facts at present before me I cannot impose the loss upon the taxpayer.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can advance money to the County Council of Cheshire in order that they may lend it to some farmers and small-holding tenants who have suffered from the recent floods?

I have no power to advance money for the purpose to which the hon. Member refers. With regard to the position of small holders I would refer him to the answer which I gave on Monday last to a question addressed to me by the hon. Member for North Hunts.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the i number of cattle shipped from Ireland for slaughter at the following places since the outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, namely, Deptford, Birkenhead, and Bristol; if the cattle so slaughtered were subjected to examination by a veterinary surgeon after slaughter; and, if so, what was the result of the post-mortem examination, showing the number of cattle slaughtered at Deptford, Birkenhead, and Bristol, respectively, and the number of cattle found affected with tuberculosis at Deptford, Birkenhead, and Bristol?

The number of Irish cattle landed for slaughter at the ports named in the question during the period from the 8th July to the 5th November inclusive was as follows: At Deptford, 4,662; at Birkenhead, 77,735; and at Bristol (Avonmouth), 1,663. All these animals were subjected to a post-mortem veterinary examination with a view to ascertain whether they showed symptoms of any disease scheduled under the Diseases of Animals Acts. Tuberculosis is not one of the scheduled diseases, and I regret that I am therefore unable to give the information asked for in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that there are many farmers in the Chollerton district of Northumberland who have suffered loss through the prohibition of the movement of cattle and sheep from their farms although there has been no outbreak of disease on their farms; and whether, seeing that this prohibition of movement has been instituted for the benefit of agriculture in general and not for these particular farmers, he can see his way to arrange to give them some compensation at the expense of the general body of farmers?

I am aware that many farmers in the Chollerton district of Northumberland have suffered severely by reason of the restrictions necessarily imposed with the object of preventing the further spread of disease. The disease proved to be peculiarly difficult to stamp out in that district, and the outbreaks extended over the period from 1st July to 8th October; consequently the prohibition of the movement of animals had to be stringently maintained. All farmers within the scheduled area, whether or not they had had outbreaks of disease on their premises, had to be placed under restrictions, but in several hard cases which were brought to my notice I directed an inspector of the Board to pay special visits to the farms concerned, and in some instances he was able to make recommendations by which the hardship could be mitigated without risk. All complaints have been most sympathetically considered by the Board, and everything possible has been done to afford relief. I regret that I see no means by which the suggestion made by my hon. Friend in the last part of the question could be carried into effect.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can give any further information as to the possibility of opening the Salford Cattle Market for the importation of Irish cattle?

I regret that I cannot as yet say anything definite as to the possibility of allowing Irish cattle to be moved to inland markets after inspection and detention at the landing place, but our requirements will be relaxed at the earliest possible moment consistent with safety.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in the event of the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture for Ireland instituting a belt of buffer counties round the infected areas in Ireland, he would be prepared, in the case of store cattle imported into Scotland from areas outside the belt, to dispense with the fourteen days' quarantine at the port of debarkation?

I shall, of course, give the fullest consideration to any proposals which may be made to me by my right hon. Friend in the direction suggested. But I am afraid that their adoption would be attended with considerable practical difficulty, especially as regards the separation of the two classes of animals during transit and at the landing places on this side.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is now in I a position to remove the quarantine period of fourteen days as applied to Irish cattle shipped from the non-affected areas in Ireland?

No, Sir. I regret that I do not see my way at present to reduce the detention period.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Government has considered the question of the establishment of a system of credit land banks throughout the United Kingdom; and, if so, with what banks or bodies would they co-operate; and when will an announcement on the subject be made to the House?

With regard to land banks I would refer the hon. Member to the speech which I made in this House on the 23rd February last. Since that date the Board have been in communication with some of the leading joint-stock banks with a view to secure their support for co-I operative credit societies for the benefit of agriculture, and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement on the subject shortly.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works if he will I state when the present system of ventilating the Tea Room and the News Boom by perforations in the panelling, which at present causes much inconvenience, will be changed; and will he say whether he proposes to extend the improvements made in one part of the Tea Boom?

The alteration made last year was experimental.: The inlets in one panel were made to discharge at a higher level, and if there be a general desire to extend the improvement it could be-carried out. An item in respect of this service could then be in-I duded in next year's Estimates.