asked the total amount received up to the present on behalf of insured persons in the county and city of Cork; how many have received sanatorium treatment, and the cost of same; if any have been refused sanatorium benefit; and, if so, on what grounds?

I am unable to distinguish the exact sum received in respect of insured persons, towards the cost of the several benefits of the Insurance Act, in the county and city of Cork from those received in respect of other insured persons in Ireland. Nine applicants from this district are receiving treatment for tuberculosis, eight of them in sanatoria. The exact cost of their treatment cannot yet be stated as it is still being continued. No applicant has been refused benefit.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that several hundred beds owned by the Metropolitan Asylums Board now stand empty; and whether it is proposed to take steps to make these beds available for the institutional treatment of consumptive insured persons in London?

Negotiations are, I understand, in progress with a view to seeing whether any of the accommodation of the Metropolitan Asylums Board can be made available for the institutional treatment of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the total number of the separate institutions owned by the Metropolitan Asylums Board; the total number of beds in such institutions; and the maximum, minimum, and average area of land unoccupied by buildings attached to these institutions?

I am informed that there are twenty-eight separate institutions now under the control of the Metropolitan Asylums Board, which afford a total accommodation of 20,181 beds. I will send the hon. Member a list of these institutions, showing in each case the area of the site on which it stands, but without resorting to actual measurements the area of unoccupied land could not readily be given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the officials of the Labour Exchanges who were promised payment for overtime work in connection with the putting into operation of the unemployment part of the National Insurance Act, 1911, have not yet received it, although a note of it was made up and rendered on the 31st July; and, if so, will he say when this overdue payment will be made?

The delay in the payment of these gratuities has been due to the necessity for communications between the Board of Trade and the Treasury on the subject. It is intended to make the appropriate payments very shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill, the Irish Members at Westminster will have the right to speak and vote upon English Private Bills?

Yes, Sir.

asked to what amount are the grants, salaries, and expenses of the Congested Districts Board not a reserved service, and what are the details of the amount of expenditure transferred to the control of the Irish Parliament?

The grants, salaries, and expenses of the Congested Districts Board so far as they are not included in the general subject matter of the Land Purchase Acts will not be a reserved service. The control of their entire statutory income of £231,000 will be transferred to the Irish Parliament. Advances for land purchase, which do not form part of that income, will continue to be made as hitherto from the Irish Land Purchase Fund, and the expenses now met from the Irish Land Commission vote will be defrayed by the Imperial Exchequer.

asked whether, under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill, the Imperial Parliament will be enabled to discuss any instructions issued by His Majesty to the Lord Lieutenant under the provisions of Clause 7?

The Parliament of the United Kingdom will have the opportunity of discussing the Executive action of the Government in respect of this matter as they have in respect of all Executive actions of the Government.

asked whether, under the Government of Ireland Bill, the decisions of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council under Clause 29 can be discussed in the Imperial Parliament and the Irish Parliament?

Yes, subject to the qualifications which control the discussion of any judicial decision.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if it is proposed to set any limit to the time during which the British taxpayer shall continue to pay the sum of one and a half millions a year for the maintenance of the Royal Irish Constabulary?

It is incorrect to say that the British taxpayer now pays, or will pay, the cost of the maintenance of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The revenue derived from Ireland pays for seven-eighths of the cost of the Government of Ireland, and on this proportion the Irish taxpayer is paying £1,204,000, and the British taxpayer £172,000, toward the cost of the Royal Irish Constabulary. Whatever deficit is now borne, or will be borne, by the British taxpayer for this or other Irish purposes, will be automatically reduced by any increase in the yield of Irish taxes due to any cause other than the imposition of taxation by the Irish Parliament.

asked the Chief Secretary (1) if he is aware that large numbers of officers and men of the Royal Irish Constabulary desire the right to retire at their own option during the period of six years elapsing between the passing of the Act and the transfer of the control of the force to the Irish Executive, on the terms usual on abolition of service; if he proposes to grant them facilities for doing so; if so, whether he will at an early date announce the terms upon which retirement of this character will be allowed; and (2) whether he proposes that, as the members of the Royal Irish Constabulary did not enlist with the prospect in view of serving under an Irish Executive, they should be given the full opportunity of leaving the force with the compensation usually given when an office is abolished?

As regards these two questions, I would ask the hon. Member to await the issue of the Amendments to the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill relating to the police force, which I expect to put down at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware than in county Armagh there are fifteen policemen per 10,000 population, in Antrim and Down there are twelve policemen per 10,000 population, and in Clare and Galway there are forty-eight policemen per 10,000 population; what special conditions in Clare and Galway necessitate the presence of one policeman for every 208 inhabitants; whether any provisions in the Government of Ireland Bill ensure a continuance of adequate police protection in Clare and Galway after the constabulary have been transferred at the end of six years; and, if not, whether he is prepared to insert Amendments providing for such police protection, or whether he will convey to persons at present protected the information that they will have to look to an Irish Executive to protect them in the future?

The figures given in the first part of the question are substantially correct, but I would refer the hon. Member to the Judicial Statistics of Ireland for 1911 for the latest details on the subject. It is to be hoped that with the settlement of the land question the condition of the disturbed portions of Clare and Galway will improve, but in any case the Irish Executive will be responsible for the maintenance of peace and order, and there is no reason to suppose that they will fail to take any steps necessary or proper for the purpose.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in the event of the Irish Executive withdrawing police protection from boycotted and intimidated persons, the Imperial Executive will establish military posts and patrols to protect these persons or whether they will be expected to protect themselves?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have just given to the question on the same subject asked by the hon. Member for the Eddisbury Division.

asked whether His Majesty's Government have taken into consideration in transferring the control of the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Irish Executive, the fact that they are likely to be entrusting the conduct of this body to individuals with whom the members of the force have frequently come into conflict; and whether they propose to provide any safeguards for the protection of members of the force against the actions of those who have suffered from the force in the lawful execution of its duty?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the provisions of Clause 37 and the Fourth Schedule to the Bill. As I have just stated, I propose shortly to put down Amendments to these provisions.

asked whether, after the transfer of the control of the Royal Irish Constabulary to the Irish Executive, it is still intended that the force shall be a quasi-military force armed with bayonets, carbines, pistols, and swords; and whether the force will be expected to undertake the duties of soldiers, and the officers be expected to exhibit the qualifications of officers in the Army?

I trust that in course of time, as a result of the passing of the Bill, it may not be necessary to maintain the quasi-military character of the force. I have no reason to anticipate that its members will be required to undertake any duties beyond those which they now perform or that higher qualifications than at present will be expected in the case of the officers.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, under the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill of 1893, the Irish Government were expressly prohibited from establishing an armed force similar to the Royal Irish Constabulary; and whether such restrictions will apply to the Irish Government under the Government of Ireland Bill, 1912?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to the second part of the question, the Irish Government are prohibited from establishing any force of a military character, but this prohibition does not, of course, extend to the maintenance of the existing police force as at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it would be the duty of the Royal Irish Constabulary to protect in time of war post offices for the Marconi wireless telegraph stations and the terminals of the Atlantic cables on Irish soil; and, if so, whether he has considered the adequacy of such protection by a force not under Imperial control?

In time of war the defence of wireless telegraph stations and the terminals of submarine cables in all parts of the United Kingdom would devolve upon the War Office.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether, in the event of the Royal Irish Constabulary, after the transference of that force to the Irish Government, continuing to perform duties for the Imperial Government, the Imperial Government will continue to possess any control of the rate of pay, the stations, and promotion of officers and men of the Royal Irish Constabulary?

No; except in so far as might be necessary to give effect to arrangements made between the two Governments.

asked what are the duties of the Royal Irish Constabulary; whether, after the transference of the force to the Irish Government, the Royal Irish Constabulary will continue to perform all such duties as are performed by it now; whether the cost of all such duties will be met by the Irish Exchequer or some portion of them paid by the Imperial Exchequer; if so, whether such payments will be made direct to the Inspector General of the Royal Irish Constabulary or be of the character of refunds to the Irish Exchequer; what will be the duties performed by the Royal Irish Constabulary for the Irish Government and the Imperial Government, respectively; and what will be the estimated cost to each Government?

It would be impossible within the limits of an oral answer to define the duties of the Royal Irish Constabulary. After the transfer the existing members of the force will be liable to perform the same duties as before. The cost of the maintenance of the force will, after the transfer, be provided by the Irish Parliament out of the Irish Exchequer. The discharge of duties by members of the force in respect of matters reserved to the United Kingdom Government will be the subject of arrangement under Clause 40 of the Bill, and it is impossible to forecast what terms will be arranged between the Government of Ireland and Government of the United Kingdom.

asked the First Lord of the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the Transferred Sum under the Government of Ireland Bill, which is estimated to amount to £6,127,000, is subject to deductions before payment to the Irish Exchequer in respect of the following matters, Under Clause 18, all charges under the Land Purchase Acts which now fall on the Guarantee Fund; under Clause 20, all existing unpaid charges on the Irish Temporalities Fund guaranteed by the Treasury; under Clause 31, £5,000 towards the salary of the Lord Lieutenant; under Clause 32, the salaries and pensions of all existing Supreme Court and County Court Judges and established Civil servants charged on the Consolidated Fund; under Clause 33, the superannuation and other allowances of existing unestablished Civil servants; under Clauses 35 and 37 (4), the pensions of the Dublin Metropolitan Police and Royal Irish Constabulary serving at the date of transfer which thereafter become payable; as well as the charge for management, interest, Sinking Fund, and administration of any Irish loan issued in accordance with the provisions of Clause 23, he can state what is the estimated amount of each of such prior charges, other than the charge in respect of loans, in the year following the appointed day; and what is the estimated amount of the balance remaining in such year to be transferred to the Irish Exchequer?

It is not anticipated that any deduction will be required under Clause 20. The amount of salaries and pensions charged on the Consolidated Fund in respect of which deductions would be made from the Transferred Sum under Clauses 31, 32, and 35 are estimated at £111,500. The deductions from the Transferred Sum under Clauses 33 (4), 35, and 37 (4), so far as they do not relate to charges which at present fall on the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, are estimated at the following sums:—

Dublin Metropolitan Police	£34,000
Civil Servants	£135,000

No deduction will be necessary in the year following the appointed day in respect of the pensions of the Royal Irish Constabulary. The total deductions from the Transferred sum under Clauses 20, 31, 32 (1), 33, 35 and 37 in the year following the appointed day are estimated at £280,500. I am unable to give the estimate asked for in the last part of the question as it is not possible to estimate the deduction from the Transferred Sum under Clause 18. I may add, however, that the deductions that would have been made in respect of the financial years 1910–11 and 1911–12, had the Clause been then in operation, are £1,945 17s. 2d. and £4,707 3s., respectively.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Mullakerawn bog on the O'Hara Trench estate, near Banagher, King's County, has been purchased or acquired by the Estates Commissioners; and, if not, whether, seeing that there are several tenants on the estate in need of turbary, steps will be taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire it for the purpose of distribution among the tenants?

The reply to the first paragraph of the question is in the negative. The townland of Mullakerawn bog was not included in the lands on the O'Hara Trench estate which were sold to the Estates Commissioners, and which have all since been allotted.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state on what grounds have the Estates Commissioners refused to give a plot of land to Mrs. Catherine Kingston, of Drimoleague, county Cork, in lieu of the farm from which her late husband, John Kingston, was evicted from in the town-land of Knockeenbee, lower electoral division of Gurranes, in the Skibbereen Union?

The farm at one time occupied by Mrs. Kingston is in the occupation of another tenant with whom the Estates Commissioners have no power to interfere, and they have no land in the locality which they could allot to Mrs. Kingston, who will not take a farm elsewhere.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the sale of the estate of Mr. Francis J. McCarthy, Gowlanes, Caherdaniel, was effected and agreements signed on 6th March, 1905; can he state whether the purchase money has yet been paid, and, if not, when it will be paid; when will the payment of annuities at 3¼ per cent. come into force; and whether the tenants on this estate are entitled to Grants and loans for the improvement of their houses as on the neighbouring estates?

The tenants on this estate entered into direct sale agreements with the owner under the Trish Land Act, 1903, but the Estates Commissioners considered that this was an estate which should be sold to them, and the owner agreed. The estate has been vested in the Commissioners, who have paid the owner the purchase money, and an inspector will visit the lands at an early date with a view to reporting as to improvements to be effected before the lands are vested in the purchasing tenants.

asked whether any, and, if so, what steps have been taken by the Congested Districts Board or the landlord to sell to the tenants of the Quill estate, of which Mr. Drummond is the head landlord, near Beaufort?

The Congested Districts Board have communicated with the agent for this property, but the estate has not, so far, been offered for sale through them.

asked the Chief Secretary how many third-term rents have been fixed; what is the average reduction; how many appeals have been heard; and in how many cases has the decision been upheld or reversed, respectively?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Annual Report of the Land Commission for the year ended 31st March last, in which he will find full particulars relative to the fixing of judicial rents for a third statutory term and the appeals made in such cases.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, in the event of the Irish Parliament replacing the Royal Irish Constabulary by local forces of police, whether any provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill enable the Imperial Government to take steps to provide for the performance of any duties of the Royal Irish Constabulary which may have been extended to that body by the Imperial Government after their transfer; and, if not, whether he proposes to amend the Bill to provide for such contingency?

No such provision appears to be necessary.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board is now in a position to undertake the erection of a boat-slip at Caherciveen Quay?

As I have already informed the hon. Member, the Congested Districts Board decided that if the county council undertake the construction of the proposed slip at Caherciveen, the Board will contribute one-half of the cost of construction provided that the amount they are asked to pay does not exceed £70. The Board do not see their way to increase their offer.

also asked when a proper slip will be constructed in connection with the building of the pier at Cooscroum?

The Congested Districts Board are now building a pier at Cooscroum, near Caherciveen, and inquiry will be made by members of the Board as soon as possible as to whether a slip-way is necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that inquiries have been received from American buyers as to whether large-sized mackerel are caught off the Irish coast, and that the large-sized Norwegian mackerel are caught with hook and line far from the coast and cured on board the vessels specially fitted out; and whether the Congested Districts Board will fit out a vessel, supply her with a crew, barrels, and salt, discover whether these large-sized mackerel are to be found at a distance from the Irish coast as well as from that of Norway, and enable private enterprise subsequently to exploit the industry?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension in thinking that large-sized mackerel are caught off the Irish coast in very large numbers by Norwegian fishermen. On the contrary, only 2 per cent. of Norwegian exported fish are, as far as the Congested Districts Board can ascertain, of the large size referred to. The large Norwegian mackerel are chiefly caught with all other sizes mixed, in Seine nets, not by line. If any Irish crew would be willing to go to sea and remain there for about eight weeks, as the Norwegians do, the Board would co-operate with such crew in the experiment suggested in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Congested Districts Board have received a memorial from people living in the district between Calloughs and Longfield, Carrigallen, county Leitrim, with reference to the cleaning of the river which flows through that district, and which was done by the landlords about thirty years ago, since when the tenants have purchased their holdings; and, as about 400 acres of land are periodically flooded every year, if a Grant will be given by the Congested Districts Board towards the cleaning of this river?

The memorial referred to has been received by the Congested Districts Board, but the question of making a Grant cannot at present be considered by the Board.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if the port of Limerick is open for the shipment of store cattle under the usual restrictions applying under the present conditions; is he aware that no case of foot-and-mouth disease has been found in Limerick or the surrounding counties for the past thirty years; and can he say whether the embargo will be taken off altogether in the near future?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Limerick and the surrounding counties have been free from foot-and-mouth disease for many years past. The only British port to which cattle are shipped from Limerick is Glasgow, and the Department understand that the whole of the available accommodation at the landing places at Glasgow is at present required for the animals exported from Ireland for slaughter. If the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, as soon as accommodation at Glasgow is available, decide to add Limerick to the ports in Ireland from which cattle for store purposes can be sent, the Department will make the necessary arrangements for inspection, etc., at Limerick.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the appeal made by the Mayor of Portsmouth last month for funds to help the relatives of the men who lost their lives on the occasion of the sinking of the submarine B2; and whether he will consider the advisability of constituting a fund controlled by the Admiralty in order to provide for eventualities of this sort, and to ensure that the relatives of men who lose their lives in the exercise of their duty in the Navy should be entitled to an adequate compensation from the State, and not be dependent upon public charity?

I am aware of the appeal referred to. In all cases of men killed on duty pensions and allowances are made on the scale provided by the Regulations. This scale applies to men killed in war or on duty, and is generally applicable to the Army as well as the Navy. I have no power to make further increases in the scale.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty for what reasons the training ship "Emerald" was removed from Queenstown Harbour?

The use of the "Emerald" as a training ship for Irish boys was discontinued in 1906, as the number raised was insufficient to justify the cost of employing her for this special purpose. Until 1910 she was used as receiving ship at Queenstown, and was then replaced by the "Hood."

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if any contracts for the construction of warships or other war vessels for His Majesty's Navy made since the 1st of April, 1910, provide for the payment of premiums for the completion of the contracts and delivery by the contractors at dates prior to the dates stated for delivery in the contracts; and will he state if it has been the practice of the Admiralty in recent years to make contracts as indicated above?

No contracts for warships or other war vessels made since 1st April, 1910, provide for payment of premiums for completion at dates earlier than the contract dates. It has not been the practice of the Admiralty in recent years to make contracts on that basis.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many third-class cruisers of the "Pelorus" class are in commission and the station on which they are serving; and whether he will state the present speed of the different ships of this class, and what duties these ships are suitable for in the event of warlike operations?

Seven of the class are in commission, two in the East Indies, two in Australia, one at the Cape, and two homeward bound which are now passing through the Mediterranean. The actual present speed of individual ships depends on the state of their bottoms and other circumstances, and I should not propose, even if it were in the public interest, to give figures which could only be momentarily exact. It is not convenient to make public statements as to the duties on which various classes of ships would be employed in war.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether during the late fleet manœuvres torpedo boat No. 30 was helpless in a seaway for over six hours and in considerable danger; whether her position was due to her rolling causing suction to be lost, having only oil fuel; whether the main engines could not be worked; whether other torpedo boats in the same flotilla experienced the same loss of suction in a minor degree; and, if so, what steps the Admiralty intend to take to overcome dangers of this character in other vessels fitted for burning oil fuel only?

During the late manœuvres torpedo boat No. 30 was temporarily disabled in a rough sea, as her main inlet rolled out of water, and consequently the main circulating system failed. She was disabled in consequence for five hours, two and a half of which she spent at anchor. The "Bonaventure" was standing by her from one and a half Louis after she broke down. The same loss of suction has been experienced in other shallow-draught steamers. The Admiralty are experimenting with an additional inlet which promises well. The fact that these vessels burn oil only has no bearing on the case.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in co-operation with Lloyds, 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 the hon. Member on the 30th of last month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the firm of Easton, Gibb, and Son, contractors for the Rosyth dockyard, are still, paying a number of the joiners employed there, who are engaged in preparing and fixing sheeting for concrete, from 2s. to 4s. per week less than the recognised wage of the district; and whether he will communicate with that firm with the object of inducing them to pay the proper wage?

The only joiners employed by Messrs. Easton, Gibb, and Son are employed in the joiners' shop, and they are paid 8½d. per hour, which is equal to the current rate for the district. The work of preparing and fixing sheeting for concrete is performed by timbermen, whose rates of pay vary from 7d. per hour upwards. If my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any specific cases he has in mind, I will cause detailed investigations to be made.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Committee appointed to inquire into the grievances of the carpenter warrant officers of the Royal Navy has reported; and is there any prospect of the claims of the men being met?

The Committee which dealt with the naval shipwrights dealt also with the carpenter warrant officers, and, as I stated in answer to the hon. Members for Portsmouth and Devonport on the 28th of last month, the Report of the Committee is now before the Board, but a decision has not yet been arrived at. There will be no undue delay.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has yet appointed a Departmental Committee to inquire into the possibility of admitting to the benefits of superannuation those elementary school teachers who did not expressly accept the Act of 1898; and whether he will instruct the Committee to investigate the position of those teachers who have served part of their time in England and part in Scotland and did not or could not accept that Act?

The answers to both parts of the question are in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are 180 school places in three excellent classrooms at the Gisburn Road council school, Barnoldswick, which have been vacated by the transfer of infant scholars to the new infants' council school; whether the Board has decided to recognise or not to recognise those 180 school places for older scholars; and whether, in the event of the Board recognising those three class-rooms, the total accommodation at Barnoldswick will be for 1,729 instead of for 1,549?

On 17th November, 1911, the local education authority submitted plans of a proposal to add 180 places to the accommodation of the mixed department of the school referred to. On 19th January the Board informed the authority that they would not be prepared to approve a single mixed department for as many as 540 children, and made some suggestions to the authority upon which their observations were invited. On 31st January, however, the authority asked for temporary recognition of the premises for 540 children, and the Board replied on 19th February that they were not prepared to sanction the proposal. No further communication on the matter has been received from the authority since the date of the last-mentioned letter, but the Board would, of course, be glad to consider any further proposal the authority desire to make.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there are any statutory enactments that prohibit the grant of moneys provided by Parliament towards the cost of building new public elementary schoolhouses erected by local education authorities; and, if so, whether he will state which they are?

Section 96 of the Elementary Education Act, 1870, provides that no Parliamentary Grant shall be made in aid of building, enlarging, improving, or fitting up any elementary school.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Report of the Royal Commission on Quarries may be expected?

The Commission hope to let me have their Report early next-year.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to two charges recently brought before the magistrate at Bow Street and Marlborough Street Police Courts 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, I shall, 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 Under-Secretary for India what is the present duty on silver bullion imported into India, and when that duty was imposed; what was the importation of silver and gold into India for the financial year previous to the imposition of this duty; what was the net importation of the two precious metals for the last completed financial year and for the present year; and what is the annual production of gold in India?

The Indian Import Duty on silver bullion is 4 annas an ounce. This rate of duty came into force in February, 1910. The silver imports into India on private account in 1909–10 amounted, in round figures, to 75 million ounces gross, 60¾ net; in 1911–12 to 70 million ounces gross, 32 net; in the five months to August, 1912, to 26 millions gross, 18 2–3 net. The figures for gold imports were: 1909–10, 4 million ounces gross, 3½ net; 1911–12, 6⅞ millions gross, 6¼net; in the five months to August, 1912, 2⅞ millions gross, 2 2–3 net. The average annual production of gold in India was 571,000 ounces in the five years ending with 1911.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the interview that he had with the chairman and clerk to the Bristol Board of Guardians relative to the loss of income sustained by the two vaccination officers for that union was on 12th June last; whether it was after that interview that the Bristol Board of Guardians informed the Local Government Board that, as they were in no way responsible for the reduction of income, they declined to admit any liability for compensation and refused to pay to these two officers the gratuities of £120 and £70 suggested by the Local Government Board; and, if so, what were the circumstances for the Local Government Board to consent to these officers not being paid the gratuity suggested by them and to agree to the payment of a salary which in one case was £40 a year less and in the other £30 a year less than that suggested by them?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part of the question, I did not consider this a sufficiently strong case to justify me in overriding the wishes of the guardians.

asked why the beacons in Valentia Harbour, erected over twenty years ago, have not yet been lighted, although an installation of acetylene generation was carried out two years ago for the purpose by the Irish Lights Commissioners; and whether, in view of the necessity for this lighting in consequence of the extensive fishing industry, steps will be taken to provide lights to guide the fishing fleet into the harbour?

I am informed by the Irish Lights Commissioners that the delay has been caused by the necessity for introducing improvements in the acetylene generators, but it is anticipated that the beacon lights will be ready for exhibition about the 1st January next.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has made representations to the Highland Railway Company regarding the inconvenience caused to the travelling public in the northern counties of Scotland by the withdrawal of the 10.50 p.m. south-going train from Inverness; and whether the company is willing to provide facilities for the conveyance of passengers in the 10.30 p.m. train southwards, which is now to convey the south-going mails, instead of the 10.50 p.m. train?

I have communicated with the Highland Railway Company on this matter, and asked the company to consider a suggestion made by my hon. Friend that passenger vehicles should be attached to a goods train on which the mails are carried from Aviemore to Perth, but the company inform me that this train consists of from forty to fifty goods and mineral wagons, and that, in their opinion, it would be dangerous to run it as a mixed train in view of the steep gradient between Dalnaspidal and Struan. Mixed trains are not permitted to consist of more than twenty-five vehicles, and, in the circumstances, it would not seem practicable for the company to adopt the course suggested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any Department has Government contracts at present running with employers involved in the dispute in the hollow-ware trade in Staffordshire; and, if so, whether the terms of the Fair-Wages Clause can be applied in a manner to prevent the low rates of wages which the workers receive?

The Board of Trade have no contracts running for hollow-ware. I have no information as regards contracts of other Government Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the facts revealed in connection with the dispute in the hollow-ware trade in Staffordshire; whether he is aware that women are on strike to secure a minimum of 10s. for fifty-four hours work; and whether he can take steps to include this industry within the scope of the Trade Boards Act?

I propose at an early date to consider the question of the desirability of a cautious extension of the scope of the Trade Boards Act by Provisional Order. When the time comes the case of the hollow-ware trade will certainly be amongst those which will receive careful examination, but I cannot say at present what the result of that examination will be. My hon. Friend will of course, understand that no Order made for the purpose can take effect unless subsequently confirmed by a Bill passed through Parliament.

asked the Prime Minister what contribution the county of Norfolk makes towards the Imperial revenue; and whether Imperial expenditure for local purposes on the county of Norfolk exceeds, or is less than, her contribution to Imperial revenue?

Though England and Wales contributed for 1911–12 nearly ninety-six millions of Imperial Revenue, it is not practicable to distinguish the respective contributions of individual counties.

asked the Postmaster-General the average time taken for the installation of a telephone in the London area from the date of application; and if he can state whether it is the usual practice to install the instrument and not connect the wires till at least a fortnight has elapsed?

From a Return winch I have had taken in respect of exchange lines ordered in August and since completed, I find that the average period from the date of the Agreement to the date of completion of the line was about five weeks. Much of the delay in completing installations is due to wayleave difficulties or to insufficient switchboard capacity in certain of the Exchanges acquired from the National Telephone Company. This latter deficiency is being made good with the least possible delay. Apart from special difficulties of this nature, the normal time taken in providing installations would be about three weeks, and this time will shortly, I trust, be reduced to a fortnight or less. It is not the usual practice to install the instrument before the wires are ready.

asked the Postmaster-General the actual number of telephone subscribers, not stations, on the National Telephone Company's system when taken over by the Post Office on 1st January, 1912; the actual number of Post Office subscribers, not stations, on the same date; the number of flat rate unlimited subscribers on the National Telephone and Post Office systems, respectively, giving the rentals; the number of party line subscribers on the National Telephone and Post Office systems, giving rentals; the number of measured rate subscribers on rates introduced before 1907, giving rentals; and the number of measured rate subscribers on rates introduced in July, 1907, giving rentals?

The number of direct Exchange lines was given in my answer of the 4th instant to a question by the hon. Member for the Brentford Division. I will give shortly such information as can be readily obtained in regard to the latter part of the question; but I fear that some of the particulars could not be ascertained without considerable difficulty and expense.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at New-castle-on-Tyne certain promotions have been made without any notification and without inviting applications for the posts from the postmen's staff; and whether he will issue instructions that in future no promotions be made without advertising the positions and inviting applications?

Several additional supervising posts were recently created on the postmen's establishment at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Particulars were at once notified to the staff, and it was open to any officer to apply for any of the vacant positions. The claims of all the eligible officers were reviewed in order of seniority before the promotions were made; so that no member of the staff suffered as a result of not applying for the posts.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the proposed rules of the Land Court have yet been approved; and, if so, when it is intended to issue them?

The Rules of the Scottish Land Court are now, I am I informed, ready for issue as soon as they I can be printed off for distribution.