asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the present importance of bacteriological research, and of the fact that an increasing number of diseases depend for their diagnosis and successful treatment upon vaccines, serums, and reactions based upon bacteriological methods, His Majesty's Government intend to provide in populous centres laboratories for the service of insured persons?

It is not the present intention of the Government to take the course suggested by the Noble Lord.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Wexford Rural District Council with reference to the National Insurance Act; and if he can hold out any hope of having the Act amended in the direction indicated in the resolution?

I have seen a copy of the resolution referred to. It asks for an amendment of the Act "to meet the requirements of an agricultural country like Ireland," but does not indicate the form of amendment desired. If, as stated in the resolution, agricultural employés follow the healthiest occupation in the world, agricultural societies should on valuation show a substantial surplus, which will be available either for increasing the benefits, or for paying a part of the contributions, of their members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that for a considerable period the Portsmouth Board of Guardians have been doing what is now recognised in the National Insurance Act by way of provision of sanatoria; and whether the Portsmouth guardians may receive a portion of the money which is being allocated for such provision?

Section 16 of the Act precludes insurance committees from making arrangements with Poor Law guardians, and in consequence it is not proposed to make Grants under Section 64 to those bodies.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been called to the growing demand for child labour early in the morning and after school hours, more especially in the poorer districts of London; is he aware that this increased demand is largely due to the National Insurance Act; and will he consider the advisability of introducing legislation to secure that school-going children be not worked unduly outside of school hours?

I am not aware of any such increase in the employment of child labour through the operation of the Insurance Act. Under the Employment of Children Act, 1903, local authorities already have wide powers of restricting the employment of school children out of school hours. The London County Council have under these powers issued stringent by-laws and would doubtless be glad to be informed of any cases of infringement of which the hon. Member may be aware.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what action is being taken to prepare a scheme providing pensions or superannuation allowances to seamen, in accordance with Section 48 of the National Insurance Act?

Under Section 48 (7) of the National Insurance Act the scheme to which the hon. Member refers has to be prepared by the committee of management of the Seamen's National Insurance Society with the approval of the Board of Trade and the Insurance Commissioners. I am informed that the committee of management have the matter under their serious consideration, and hope very soon to be in a position to submit a draft scheme for approval.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many stamped cards have been sent to the National Health Insurance Commission in respect of seamen who have deserted, failed to join their ship, or died, or seamen who have lost their cards during the first quarter of the operation of the National Insurance Act; and what steps are being taken to transmit to the respective approved societies the cards of those seamen who are members of an approved society?

The National Health Insurance Commission (England) have received 1,700 cards of deserters and men who have failed to join their ships, and 100 of dead men. The number of seamen's lost cards cannot at present be separately stated. Forms have already been sent to the principal societies affected inviting them to apply for any cards of their members which they have reason to believe are in the possession of the Commissioners.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can promise at an early date the publication of an official guide to the health section of the National Insurance Act, including an annotated copy of the Act itself, a copy of all the regulations issued, and a general explanation of the provisions, with an ample index?

A handbook for the use of officials of approved societies is now in preparation. When the Regulations have become substantive I will consider the question of consolidating them and publishing them together. I am doubtful, however, whether a volume of the scope and dimensions suggested by my hon. Friend could properly be issued as an official publication.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the names and addresses of all veterinary surgeons in Ireland who were employed by his Department during the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland; will he state the districts in which they were engaged; the number of cases attended to by each of these gentlemen; and will he state how many members of the permanent veterinary staff were engaged in the outbreaks, and state the districts visited by them?

To prepare such a statement as this would take much time which could be ill spared at present, and it would be in no sense in the public interest to do so.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, having regard to the local unrest in the neighbourhood of Spandaw, Kells, county Meath, where a public meeting was proclaimed recently, and to the necessity of enlarging some of the small holdings in the vicinity, he will sugest to the Estates Commissioners the advisability of approaching the owner of Spandaw, Major Dyas, with a view to purchasing the lands for purposes of distribution?

As the hon. Member has already been informed, the Estates Commissioners have intimated to the owner the price they will advance for the purchase of these lands in the event of his instituting formal proceedings for sale, and as they are not prepared to increase this price they do not see that any useful purpose would be served by their taking any further action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the window-cleaning contracts for the Commissioners of Public Works and postal authorities have been given to a firm who do not observe the Fair-Wage Resolutions, and fail to pay their employés the standard rate; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made and provide a remedy?

I understand that the statement is not correct. There is no trade union of window cleaners in Ireland, and I am informed that the wages paid by the firms which hold contracts under the Board of Works and Post Office are fully up to the average of those paid by the other window-cleaning firms in Dublin.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many armoured ships were launched for Great Britain, the United States, France, and Germany, respectively, from 1903 to 1907, respectively, and what are the corresponding figures from 1908 onwards to the present time?

The figures are as follow:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government are aware of the evils arising from gambling in cotton prices in India; and whether it is proposed to take any measures for its prevention?

The subject, as regards Calcutta, has for some time past been under the consideration of the Government of Bengal. Legislation may possibly be proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if at the stations of Blantyre, Zombo, Mlange, Nchen, Chiradzulu, Dedza, Lilongwe, Fort Manning, and Ngara, in British Central Africa, the officials in charge are bachelors, with the exception of Lilongwe, where one of the officials, Mr. Ockenden, is married; if all these stations are considered to be healthy, with good climate; if at the stations of Chiromo, Liwonde, Fort Johnston, Kotakotu, Chinteche, and Karonga, in British Central Africa, the officials in charge are married men in most cases with families, except in the case of Karonga, where one of the three officials is a bachelor; if all these stations are considered to be unhealthy, with disagreeable climates; if the only two married doctors in the Protectorate are stationed one at Fort Johnston and the other at Karonga; and if he will inquire into this question with a view to altering the present state of affairs?

The facts in my possession do not bear out the statements in the hon. Member's question, and, in any case, the assignment of officers to particular stations is a matter for the discretion of the local Government, in the interests of the public service, with which I do not propose to interfere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, and when, his surveyors passed the excursion steamer "Queen of the Fal," of Falmouth; if they tested the lowering gear and falls of the lifeboats, and if they were in proper order; if so, why, on a recent occasion, in attempting to lower one of these boats the falls jammed, and it took the whole crew, including the captain and engineer, over twenty minutes to get her in the water, this happening in calm water up Falmouth River; if he is satisfied that this vessel, with such a high saloon deck, is sufficiently stable to encounter the heavy seas outside Falmouth Harbour when loaded with excursionists; if she has been tested for stability, and, if not, before her certificate is renewed will he give instructions for her boats to be lowered and gear tested, and that she will also be tested for stability; and will he say whether the Board's surveyor at Falmouth is responsible for surveying both the "Lyonesse" and the "Queen of the Fal"?

The ss. "Queen of the Fal" was surveyed by a Board of Trade surveyor in July last, and passenger certificates were issued. During the survey the lowering gear and falls of the lifeboats were tested, and were found to be in proper order. The vessel was tested for stability before the passenger certificates were issued, and the results were satisfactory. The Board of Trade surveyor at Falmouth was responsible for surveying both this vessel and the "Lyonesse." With regard to the boats, I am informed by the company which owns the vessel that on the occasion to which the hon. Member apparently alludes the passengers were landed by means of boats at a place of call; that there was no need for the boats to be launched quickly, and that there was no undue delay. It is stated that the falls did not jam, and that all the passengers were Janded within twenty minutes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been called to the fact that the ss. "Lyonesse," running between Penzance and the Scilly Isles, which vessel is certified by the Board's Marine Department to carry in summer 240 passengers, and in winter 285 passengers, with a total crew of twelve, including engineers, firemen, etc., on Monday, 16th September, ran a cheap excursion from Penzance to the Scilly Isles, and with about 200 to 250 passengers on board, the whole of her decks, except the cattle space under the bridge, were crowded; whether he can state upon what principle the vessel is certified to carry such a number of passengers as 340, if the cattle spaces are measured to accommodate passengers in the place of cattle, and if such spaces are fit and sufficiently ventilated for such purpose; whether he is aware that of the three boats which are certified to carry fifty persons in all, the largest boat of the three was stowed on the starboard side of the well deck forward, with no oars, rowlocks, bailer, sea anchor, or in fact any equipment in her, and that she was so placed that the available davits were in no way in the proper position to lift the boat out; whether he is aware that the boat so placed, would in case of the vessel being caught in a heavy sea be likely to be washed overboard, and it would be almost impossible for the crew to get the boat overboard; if he will explain why the boat so placed should be counted as available for immediate use in case of emergency, and why the five deck seats are certified to accommodate forty persons although they would not seat four on each; and, seeing that this vessel has to encounter the severest weather conditions around the coast, whether he will take steps to see that a certificate for a reasonable number of passengers only is granted, that the boats are all kept ready for lowering, that all proper gear is kept in them, that the deck seats are certified only for a proper number, and that additional life-saving appliances are placed on board?

According to a report made by the surveyor to the Board of Trade at Falmouth, 236 passengers were carried on the excursion made by the ss. "Lyonnesse" on the 16th September last, and the decks were not unduly crowded. The method by which the number of passengers is determined is to divide the total area in square feet, of the space available for the accommodation of passengers, by nine. In the case of this vessel the number thus arrived at for the summer season is 340. The spaces under the bridge are not used for the carriage of cattle. They afford good deck shelter for passengers and are well ventilated. If the transport of a horse or a beast is required it is carried in a horse-box placed on the fore deck, but this would not be allowed on an excursion. The vessel is provided with three boats. The two larger ones are properly equipped and carried in chocks under davits at the after part of the bridge, one boat on each side of the vessel. The smallest boat of the three, which is also properly equipped, is provided with davits on the starboard side forward of the bridge; and, by means of the steam derrick, which is always available, this boat can be put out on either side of the vessel. In the event of a heavy sea running, this boat is suitably stowed over the hatchway, immediately under the derrick and within easy reach of the davits. It would not be likely to be washed overboard from this position, and is available for immediate use. The five deck seats referred to are described as "Buoyant Apparatus," and are certified to support, or keep afloat, forty persons. They are not intended for sitting on when in the water. When the new life-saving appliances rules come in force this vessel will, of course, be required to comply with them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now further considered the question of the alteration of the load line of vessels in the merchant service, and whether he is in a position to make any statement to the House on the subject?

The subject is a complicated one, involving technical and other considerations, which are now engaging my right hon. Friend's attention. I am not at present in a position to make a definite statement in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the Return relating to wheat, ordered in August last on the Motion of the hon. Member for the Wilton Division, and presented to this House in dummy on 18th October, will be published and available to Members of this House?

I hope the Return will be available for Members this week.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that cattle in the Argentine suffering from foot-and-mouth disease are killed and sent for consumption to these countries in a frozen condition; whether any risk attends the use of such meat by human beings; and will he state what information his Department have in reference to this matter?

So far as the Board have been able to ascertain, there is no foundation for the suggestion made in the first part of the question, but they will be glad to consider any evidence to the contrary which the hon. Member is able to furnish. Inquiry is being made as to the possibility of disease being introduced by this means.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the loss of the steamer "Ralph Creyke," belonging to the Ouse Steamship Company, of Goole; whether he is aware that this vessel only carried four able seamen; if he can state how many able seamen this vessel carried when first registered; whether his attention has been called to the fact that this same company have now purchased another steamer called the "Rose," of 1,150 tons carrying capacity; whether he is aware that this steamer "Rose" formerly carried six able seamen, while under the new management the deck hands have been reduced to four; and if he will cause inquiries to be made with regard to the matter?

The "Ralph Creyke" was sunk by collision in the River Scheldt on 16th October last. At the time of her loss she carried four A.B.'s, and when first registered she carried six A.B.'s. The owners of the "Ralph Creyke," the Ouse Steamship Company, of Goole, inform me that the "Rose" carries four A.B.'s. In June last she carried six A.B.'s. I understand that, as happened in the case of the "Ralph Creyke," the "Rose" has been transferred from the foreign trade to the home trade, and is now simply used as a collier. I am making inquiry as to the sufficiency of her present crew for the vessel's intended service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the figures of the total tonnage of ships in the British merchant

supplied the following figures:—