asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether local Excise officers are in receipt of extra remuneration in consideration of their duties in connection with the National Insurance administration; and, if so, from what date the extra remuneration will accrue?

In announcing to the Customs and Excise Service in May last the Government's decision as to their future rates of pay and conditions of service, I made it clear that in arriving at that decision the Government had taken into account the new duties under the Insurance Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, as a result of the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise services the prospects of promotion of Excise officers have been considerably diminished; and whether, bearing in mind that the compensating allowance of £20 per annum is to be made long after the time of promotion and increased salary would have been reached in the ordinary course, and that this allowance is not receivable at all by such officers as ultimately become surveyors, and that there is dissatisfaction among Excise officers on the matter, he will take steps to secure that no such officers shall in fact suffer financial loss, especially as their duties have recently been increased by the passage of the National Insurance Act, through the deferred prospects of promotion?

These matters were fully considered by me before I announced the Government's decision to the officers concerned in May last, and I am unable to reopen the question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, for the purposes of the National Insurance Act, he will define what is meant by whole-time service; whether a person having an income of say £300 a year, who accepts a position as secretary, the hours of service being from 10 to 4, at a salary of £150 a year, is compelled to insure; and whether, in that case, a medical practitioner, having agreed to take service under the Act, is required regularly to attend such person when ill for the sum of 7s. a year?

The question of the correct interpretation of "whole-time service" in paragraph (g) of Part II. of the First Schedule of the Act rests primarily 3 in any specific case with the Commission acting judicially and upon consideration I of evidence. Any person or his employer may apply for a formal decision of the 5 Insurance Commissioners, under Section 66 of the Act, upon this point, and it would be impossible to give an answer in the case referred to by the hon. Member with any certainty except upon a fuller statement of the facts than is possible within the limits of a reply to a question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he wall take steps to secure that a medical practitioner who is struck off the panel by decision, after inquiry, of the Commissioners shall have the right of appeal to a Court of law?

No, Sir. Any s decision of the Commissioners must be arrived at after due inquiry in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Medical Benefit Regulations, but the matter to be inquired into is of an administrative nature, namely, whether the continuance on the list would be prejudicial to the efficiency of the service. Section 15 (2) (b) of the Act represents the deliberate decision of Parliament, which I have no power to reverse, that in any questions arising in this connection an appeal to a Court of Law would not be possible, or if possible, would not be advantageous to the profession or the practitioner concerned. Questions of a professional nature affecting the status of the doctor as a registered medical practitioner will remain, as hitherto, in the province of the General Medical Council.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the provision made under Section 61, Subsection (2), of the National Insurance Act is altogether inadequate to recoup the representatives of the working classes for the loss entailed through their attendance at the meetings of the health committees; and whether, in view of the fact that this difficulty practically means the non-representation of the working classes on these committees, he will consider the advisability of meeting the out-of-pocket expense from moneys specially provided by Parliament?

As I stated in my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Leeds (East) on 14th October, I fear it would be impossible in this case, as in that of other similar administrative bodies with executive powers, to arrange for payment for loss entailed by members of insurance committees through their attendance at the meetings. The committees may pay the railway fares of members in counties, and are doing so in many cases.

asked whether the Welsh Insurance Commissioners have laid down a specific policy as to the Welsh language in making appointments to their staff?

The Welsh Commissioners have laid it down that a knowledge of Welsh is desirable in appointments under them, but not essential in every ease.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any resolutions from societies connected with the United Friendly Societies' Council for St. Helens protesting against the constitution of the provisional insurance committee for St. Helens; whether he is aware that the societies in question nominated certain persons to represent them on the committee, but not a single one has been chosen, other persons having been selected, and that there are at least three societies in the town with over 1,000 members each who have been ignored altogether; will he state why it was that, although the societies were requested to nominate representatives, none of their nominees have been appointed; and will he take steps to have the representation on the committee put on a fairer basis?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The procedure, and the reasons for adopting it, were fully explained in a Memorandum issued by the Commissioners, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Steps will be taken as soon as possible, and in any case not later than the 15th of July next, for conferring on the approved societies which have members resident in the borough the power of appointing the representatives of such members.

asked if any scheme made by a county committee on the basis of the 1s. 3d. per insured person plus a county rate for the treatment of all tuberculous persons in that county has been rejected by the Insurance Commissioners on the ground that 6d. out of the 1s. 3d. must remain intact for the purpose of domiciliary treatment?

The Insurance Commissioners have not rejected for the reason indicated any scheme of arrangements proposed to be made by an insurance committee with a county council. They have, however, found it necessary in some cases to advises insurance committees that such arrangements must be framed with due regard to the proposal that 6d. cut of the 1s. 3d. per insured person available for sanatorium benefit shall, after 12th January next, be allocated to that part of sanatorium benefit which consists of domiciliary treatment.

asked whether an insured coal miner who meets with a serious accident during his employment is entitled to any surgical, medical, or other assistance under the National Insurance Act?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will give a list of all persons or organisations who have applied for or have received Grants under the National Insurance Act for the establishment of sanatoria in Ireland, showing in each case the amount applied for and the amount granted?

The Women's National Health Association has applied for £25,000, which has been granted. The committee of management of Newcastle Sanatorium have applied for £10,000, and the Local Government Board have intimated that any expenditure which the committee may undertake on behalf of county councils will, with the approval of these councils, be granted. The county councils have applied for a share of the Grant on a basis of population, and the Grants shown in the following statement have so far been approved, subject to details of expenditure being in accordance with the Local Government Board's requirements:—

County Area.		Share of £120,000 allocated on the basis of population.
Counties—		£	s.	d.
Antrim	…	5,298	19	7
Armagh	…	3,287	19	5
Clare	…	2,849	0	6
Cork	…	8,621	16	7
Down	…	5,584	6	3
Dublin	…	4,712	2	7
Galway	…	4,980	16	4
Limerick	…	2,857	14	10
Longford	…	1,197	15	1
Mayo	…	5,252	17	4
Sligo	…	2,160	11	6
Tipperary (North Riding)	…	1,718	15	2
Tyrone	…	3,899	10	8
Wexford	…	2,795	9	7
Wicklow	…	1,659	8	10
County Boroughs—
Belfast	…	10,576	12	3
Cork	…	2,095	14	10
Dublin	…	8,331	6	1
Limerick	…	1,052	16	8
Londonderry	…	1,114	13	2
Waterford	…	750	13	9

asked how many county committees appointed under the National Insurance Act have submitted schemes for dealing with sanatorium benefit; and in how many cases such schemes have been approved or rejected by the Insurance Commissioners?

All the county insurance committees in England have submitted to the Commissioners arrangements for the provision of sanatorium benefit. In all but one of these the arrangements for the treatment of persons recommended for the benefit have been approved by the Commissioners. In Scotland twenty-five county insurance committees have submitted schemes, of which twenty-two have received full and one partial approval, while the remaining two are now under examination. In Ireland twenty-eight county committees have submitted schemes, of which all have received approval as far as they relate to treatment in sanatoria. In Wales all the county committees have submitted schemes and obtained approval for them.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he can say whether any, and, if so, what, arrangement has been made for utilising the institutions under the control of the Metropolitan Asylums Board for treatment of persons suffering from tuberculosis who are entitled to sanatorium benefit; and if it is proposed to introduce an amending Bill to enable the London Insurance Committee to enter into the necessary arrangements?

I have nothing at present to add to the answer which I gave en Tuesday to the hon. Member for Plymouth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual amount of the contributions collected in the United Kingdom under the National Insurance Act?

The contributions to be collected in the United Kingdom in the first complete financial year of the National Insurance Act's operation, namely, 1913–14, under Part I. (Health Insurance) and Part II. (Unemployment Insurance) are estimated to amount approximately to £19,215,000 and £1,859,400 respectively.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what were the considerations for which an allowance of £10 per annum was formerly granted to Customs second officers.

The allowances of £10 to those of the obsolete class of Customs assistants who were second officers at small ports were granted in consideration of the fact that the positions involved certain responsibilities not ordinarily imposed on that class.

asked what percentage of the total seizures and detentions in the United Kingdom during the past year of plant or materials for the illicit production of spirits was made in Ireland?

All the figures available on the subject of illicit distillation seizures are contained in Table 28 on page 30 of the third Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can now give a date when the decision of the Treasury regarding the Macnamara Staffing Committee's Report will be given?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on the 31st ultimo, to which I can only add that the outstanding points I then mentioned have now, with one slight exception, been settled.

asked, for the year 1st June, 1911, to 1st June, 1912, how many boy clerks were appointed to the Civil Service, and how many were compelled to resign on age limit owing to the insufficiency of permanent positions, together with the average age of the boys so compelled to resign?

Between 1st June, 1911, and 1st June, 1912, 1,556 boy clerks were assigned for service. The services of 575 boy clerks were terminated on their reaching the age limit: of whom 273 boys of the old class left at the age of twenty, and 302 of the new class at the age of eighteen. Some of the latter were retained for a few weeks beyond the age of eighteen, pending the declaration of the result of examination for assistant clerkships at which they had competed. In the period under notice 163 permanent situations in the Civil Service were filled by the appointment of ex-boy clerks, whose services had been terminated on their reaching the age limit.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, for the year 1st June, 1911, to 1st June, 1912, how many vacancies occurred in the permanent Civil Service, excepting those of assistant clerks, for which boy clerks were eligible to compete; the number of boy clerks successful at the open competitions for these vacancies; and the number of boy clerks dismissed the Civil Service for incompetency or breach of discipline?

Between 1st June, 1911, and 1st June, 1912, in addition to vacancies for assistant clerks, 1,079 vacancies filled from open competitions occurred in the permanent Civil Service, for which boy clerks were eligible to enter; 129 boy clerks in actual employment when examined were successful for these vacancies. In the same period one boy clerk was discharged for misconduct. Two were found medically unfit for further service.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state the total true Revenue from Ireland, according to the Treasury, for 1906–7, 1907–8, 1908–9, 1909–11, and 1911–12, respectively, and the present Treasury Estimate for 1912–13; the amount of the Death Duties for each of those periods, and the Act to which the increase is attributable; and the amount of the Stamp Duties for each of those periods, and the Acts to which the increases are attributable?

The total true Revenue of Ireland and the true contribution for Death Duties and Stamps are as follows:—

Year.	True Revenue Total.	Death Duties.	Stamps.
	£	£	£
1906–7	9,490,000	691,000	300,000
1907–8	9,621,000	690,000	320,000
1908–9	9,250,500	716,000	311,000
1909–10 and 1910–11*	9,930,750	914,000	333,000
1911–12	10,688,000	936,000	353,000
1912–13†	10,850,000	1,030,000	360,000
* Average	† Revised Estimate (Cd. 6486).

As far as the increase in the yield of these branches of revenue is attributable to legislation, the following are the Acts which have come into operation in the period covered by the question and have influenced the yield of these duties:—Death Duties.1907–8.—The rates of Estate Duty mi estates exceeding £150,000 were increased by the Finance Act, 1907 (7 Ed. VII.. c. 13).1909–10.—The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910 (10 Ed. VII., c. 8) imposed various increases in the rates of Estate Duty, Settlement Estate Duty, and Legacy and Succession Duties.

asked whether the Secretary to the Treasury can state the number of motor cars licensed for commercial purposes; the number of ordinary pleasure four-wheeled cars, including taxi-cabs; and the number of motor bicycles and tricycles so licensed in Great Britain and Ireland?

I fear I have no information with regard to the first part of the hon. Member's question, as local taxation licences are not required for vehicles used solely for commercial purposes. As stated on pp. 71–72 of the Report of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise for 1911–12 (Cd. 6462 of 1912), the number of licences for four-wheeled non-commercial cars and hackney motors in the United Kingdom in 1911–12 was 125,822. Licences are not required for hackney motors in Ireland. The number of motor bicycle and tricycles licensed in the United Kingdom in 1911–12 was 71,020.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many nurseries, market gardens, and allotments there are the site value of which is more than their agricultural value, and the owners of which will accordingly be called upon to pay Undeveloped Land Duty; and whether he is aware that, owing to the nature of the owners' occupation necessitating the sites being close to towns or the railway in the majority of such cases, the site value exceeds the agricultural value?

The information asked for in the first part of the hon. Member's question is not available. The circumstances of nurseries, market gardens, and allotments are frequently as stated in the second part.

asked if the Secretary to the Treasury will state the total sum allocated to Scotland under the Road Board scheme; the amount allocated to each county or local authority; the amounts actually paid to date; will he state the basis on which Scotland's proportion is calculated; whether the original scheme of allocations amongst local authorities in Scotland propounded by the Road Board has been altered in any respect; and, if so, what?

The total sum allocated by the Road Board to Scotland out of the income of the Road Improvement Fund up to the 31st March, 1912, was £220,920. As stated in the first Annual Report of the Board this amount is based on the ratio of the population of Scotland to that of the other parts of the United Kingdom. No scheme of allocations amongst local authorities has been propounded by the Board, but the following table sets forth the advances made and indicated by way of Grant and loan to the several counties.

Counties.	Total Amount of Advances made and indicated by way of Grant and Loan.	Payments under Grants and Loans towards Work actually carried out up to 31st October, 1912.
	£	£
Aberdeen	13,414	2,498
Argyll	14,000	5,558
Ayr	11,250	3,747
Banff	1,282	400
Berwick	3,300	—
Bute	1,000	—
Caithness	5,800	1,000
Clackmannan	1,00	—
Dumbarton	5,000	180
Dumfries	11,211	4,440
Edinburgh	15,747	4,882
Fife	8,900	2,983
Forfar	3,834	1,760
Haddington	3,800	1,804
Inverness	17,353	5,033
Kincardine	2,020	200
Kinross	121	—
Kirkcudbright	1,893	1,321
Lanark	8,584	6,147
Linlithgow	4,552	1,375
Nairn	1,320	—
Orkney	400	—
Peebles	1,500	1,166
Perth	14,900	9,281
Renfrew	5,000	2,301
Ross and Cromarty	5,950	150
Roxburgh	3,000	—
Selkirk	750	160
Stirling	7,214	5,443
Sutherland	6,252	2,521
Wigtown	1,000	—
Totals	£181,347	£63,850

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the case of occasional special sources of income, it is the custom of the Commissioners to issue assessment notices for years subsequent to that in which the income is received and for which Income Tax is paid; whether on such notices of assessments it states that notice of appeal must be given within ten days; whether in any cases such notices are dated at an earlier date than that on which they are actually sent out; whether, if no notice of appeal is returned by the taxpayer, such assessment stands; and, if so, whether this method of collecting Income Tax which is not due has the sanction of the Treasury?

The reply to the first part of the question is that no assessment notice is issued in a subsequent year when it is declared that there is no continuing liability or where the facts show that there would be none. All notices of assessment state that notice of appeal must be given within ten days, and as far as the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are aware notices of assessment are not dated at an earlier date than that on which they are sent out. If no notice of appeal is returned by a taxpayer an assessment stands, but in practice notice within ten days is not enforced by the District. Commissioners of Taxes when there is reasonable explanation for the delay. The reply to the last part of the question is that the District Commissioners of Taxes are solely responsible for the assessments under powers conferred on them by Statute.

asked what progress the Imperial and Local Taxation Committee have made with their Report, and when it will be laid upon the Table of the House?

I have nothing to add to the answer to the hon. and learned Member for West St. Pancras which I gave on the 6th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give for the last financial year the amount of property and profits assessed to Income Tax in each of the provinces of Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connaught, also for the cities of Dublin and Belfast; and whether he can also give the average property and profit assessment per inhabitant of the population of Leinster, Munster, Ulster, and Connaught, also for the cities of Dublin and Belfast?

The gross annual value of property assessed to Income Tax, Schedule A, in the respective provinces for 1910–11, the latest year for which figures are available, was as follows:—

Leinster	…	…	£4,892,370
Munster	…	…	£3,358,326
Ulster	…	…	£5,289,181
Connaught	…	…	£1,432,000

Separate figures for the cities of Dublin and Belfast are not recorded. The gross income (one-third of the annual value) for the purposes of Schedule B for the year 1910–11, from the lands in the respective provinces, was:—

Leinster	…	…	£997,613
Munster	…	…	£862,472
Ulster	…	…	£947,746
Connaught	…	…	£423,261

I fear I am unable to supply any further information asked for by the hon. Member for the reasons stated by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury in this House on the 11th March last, in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Salisbury.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of money has been recommended for piers and harbours in Ireland by the Development Commissioners; how much has been allocated to each of the four provinces, and how much remains; and why was Fethard Harbour, South Wexford., passed over?

The Commissioners have recommended advances to the aggregate amount of £39,000 in respect of two harbours situated in Ulster and Munster respectively. They have agreed in principle to recommend further advances to the same or a slightly larger amount for the improvement of harbours in other parts of Ireland; but the details of the arrangements are still under consideration, Fethard Harbour was omitted from the harbours to be assisted because, among other reasons, it appeared to the Commissioners that the expenditure desired was disproportionate to the results which could be anticipated.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local committee granted an old age pension to Peter H. Shea, Shanacashel, Glencar; whether, in view of the fact that it is now alleged that the claimant's means exceed the statutory limit, although the old stint of the farm was the grass of six cows, and any improvement has been effected by the reclamation and purchase of fodder, inquiry will be made by a competent valuer as to the real facts of the case; and whether, seeing that, in accordance with the custom of the country, an assignment of part of the farm was made in the marriage agreement of the claimant's son, and that the agreement and other documents have been submitted to the Local Government Board, steps will now be taken to grant the pension to the claimant?

Peter Shea lives with his married son on a farm of about 55 acres which carries over twenty head of cattle in addition to pigs and fowl. It appears that he assigned portion of the farm to the son on the latter's marriage in 1910, but having regard to the extent of the farm and stock, the claimant's means, notwithstanding the assignment, could not be regarded as less than £31 10s. a year. His claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the 17th October, and they have no power to reopen consideration of the case.

asked the total number of applications for reinstatement received by the Estates Commissioners for county Longford under the Evicted Tenants Restoration Act; how many of these claims were admitted as coming within the Act; in how many cases were the evicted tenants or their representatives restored to their old farms or to equivalent farms; and whether any of these claims and, if so, how many are yet held over pending the acquisition of suitable holdings for them?

The Estates Commissioners received within the period specified by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, 260 applications from persons seeking reinstatement as evicted tenants or representatives of evicted tenants in county Longford. Sixty-seven applicants have been reinstated in their former holdings or provided with other holdings, and three have been noted for consideration in the allot- ment of untenanted land as acquired by the Commissioners. In the remaining cases the Commissioners, after inquiry and consideration, refused to take any action.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he would be prepared to offer a prize commensurate with the importance of the subject for the best design of a cruiser constructed in such a way that in time of peace or when it became obsolete it could be made available for service in the mercantile marine and in time of war equipped for naval service, and giving the maximum of practical efficiency consistent with this dual function?

I am advised that the internal sub-division of the vessel necessary for a war cruiser would be quite incompatible with her profitable employment for mercantile purposes.

asked if the First Lord of the Admiralty will say what was the total number of all ratings entered into the service in the Royal Navy during each of the months of August, September, and October, 1912; and what was the total number of all active service ratings discharged to the Reserve or from the service during each of the same months?

It would not be in the public interest to give the detailed information asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether non-combatant officers are qualified to be members of an audit board, as provided by paragraph 39 of the Territorial Force and the County Association Regulations, 1912; and (2) whether, in view of the fact that the commanding officer is responsible for all regimental funds, any officer of the Territorial Force who is named in paragraph 39, Territorial Force and the County Association Regulations, 1912, as qualified to act as a member of the regimental audit board is disqualified if he is at the time also acting as regimental accountant; and, if so, whether he intends to issue an order to that effect?

The administration of private regimental funds is left to the dis- cretion of commanding officers. There would appear to be no objection to the officers referred to in this and the next question sitting on the audit board, and the War Office does not contemplate issuing any instructions on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether; in view of the recent reduction by 3s. 6d. per week of the ration allowance of soldiers employed on the administrative staff of the Southern Command at Salisbury, any efforts have been made to obtain from the said command copies of the correspondence in 1901 upon which the decision to grant such allowance was founded; and, if not, whether he will cause such copies to be furnished and thereafter state what change has since taken place in the then existing conditions to justify the recent reduction?

There is nothing to be said beyond what I informed the lion. Member on the 5th November. The case of these soldiers has been very carefully considered on its merits. The reasons assigned in 1901 would not in any way influence the revised rate now given, and it should be borne in mind that that rate merely means the resumption of the ordinary scale, not a reduction from that scale.

asked whether any ration allowance beyond 6d. per day is still granted to soldiers serving on the administrative staff at Warwick, Southampton, and other military stations; and, if so, what are the circumstances which differentiate these stations from Salisbury, where such allowance has recently been reduced by 50 per cent.?

The rate drawn at Southampton is the normal rate, as at Salisbury, where the men live in lodgings. At Warwick there are some clerks living in barrack rooms with no cooking arrangements of any kind and no cook provided by the public. They are thus worse off than if on the lodging list and have to make their own arrangements for getting cooked food. Until better provision for them can be made, an extra rate of allowance is continued.

asked whether the War Office contemplates the appointment of a Committee to investigate the causes of the deficiency in strength of the Special Reserve Battalions?

The deficiency in the strength of the Special Reserve Battalions is at present receiving consideration. The appointment of a formal Committee is not at present contemplated.

asked if any decision has yet been made as to the reduction of the garrison in South Africa?

Yes, Sir. It has been decided to reduce the South African garrison by two regiments of Cavalry, one brigade of Horse Artillery, one brigade of Field Artillery, one field troop of Royal Engineers, and one battalion of Infantry.

asked whether any small annual issue of ammunition can be granted free to members of the National Reserve in order that they may shoot a limited course annually?

There are no funds at present available from which this additional expenditure could be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, with a view of increasing the usefulness of the National Reserve and to obviate units being disbanded from lack of funds, he will see his way to recommend a capitation grant for all men in these units who would be available for service in case of war?

This question is under my consideration at the present moment.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that at Tideswell, Derbyshire, children applying to be admitted to the council school have been refused admission and sent to the Church of England school; and whether he will take immediate steps to assert the right of parents to send their children to a school within their parish in which there is ample accommodation available?

I have no information with regard to the matter referred to in this question, but I am making inquiries.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the regulations made by the Derbyshire county education authority, under which children applying for admission to Tideswell council school have been refused because it was not the beginning of a term; whether such regulations contravene Article 53 of the Code; and whether the Grant to the Tideswell council school will be endangered if admission is refused to children presenting themselves?

I have not seen the regulations referred to, and can express no opinion upon them. Any dispute arising under Article 53 (a) as to the reasonableness of exclusion would, of course, be decided on its merits, but no case in connection with this school has been brought to my notice. Without further information I can make no statement with regard to the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has sanctioned any regulations made by local education authorities preventing children being transferred or admitted into public elementary schools except on certain dates; and under what Statute such regutions have been made and sanctioned?

The Board have on several occasions stated that they see no reason why arrangements should not be made to prevent migration of scholars, without satisfactory reason, from one school to another. They have always been careful to explain that any complaint made by a parent under Article 53 (a) of the Code would have to be dealt with on its merits and after due consideration of the circumstances of the case. I am not aware of any Statute under which sanction is required for such regulations.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the total number of persons on the old register of teachers under Column B when the register was closed; the number of such persons to whom the fee of one guinea paid for registration has been refunded as promised; and whether he wil state what steps were taken to inform registered teachers that their fee would be returned on application?

The answer to the first part of the question is 11,660. On the 29th February the Board announced that they were prepared to receive, until 31st August, 1912, applications for repayment of the guinea by teachers on admis- sion to Column B of the previous register. The announcement was published in thirty-nine papers, including all the educational papers, and was communicated to all the appointing bodies (fifty-three in number) mentioned in the Schedule to the Order in Council constituting a new Registration Council. Four thousand five hundred and eighty-one persons whose names were registered in Column B applied for a refund before the 31st August, 1912, and received their guinea.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to a letter of Dr. Headlam's relating to King's College; whether the Grant to King's College has been reduced by the Board of Education; and whether the scheme for the extension of the college buildings was dismissed by the Board or by the Advisory Committee after five minutes' study and without any consultation with the college.

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Grant to King's College was not reduced as suggested, but, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee the Treasury Grant was increased by £1,650, and the Grants paid by the Board for Technological work were increased by £1,827. The increase in these two Grants together over the Grants in the previous year amounts to over 38 per cent. I understand that Sir William McCormick and other members of the Committee spent many hours in investigating on the spot the position of the college and took the opportunity of discussing with Dr. Headlam the question of site. The Committee's Report was most carefully considered by the Board before it was endorsed.

asked what was the amount of the indebtedness of the late borough council of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, at the date of its abolition; and what is the amount of the indebtedness of the present town Board?

The Town Commissioners of Port-of-Spain were superseded by the present Town Board on the 1st May, 1907. The debt of the Municipality is given in the Colony's Blue Book for the year 1906–7 as £214,226, and in that for the year 1910–11 as £255,327.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Report of the Committee appointed to advise on the site and planning of the new Delhi was a unanimous Report signed without reservations by all the members of the Committee; whether the Report will be published; if its publication is not intended, whether the Report recommends that the new Government buildings be erected in the Italian Renaissance style of architecture; and whether this advice will be followed?

The Report is unanimously and without reservations. It is confined to the selection of a site for the new capital, and has nothing to do with the style or architecture of the buildings. The question of publication must stand over until the Town Planning Committee have completed their inquiries.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will lay upon the Table a copy of the contract with Messrs. Samuel Montagu and Company for the purchase of silver, and a copy of the terms on which they were instructed to purchase?

submitted the following correspondence conveying instructions to Messrs. Samuel Montagu and Company for purchases of silver on behalf of the Secretary of State for India in Council, and specimen of contract notes (referred to in the correspondence as "contracts") used in reporting the several purchases:—No. 1.Letter from the India Office to Messrs. Samuel Montagu and Company, dated 4th March, 1912."I am directed to inform you that the Secretary of State for India in Council will be obliged if you will gradually purchase on his behalf bar silver up to the value of £500,000. He leaves it to your discretion to purchase at such times and in such amounts as you may consider expedient, with the object of avoiding, to the utmost extent possible, any action likely to raise the price of the metal or to reveal the fact that the purchases are on his behalf. All purchases should, until

further notice, be made for forward delivery—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, if he can say whether the figures specified on 6th November to be the maximum sums held on any one date in the preceding twelve months by approved borrowers represents moneys lent to approved borrowers; and, if not, will he state the difference between the amounts of sums held and sums lent, and how they arise?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The figures specified on 6th November exceed £8,950,000 (the amount on loan and on deposit on 22nd October, 1912) because they show, as requested by the hon. Member, not the portions of the £8,950,000 held by the various firms, but the maximum held at any date in the year each borrower who, on 22nd October held part of the £8,950,000.

asked if the Under-Secretary of State for India will give the names of the sellers from whom purchases of silver were made by Messers. Samuel Montagu and Company on behalf of the Government, with the amount, the price, and the date in each case during the present year?

Silver purchased through Messers. Samuel Montagu and Company, 1912:—

Date of Purchase.				Amount.	Price per oz.
1912.				£	d.
5	March	…	…	40,000	26	⅝
5	March	…	…	10,000	26	⅝
7	March	…	…	10,000	26	11/16
7	March	…	…	30,000	26	¾
7	March	…	…	15,000	26	¾
8	March	…	…	40,000	26	11/16
8	March	…	…	7,000	26	11/16
11	March	…	…	35,000	26	13/16
12	March	…	…	20,000	26	⅞
13	March	…	…	20,000	26	13/16
14	March	…	…	73,000	26	⅞
18	March	…	…	35,000	26	13/16
18	March	…	…	20,000	26	13/16
19	March	…	…	5,000	26	⅞
19	March	…	…	10,000	26	⅞
20	March	…	…	46,000	26	⅞
20	March	…	…	4,000	26	⅞
21	March	…	…	10,000	26	13/16
22	March	…	…	70,000	26	15/16
26	March	…	…	15,000	26	⅞
27	March	…	…	35,000	26	13/16
27	March	…	…	5,000	26	13/16
28	March	…	…	15,000	26	⅞
28	March	…	…	25,000	26	⅞
29	March	…	…	15,000	26	13/16
30	March	…	…	12,000	26	¾
1	April	…	…	18,000	26	13/16
1	April	…	…	20,000	26	13/16
2	April	…	…	5,000	26	⅞
3	April	…	…	20,000	27	⅛
4	April	…	…	15,000	27	3/16
4	April	…	…	30,000	27	3/16
6	April	…	…	9,000	27	⅛
9	April	…	…	6,000	26	15/16
9	April	…	…	5,000	26	15/16
16	April	…	…	6,000	27	1/16
16	April	…	…	23,O00	27
16	April	…	…	6,000	27	1/16
17	April	…	…	10,000	27	¼
17	April	…	…	5,000	27	¼
17	April	…	…	30,000	27	¼
17	April	…	…	10,000	27	3/16
18	April	…	…	29,000	27	7/16
18	April	…	…	11,000	27	7/16
19	April	…	…	27,000	27	½
22	April	…	…	13,000	27	½
23	April	…	…	11,000	27	5/8
24	April	…	…	19,000	28	1/16
26	April	…	…	40,000	28	⅛
26	April	…	…	10,000	28	⅛
21	May	…	…	19,500	28	¼
21	May	…	…	19,500	28	5/16
22	May	…	…	7,500	28	⅛
22	May	…	…	7,500	28	3/16

Date of Purchase.				Amount.	Price per oz.
1912.				£	d.
24	May	…	…	40,000	28
24	May	…	…	40,000	28	1/16
25	May	…	…	6,000	28	⅛
28	May	…	…	110,000	28	⅛
3	June	…	…	30,000	27	15/16
4	June	…	…	100,000	28	1/16
6	June	…	…	100,000	28
7	June	…	…	20,000	28
20	June	…	…	70,000	28	⅜
21	June	…	…	45,000	28	7/16
22	June	…	…	9,000	28	9/16
24	June	…	…	80,000	28	9/16
24	June	…	…	8,000	28	9/16
25	June	…	…	25,000	28	7/16
26	June	…	…	13,000	28	5/16
27	June	…	…	75,000	28	⅜
28	June	…	…	100,000	28	¼
2	July	…	…	40,000	28	⅛
4	July	…	…	23,000	28	3/16
5	July	…	…	12,000	28	⅛
31	July	…	…	30,000	27	¾
31	July	…	…	30,000	27	⅞
2	August	…	…	100,000	27	⅝
6	August	…	…	15,000	27	9/16
6	August	…	…	60,000	27	⅝
6	August	…	…	20,000	27	¾
7	August	…	…	10,000	27	⅝
7	August	…	…	50,000	27	11/16
8	August	…	…	63,000	28	3/16
8	August	…	…	25,000	28	1/16
8	August	…	…	7,000	28	3/16
9	August	…	…	35,000	28	1/16
9	August	…	…	5,000	28	3/16
10	August	…	…	6,000	28	3/16
12	August	…	…	35,000	28	⅛
13	August	…	…	10,000	28	⅜
13	August	…	…	5,000	28	5/16
14	August	…	…	120,000	28	7/16
15	August	…	…	45,000	28	9/16
15	August	…	…	30,000	28	¾
15	August	…	…	15,000	28	⅝
16	August	…	…	234,000	28	13/16
17	August	…	…	40,000	29	⅛
17	August	…	…	10,000	28	13/16
28	August	…	…	10,0U0	28	⅜
29	August	…	…	20,000	28	9/16
30	August	…	…	10,000	28	11/16
30	August	…	…	100,000	28	13/16
30	August	…	…	100,000	28	13/16
31	August	…	…	10,000	28	⅞
2	September	…	…	12,000	28	13/16
2	September	…	…	102,000	28	⅛
2	September	…	…	100,000	28	⅞
2	September	…	…	100,000	28	13/16
3	September	…	…	100,000	28	⅞
3	September	…	…	50,000	28	⅞
3	September	…	…	10,000	28	¾
4	September	…	…	15,000	28	¾
4	September	…	…	15,000	28	15/16
4	September	…	…	100,000	28	15/16
4	September	…	…	50,000	28	15/16
5	September	…	…	100,000	28	⅞
5	September	…	…	50,000	28	⅞
5	September	…	…	30,000	28	¾
5	September	…	…	21,000	28	⅞

Date of Purchase.		Amount.	Price per oz.
1912.		£	d.
6	September	100,000	28	⅞
11	September	100,000	28	13/16
11	September	200,000	29	⅛
11	September	300,000	29	⅛
11	September	100,000	29	⅛
16	September	100,000	28	¼
24	September	200,000	28	11/16
(Approximate)		£5,205,000*
* This amount was reduced by net sales amounting to £205,000.

"London, 13th November, 1912."Financial Secretary,"The India Office,"Whitehall."Dear Sir,—In reply to your inquiry we beg to inform you that the custom of the bullion trade is that a broker who makes a contract is responsible both to the buyer and the seller for the due fulfilment of the contract. This has always been the custom, as our clients on either side require it, and they would consider it a breach of confidence if their names were divulged.—We are, Dear Sir, your obedient servants,(Signed) "Mocatta and Goldsmid."Pixley and Abell."Sharps and Wilkins."[

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will state what proposals are now before the Government of India in connection with the work of air service in war?

The Secretary of State is aware that this question is engaging the attention of the Government of India, but no definite proposals have as yet reached him.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what security was given by Messrs. Samuel Montagu and Company in respect of the sura of £1,050,000 lent to them this year out of the cash balances of India; and to what extent, if any, the security was registered or inscribed?

The securities for the loans making up the £1,050,000 were as follows:—

• £525,000 Guaranteed Debentures of the Bengal-Nagpur Railway Company.
• £35,000 Guaranteed Debentures of the Madras Railway Company.
• £70,000 Guaranteed Debentures of the Madras and Southern Mahratta Railway Company.
• £75,000 Guaranteed Debentures of the Assam-Bengal Railway Company.
• £25,000 Guaranteed Debentures of the Indian Midland Railway Company.
• £20,000 Guaranteed Debentures of the South Indian Railway Company.
• £190,000 India Sterling Bills.
• £56,000 London County Bills.
• £67,000 Guaranteed 2¾ per Cent. Stock.
• £12,000 2½ per Cent. Consolidated Stock.

Of the securities, £79,000 were registered and were transferred to the Stock Account of the Secretary of State at the Bank of England. The unregistered securities were held by the Bank of England on the Secretary of State's behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the commandership of the Cairo city police is now vacant; and, if so, will he say who it is proposed to appoint to the post?

I have no official information on this subject. The appointment to such a post is a matter for the consideration of the Egyptian authorities.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the death of a woman, named Bridget Burk, who was found dying on the roadside by the police a few hours after her discharge from Stone workhouse; whether he is aware that evidence was tendered at the inquest to the effect that the woman had been turned out in spite of her statement that she was ill and wished to see a doctor; that the workhouse master refused information to the coroner's officer and tried to obstruct him in the execution of his duty; and what action, if any, he proposes to take to prevent similar occurrences at this workhouse in the future?

I have made inquiries with respect to this case, and I have seen reports of the evidence given at the inquest. The woman had voluntarily taken her discharge from the workhouse of the Stone Union in the morning of the day on which she was admitted to the Cheadle Workhouse Infirmary. The medical evidence showed that she was suffering from heart disease, and the jury returned a verdict accordingly. The allegation that, before her discharge, she had complained that she was ill and wished to see a doctor, appears to rest upon the statement of the police officer who took her to the Cheadle Workhouse, and is denied. Apart from this statement, I do not find any evidence that she complained to any officer at the Stone Workhouse, or to the medical officer who examined her, or the other officials at the Cheadle Workhouse. As regards the workhouse master at Stone, I understand that he gave the coroner's officer all the information asked for as soon as the latter disclosed who he was; that he attended the inquest and gave evidence, although not summoned, and that he has made a full report on the whole matter to the guardians, who have expressed themselves satisfied with his conduct.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether an inspector of the Local Government Board had an interview with the Bedford Board of Guardians some months since with regard to the loss of fees sustained by the vaccinating officer in that union in consequence of the Vaccination Act and Order, 1907; if so, will he state the date of such interview; and what further action, if any, has the Local Government Board taken in this case?

The interview referred to took place on 23rd August last. After considering my inspector's report I came to the conclusion that no further action on my part was called for in this case.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in December last the Local Government Board wrote to the Tewkesbury Board of Guardians asking them to pay to their vaccination officer the sum of £30 by way of compensation, owing to this officer having lost £73 17s. in consequence of the Vaccination Act and Order, 1907, and that in future the said guardians should pay to this officer a salary of £45 per annum; whether, upon the guardians refusing, the Local Government Board issued an Order that the officer be paid £19 as compensation arid a salary, of £36 per annum; if so, what were the reasons why the Local Government Board did not in the Order fix the amounts to be paid to this officer that suggested by them; whether he is aware that in consequence of this officer's past losses of £54 7s. he is in pecuniary difficulties; and, if so, what further action, if any, does the Local Government Board intend taking in regard to this case?

I am aware of the action taken in this case. After considering the representations of the guardians, I did not feel justified in fixing larger sums than those mentioned in the Order. On the information at present before me, I am not proposing to take further action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is the practice to fill all staff posts in the Board by promoted second division clerks; if it is not the practice, what proportion of these posts are filled by promotion from amongst second division clerks; and whether he will give an assurance that this proportion will be increased, in view of the limited avenue of promotion for second division clerks in the Board of Trade?

It is not the practice to fill all staff posts in the Board of Trade by the promotion of second division clerks. All claims are carefully considered in relation to the qualifications required for the vacant post. Of 134 existing staff posts in the Board of Trade and its subordinate offices, 10 were filled from higher division clerks, 71 from second division clerks, 20 from ranks other than the higher and second divisions, 16 from officers transferred from other public Departments, and 17 from outside the Civil Service. As regards the last part of the question, I cannot say more than that the qualifications of eligible and meritorious second division clerks will always be carefully considered in connection with these appointments. It is not possible to assign any fixed proportion of such posts to any particular class of officers, having regard to the interests of the public service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state by whose authority a Blue Book has been issued to Members of the Select Committee to consider the provisional agreement with the Marconi Company and kindred matters; and whether he will lay this Blue Book upon the Table or otherwise make it accessible as a Parliamentary Paper to Members of this House?

The Blue Book referred to by the hon. Member was issued by the authority of the Government for the special information of the Select Committee at present considering the contract with the Marconi Company. As many of the documents of which it contains copies are confidential I am not prepared to lay it on the Table of the House as a Parliamentary Paper.

asked whether, for public convenience, the Postmaster-General will permit post-cards and letter-cards to be sold at the telegraph office in the Central Hall of the Palace of Westminster?

I have made arrangements to carry out this suggestion.

asked if the Postmaster-General can state when the arrangements by which the Division bell rings in St. Stephen's Club, Westminster, were carried out; whether the necessary extension of the electric wiring was ever sanctioned by order of the House; and whether this bell in St. Stephen's Club is tested and maintained by the Post Office officials?

The arrangements referred to were carried out in 1881. I am unable to trace any Papers relating to the installation. The bell circuit is tested and maintained by the Post Office officials. It is not connected with the Division bell system, but is worked independently from the Opposition Whip's room.

asked whether the Postmaster-General's attention has been drawn to the fact that on Sunday night last some 150 letters were discovered by the postman on duty to have been destroyed in pillar-boxes in the district of Winchmore Hill, North; whether the police authorities have reported that the outrage committed was connected with the demand for the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women; and whether, in view of outrages of a similar character in other parts of the Metropolitan area, he will cause a notice to be fixed to each pillar-box warning the public of the danger they incur in placing their letters in pillar-boxes and advising their being posted for safety at the nearest local office?

A pillar-box at Winchmore Hill was found by a policeman to be on fire, and when it was emptied by a postman 150 letters were found to have been damaged. There is every reason to suppose that the author of the fire, and the authors of a few similar acts of mischief in respect of Post Office letter boxes in the London Postal District and in other parts of the country, are persons who think by this means to influence public opinion in favour of the extension of the Parliamentary franchise to women. I do not think that it would be expedient to take the course which the hon. Member suggests. I would express the hope that members of the public will co-operate whenever possible in the detection of persons who commit such offences.

asked whether the Postmaster-General's attention has been called to the case of Worthy George Brown, an auxiliary postman, of Staple Hill, Bristol, who, whilst performing his duties on 13th July last, was shot and permanently blinded in both eyes by one William Nicholls, who has since been sentenced to five years' penal servitude; whether he is aware that Brown is thirty-five years of age, has been employed by the Post Office at an average weekly salary of 18s. 1d. for many years, and is now totally incapacitated from following any occupation whatever; and will he state what is the pension or allowance that he proposes to give Brown?

Mr. Brown has been allowed 9s. 0½d. a week as compensation since the accident, and this payment will be continued till October next, when further medical reports will be called for.

asked if telegraph learners are employed at the post offices at Tandragee and Gilford, which are of very similar standing to Poyntzpass post office; if the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the late learner at Poyntzpass has obtained employment; and if, in these circumstances, he will give instructions that the employment of a learner in the Poyntzpass office should be sanctioned?

I will have inquiry made in the matter and inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked whether the Postmaster-General, in view of his public expression of thanks to the Post Office staff generally for the exceptional services rendered by them during the East Anglian floods in August last, can state the reason for withholding from the special staff of telegraphists from London who rendered assistance in the flooded area payment of the subsistence allowance proper for such work, which very largely represents the expenses incurred by this staff in the performance of those duties?

The London telegraphists have been offered a subsistence allowance at the rate of 7s. 6d. a night, which is the highest rate proper to the class of duty upon which they were employed, and nearly double the amount that would ordinarily be given to telegraphists sent to the towns in question. This allowance is in addition to substantial sums for overtime paid to the officers in question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that about three weeks ago a number of cattle being brought from Cork to Deptford for slaughter there died on the voyage from the hardships and injuries on board ship during bad weather; is he aware that upwards of 500,000 head of cattle have come from Ireland since restrictions were established, and no case of foot-and-mouth disease was discovered amongst them; and will he allow animals that are inspected at Dublin at departure and at Holyhead on arrival to be railed to Deptford so as to avoid the loss and risk of long sea voyages?

I gather that the hon. Member refers to the case of the ss. "Ardmore" which sailed from Cork to Deptford on the 26th ultimo, and lost thirteen animals out of a cargo of 488 in consequence of the heavy weather experienced on the voyage. The occurrence was quite an exceptional one, as is evident from the fact that only two other animals have been lost out of the fourteen cargoes, comprising over 6,000 animals, shipped to Deptford since the wharf there was opened for the reception of Irish animals. About 480,000 animals have been imported into Great Britain from Ireland for detention or slaughter at the authorised landing places. No case of foot-and-mouth disease has been discovered among them. The outbreaks at Mullingar are still so recent that I am not at present prepared to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that a meeting of agriculturists and others held in Perth, on the 8th November, passed a resolution calling on the Board of Agriculture to permit the resumption of the cattle trade from Ireland, and stating that the procedure pursued by the Board of Agriculture in the case of England when foot-and-mouth disease existed there would be sufficient safeguard in the case of Ireland; whether he has read a report of those proceedings; and whether he intends to take any further action thereon?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. I have arranged to receive a deputation, appointed by the meeting to which the hon. Member refers, on Tuesday next.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that several advertisements of quack medicines and appliances, which are condemned by the veterinary profession, appear regularly in the Board's Journal; and whether, in the interests of farmers, who regard such remedies as having the imprimatur of the Board, as well as of the said profession, he will cause such advertisements to be discontinued?

All arrangements with regard to the publication of advertisements in the Board's Journal are in the hands of the advertisement agent, subject to the right of the Board to reject any advertisements which they may consider objectionable. I think that readers of the Journal generally understand that the Board accept no responsibility for statements made in the advertisements, and I have no reason to suppose that they are less competent than other people to estimate the value of such statements. But I will consider the advisability of inserting a definite disclaimer of responsibility on behalf of the Board in future issues of the Journal. It would, in my opinion, detract from the usefulness of the Journal to exclude advertisements altogether.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has yet received any requests from county councils for assistance to farmers and small holders who suffered by the autumn floods; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is the intention of the Government to promote a national land bank, and, if so, what its powers and scope will be?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second part, therefore, does not arise.