asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what are the British commercial undertakings in which the greater part of the capital of the German firms of Carlowitz and Company and Arnhold, Karbery, and Company are respectively engaged?

The information on which the reply was based to the lion. Member on the 31st ultimo is necessarily confidential, and I should not feel justified in making it public.

asked whether the German firm of Carlowitz and Company, directly represented on the court of directors of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, upon being sued in the court of session in order to compel them to count and reckon in regard to the profits upon their transactions with the Chinese Government between the 23rd November, 1892, and the 23rd November, 1895, denied the jurisdiction of the court over them and denied that they had any property or business within the jurisdiction of the court; whether he is aware that the suit had, in consequence, to be abandoned; and whether he still is satisfied that the greater part of the capital of Carlowitz and Company is engaged in British trade?

I have no information as to the first part of the question. As the lion. Member has already been informed (on the 31st ultimo), I am satisfied that the greater part of the capital of Messrs. Carlowitz and Company is engaged in British trade. I do not, however, see any connection between the two parts of the question.

asked whether "Alain," a daily newspaper circulating widely in Egypt, has been suppressed by the authorities for expressing the view of the Nationalist party there in regard to the war in which Turkey is now engaged; if so, will he say what was the nature of the comments which have earned this punishment; and whether the suppression of this newspaper has his sanction?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given to the hon. Member for Burnley on 12th November on the same subject. To that reply I have at present nothing further to add.

Will the hon. Gentleman reply to the latter part of my question, and having regard to the responsibility of Parliament for this matter will he make inquiries?

I think it was stated in the answer to which I have referred that this is a matter requiring the sanction of His Majesty's Government; but I will see whether we are obtaining the information, and if we are I will convey it to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked (1) what arrangements have recently been come to with the Governments of Canada and Australia as regards consular representation; (2) if he will lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence with the Governments of Australia and Canada leading up to the recent arrangements for the consular representation of these dominions; and (3) whether South Africa, New Zealand, and Newfoundland will have the same facilities for better consular representation that have been recently arranged for Canada and Australia if they so desire?

The manner in which the Consular service could be organised so as to be of greater assistance to the trade and commerce of the Dominion of Canada was discussed personally with the Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce during his visit to this country last summer. An arrangement has been come to whereby the Canadian Government will be furnished as soon as published with copies of all Trade reports of Consular officers in districts in which Canada is specially interested. Canadian firms will be at liberty to apply direct to any Consul for information as to possibilities of sale of Canadian products, business methods of the district, best means of get-ting into touch with markets, etc. They will receive all possible assistance in such matters, subject to the condition laid down in the report of the Canadian Minister of Trade that Consuls are primarily commissioned to serve the trade of the United Kingdom. A statement of Canada's commercial and industrial resources and developments will be prepared by the Canadian Government giving a list of chief industries and sources of supply, and indicating questions upon which Canadian merchants and manufacturers desire information. This statement will be revised periodically, and communicated to His Majesty's Consuls. Canadian Trade Commissioners in foreign countries will be at liberty to apply to His Majesty's Consuls for advice and assistance, and arrangements are contemplated for placing resident official Canadian commercial representatives into immediate touch with the British Consul for the locality concerned. Members of the Canadian Commercial service will also be eligible for selection, and entrance to the British Consular service on such terms and conditions as are set for other entrants thereto. His Majesty's Government will always be ready, on request, to consider the extension of this arrangement to the Governments of other of the Oversea Dominions. Useful information respecting the resources of Australia has already, by arrangement with the Commonwealth Government, been supplied to Consular officers in certain localities, so that they may be in a better position to reply to any inquiries addressed to them on the subject.

Is it not a fact that a Departmental Committee has recently been investigating the whole question of Consular representation, and if so whether their Report can be laid on the Table?

That is quite a different question. I do not think any Departmental Committee has been going into this sort of thing at all. The Committee has only been inquiring into increases in the Consular service. These arrangements, which I have referred to, were made chiefly in conversation.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will take into consideration the question of giving encouragement to the cultivation of apples in this country, with a view to securing a cheaper and more plentiful supply of this fruit for the benefit of the poor than there is at present?

The answer is in the affirmative. If the hon. and gallant Member will let me have any definite suggestions which occur to him for the promotion of the object which he has in view I shall be very glad indeed to receive and to consider them.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are hundreds of thousands of apples in the West of England that rot under the trees every year owing to there being a glut in the local market?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he still wishes the County Council of Huntingdonshire to levy a rate in order to meet the loss sustained through the recent floods in the management of the statutory small holdings: and whether farmers who have suffered themselves severely from the floods are to be called upon to pay this rate?

I have never expressed the wish attributed to me in the first part of the question. The second part of the question does not come within the scope of the Board's administration. I have already told the hon. Gentleman that I have secured Treasury sanction to assist county councils from the small holdings' account to the extent of 50 per cent, of the rent remitted to small holders under the county councils in consequence of loss sustained through the recent floods.

Does the right hon. Gentleman see any other way except a rate in which this loss can be met?

I have already stated to the House in reply to the hon Member the arrangement we have made with the Treasury, and I hope that offer will do what is required.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, approximately what was the total number of horses in the United Kingdom in the years 1896 and 1906, respectively, and in each of the completed years since, distinguishing, as far as possible, those kept for agricultural purposes and those not so kept?

I will arrange to circulate with the Votes a statement showing the number of horses used for agricultural purposes and of unbroken horses, as returned on the 4th June in each of the years specified in the question. I regret that no statistics are available as to the number of horses not included in the categories which I have mentioned. [See Written Answers this date.]

Is there no sort of census being taken now of the horses that are useful and available for national requirements?

I expect the War Office are doing something of the kind, but any question on that subject had better be addressed to the War Office.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that no trace of foot-and-mouth distemper has been discovered amongst over half a million of Irish livestock imported into Great Britain, and the whole of Ireland has been declared free from disease, he will now consider the expediency of removing the quarantine regulations?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has decided to admit store cattle into Great Britain from Minister and Con-naught or other parts of Ireland without any restrictions; and, if any restrictions are maintained, what is the nature and extent of such restrictions?

I am unable to add anything to the reply I gave to the hon. Members for Dublin (St. Patrick's) and Kildare on Tuesday last, and I am sending the hon. Gentlemen copies of the Animals (Landing from Ireland) Consolidation and Amendment Order which was issued on the 21st November.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that great complaints are being received respecting the delay in shipments of livestock from Dublin and Belfast, and will he take measures to remove the congestion on this side?

I have received some complaints this morning on the subject to which the hon. Member refers, and I am looking into the case.

Can the right hon. Gentleman see his way, when issuing the Order, to allow fat cattle to go through the slaughter-houses in the ordinary way?

I am afraid I cannot at present allow fat cattle to pass through the slaughter-house in the ordinary way, but I hope the time will soon arrive when that will be possible.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what restrictions are at present existing against the export of hay and straw from Ireland to England, and vice rersâ; will he state how long these restrictions have been in operation and when he, on behalf of the Irish Department, intends to remove the restrictions against the importation of British fodder; and whether, having regard to the present condition of things in Ireland, his Department thinks there is any necessity for continuing the restrictions against the export of Irish fodder to Great Britain?

The landing in Great Britain of hay and straw brought from Ireland for use as fodder or litter for animals is prohibited since the 8th July last by Order of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries; and by an Order of this Department, which came into operation on the 1st July last, there is a similar prohibition against the landing in Ireland of hay and straw from Great Britain. The Department are in communication with the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries with a view to relaxation of these Orders.

Did not the English Department on 1st October express their willingness to consider the question of the importation of Irish hay under certain restrictions provided the Irish Department would take this action, and has there not been great delay on the part of the Irish Department in taking such action?

There has been correspondence going on since October on the subject and a draft Order has been sent by the Irish Department to the Board of Agriculture in England for their concurrence.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any assurance that this question, which is a very important one, is receiving his consideration now, and is there any probability of the prohibition being relaxed

I quite agree that it is of importance. I have just stated that a draft Order has been sent to the Board of Agriculture in England for their concurrence.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether the Egyptian obelisk standing on the Thames Embankment, and vulgarly known as Cleopatra's Needle, is maintained by the Office of Works; whether the stone shows any signs of decay as the effect of the London atmosphere and climate; and whether any steps are being taken to preserve from gradual destruction this monument?

The obelisk known as Cleopatra's Needle is in the charge of the London County Council and not of the First Commissioner of Works.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the desirability of enlarging the reference to the proposed Select Committee on motor omnibuses so as to include, as a secondary matter, the consideration of the question of the damage to roads and to property, and the inconvenience and injury to residents caused by the unrestricted plying of motor omnibuses throughout greater London?

As I stated, in reply to similar questions a few days ago, I do not think it would be desirable to extend the reference to the Select Committee in the direction suggested by my hon. Friend, at any rate until the question of safety is disposed of.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the opinion of the police authorities, the present type of motor omnibus now plying in suburban and residential roads in Greater London is suitable for the purpose, having in view the meagreness of the traffic, the capacity and the weight of the vehicles, and the consequent injury not only to the roads, but to the property and health of the neighbouring residents; and whether he has power to put a check upon this growing practice by refusing to licence further vehicles of this description except upon the condition that they ply only upon routes for which they are suitable?

Time will doubtless show that the type of motor omnibus now being licensed in London is capable of improvement, but it is the best at present available and, I believe, greatly superior to previous types. Motor omnibuses which comply with the prescribed conditions are licensed by the Commissioner of Police for the whole of the Metropolitan Police district. He has no authority to licence omnibuses for particular routes only.

asked whether any of the members proposed to be nominated to the Select Committee on Motor Traffic are employed by, or are financially interested in, any of the companies whose operations may be under discussion?

I have no official knowledge on the matter.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that certain benches of magistrates have conceived that they have power to send an offender against the Vagrancy Act, 1898, to the quarter sessions to be dealt with as an incorrigible rogue under the Vagrancy Act, 1824, and in view of the fact that certain Courts of Quarter Sessions have conceived that they have power so to deal with such an offender and to sentence him to be flogged under the provisions of the Tenth Section of the Act of 1824, and that such floggings have been from time to time so directed and administered, he will issue a circular to the magistrates and recorders in England and Wales, drawing attention to the real state of the law, in order to prevent the recurrence of such occurrences?

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the doubts which have arisen whether the penalty of flogging is legal under the Vagrancy Act of 1898, and in view of the number of floggings which have recently been administered under that Act, he will draw the attention of the magistrates and recorders of England and Wales to the possibility of these floggings being held to be unauthorised?

The legal question is shortly to be brought before the Court of Criminal Appeal, and, pending their decision, the sentences of flogging in these cases are suspended.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the difficulty in which watch committees throughout the country are placed in deciding under what circumstances whist drives are legal, he can see his way to issue a circular letter to watch committees giving them some authoritative guidance on the subject?

I will consider whether T can give the police any assistance in this matter, but I have no authority to decide in what circumstances whist drives are legal or illegal; that is a matter which can be settled authoritatively only by the Courts of Law.

asked the Home Secretary whether, somt time ago, Archibald Newlands was employed as a factory inspector for the Rosyth district in his Department; and, if so, whether, during Newlands' appointment, he inspected the machinery in use in the construction of the new dock works, including concrete mixers; and whether he made any reports upon the precautions necessary with regard to fencing these mixers to prevent workmen falling or being knocked into them; and, if so, what was the nature of such reports?

Mr. Newlands was recently the inspector in charge of the district in which Rosyth is situated. He was asked, on the occurrence of an accident in connection with the machinery referred to, to ascertain the circumstances. Mr. New-lands made certain inquiries and furnished a brief statement of the facts; but, as his inquiries showed that the work which was being carried on did not come under the Factory Acts, he did not make any formal report or put forward any recommendations.

Could the right hon. Gentleman give me a copy of the statement that he did make?

No, Sir; Mr. Newlands' statement would be a confidential document.

Are all the factory inspectors' reports on general questions such as public works machinery, and the necessary precautions to be taken always confidential documents?

A report of this kind at this stage would certainly be a confidential document. My hon. Friend must understand that the report was not made under the Factory Acts, and is not therefore of the kind which ought to be published.

May I press for an answer to this question? Is the report being declared confidential by the right hon. Gentleman's Department for fear of prosecutions for perjury, this gentleman having given evidence in a compensation case directly hostile to the report which he has made to the Department?

No, that is the first I have heard of any suggestion of the kind.

It is for that purpose I put the question down.

I was not aware of it.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been directed to the danger of the crossing at Drummond's Bank; and if he will make inquiry with the view of stationing a police officer there for the protection of foot passengers?

The Commissioner of Police informs me that a constable is as a rule stationed at this point during the busy hours, that is, between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and the Council of the City of Westminster have been asked to provide a refuge in the centre of the roadway.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the trial of certain dock labourers at the Essex Autumn Assizes for riotous conduct at the time of the London dock dispute, all of the prisoners, with the exception of one, being sentenced to three months' hard labour; and whether he will examine the report of the trial and see whether, under the circumstances, there might be some mitigation of the sentences on these men, most of whom have wives and children dependent on them?

I am making inquiries about the cases, but the reports have not yet reached me.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will take steps to extend Sections 7, 8, and 11 of the London County Council by-laws as to employment agencies so as to apply to the United Kingdom as a whole, and not only to the area within the jurisdiction of the London County Council?

As regards registries for female domestic servants, local authorities can already obtain powers to make by-laws under Section 85 of the Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907, and the Home Office model form of by-laws under that Section, which have been adopted by a number of authorities, contain provisions similar to those in number 7 and 11 of the London County Council's by-laws to which the hon. Member refers. As regards registries for other classes of employment, the hon. Member's proposal could only be effected by legislation. I would refer him, however, to the provisions of the Children (Employment Abroad) Bill, introduced on behalf of the Home Office this Session in another place, which seeks to prohibit and restrict children and young persons being sent abroad for the purpose of performing for profit.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any power to compel local authorities to adopt these bylaws?

No, Sir, they are optional by-laws.

asked why the new Mines Regulation Act, limiting colliery winding enginemen to eight hours per day, has not been enforced in all collieries in Lanarkshire?

The provision does not come into force until a date to be prescribed, and is to be subject to exceptions which are to be laid down by general Regulations under the Act. The Regulations have been issued in draft, but, objections having been taken to them, the matter will have to be referred to a Referee. As soon as the regulations are settled, a date will be fixed for the provision in the Act to come into force.

Is the Order general, or does it only apply to Lanarkshire?

That would depend upon the date prescribed, but the Regulations apply to the whole of Scotland.

asked the Home Secretary if he will lay upon the Table of the House a verbatim Report of the evidence given in the recent proceedings in connection with the disturbances at Llanystumdwy?

There is no official Report of the evidence which could be laid before the House; but the hon. Member will find a very full newspaper report in the "Cambria News" of 22nd November.

May I ask whether the police authorities have not a report of the proceedings?

I have inquired on that point, and I understand they have no report which is as full as that contained in the "Cambria News."

Will a copy of this paper be put in the Library?

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether Dr. Manby, of his Department, on the 16th June, 1911, visited the urban district council of Prestwich, and found that the provisions of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act were not being carried out; that on Dr. Manby's advice the urban district council, on the 19th July in that year, appointed their inspector of nuisances for the purposes of Section 17 of that Act; whether the Local Government Board have during this year received a letter from the aforesaid council asking consent to the dismissal of the inspector of nuisances, and have inquired on what grounds such request has been made; if so, what answer has been received; and whether, under the circumstances, he proposes in the interests of the public health to cause a public inquiry to be made into the sanitary condition of, and the administration of sanitary law in, the area of the urban district council of Prestwich?

I am aware that Dr. Manby visited Prestwich in June, 1911. He reported to the effect that it was then the intention of the urban district council to designate the inspector of nuisances for the purposes of Section 17 of the Act of 1909, and this was subsequently done. In reply to a letter from the Council asking for consent to the termination of the inspector of nuisances' appointment, the Local Government Board wrote asking for a statement of the reasons for the proposal. The council replied to the effect that the matter had been deferred owing to the probability of further changes taking place in the health department, and they asked whether they could give the inspector of nuisances notice to terminate his appointment on 30th June next. The Board replied that this could be done, but that, if such notice was given, they should be furnished with a statement of reasons. If the notice is given, and the reasons furnished seem to me to be insufficient, I will consider the question of an inspection of the district.

asked the number of local authorities who have applied to the Local Government Board for permission to prepare town-planning schemes, the number of authorities to whom such permission has been granted, and the number of town-planning schemes prepared or adopted by-local authorities which have been approved by the Local Government Board; and whether the Local Government Board has issued any sets of general provisions under Clause 55 (1) of the Act of 1909 for carrying out town-planning schemes?

The number of local authorities who have applied for permission to-prepare town-planning schemes is twenty-six. These applications relate to thirty-four schemes. The number of local authorities to whom the permission has been granted is fifteen in respect of twenty schemes. Three schemes have been prepared and submitted for approval, but have not yet been finally approved. The answer to the last inquiry is in the negative. The information asked for is contained in the White Paper presented to the House on the 12th instant, except that one application for authority to prepare a scheme has been received since that date.

asked how many complete schemes for detecting and treating tuberculosis have been submitted by local authorities; and how many have been approved up to date by the Board?

Complete schemes have already been submitted by the councils of sixty counties and county boroughs, and the Board have approved of the main lines of thirty-three of these schemes. Schemes of a partial or temporary character have been submitted by forty-six other such councils, and schemes for the provision of dispensaries have already been submitted by sixteen Metropolitan borough councils.

How long have the Local Government Board been considering the schemes not yet approved?

As soon as is consistent with decency, economy, and order we sanction these schemes. Approval is not withheld longer than is necessary.

asked how many beds in sanatoria, as distinguished from beds in hospitals or other institutions, are now available for insured persons suffering from tuberculosis?

The total number of beds in the sanatoria already approved by my Department is 2,806.

Have all these come up to the requirements laid down by the Local Government Board?

The distinguished corps of doctors we have set aside to approve these schemes are satisfied with them.

But do they come up to the requirements laid down in the circular of the Local Government Board?

Yes, or else they would not be approved.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the fact that five children have died at a branch of the Walworth crêche, he will consider the advisability of appointing a public inspector of crêches?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As criminal proceedings are being taken in the case of a home for children at Tooting, to which my lion. Friend probably refers, the facts are now sub judice. The premises in question were a residential home, under inspection by the London County Council. The crêche at Walworth is not in any way involved in these proceedings, and I have no reason to think there is any need for the inspection of crêches where children are left only for the day and taken home by their parents at night.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a general revaluation of the city of Dublin, as enlarged by the additions of Clontarf and other urban districts, was directed by Section 60 of The Dublin Corporation Act, 1900, and that, in Committee on the Bill, the Commissioner of Valuation swore that the revaluation could be made in about a year, and that, on the faith that it could be done within a reasonable period, the added urban areas, which had a modern and relatively high valuation as compared with the city, were protected for seven years from being rated equally with the city, so that the obsolete valuation might be made right; is he aware that nearly thirteen years have now expired and that Dublin has not been revalued, and that for nearly six years the added urban areas have consequently been over-taxed; and will he state what has been the cause of this delay?

The facts generally are as stated, but the Commissioner of valuation is not aware that he made any such statement as to the time the work work would take, nor is there anything in the printed evidence to corroborate it. The work was not begun until 1906, partly to enable the revaluation of Belfast to be completed and partly because the Corporation of Dublin, at whose request the revaluation was to be made, were anxious that it should be deferred. Under these circumstances the Irish Government did not think it desirable to proceed with it. Since 1906 the work has been steadily progressing. First, the whole city had to be surveyed and particulars collected showing how the property was held, the rents paid, etc.; after this the valuation had to be made by the permanent valuation staff of the Department, and these could only be employed on it when not engaged on the annual revision.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the city of Belfast, which is more populous than Dublin, was revalued in about one year; was it after the revaluation of Belfast and it was seen that the interests of publicans were seriously affected that the valuation of Dublin was delayed; is he aware that, in an affidavit filed on the 30th of May, 1906, in the King's Bench Division, Sir John Barton, the Commissioner of valuation, swore that a skilled staff was required, and that he had not been provided with the necessary funds to enable him to proceed with the revaluation, and on this plea postponed an application for a mandamus; was he supplied with a sum of £10,000 in the latter part of 1906 to enable the work to be done; if so, how many extra persons did he employ, and were those persons clerks or valuers; and why was the work not done?

The revaluation of Belfast was not completed in one year. It was begun in September, 1899, and completed in June, 190a. The work in Dublin was much more complicated and difficult than that in Belfast, largely owing to the fact that Dublin is a much older city, I am not aware that the interests of the Dublin publicans had anything to do with the postponement of the valuation. Up till June, 1906, no extra funds were provided for the revaluation, but on that date a Supplemental Estimate for £1,000 for this work was submitted to Parliament. Six surveyors were then employed and the necessary clerical work carried out by the permanent office staff.

asked whether Sir John Barton in October, 1906. consented and undertook in a consent made a rule of Court that he would forthwith proceed with the revaluation of Dublin ordered by Statute some six years earlier, and is this valuation still incomplete, to the loss of the added urban districts; is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the valuation of Dublin is over sixty years old and made on an obsolete principle, no account being taken of business value of premises, so that a corner block public-house in a leading thoroughfare rented at £300 on a lease for twenty years, tenant paying taxes, is rated at £45 only; and can he say why, Belfast being revalued in about sixteen months, Dublin's revaluation should take thirteen years and be still incomplete?

The facts are as stated, but I am advised that it is not the case that the delay is likely to cause any serious loss to the added districts. The former valuation of Dublin was made under the same Valuation Acts as those under which the revaluation is now being carried out. Any discrepancy, such as that mentioned by the hon. Member, is due to the fact that the case was not reported to the Valuation Office by the rating body. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have just given him.

asked whether the delay for thirteen years in the revaluation of Dublin has caused a loss to the urban districts added in 1900, they being since 1907 rated to the city rates on their high modern valuation, contrary to the intention of the Act of 1900; one of them, Clontarf, contributing in rates only £10,000 a year to 1907, and then when rated with the city paying £22,000 a year; has the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the remarks of the learned Recorder of Dublin on the injustice caused by the delay in carrying out the intentions of Parliament by having the revaluation complete before the seven-year period had expired; and will he see that publican interests or insufficiency of funds no longer delay the revaluation?

From the figures available it would appear that the valuation of the added districts is not much higher than that of the rest of the city. Neither the interests of the publicans nor the insufficiency of funds are in any way delaying the revaluation, which will be issued as soon as the present annual revision is completed, thus enabling the revaluation to be brought up to date.

asked the Prime Minister whether the advisory committee on the appointment of justices of the peace in Perthshire is summoned and consulted in all cases prior to the publication of lists of new justices for that county?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Canadian Government has decided to establish a woman's branch in Great Britain in connection with its immigration work, with the object of encouraging women coming to Canada, and also that the question of female emigration from England has been discussed at the sittings of the Dominions Royal Commission; and whether, considering that the number of adult males on 1st January, 1911, in the British Isles was 12,023,000, and the number of females 13,384,000, or an excess of 1,361,000 adult women over men, and that during the year 1910–11, out of 123,013 emigrants, including children, to Canada, only 35,255 were female adults to 65,478 male, which shows that the emigration of men is, roughly, double that of women, he will now consider the question of forming an Imperial Board of Emigration, comprised of representatives of Great Britain and all the Dominions to go thoroughly into the question of female emigration, with a view to secure the greater equalisation of the sexes throughout the Empire?

I have observed the facts to which the hon. Member calls attention, but I am not prepared, in present circumstances, to consider the question of forming such a Board as is proposed. The subject is under consideration by the Dominions Royal Commission, and so far, as was pointed out in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member on 12th July last year by the President of the Local Government Board, it has not been considered necessary for the British Government to offer any special encouragement to female emigration.

Will the Government take no steps, considering all the circumstances of the case?

I do not think we can take any steps. Female emigration to Canada and other parts of the Dominions of the Crown has been greater in the last twelve months than in any previous year.

But has it been sufficient to counterbalance the preponderance of women left in this country?

It is counter-balanced.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has taken note of the feeling existing against the proposal to erect the new buildings of the new Delhi in the Italian Renaissance style and of the opinion that a native Indian style should be adopted; and whether he will assure the House that no decision will be taken to build the new Delhi in the Italian style until the full proposals of the Government of India have been pubished and the House allowed an opportunity of considering them, or at least until the proposals have been placed before the public for criticism or approval?

I am not aware that any such proposal as is mentioned by the hon. Member is before the Government of India. No decision as to the style of architecture to be employed has been reached. The Secretary of State is unable to give the further assurance asked for.

asked whether the Treasury has recently appointed an inspector of audit for Wales and Monmouth; whether the post was advertised and a knowledge of Welsh required in candidates; and whether the person appointed by the Treasury speaks Welsh?

Inspectors of audit under the National Insurance Act, who are servants of the Treasury, and not of the Insurance Commissioners, are appointed for service in any part of the United Kingdom in which their services may from time to time be required. The inspector for the time being assigned to Wales does not possess a knowledge of the Welsh language, and, as his work is limited to the supervision of auditors all of whom speak English, such knowledge is not essential. It was stated in the advertisements inviting application for a post on the audit staff that a knowledge of Welsh would be necessary in the case of some of the appointments, and a certain number of Welsh-speaking candidates are in fact being appointed.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) what steps his Department took to ascertain the opinion of the Scottish universities upon the question of the inclusive fee for certain courses of study before making the acceptance of the policy of the inclusive fee a condition of increased Grants from the Exchequer; and (2) whether his Department received the sanction of this House for the policy of imposing the inclusive fee upon the Scottish universities?

In communicating to the Scottish universities in July, 1910, the intention to ask Parliament to vote an additional Grant in 1910–11, the Treasury stated that they proposed to make increased Grants subject to conditions, one of which was the "institution of an inclusive fee of uniform amount throughout the universities for all the classes included in a particular form of study." The Scottish universities, after holding a conference, accepted in principle the condition of establishing an inclusive fee. The Grant has been voted in the usual way ever since 1910–11, and until quite recently, so far as I am aware, no objection has been raised in the House of Commons to the action of the Treasury.

Did the right hon. Gentleman take legal opinion as to the justification for the Treasury taking such action without a separate ordinance?

I should have notice of that question. It was done before my time.

On whose initiative did the Treasury proceed in making this entirely new demand upon the Scottish universities, infringing their statutory right of fixing these fees?

I think it was done two and a half years ago. If the hon. Gentleman will put down a question I will try to give him the information.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he will take steps to ensure that the Fair-Wages Resolution of the House of Commons of February, 1909, is observed in every contract and subcontract entered into in connection with the erection of the new Government buildings in Merrion Street, Dublin?

The answer to the question is in the affirmative.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to charges impugning the good faith of the White Lead Committee and seeking to prejudice their Report before it is issued; and whether the Public Prosecutor proposes to take any action to protect the Committee against any attempt to influence their findings?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I have seen the advertisements in the newspapers to which the question refers. I do not think the Committee are likely to be influenced by, or would wish any notice taken of, charges made anonymously in advertisements in the Press.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether his attention has been called to a Notice of Motion standing in the names of the hon. Member for Colchester and the hon. Member for North Herts proposing a further financial resolution in connection with the Superannuation Bill; and whether the Government will move a Resolution to that effect before the Committee on that Bill is concluded, so that an Amendment to carry out such Resolution now standing in the names of the same two hon. Members may be submitted to the Committee on the Bill?

As I stated in the discussion on the Second Reading of this Bill I am making careful inquiry with a view, if necessary, to introducing a Bill dealing with the point next year. I am afraid I cannot undertake that the question shall be dealt with in the present Bill.

Does the right hon. Gentleman definitely promise that it shall be dealt with next year, and is he making that promise on behalf of the Government?

I hope it may be dealt with next year. It is a complicated question, and I am having inquiry made with a view to its being dealt with.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the complaints of long hours of railwaymen on the railways in the United Kingdom, he will call for a special Return of the actual hours worked over ten per day or during any shift of duty during the months of October and November, 1912?

A Return under Section 4 of the Regulation of Railways Act, 1S39, showing the periods of duty in excess of twelve hours worked during June, 1912, by certain classes of servants in the employment of the principal railway companies of the United Kingdom was presented to Parliament last month. I do not think that such complaints of long hours as have been received by the Board of Trade lately are of a nature to justify the Board in calling for a general Return such as suggested, but as my hon. Friend is aware the Board of Trade are always willing on receipt of representations that the hours of labour of the servants of a particular railway company are excessive, to consider the question of taking action under the Railway Regulation Act, 1893, and as a matter of fact action has recently been taken under that Act in respect of one of the complaints to which presumably my lion. Friend alludes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman's Department in the near future consider the matter of reforming their administration as instituted upon the Act of 1893, with a view to shortening the term of what is considered excessive?

I am always prepared to take action in regard to these matters when complaints are brought to my notice. I understand that representations have been made upon particular points, and I hope with satisfactory results.