asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a meeting, attended by representatives of the county councils of thirteen counties in the North of Scotland, was held at Inverness, on 30th October, to consider the position of the Northern counties in view of the policy adopted by the Road Board; whether he is aware that the small assessable valuation of the Northern counties, and the greatly increased cost of maintaining roads owing to motor traffic, have brought about a large increase in the local rates; and whether he will advise the Road Board to consider the exceptional position of the Northern counties with a view to relaxing the conditions laid down with regard to Grants?

The Road Board have been informed that a meeting of representatives of county councils in the North of Scotland was held at Inverness on the 30th October on the subject of the increased expenditure entailed upon road authorities by motor car traffic, and they have intimated their willingness to receive a deputation at an early date. The Board are aware of the assessable value of the Northern counties and of the increased cost of maintaining roads owing to motor traffic, especially roads which have not been well maintained in past years. Such increase in cost of maintenance is general, and is not confined to the Northern counties. The Board have no power to make Grants towards the increased cost of maintenance, and the advances that the Board have made to necessary improvements on roads in the North of Scotland has reduced the expenditure which would otherwise have fallen upon the rates. The Board have contributed the greater portion of the expenditure on improvements in those cases in which they have made Grants, but the principle that some portion of such expenditure should be borne by the highway authorities who are responsible for proposing and executing such improvements appears to be a sound one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that valuations for Estate Duties are being arrived at in Ireland without personal inspection, but by employing Griffith's valuation, which is admitted to be out of date; whether similar valuations in Great Britain are arrived at without personal inspection; and, if not, why a distinction in practice is allowed in the methods employed in both countries?

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement upon this subject in this House when the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, was under discussion. I then pointed out that in Ireland there would be in many cases no need for the personal inspection of property, as much information was already available in the Department responsible for the national valuation of that country. I may add that a personal inspection is made in all cases where it is found that such information is insufficient or unavailable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate cost of extending old age pensions to all widows between sixty-five and seventy years of age who would be entitled to them if they were over seventy?

I regret that I have not the information which would enable me to answer the question. An estimate could not be framed without immense labour, and even then the result would be untrustworthy.

asked the Chief Secretary upon what grounds the Local Government Board, on appeal, disallowed an old age pension granted repeatedly by the Louis-burgh sub-committee to Mary Davitt, widow, Kinnadoohy, Louisburgh; what are the items of claimant's income as estimated by the pension officer, and does his estimate include all profits from land which claimant holds as representative of her late husband and trustee for her two sons, who are legally entitled to shares of such profits?

Mary Davitt's claim was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit. She lives on a farm of ninety-one acres, which is fully stocked and well tilled. Her statement is that she transferred the farm to her two sons, but the fact remains that she resides on the farm, and that the rent receipts are in her name; and the Board accordingly were not satisfied that she was not, in fact, in beneficial occupation of the farm.

asked the reason for the Local Government Board having disallowed the pension twice granted by the Athlone pension committee to Mr. Edward Leonard, Moyvannon, Kiltoom, county Roscommon, in face of the fact that this man is seventy-three years of age and that his only income is £5 a year and the use of a room in the house of his son.

Edward Leonard lives with his son on a good farm of thirty-seven acres, which is well stocked and tilled, and notwithstanding the fact that he assigned the farm to his son in February, 1911, the privileges he derives there from could not, in the opinion of the Local Government Beard, be regarded as worth less than £31 10s. a year.

asked on what grounds Mrs. Anne McAndrew, Aughleam, Belmullet, county Mayo, has been deprived of her old age pension at the instance of the local pension officer?

Anne McAndrew's pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit. She lives with her husband, who is the occupier of a farm of ten acres of good land, of which three acres are tilled, and which carries twelve head of cattle, a horse, pigs, and some fowl.

asked the Chief Secretary if Mrs. Alice Coen, of Lisserdrea Boyle, Boyle, county Roscommon, and Martin Finneran, of Tintagh, Boyle, county Roscommon, were reported by the pension officer at Boyle to be entitled to 3s. a week pension; if on the 1st August, 1912, the Boyle (No. 1) old age pension sub-committee decided they were entitled to 5s. a week; if, on an appeal being brought against the decisions by the pension officer to the Local Government Board for Ireland, the Board decided the claimants were not entitled to any pension; whether he will state upon what grounds the Board came to their decisions; and if the Board was in a better position to decide on the merits than the pension officer and the sub-committee who investigated the claims locally?

The facts generally are as stated in the first part of the question. In both these cases the Local Government Board disallowed the claims on appeal on the ground that the means of the claimants exceeded the statutory limit. Alice Coen lived with her husband on a farm of sixteen acres which was well stocked and tilled, while Martin Finneran had a farm of eleven acres of good land which was also fully stocked and tilled, and it appeared to the Board that neither of these persons was entitled to any pension.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the fact that the grant to the Trustees of the British Museum for binding and for the purchase of foreign books has remained at the same figure for over twenty years; and whether, in view of the increase of scientific books of high value published on the Continent, particularly in France, Germany, and Italy and also in the United States, he will provide in the next Estimates for an additional £10,000, so as to enable the British Museum to preserve its reputation as containing the greatest library in the world?

The Grant to the Trustees of the British Museum for book-binding has not remained at the same figure for twenty years. It varies year by year in accordance with the estimates put forward by the Trustees and sanctioned by the Treasury. There is no separate Grant for the purchase of foreign books. The total Grant-in-Aid for acquisitions for the whole of the Museum has varied more than once in the last twenty years, though it was stationary from 1897 to 1911. The allocation of the Grant-in-Aid between the several Departments rests with the Trustees. It is believed that the British Museum expenditure on foreign books greatly exceeds that of any other library in Europe.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reason for the increased stringency of the examination by the Custom House officers of the baggage of travellers landing in England from the Continent; if any instructions have been given by the Treasury in recent years on the subject; and if he is aware that it is more strict at the present time than the examination at the, frontiers of foreign countries?

No instructions on the subject referred to have been given by the Treasury in recent years, nor have the Board of Customs and Excise issued any directions for increased stringency. I am afraid I cannot express any opinion on the point raised in the last paragraph of the question?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state, approximately, the total payments to the National Insurance Fund to date, 15th instant, made by employed persons and employers; whether the sum thus realised is being from time to time employed by the Government broker in the purchase of consolidated or other stock; and whether any moneys so realised will be available for the expediting of land purchase in Ireland?

The amounts received into the National Health Insurance Funds in the period from the commencement of the sale of Health Insurance stamps to the 15th instant are:—

England	…	…	…	£4,949,760
Scotland	…	…	…	656,561
Ireland	…	…	…	234,199
Wales	…	…	…	309,051

and the respective amounts which have been paid over to the National Debt Commissioners under Section 54 (3) of the Act for investment up to the same date, are:—

England	…	…	…	£3,950,000
Scotland	…	…	…	625,000
Ireland	…	…	…	200,500
Wales	…	…	…	270,970

These sums are being invested in the securities specified in that Sub-section. When the transactions of the year are completed, an account will be presented to Parliament under Sub-section (6) of Section 54. The answer to the last question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board is aware that proceedings for the sale direct to the tenants of Mr. Maurice M'Causland, whose property is situated near Strokestown, in the county Roscommon, have been before the Estates Commissioners, and that the agreements included one signed by Mrs. Walpole in respect of an extensive ranch much needed for the relief of congestion in that locality; and, if so, what action the Board has taken in the matter?

The Congested Districts Board are aware of the proceedings mentioned, and they have decided to negotiate for the purchase of Mrs. Walpole's farm.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the electoral division of Slievereagh, in the rural district of Macroom, was at any time a congested district; and, if so, what then constituted the qualification of a congested area; has there been any change in qualification by the Land Purchase Act of 1909; can he state the conditions under which the house improvement loans of £50 are granted by the Congested Districts Board; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting these loans to small holders in all areas scheduled as congested prior to the passing of the Act of 1909?

The electoral division of Slievereagh in the rural district of Macroom formed part of the original congested districts scheduled under the provisions of Section 36 of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1891, but was excluded from the congested area by Section 46 of the Irish Land Act, 1909. The Congested Districts Board have no power to make loans to landholders outside the present congested districts.

asked when the Estates Commissioners intend to apportion the untenanted lands at Ballynort, Askeaton, in the county of Limerick, on the O'Grady property, amongst the deserving applicants in the district?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on 24th October, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked whether, owing to defects in the Land Acts, 1903 and 1909, the Estates Commissioners for Ireland find themselves unable to complete the sale of towns on estates which are being sold, as disclosed in the sale of Strokestown, county Roscommon; and will the Government remedy the defects in the law, and enable the Commissioners to carry out such sales and declare the occupiers of holdings the purchasers on reasonable terms?

I understand that in the case of Strokestown the failure to carry out the sale of the town holdings is in most instances due to the want of agreement between the parties as regards the terms of sale, and in other instances, where agreements have been entered into, to the failure of the sub-tenants to lodge in cash the difference between the agreed prices and the amount of the advance to be made by the Estates Commissioners. I am not aware of any necessity for the amendment of the law in the direction indicated in the question.

asked what has been the amount of cash available for land purchase in each of the years from 1903?

Cash for sales under the Land Purchase Acts is provided as required by the Land Commission, and estates are dealt with in their order of priority prescribed by the Regulations made under those Acts. The advances in each year since the commencement of the Irish Land Act, 1903, have been as follows:—Period from 1st November,

1903, to 31st March, 1905	…	£5,099,871
Financial year 1905–6	…	5,516,580
Financial year 1906–7	…	5,941,348
Financial year 1907–8	…	5,166,904
Financial year 1908–9	…	6,562,551
Financial year 1909–10	…	7,062,082
Financial year 1910–11	…	7,344,952
Financial year 1911–12	…	7,980,920

Up to and including 1909–10 the advances were made in cash, save as regards £180 in 1909–10, which was advanced in 3 per Cent. Stock under Act of 1909. In 1910–11 and 1911–12 a number of vendors in pending sales under the Act of 1903, having elected, under the powers given them by the Act of 1909, to accept payment either wholly or partly in 2¾ per Cent. Stock, with the view of expediting payment of the purchase

money of their estates, the advances were as follows:—In 1910–11, £3,268,605 in all cash; £2,723,205 in half cash, half stock (2¾ per cent.); £946,158 in 2¾ per Cent. Stock, and £406,984 in 3 per Cent. Stock; in 1911–12, £2,389,101 in all cash; £2,813,192 in half cash, half stock (2¾ per cent.); £1,212,769 in 2¾ per Cent. Stock, and £1,065,858 in 3 per Cent. Stock. In addition, the following sums were paid in each year in respect of the bonus percentage, which is payable in cash:—

Period from 1st November, 1903, to 31st March, 1905	…	£382,349
Financial year 1905–6	…	540,216
Financial year 1906–7	…	672,021
Financial year 1907–8	…	547,338
Financial year 1908–9	…	686,887
Financial year 1909–10	…	734,128
Financial year 1910–11	…	506,610
Financial year 1911–12	…	867,940

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is the intention of the Commissioners who have lately acquired the estate of H. F. Sanky-Billis, near Virginia, to apportion the land thus acquired among the small uneconomic holdings, which are very numerous in the district?

The Sanky estate, situate at Billis, Virginia, county Cavan, has not been acquired by the Estates Commissioners. It is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Land Purchase Acts, and there is no untenanted land included in the proceedings for sale.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Mrs. Catherine M'Donald, widow of an evicted tenant on the Fenton estate, county Wexford, has been several times promised a holding by the Estates Commissioners' inspector; and when this promise will be fulfilled?

The holding on the Martin estate, at one time occupied by Mrs. M'Donald late husband, has been vested in the present occupier under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Estates Commissioners have no power to interfere with him. The granting of holdings to evicted tenants is a matter entirely within the discretion of the Commissioners, whose inspectors have no power to make promises in the matter unless authorised by them. If untenanted land in the locality is acquired by the Commissioners, Mrs. M'Donald's application will be considered.

asked the Chief Secretary when the Blosse estate, county Mayo, was acquired by the Congested Districts Board; whether three occupiers of uneconomic holdings on the estate, namely, James Commins, Martin King, and Pat Finn, have since made several applications to the Board for enlargements of their holdings at Carrahan, Balla, or for new holdings in lieu of them; and can he state why nothing has yet been done to relieve these congests whilst all their neighbours in similar circumstances were granted enlargements over two years ago?

The offer of the Congested Districts Board for the purchase of the estate referred to was accepted on the 31st October, 1908. The Board have not up to the present been able to enlarge the holdings mentioned as legal proceedings to acquire an adjoining grass farm for that purpose are still pending. If the Board find that they cannot acquire this farm the tenants will, if possible, be provided with additional land elsewhere.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of delay on the part of the Estates Commissioners in carrying out the sale of the Mahoney estate at Mount Collins, Abbeyfeale, in the county of Limerick; whether he is aware that it is a considerable number of years since the tenants signed the agreements to purchase their holdings; and will he ask the Estates Commissioners to complete the sale without further delay?

The holdings on this estate are intermixed, and the Estates Commissioners propose to carry out a scheme of rearrangement, and to facilitate this they have under consideration the acquisition of additional land in the neighbourhood, which up to the present they have not been able to acquire.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the tenants on the estate of Lane Joynt, at Aughanish, in the county of Limerick, have agreed with their landlord to purchase their holdings, and have also agreed with him with regard to the upkeep of the embankments on the estate; and, having regard to this fact, will he ask the Estates Commissioners to complete the sale of this estate without delay, since the restoration of three evicted tenants to their holdings on the estate depends on its completion?

The Estates Commissioners are informed that the owner and tenants have recently come to an arrangement as to the upkeep of the embankments on the estate, and the Commissioners will deal with the estate when it is reached in order of priority during the coming financial year.

asked the Chief Secretary how many inspections were made of the untenanted land of the Marchioness of Winchester, situate at Kilbarry, county Meath; whether, as a result of the second inspection, and increase was made in the original offer for the lands; if so, will he state how much and what annuity per acre the increased offer would enable the Commissioners to let the land; and whether, having regard to the owner's desire to sell and the necessity of the surrounding occupiers to enlarge their holdings, it would be within the powers of the Commissioners to accept a lump sum from each intending occupier to enable them to effect a purchase from the vendor?

As the hon. Member has already been informed, the owner was not willing to accept the Estates Commissioners' estimated price for these lands, and proceedings have not been instituted for their sale. It would be contrary to the Commissioners' practice to give the detailed particulars asked for by the hon. Member, and the case is not one in which the suggestion in the last paragraph of the question could be adopted.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Marchioness of Winchester, who is the owner of a ranch at Kilbarry, county Meath, is an applicant for an advance to purchase a holding on the estate of Dominick More O'Farrell, in the immediate vicinity of her own untenanted land; and whether, before sanctioning any advance, they will consider the advisability of acquiring by negotiation the two pieces of her land for much-needed distribution between deserving local applicants?

No application for an advance has been made in respect of the holding on the More O'Farrell estate, which is leased to the Marchioness of Winchester. If an agreement is lodged the Estates Commissioners will consider the question of sanctioning any advance applied for.

asked the Chief Secretary how many third-term rents have been fixed since 31st March, 1912; what is the average reduction; how many appeals have been heard; and in how many cases has the decision been upheld or reversed, respectively?

The number of third-term rents fixed by the Sub-Commission Courts of the Land Commission, and by Civil Bill Courts since 31st March last (exclusive of rents fixed by agreement between landlord and tenant) is 653, and the average percentage of reduction on second-term rents in these cases is 9.2. During the same period judgment has been given in 159 cases in which appeals were lodged against the decisions of Sub-Commissions fixing third-term rents. In 137 of these cases the decisions were varied, and in 21 cases confirmed, and one case was struck out by consent.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will say, during the six years ended 31st day of March, 1912, what sums of money were expended by the State on the erection of vested schools which were not wholly built at the expense of the State, and yet receive more than the two-thirds Grant; how much of this money was expended on schools under Roman Catholic management, and how much on schools under Protestant management; how many Protestant applications for this special consideration were refused during the six years; and will he state if these applications are considered by the Board or are they disposed of by the Board's officers?

During the six years ended the 31st March, 1912, the Commissioners of National Education sanctioned Grants to the amount of £49,720 towards the erection of vested national school-houses in cases where the Grant given was in excess of two-thirds of the estimated cost of the new buildings, but was less than the entire cost. Of this amount £49,303 was for schools under Roman Catholic management, and £327 for one school under Protestant management. The total amount actually expended on these schoolhouses during the period specified was £19,382. The Commissioners are not in a position to state the exact number of applications for special Grants by Protestant managers which was refused during the six years under review, but it may be generally stated that very few such applications were received and that none were refused where the school district could be regarded as necessitous and in need of the extra aid. All applications for exceptional treatment are dealt with under Regulations laid down by the Treasury and approved by the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is pressing the Treasury to include in next years Estimates a sum sufficient to provide new

Programme		Name of Ship.			Whether Dockyard or Contract Built.		Amount Provided as First Instalment in Estimates.
							£
1906–1907	…	"Belleroplion"	…	…	Dockyard		140,090
		"Temeraire"	…	…	Dockyard		130,016
		"Superb"	…	…	Contract		55,407
1907–1908	…	"St. Vincent"	…	…	Dockyard		211,200
		"Collingwood"	…	…	Dockyard		168,870
		"Vanguard"	…	…	Contract		40,752
1908–1909	…	"Neptune"	…	…	Dockyard		138,891
		"Indefatigable"	…	…	Dockyard		139,650
1909–1910	…	"Orion"	…	…	Dockyard		268,234
		"Lion"	…	…	Dockyard		267,767
		"Hercules"	…	…	Contract		518,486
		"Colossus"	…	…	Contract		518,486
1910–1911	…	"Thunderer"	…	…	Contract	Contingent ships of 1909–10 Programme but no provision made for them in that year.	976,437
		"Monarch"	…	…	Contract		1,052,772
		"Conqueror"	…	…	Contract		1,051,135
		"Princess Royal"	…	…	Contract		1,094,500
		"King George V."	…	…	Dockyard		96,714
		"Centurion"	…	…	Dockyard		96,723
		"Ajax"	…	…	Contract		38,447
		"Audacious"	…	…	Contract		48,604
		"Queen Mary"	…	…	Contract		40,626
1911–1912	…	"Iron Duke"	…	…	Dockyard		182,289
		"Marlborough"	…	…	Dockyard		171,515
		"Benbow"	…	…	Contract		78,529
		"Delhi"	…	…	Contract		78,530
		"Tiger"	…	…	Contract		69,913
1912–1913	…		…	…	Contract	(Portsmouth)	166,775
			…	…	Contract	(Devnport)	166,073
			…	…	Contract		2,814
			…	…	Contract		59,789

I have not been in correspondence with the Treasury about the Estimates for National Education for 1913–14.

asked the Secretary of State for War if it is proposed to make any reduction in the Royal Horse or Field Artillery?

The withdrawal of the two brigades from South Africa will necessitate rearrangement of these branches at home, with a view to increase the readiness of the batteries at home for mobilisation. I am not at present in a position to make a full statement on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the extra emoluments of the lower ranks of the administrative staff at Salisbury amount to 8s. 9d. weekly, made up by 9d. for lodgings and 6d. for rations daily, over and above what they would receive in barracks, and that these men are obliged to pay in Salisbury from 14s. to 15s. weekly for ordinary board and lodging, thus necessitating a payment of at least 4s. per week out of the men's own pockets; and whether, in view of these facts, he will reconsider his recent decision to reduce their ration allowance by 3s. 6d. per week?

All these matters, including the messing allowance, to which the hon. Member makes no reference, were fully considered by the War Office before the decision was given; and it is not proposed to make any alteration.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will give the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and trained men of the Territorial Force who have fired the standard test, Table B, Part II., for the musketry year 1911–12; the number of those who have qualified in the standard test; the number of those who have fired the standard test but failed to qualify; the number of those who have failed to qualify in the standard test but are returned as efficient, their commanding officers having certified that they have fired at least fifty rounds of ball ammunition or its equivalent on an open, a miniature, or a thirty-yards' range; (2) the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and trained men who have fired the standard test on an open range; the number who have fired the standard test on a miniature or a thirty-yards' range; the number of those who have not fired the standard test; and (3) the number of recruit officers and the number of recruits of the Territorial Force who have, respectively, fired the standard test, Table A, Part I., for the musketry year 1911–12; the number, respectively, who have qualified in the standard test; the number, respectively, who fired the standard test, but failed to qualify; and the number, respectively, who have not fired the standard test?

Statistics of the musketry training of the Territorial force are not yet available, as the Returns are not due in the War Office until the 30th of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Territorial force who are exempt from firing a musketry course on account of their belonging to the non-combatant branches?

The present strength of the non-combatant branches of the Territorial force amounts to 1,207 officers and 11,617 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has received representations as to the inadequacy of the War Office Grant of 1s. per man of the National Reserve which is retained by the Territorial Associations; whether he is aware of the impossibility of providing adequate inducements to the men who would join the Reserve were a reasonable sum allocated for the purpose; and whether he will reconsider the matter with a view to increasing the Grant beyond what is necessary for postage, in order that provision may be made for the social needs of the men in connection with their service, and that they may not be left dependent upon outside benevolence?

The whole question of the future of the National Reserve is now receiving careful consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the total sums spent on new rifle ranges during the past five years; and where such ranges are situated?

The following information excludes all provision for miniature and thirty yards ranges. As regards the Regulars and Special Reserve, a sum of £26,547 has been spent on the following new ranges:—

• Brampton Wood, near Huntingdon.
• Buttevant, Cork.
• Kilroot, Antrim.
• Limerick.
• Purfleet, Essex.

A large new range is at the present time under construction at Rainham. A considerable sum has also been spent on the extension and improvement of the older ranges. As regards the Territorial force, a sum of £66,901 has been spent on the following new ranges:—

Range.		County.
Peterhead	…	Aberdeenshire.
Finzean	…	Aberdeenshire.
Glenshellack	…	Argyll.
Kinlockleven	…	Argyll.
Ardchattan	…	Argyll.
Calgary	…	Argyll.
Knocton	…	Argyll.
Muirkirk	…	Ayr.
Chappleton Point	…	Ayr.
Dunuet	…	Caithness.
Lybster	…	Caithness.
Burgh on Sand	…	Cumberland and Westmorland.
Ivybridge	…	Devon.
Cairnhead	…	Dumfries.
Carr Bridge	…	Elgin.
Mountain Ash	…	Glamorgan,
Knighton	…	Hereford.
Broadford	…	Inverness.
Allanmore	…	Inverness.
Baleshore	…	Inverness.
Craig Dhu	…	Inverness.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Thomas Lock-wood, who was sentenced on the 8th instant at the Monmouth Petty Sessional Court to one month's hard labour for stealing fowls: whether the evidence showed that the offence was committed on the 2nd March, 1900, that there were no previous convictions recorded against the prisoner, and that he had borne an excellent character since the date of the alleged offence, and was employed and earning an honest livelihood at the time of his arrest; and whether he will consider the advisability of remitting the unexpired term of the sentence?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for West Monmouthshire last Thursday. I may add that a number of convictions are recorded against the man before 1900, and two since then.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to a meeting on Monday last of the council of the National Education Association, at which a resolution was passed to the effect that the present condition of educational finance is a danger to progress, creates a serious deficiency of school accommodation and injures efficiency, and that educational reforms which are urgently needed should not be delayed by discussions as to the basis of rating and taxation; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Government are at present considering the subject matters referred to, and I cannot yet say what action may be taken.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has any official information that a native Court in Egypt has passed a sentence of ten years' imprisonment upon Ahmed Mukhtar, a young Egyptian Nationalist, for sedition; whether he can say what form of sedition the prisoner was convicted of; whether he had ever been previously convicted of any similar offence; and whether his sentence has received the approval of His Majesty's Government?

I have no official information respecting the sentence passed upon the individual in question. The matter is one within the competence of the Egyptian judicial authorities and no question arises as to approval by His Majesty's Government.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the Governor-General has received from Mr. Arnold, now in prison for libelling a magistrate at Rangoon; an appeal for a retrial; and, if so, whether the Governor-General will use his powers to have such appeal transferred to Calcutta?

The Secretary of State is not aware that an appeal for a retrial has been made by Mr. Arnold to the Governor-General. The Governor-General has no power to order a retrial, nor would the Calcutta High Court have jurisdiction to deal with an appeal of the kind.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the Old Bengal Funds, subscribed to by the officers of the East India Company, still exist; and, if so, what is the amount, and how is the same invested, and in whose names; if the fund is not now in existence, will he say what became of it or the investments representing it, and were the subscribers consulted as to the disposal of the fund; and, if any portion of the fund exists, will he explain why it cannot be applied for the relief of widows and orphans of those former subscribers to the fund who are not eligible for on in receipt of a pension, and who are in distressed circumstances?

The Bengal Military Fund and the Bengal Military Orphan Society, to which officers of the Bengal Army subscribed, were closed to fresh entrants in 1862, and the Bengal Civil Fund, to which members of the Bengal Civil Service subscribed, was closed in 1879. With the consent of the subscribers, the assets and liabilities were transferred to Government on 10th September, 1866, under 29 Vict., cap. 18, in the case of the first two funds, and on 1st June, 1885, under 40 and 46 Vict., cap 45, in the case of the Bengal Civil Fund. The capital of the three funds was £688,927, £557,082, and £1,908,469, respectively. The capital of the Bengal Military Fund was exhausted in 1874–75 and that of the Bengal Military Orphan Society in 1889–90 in making good an excess of payments in respect of pensions over receipts from subscribers. The present payments in respect of pensions are many times larger than the subscriptions received. The liabilities in respect of the Bengal Civil Fund, increased by additional benefits conceded at the time of transfer, are such that any further concession would be at the expense of the revenues of India. The average payment in respect of pensions during the last five years has exceeded subscriptions by about £145,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether any elected Second Chamber in self-governing Colonies is prohibited from exercising powers over Money Bills; and (2) if he will state what powers are possessed by the Upper Chambers of self- governing Colonies over Money Bills when such Upper Chambers are elected and not nominated?

The particulars of the legal powers possessed by elected Second Chambers in relation to Money Rills are given in full in House of Commons Return No. 81 of 1910.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what monopolies exist in, and what are the revenues derived by, the Governments of Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Turkey, and Russia from monopolies in those countries?

With regard to Germany, France, Spain and Italy, I would refer the hon. Member for the information he desires, to the Financial Reports on these countries, recently published in the Annual Series of Diplomatic and Consular Reports, under the numbers 4839, 4854, 4981, 5001, and 5019. As regards Russia, there is a State Spirit monopoly which has been estimated by the Russian Government to yield £80,760,042 this year. In Turkey the State monopolies are as follows:—

• Salt, estimated by the Turkish Government to yield this year £936,000.
• Tobacco, estimated to yield £992,099.
• Tombac (tobacco used in hookahs) estimated to yield £36,936, and
• Gunpowder, estimated to yield £81,000.

asked the Prime Minister if he can give an assurance to the House that the Government will use all possible efforts to pass the Mental Deficiency Bill through all its stages during this Session?

The Government regret that they are unable to find time this Session for the passing of this Bill.

asked how many Members of this House, outside the Opposition, signed the memorials asking for the publication of the evidence given before the Committee on Irish Finance?

Sixty-three Liberals, seventeen Members of the Labour party, and the hon. Member for North West-meath.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he can state, in tabular form, for each year since 1891, the numbers, ascertained by census or estimate, of births in England and Wales, of deaths tinder one year and of children living at the ages of one and five years, respectively?

The numbers of births and deaths under one year of age in England and Wales in each year since 1891 are as follows:—

Year.		Births.	Deaths under 1 year of age.
1891	…	914,157	1135,801
1892	…	897,957	132,463
1893	…	914,572	145,061
1894	…	890,289	121,799
1895	…	922,291	148,093
1896	…	915,331	135,013
1897	…	921,683	143,589
1898	…	923,165	148,013
1899	…	928,646	150,975
1900	…	927,062	142,912
1901	…	929,807	140,648
1902	…	940,509	124,996
1903	…	948,271	124,718
1904	…	945,389	137,392
1905	…	929,293	119,091
1906	…	935,081	123,895
1907	…	918,042	107,978
1908	…	940,383	113,254
1909	…	914,472	99,430
1910	…	896,962	94,579
1911 (provisional)	…	881,241	114,603

The numbers of children living at the ages of one and five years have not been estimated for each of the past twenty years. The number of children aged from one to two years enumerated in 1891 was 691,590, and in 1901, 727,795; these numbers are probably somewhat understated. The numbers enumerated at the age of five to six years were not tabulated, but are estimated to have been 678,147 in 1891 and 692,888 in 1901.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, before sanctioning the draft Order for Poor Law institutions which his Departmental Committee has prepared or is preparing, he will see that provisions are inserted making clear the right of married women to apply for and obtain admission to the workhouse for themselves and their children when destitute and the right of a destitute child, or of a police officer or other person under whose charge the destitute child may temporarily Be, to apply for and obtain admission to the workhouse, and preventing the guardians or their officers from turning children under the age of sixteen out of the workhouse when such action is likely to result in injury to the health of the child or failure to obtain adequate food or clothing?

The Departmental Committee have not yet submitted to me their proposals on the subject which they are now considering, but before any action is taken on their recommendations I will take care that the two points referred to by my hon. Friend are carefully considered.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Census Return of Seamen for 1911 issued by the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen, from which it appears that over 14 per cent. of the seamen are always unemployed; and whether, in view of the number of seamen thus shown to be always available to man British ships, it is still proposed to subsidise British shipowners for the purpose of training boys as seamen, which can only have the effect of increasing the number of unemployed seamen.

The percentage stated by my hon. Friend represents the difference between the number of seamen following the sea as a means of livelihood, estimated on certain assumptions which are explained on page x of the Registrar-General's Report, and the number who were actually engaged on voyages under Articles on 3rd April, the date on which the Census was taken. The seamen represented by this percentage were, if the assumptions are correct, "unemployed" only in the sense that they were not engaged on a voyage, but no doubt a proportion of them were either in shore employment, standing by their ships, or waiting to sign articles for their next voyage. The question of the training of boys to become seamen is now under consideration, but as at present advised His Majesty's Government have no intention of granting subsidies to shipowners for the purpose

asked the Postmaster-General if he will grant extra payment to the many London postmen who were called upon to perform protracted duties during the coal strike, and whose application for payment for extra time was originally refused?

The inquiries referred to in my answer to the hon. Member's previous question on the 11th July last were duly completed, and I regret that the circumstances did not justify a departure from the general rule.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the time that the staff has now occupied the King Edward's Buildings and the equipment which was partially installed for mechanically cleansing the mail bags, he will make arrangements for the completion and introduction of this reform?

The bag-cleaning machine was brought into use on 15th October last, and it has since been regularly used. It is working for about nine hours a day, and the question of extending the time is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the temporary assistant postmen at the East Central Office, who have filled their positions for the last twelve months, are now being offered situations as messenger postmen; if the acceptance of such positions would necessitate an additional attendance of twelve hours per week with only 3d. per week extra pay; and whether, having regard to the length of time many of these men have served as temporary assistant postmen, he will consider if they can be absorbed into the established classes?

The lads in question are tube attendants, whose ordinary wages are 16s. or 17s. a week for forty-eight hours' work. The privileges which they have enjoyed of working as temporary assistant postmen, with shorter hours, at a higher hourly rate of pay, gives them no preferential claim to established appointments, but they will no doubt all receive such appointments in their turn within the next few months.

asked the Postmaster-General how many officers of the English Stores Department have officially visited Ireland since the 1st April last, the number and duration of visits paid by each officer, and the total cost for subsistence allowances, travelling expenses, and salaries; and will he state the cost for removal expenses of the officers transferred to Dublin from the English establishment during the same period?

Since the 1st April last eleven officers of the Stores Department in England have visited Ireland on official business, making fifteen visits, which lasted altogether 254 days. The number and duration of visits paid by each officer is as follows:—

No. of Visits.					Duration in Days.
1	…	…	…	…	3
2	…	…	…	…	19
1	…	…	…	…	8
1	…	…	…	…	7
2	…	…	…	…	31
1	…	…	…	…	7
3	…	…	…	…	36
1	…	…	…	…	48
1	…	…	…	…	48
1	…	…	…	…	41
1	…	…	…	…	6
15	…	…	…	…	254

The total cost for subsistence allowances, travelling expenses, and salaries is about £366, and the cost of removal expenses of officers transferred during the same period to Dublin from the English Establishment is about £71

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone forms for use in Ireland will continue to be printed by the ex-National Telephone Company's printing press in London; what will be the total annual quantities; and what would be the additional cost if they were all printed in Ireland?

If the press be retained in use—a matter which I now have under consideration—it is estimated that about 100 telephone forms, involving an annual output of about 300,000 copies, will continue to be printed by the press for use in Ireland. If these forms were printed in Ireland, the extra cost might be put roughly at £50; it is not possible to give an exact figure.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, as a member of the Board of Education for Scotland, whether a school board has the power to appoint its own medical inspector under Section 4 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, without the risk of having any day school fee or other grant reduced, because the Department do not fall in with the board's appointment, the board being willing to pay the expenses of its own medical inspector, without claiming a medical grant under Section 17 (6) of the said Act?

The answer is in the negative. If any provision for medical inspection which a school board may propose to make under Section 4 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908, appears to the Department to be inadequate, it will be the duty of the Department to consider whether they ought to issue a Requisition in terms of Article 31 of the Day School Code.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Jeremiah Lucy, of Cork, who on the morning of the 22nd October shipped thirty-two valuable dairy cows to Cardiff, having been assured by the local port and veterinary officials that the four days' period of quarantine was still in force, only to find when the animals arrived in Cardiff that the period of quarantine had been on the previous evening increased to fourteen days; what steps were taken to apprise the Irish port officers of this change or to warn shippers who were sending off cattle the next morning; whether a special licence was afterwards issued in the case of the shipment referred to; whether, notwithstanding this, the fourteen days' quarantine and a subsequent period of twenty-one days' observation was strictly enforced, with the result that the cattle had to be sold at a sacrifice of more than half their value; and whether any compensation will be made to Mr. Lucy for the loss which he has sustained?

My attention has been called to Mr. Lucy's case. The Order of the Board extending the period of quarantine for Irish cattle from four to fourteen days was issued on the 21st ultimo, and was notified on the afternoon of that day to the Irish Department, who informed me that they apprised the portal inspectors in Ireland of the extension by telegram in the evening. I am not aware of the issue of any special licence in the case, but perhaps the hon. Member would address any further inquiry he may wish to make as to what took place in Ireland to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President. I regret that I have no funds at my disposal out of which compensation could be paid.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the total number of horses exported from the United Kingdom in each of the last three years and their value?

The number and value of horses exported from the United Kingdom in each year, 1909 to 1911, were as follow:—

					British and Irish.		Foreign.		Total.
Years.					No.	Value.	No.	Value.	No.	Value.
						£		£		£
1909	…	…	…	…	55,910	1,078,484	2,649	225,489	58,559	1,303,973
1910	…	…	…	…	59,149	1,293,938	2,579	200,868	61,728	1,494,806
1911	…	…	…	…	64,196	1,464,095	1,505	117,410	65,701	1,581,505

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he can state 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?

Number of horses used for agricultural purposes and of unbroken horses, as returned on 4th June, in the undermentioned years, in the United Kingdom (including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands):—

Year.		Horses Used for Agricultural Purposes.*	Unbroken Horses.	Total.
1896	…	—	—	2,115,557
1906	…	1,494,242	615,782	2,110,024
1907	…	1,489,064	599,868	2,088,932
1908	…	1,501,508	587,087	2,088,595
1909	…	1,512,175	579,506	2,091,681
1910	…	1,520,803	573,784	2,094,587
1911	…	1,476,287	556,929	2,033,216
1912	…	1,443,017	551,246	1,994,263
* Including Mares kept for Breeding.