asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is able to give the reference to any rule of the Treasury or the National Commissioners which authorises the cancellation of satisfactory service given by teachers affected by the standard numbers during the period of waiting for vacancies; and whether, having regard to the injury inflicted upon teachers by this rule, he will recommend that the satisfactory service given by teachers in the higher grades during the period of waiting may be allowed them, seeing that it can be granted without any extension of the standard numbers?

It is not clear what the hon. Member means by "cancellation of satisfactory service." The Commissioners of National Education inform me that they are not aware that service given by recognised teachers of ordinary national schools is ever cancelled.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners, when they undertake to deal with untenanted land in the county Galway, with the consent of the Congested Districts Board, have the power of providing holdings for the sons of farmers who are possessed of sufficient means to work the land profitably; and what class of persons are eligible for holdings when the Estates Commissioners consent to deal with untenanted land within congested counties?

I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 17 of the Irish Land Act, 1009, which define the persons to whom advances under the Land Purchase Acts may be made for the purchase of parcels of an estate sold to the Land Commission.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the M'Inerney estate, Caherhenryhoe, Closetoken, Loughrea, is at present being dealt with by the Congested Districts Board; is he aware that the Estates Commissioners acquired this estate some years ago for enlarging small holdings on the estate and in the parish, as well as providing holdings for the sons of tenants; is he aware that a conditional promise was made by the Commissioners, to a deputation from the parish of Close-token which waited upon them in Dublin, that in dividing the farm due regard would be had to the claims of farmers' sons and other uneconomic tenants within the parish; and whether he will represent to the Congested Districts Board the advisability of conferring with the people of this parish so as to carry out a scheme which will meet with the assent of the people?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinning that the Estates Commissioners acquired this estate some years ago. Prior to the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1909, it had been the subject of proceedings for sale to the Commissioners, but being situate in a congested districts county under the Act of 1909 such proceedings have been transferred to the Congested Districts Board, who will deal with the resale of the estate in accordance with their usual practice. The Commissioners did not make any promise, conditional or otherwise, such as that referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether any offer has been made by the owner of the O'Conor estate, situate at and in the neighbourhood of the Palace, Elphin, county of Roscommon, for the sale of this estate to the Congested Districts Board or to the Estates Commismissioners; if so, what has become of the offer; what is the present position of the negotiations for the purchase of this estate; and, if negotiations have not yet been commenced, whether they will be at once opened up by the Congested Districts Board, in view of the fact that there is upon it a large area of untenanted land, and that there are numerous uneconomic holdings upon this and other estates in the district?

Mr. O'Conor has offered the lands referred to for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at by the Board regarding the purchase of the property as soon as practicable.

asked whether the attention of the Congested Districts Board has been called to the condition of the tenants on the estate of Mr. Robert J. Lloyd, near Elphin, county of Roscommon, and to the fact that, while all the surrounding properties have been purchased by the tenants, the opportunity of purchase has been refused to them by the solicitors, acting for the owner, until there is a Unionist Government, and that the tenants are unduly pressed for payment of arrears; and whether, in view of these facts, the Congested Districts Board will immediately take all necessary steps to give those tenants the advantages of ownership so long enjoyed by their neighbours?

The hon. Member has called my attention to this estate, and I will bring the matter to the notice of the Congested Districts Board, but so far the Board have had no application regarding the estate before them, nor is it the subject of proceedings for sale before the Estates Commissioners under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the total amount of deductions made from Government Grants in aid of local taxation in county Meath, for the five years ending 1911, in connection with land purchase liability, and under what headings; and whether any of the amount, and, if so, how much, has been restored to the local taxation account of that county?

During the five years ended 31st March, 1911, the total net deductions made from the Estate or Death Duty Grant in respect of land purchase liability in the county Meath, exclusive of the net sum of £771 6s. 7d. which was deducted in the year 1907 in respect of the previous year when no deduction was made, amounted to £7,759 10s. 9d., accounted for as follows:—

	Additions.			Deductions.
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Irish Land Commission in respect of purchasers' annuities in arrear	151	2	5	—
National Debt Com missioners in respect of interest due from Irish Land Commission on advances		18	0	—
in respect of purchasers' annuities in arrear		—		2,238	17	6
in respect of insufficiency of income.		—		5,672	13	8
Net deduction				£7,759	10	9

As regards the last paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the explanation given in my reply to the question of the hon. Member for North Westmeath on 29th March, 1911, on the subject of these deductions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Government have any intention of removing the Royal Naval College, Osborne, from the Isle of Wight?

No, Sir, no such proposal has ever seriously been put forward.

asked the Secretary of State for War when an officer, guilty of misconduct, has taken the precaution to make proof impossible, or it is for any reason desired to allow him to resign instead of expelling him from the Army, what steps are taken to prevent his obtaining a commission elsewhere in the British Army; can he explain how the officer court-martialled in South Africa in 1896 for robbing the Buluwayo-Salisbury mail coach with violence and other crimes, and allowed to retire on the pretext of ill-health, afterwards obtained a commission in Ireland, which he was similarly required to resign in 1907 for conduct of a like character; and whether that person is now in the Army under any other name?

Records of the services of officers are retained in the War Office, and are available for the purpose mentioned in the question. As regards the second part of the question, perhaps the hon. Gentleman would be good enough to supply me with the name of the officer to whom he refers.

asked the Secretary of State for War, whether he will consider the appointment of an inspector-general of cyclists and the establishment of a school of training for cyclist officers, so as to secure a similar system of instruction and the teaching of the proper role for this arm of the service, seeing that in the present courses for senior cyclist officers in different districts the instruction given by the directors is diametrically inconsistent and therefore altogether confusing to the officers.

A memorandum containing the principles of the employment of cyclists has been prepared and will be issued to officers who may be called upon to conduct future courses of instruction as a guide to their teaching and to secure uniformity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the charge of £20 that he proposes to charge safety-lamp manufacturers for testing oil and electric lamps is made up; and will he give detailed particulars in respect to each type of lamp?

The amount of the fee has been fixed so as to cover as nearly as possible the expenditure incurred by the Government in connection with the test, which includes the charges in respect of the establishment and equipment of the station, the working and maintenance expenses, and a proportionate part of the salaries of the officials employed on the work. It is not possible in a matter of this kind to make any close estimate, as the number of lamps likely to be submitted annually after the first year is uncertain, but I have no reason at present for thinking that the average annual amount received in fees is likely to show any surplus over expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on 7th November a young soldier, never previously charged, was fined by Mr. Israel Symmons, the Greenwich stipendiary, 40s. for assault on the police and 5s. for being drunk; that in default of instant payment this soldier, aged twenty, was committed to Wandsworth Prison for one month, and released from this prison by a visiting justice paying his fine on 11th November; and whether, as this young soldier had a fixed address, he proposes to call this stipendiary's attention to his recent circular letter to magistrates relative to the desirability of always granting time for the payment of a fine to a first offender whose whereabouts is a matter of common knowledge?

The prisoner was guilty of a serious assault on the police. He was found early in the morning drunk and using filthy language to a woman. He was asked by a police constable to go away, but refused to do so and struck the constable. Another constable then came to the assistance of the first, and the prisoner deliberately kicked the second constable on the jaw. He was very violent on the way to the station, and the officer whom he had kicked was on the sick list for several days. It is usual in cases of serious assault on the police to pass a sentence of hard labour, and this prisoner was only given the option of a fine in view of his previous good character. He was offered time in which to pay, but refused, saying he was on furlough and did not want to send to his regiment for money.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the ex-officer by whom serious allegations concerning certain abuses in Metropolitan police administration were made at the Trafalgar Square meetings had fifteen years of faithful service and unblemished record; and that, after full inquiry, he was offered reinstatement as a station sergeant by his predecessor in office; and, in view of the fact that subsequent indiscretions, committed since he left the force in order to draw attention to his case, have been referred to as a reason for ignoring specific allegations and refusing an inquiry, does he see his way to grant an inquiry, and, if there are records at Scotland Yard which prove these allegations to be false, will he say why their production is refused?

The facts are known to hon. Members as the Chief Commissioner's judgment in the case was laid on the Table of the House. Mr. Syme was punished for grave misconduct in traducing his superiors by reduction in rank, a very lenient punishment. He declined to abide by the decision of the disciplinary authority, and ultimately had to be dismissed for persistent insubordination. With the concurrence of the Chief Commissioner, my predecessor offered to condone the latter offence, and to reinstate him in the rank to which he had been properly degraded for his misconduct. He has since his dismissal lost no opportunity of making further false and malicious charges against the superior officers of the force, and I have now under consideration what further action should be taken against him.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies what were the circumstances which prevented His Majesty assenting to the Act respecting the qualifications of engineers passed in 1904 by the Legislature of Newfoundland; whether any protest was made by the Newfoundland Government against the refusal to give His Majesty's assent to the Bill; whether the Governor acted upon his own responsibility, upon the advice of ministers, or as the result of instructions from the Imperial Government; if upon instructions, were such instructions general or special instructions in respect of this particular measure; whether the law respecting the qualifications of engineers has since been amended; and, if so, in what way were the objections met which prevented the Act receiving His Majesty's assent?

The grounds which prevented His Majesty from assenting to the Act of 1904 of the Legislature of Newfoundland respecting the qualifications of engineers were that in certain respects the terms of the Act were not in harmony with the corresponding provisions of the Imperial Merchant Shipping Act, the most important point being a discrepancy as to the number of engineers required to be carried by steamships of 100 nominal horsepower or upwards. No protest was made by the Newfoundland Government against the refusal to assent. The Act was not reserved but contained a suspending Clause. The Act, which had never come into force, was repealed by an Act of 1906, Chapter 24, which similarly contained a suspending Clause, and which was assented to by His Majesty as the points of divergence between the Imperial Act, which had caused the withholding of assent to the previous Act, had been removed.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies what were the circumstances which prevented His Majesty assenting to the Bill, passed by the Legislature of Natal in 1905, for amending and consolidating the laws relating to municipal corporations; whether any protest was made by the Natal Government against the refusal to give His Majesty's Assent to the Bill; whether the Governor acted upon his own responsibility, upon the advice of Ministers, or as the result of instructions from the Imperial Government, and if upon instructions, were such instructions general or special instructions in respect of this particular measure; and whether the law has since been amended; and, if so, in what way were the objections met which prevented the Act receiving His Majesty's Assent?

The circumstances which prevented His Majesty from assenting to the Bill passed by the Legislature of Natal in 1905 for amending and consolidating the laws relating to municipal corporations were that the Bill contained provisions imposing disqualifications on racial grounds which appeared to the Secretary of State to press unfairly upon natives of India who were domiciled in Natal. His Majesty's Government explained their views to the Natal Government, and it was hoped in 1908 that a settlement had been arrived at, but at the late stage of the Parliamentary Session in Natal in that year it was not possible for the Government to undertake the passing of the necessary legislation, and the matter dropped. The Bill was reserved by the Governor on the advice of the Minister of Justice and in accordance with the Royal instructions. These instructions were general in character. The provisions to which exception was taken have not been re-enacted.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies what were the circumstances which prevented Her Majesty assenting to the Act passed by the Newfoundland Government in 1897 for amending Chapter 124 of the Consolidated Statute, Second Series, entitled Of the Coast Fisheries; whether any protest was made by the Newfoundland Government against the refusal to give Her Majesty's Assent to the Act; whether the Governor acted upon his own responsibility, upon the advice of Ministers, or as the result of instructions from the Imperial Government; if upon instructions, were such instructions general or special instructions in respect of this particular measure; whether the law has since been amended; and, if so, in what way were the objections met which prevented the Act receiving Her Majesty's Assent.

The ground for the refusal of assent to the Bill of the Newfoundland Legislature of 1897 amending Chapter 124 of the Consolidated Statutes, Second Series, was that it was feared that it would make it more difficult to secure the observance of treaty rights. The Governor was specially instructed to reserve the Bill unless its operation was confined to the parts of the coast outside the treaty shore. No protest was made by the Newfoundland Government. An agreement was afterwards come to with France, when the matter ceased to have any bearing on treaty questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what were the circumstances which prevented His Majesty assenting to the Bill passed in 1900 by the Legislature of Queensland to amend the Sugar Works Guarantee Acts, 1893 to 1895; whether any protest was made by the Queensland Government against the refusal to give His Majesty's Assent to the Bill; whether the Governor acted upon his own responsibility, upon the advice of Ministers, or as the result of instructions from the Imperial Government, and, if upon instructions, were such instructions general or special instructions in respect of this particular measure; whether the Sugar Works Guarantee Acts, 1893 to 1895, have since been amended; and, if so, in what way were the objections met which prevented the amending Bill of 1900 receiving His Majesty's Assent?

The circumstances which prevented His Majesty's assent being given to the Bill of the Parliament of Queensland of 1900 to amend the Sugar Works Guarantee Acts, 1893 to 1895, were explained by the right hon. Member for West Birmingham, in reply to a question in the House of Commons on 7th June, 1901. No protest was made by the Queensland Government against the refusal to assent to the Bill. The Bill was reserved by the Governor on the advice of the Attorney-General of Queensland and in accordance with the Royal instructions. These instructions are general in character. Subsequent legislation on the subject does not contain the particuar expressions to which exception was taken by the Secretary of State.

also asked what were the circumstances which prevented Her Majesty assenting to the Act passed by the Newfoundland Government in 1897 to amend the Election Act, 1889, and the Acts in amendment thereof; whether any protest was made by the Newfoundland Government against the refusal to give Her Majesty's Assent to the Act; whether the Governor acted upon his own responsibility, upon the advice of ministers, or as the result of instructions from the Imperial Government; if upon instructions, were such instructions general or special instructions in respect of this particular measure; whether the law has since been amended; and, if so, in what way were the objections met which prevented the Act receiving Her Majesty's Assent?

Her Majesty's Assent to the Newfoundland Election Act Amendment Bill of 1897, was withheld on the ground that the measure would enable the political party for the time being in power to employ public funds for the purpose of securing themselves in office. This decision was come to after communication with the Prime Minister of Newfoundland, who was then in England, and it was proposed that the Bill should be brought forward in the next Session in a new shape; this, however was not done, as Sir W. Whiteway's Government were defeated at the General Election. The Governor was instructed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to reserve the Bill, against which a protest was made by the Opposition in the Newfoundland Parliament. The provisions to which exception was taken by His Majesty's Government have not since been re-enacted.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many beds will be required in the near future in sanatoria, and also how many beds will be required, in addition to Poor Law beds, in hospitals, for the treatment of consumptives in England and Wales?

Certain figures are given in the Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis, with which the hon. Member is, of course, familiar, but for reasons which are indicated in that Report the question does not admit of an exact answer.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether a joint scheme for providing sanatoria benefit in the county and boroughs of Derbyshire, Derby, and Sheffield by means inter alia of a central and branch sanatoria and dispensaries has been finally approved by his Board; and, if so, whether the three authorities concerned have in consequence of the reduction of the 1s. 3d. originally proposed for sanatoria benefit to 9d. and, it follows, of the funds now available for this purpose, decided to abandon their scheme?

The schemes of the Derbyshire County Council and Sheffield Town Council include the provision of a joint sanatorium, and I understand that the Town Council of Derby are prepared to contract for beds at such a sanatorium. The Local Government Board approve these proposals, and I am not aware that any of the authorities have decided to abandon them.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that milk-blended butter is merely a butter which has been rechurned with milk so as to cause it to retain up to 24 per cent, of water, and that many ill-informed persons are induced by this description to buy at a high price a comparatively worthless article which is not butter at all, he will by his proposed Pure Food Bill repeal Sub-section (2) of Section 4 of the Butter and Margarine Act, 1907, which permits the sale of butter of this water-loaded product?

The enactment referred to was based on the recommendation of the Select Committee which inquired very fully into this subject in 1906, and I am not suggesting its repeal in my Bill.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to a resolution passed by the Birmingham Board of Guardians on 21st November to continue the supply of margarine to the patients in the Dudley Road and Erdington Infirmaries, and to substitute margarine for butter for the patients at Selly Oak Infirmary at the expiration of the existing contract; and whether, in view of the dislike of the patients for margarine, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

My attention has not been drawn to this matter. The dieting of infirmary inmates is a matter for the medical officer, and my approval of the diet given is not required.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Dr. Newsholme, the principal medical officer of the Board, recently gave or re-dated a testimonial to one of the applicants to the appointment of medical officer of health for the City of London; and whether it is in accordance with precedent for an officer of the Local Government Board to give testimonials for appointments in matters which are likely to come under his own jurisdiction?

I understand that the applicant referred to included in his testimonials one given to him by Dr. Newsholme before he entered the public service, and dated 1901. The applicant recently called on Dr. Newsholme and asked him for a new testimonial, but Dr. Newsholme, owing to his official position, did not feel at liberty to comply with the request. His action was in accordance with ordinary practice.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to a book, entitled "The Declining Birth Rate," containing various controversial statements, written by Dr. Newsholme, with the addition below the title of the words "Principal of the Medical Officers of the Local Government Board"; whether it is in accordance with precedent for Government officers to use their official position in this way; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take?

I have seen the book referred to, which was published a year ago. I understand that the title-page and cover were not submitted to Dr. Newsholme in proof, and that, as soon as he saw them, he wrote to the editor with a view to the removal of his official designation from the work. Directions were at once given for this to be done in all subsequent editions. The first edition had already been printed.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if any steps are being taken under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, by the local authorities concerned in view of the contingent increase of population in connection with the development of the South Yorkshire coalfield in the neighbourhood of Doncaster?

The local authorities concerned have had this matter under consideration for a long time, and I have been pressing them to prepare town planning schemes to cover the area in question. I believe that the Bolton-upon-Dearne Urban District Council have practically decided to proceed with a scheme, and that some progress in that direction has been made by other local authorities. I am happy to learn that the Mayor of Doncaster is taking an active interest in the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the guardians of the Northampton Union advertised on the 25th of October last for a superintendent and matron of scattered homes; that they stated that candidates must be persons of experience and capable of keeping the necessary books and accounts; that on the 19th inst. the guardians interviewed six candidates, and that they then, in spite of the advice and protest of the district inspector of the Local Government Board, appointed candidates to the office who had no experience whatever of the duties of the position; and whether, seeing that the appointments have to be made with the approval of the Local Government Board, he will make inquiries into this case, and if it is found that the best candidates have not been selected for the positions, he will refuse to sanction the appointments?

The matter is under my consideration, and I am in communication with the guardians as to the proposed appointment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the quantity and value of ammunition, cartridges, and gunpowder shipped from British ports to Iquitos and Manaos, respectively, in the years 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, and 1911; and whether any of these shipments, and, if so, what amount, were for the Peruvian Amazon Company?

No official information is available with regard to the exports from the United Kingdom to the two ports in question, exports to Brazil and Peru being recorded only under the countries of destination and not under the individual ports at which the goods are actually unloaded. The Peruvian official returns show imports of ammunition, gunpowder and cartridges into the ports of Iquitos from the United Kingdom to the value of about £6,700 in 1910, but no corresponding figures are available for other years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has any information as to the British registration of the steamship "Tasso"; whether it has been assured that this vessel is of genuine British ownership; whether her crew is composed entirely of aliens; and if he can give information as to when and where the "Tasso" was registered as a British ship?

The steamship "Tasso" was registered at Hull in May, 1890, and was reregistered, on being lengthened, in 1901. In August, 1911, the vessel was transferred, on sale, to a person qualified to be the owner of a British ship. The vessel trades in the Levant, and, for the voyage commencing on 4th June last, the entire ship's company consisted of aliens.

also asked what safeguards are adopted, both in the United Kingdom and by British representatives at ports abroad, for the purpose of preventing colourable transfers of foreign ships to British registration?

No ship can be entered on the British Register until a formal declaration has been made to the effect that the vessel is owned by a person, persons, or body qualified to own a British ship False declaration is a misdemeanour, and the ship, to the extent of the interest of the declarant, is subject to forfeiture. Special machinery is provided by Section 51 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, for inquiring into cases in which there is doubt as to the title of a ship to British registry.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether the facilities given to ex-members of the Imperial Navy and Army, who desire to enter the postal service, extend to ex-members of the Colonial forces, who desire to enter the postal service; and, if not, whether he will consider the propriety of granting such ex-members of Colonial forces the same facilities as are granted to ex-members of the Imperial Navy and Army?

I am not aware whether preferential employment is given to ex-soldiers and sailors from the United Kingdom who wish to enter Colonial postal services. But I will make inquiry in the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General when the telephonic facilities promised to rural districts will be extended to the district round Dunmow, such as Takeley?

I regret that I am unable at present to provide further rural party lines as the funds placed by the Treasury at my disposal for that purpose are exhausted. I have, however, applied for additional funds, and if they are granted no time will be lost in carrying out any works in the Dunmow district which may be justified by the support obtained.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the age-limit of forty-five is found in practice to debar a large number of men, otherwise capable, from getting temporary employment in the Post Office; and, if so, whether he will consider the propriety of extending the age-limit for temporary employment?

If, as I assume, the hon. Member is referring to Christmas work, I would refer him to my answer to the hon. Member for the Enfield Division on the 21st instant. I am not aware that the age limit of forty-five debars any large number of capable men from the temporary employment referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the outbreaks of wart disease of potato occurred at Chobham, Richmond, and Windlesham, Surrey, in 1911, and at Ham, Surrey, in 1912; whether the Board (until written to in 1912) failed to communicate this information to any local authority or to Wye College, whose duty it is to advise farmers in Surrey on plant diseases; whether any outbreaks have occurred in Sussex or Kent; and whether the Board intend to organise their new horticultural department in a way that such information is immediately given to the scientific advisory centres for the counties concerned?

The answer to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third part in the negative. The outbreaks of wart disease to which the hon. Member refers were dealt with quite satisfactorily by the local authority. I do not think that any advantage would be gained by the adoption of the suggestion made in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when the restriction on the exportation of Irish hay will be removed, seeing that foot-and-mouth disease has almost disappeared from those parts of Ireland where it existed, and also seeing that the greater portion of Ireland and the provinces of Minister and Connaught have been free from the disease for about thirty years; and whether he is aware of the fact that poor farmers are very hard hit by reason of not being able to sell their hay, and that numbers of poor men are thrown idle through the same cause?

Perhaps the hon. Member will allow me to refer him to the answer I gave yesterday to the question on this subject, which was addressed to me by the hon. Member for Mid-Armagh.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture the name of the Board's scientific adviser on the fungous diseases against which steps are being taken under the Destructive Insects and Pests Acts?

Sir David Prain, the director of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, is the technical adviser of the Board on the class of questions to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state under what Section of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, or other Statute is the Board empowered by its Order, as in the case of the recent Order relating to the admission of Irish cattle into Great Britain and their transport through British counties, to modify or qualify orders of local authorities under the above Act in the direction, not of prohibiting or regulating the consignment of diseased or suspected animals, but of removing or relaxing restrictions intended to prevent the spread of disease?

I would refer the hon. Member to Section 22 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will define the nature and limitations of the functions and powers of the recently constituted National Council of Agriculture for Wales, and give details of its personnel; and whether he is yet able to indicate the funds likely to be placed at its disposal?

It is impossble within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question to give the information for which the hon. Member asks. I dealt very fully with the whole subject in my speech at the first meeting of the Welsh Agricultural Council on the 14th inst. A report of the proceedings is being printed, and I will send the hon. Member a copy as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he can now indicate what increased financial provision he is prepared to recommend the Development Commissioners to make for the purpose of advancing agricultural education and the study of forestry at the university colleges of Aberystwyth and Bangor; whether, should substantial financial support be forthcoming locally, he will recommend similar assistance for the Cardiff University College; and whether, in dealing with these matters, he will have regard to the fact that the three Scottish agricultural colleges enjoy an aggregate income from public sources of £30,000 per annum?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The formulation of detailed proposals on which an estimate of expenditure can be based involves long and detailed inquiry, but there will be no avoidable delay. With regard to the second part of the question, I can only say that any specific proposals which may be made to me shall receive careful consideration. The extent to which assistance is given out of public funds to the Scottish colleges will of course be kept in view in our negotiations with the Development Commissioners and the Treasury.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that, in the opinion of experts, cruelty is caused to bees if they are burnt alive by unintelligent or inexperienced persons; and whether he will cause the Bee Disease Bill to be so amended in Committee as to ensure that, when stocks of bees are required to be destroyed under the provisions of the Bill, the bees are first rendered insensible by the fumes of sulphur or some other anæsthetic?

The hon. Member's suggestion will receive careful consideration when Orders are framed for carrying out the provisions of the Bill after it becomes law.

asked the right hon. Member for Morpeth, as chairman of the Committee on Public Petitions, if he will state how many petitions have been presented to date against the Bill for the Disestablishment and Disendowment of the Church in Wales; how many signatures are comprised in such petitions; how many petitions, and with what number of signatures, have been presented to date in favour of the Bill; what are the numbers of petitions for and against the Bill which have been presented from Wales; and what are the numbers of signatures comprised in such last-mentioned petitions?

Up to and including the 27th inst., 5,967 petitions have been presented against the Established Church (Wales) Bill; there has not yet been time to count all the signatures appended thereto. Two petitions have been presented in favour of the Bill, containing four signatures; 1,090 petitions have been presented against the Bill from Wales, containing 511,000 signatures; none in favour of it.