asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that inconvenience and expense is being caused to executors and trustees by reason of the delay which now takes place in the assessment of duties payable in respect of real property, owing to the Estate Duty officials referring each case to the district valuers appointed under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; whether instructions have been given to the district valuers to expedite such cases; and, if so, why such instructions are not being complied with, as in the case of accounts filed early in December, 1911 (under reference number 36,051/09), in relation to property in Manchester which has not yet been disposed of; and whether he will take any and, if so, what steps to remedy this state of affairs?

I am aware that some delay is necessarily caused in the assessment of Estate Duties on real property by the practice of subjecting the values returned to examination by the valuation staff—a practice from which the revenue derives considerable advantage. As has been stated in recent answers to similar questions, instructions have been given to district valuers to expedite the valuation of property included in Estate Duty accounts, and these instructions are being complied with so far as circumstances will permit. The case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was disposed of some days ago.

asked whether the funds of the Road Board can be used to assist in freeing toll bridges?

I am informed that the Road Board, without expressing any opinion as to whether it is within their power to do so, are not prepared at the present time to make advances towards the cost of freeing toll bridges.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what grounds the pension awarded to Mrs. Mason, of Ballingamboon, Milltown, county Kerry, was disallowed; whether, seeing that her means are considerably under the limit prescribed, her case will be reconsidered, with a view to granting her a pension?

Mrs. Mason's pension was discontinued in May last on the ground that the value of the maintenance and other privileges enjoyed by her exceeded the statutory limit. She is living with her son on a farm of ninety-seven acres, of which twenty-one acres are tilled, and which carries over twenty head of cattle, in addition to other stock.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Estates Commissioners have taken any further steps towards the reinstatement of Cornelius Guiry, a former tenant on the estate of Lord Annally, who was evicted from his holding at Farran, Drumcollogher, county Limerick, on 9th October, 1882?

The lands are in the occupation of other tenants who have purchased under the Land Purchase Acts, with whom the Estates Commissioners have no power to interfere, and they are not prepared to provide Guiry with another holding.

asked the Chief Secretary how many teachers who taught Irish and mathematics as extra subjects during the year ended June, 1912, have not yet been paid; and will he state what is the cause of this delay in making those payments?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that there are 239 schools in which the fees for Irish have not yet been received by the teachers, but in a considerable number of these cases the fees are in process of payment, and will be remitted at an early date. The precise number of teachers to whom payments for Irish and mathematics have not yet been made could not be given without a minute examination of the reports and registers which would take a considerable time. There are twenty-eight schools in which the fees for mathematics have not yet been received by the teachers. The delay in payment in the majority of these cases arises from non-observance of the Board's regulations, or from questions raised as to the qualifications of the teachers which involve considerable and often prolonged correspondence with inspectors, managers, and others.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if the Wexford tobacco growers are fully equipped for curing the leaf; is he aware that they have considerable experience in the work of growing and curing tobacco; are they entitled to better terms than new beginners; and if he can state what terms they are going to get under the new scheme?

The Wexford Tobacco Growers Society have been provided by the Department with the use of a tobacco barn, which is capable of curing satisfactorily the produce of not more than twelve statute acres annually. The Wexford growers have considerable experience in the work of growing tobacco, but the curing of their crop has in the past been done mainly under the direction of a paid employé. From one point of view the Wexford growers are not entitled to any better terms than beginners, inasmuch as with the experience they have already had they should be able to produce a more valuable crop. The Department are not yet aware of the terms they are to get under the new scheme. It is understood that negotiations are in progress between the experimenter and the Wexford growers on this point.

asked the Secretary for War what is approximately the number of horses in the United Kingdom available for various military purposes in the event of war?

The police Census of 1910 returns over 1,600,000 horses over four years old fit for military purposes. Until the extended Census now being carried out has been completed, it will not be possible to give any estimate of the figures of horses available at the present time.

asked the Secretary for War whether any and, if so, what changes are to be introduced into the Territorial Forces in view of the experience gained in the Balkans; and when steps will be taken to reconstitute this force so as to comply with the more obvious requirements of the case?

Will the hon. Gentleman kindly refer to my reply to a similar question put by the hon. Gentleman the Member for Mid-Hertfordshire on Tuesday, 5th November, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary for War whether, as the Territorial Force cost the country £3,200,000 last year for 252,000 men, of whom 35,000 were absent from camp and over 35,000 more failed to qualify in musketry, and in view of the fact that the National Reserve is over 170,000 strong, of whom at least 50 per cent. are thoroughly-trained men in the prime of life, he will take steps to introduce a Supplementary Estimate for the purpose of largely increasing the pittance of 1s. a head which is all at present allowed for organisation, the total expense of which to the country is under £9,000?

A scheme is on the point of completion by which it is hoped that the services of the members of the National Reserve will be made available in the event of national emergency. Increased Grants will be made to the Territorial Force Associations to enable them to carry this policy into effect.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will now state whether the Birmingham Small Arms Factory were called on to submit a tender for the supply of 50,000 rifles; and, in the event of the answer being in the negative, why the Royal Small Arms Factory were passed over?

The reply is in the affirmative. The requirements of the Royal Small Arms Factory were fully considered, and sufficient work allotted to keep the present staff fully employed.

asked the Secretary for War whether the mobilisation equipments in the possession of units of the First Infantry Brigade were in all respects complete and fit for immediate use on 24th November; if not, who was responsible for the incompleteness and unreadiness; and what steps he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence?

I am informed that the equipments of this brigade were complete with the exception of six water carts which had been sent to Woolwich to be brought up to pattern, but that there were other water carts in store at Aldershot to replace these if mobilisation had taken place. Two panniers for entrenching tools and three saddle blankets were not forthcoming. I am informed that these were the only deficiencies.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether inspectors have from time to time complained of the insufficient accommodation for the hats and cloaks of the children attending the Uppingham Church of England School; whether he is aware that at this time of the year outdoor garments are piled in heaps on the floor, and no attempt is made to secure that the clothes of clean children should not become infected; and whether he will do his utmost to impress upon the local managers the need for improvement in respect of those matters?

The school referred to was inspected on the 20th, 21st, and 22nd of last month, and His Majesty's inspector reported that the cloak-room accommodation was quite insufficient for the number of children in attendance. The Board have asked to be furnished as soon as possible with the managers' proposals for effecting the necessary improvements in the premises of the school. I understand the facts are substantially as stated in the second part of the question.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has received communications from town and borough councils praying for an amendment of the Shops Act to enable the local authorities, having jurisdiction in places frequented as holiday resorts, to make suspension orders for particular classes of shops during a period of not exceeding four months, instead of the power, already possessed by them, of making similar suspension orders in respect of all shops; and whether he will give favourable consideration to this request?

I have received several communications to the effect stated in the question. I am not satisfied that it would be desirable to grant a power of exemption in respect of particular trades only, but the question raised will be noted for consideration when the time comes for reviewing the working of the Act. The matter does not appear to be an urgent but the question raised will be noted for has the power of granting a general exemption.

asked the Home Secretary the number of serious and minor accidents which have occurred in the shipbuilding yards on the Wear since 1st January of the present year, together with the names of the firms in whose yards the accidents occurred?

The figures arc: Five fatal, 177 serious, and 1,104 minor accidents. The names of the firms in whose yards the accidents occurred are as follows: Doxford and Sons, J. L. Thompson and Sons, Short Brothers, Bartram and Sons, R. Thompson and Sons (South-wick), R. Thompson and Sons (Sunderland), Sunderland Shipbuilding Company. Pickersgill and Sons, Priestman and Company, Austin and Sons, Osbourne, Graham and Company, Sir J. Laing and Sons, Crown and Sons, Blumer and Company.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies if he has received from the Trinidad Working Men's Association a memorandum on the subject of whipping by the cat ordered by Mr. Blackwood Wright, the stipendiary of Port-of-Spain: and if he is prepared to act on its proposals?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the rule recently introduced into the public service whereby the promotion of an officer against whom proceedings are pending is prohibited was initiated by the Government of India or by the Secretary of State; if by the latter, whether, before being sanctioned, the rule was considered in Council, and, if so, how many members of Council signified their approval of it; and whether such consideration, if any, was given before or after the Under-Secretary of State made a statement in the House committing the Government to the course that has been followed?

The rule was initiated by the Government of India.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether any, and, if so, which of the ruling chiefs of India have undertaken or contemplate undertaking to present any, and, if so, how many, and what class of battleships to the nation; and whether the Admiralty are in any case discouraging such gifts on the ground that the cost of maintenance and the provision of crews cannot be provided by the State?

No such offer has been made, and, so far as the Secretary of State is aware, no such offer is contemplated. The second question should be addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty.

asked when the Governor of Bengal will be provided with a suitable residence and bodyguard?

The Governor of Bengal is already in residence at Government House, Calcutta. The provision of a bodyguard was sanctioned last July.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what amount has been paid to vaccination officers in each of the years from 1895 down to the present, giving the separate amounts for London and the provincial unions, and the total amount for England and Wales?

It is doubtful whether the information could be obtained in all cases, and, even if it could, the labour which such a return would entail, not only on my Department, but on the officials of the 650 unions from which the particulars would have to be supplied, would, I think, be disproportionate to the value of the figures.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at an inquest concerning the death of James Mellor, held on the 18th November by Mr. Samuel Brighouse, coroner for South-West Lancashire, in the course of which the coroner stated that he had been in communication with the Registrar-General, who had arranged with the local registrar that no death should be registered on the certificate of an unqualified person; whether he will state what was the nature of the communication received from Mr. Brighouse and what instructions have been given by the Registrar-General to the local registrar; and whether it is proposed to publish the instruction in the "London Gazette," as provided for in Section 44 of the Births and Deaths Registration Act, 1874?

I am informed that in February last the coroner, Mr. Brighouse, desired the Registrar-General to have all uncertified deaths taking place in the North Meols sub-district of Ormskirk reported to him. The registrar was so instructed, as has been done in some isolated cases in other sub-districts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he has been informed that the Weights and Measures Act, 1878, has not been generally enforced in the case of beer casks used as measures by brewers for sale, and that such measures are extensively of defective capacity and in others negligently filled, imposing loss upon all classes of purchasers, especially in the case of licensed retailers of beer in the United Kingdom and upon the public services of the country; and whether he will see that the local authorities of the country, who were prevented by the Board of Trade from making such tests by a letter of legal advice, issued by the Department on 26th January, 1895, are in future permitted to carry out the Weights and Measures Act in the areas under their authority; (2) whether it has come to his knowledge that licensed retailers of malt liquors, being tied tenants of brewers in a majority of instances in the country, are not able to complain of shortage in beer casks by lack of capacity in casks and by negligent filling of casks, as they fear the consequences by loss on removal at short notice, and have to bear any loss by such measures; and, seeing that inspectors of weights and measures in parts of the country say that they have difficulty in making tests of beer casks for shortage, whether he will say what action he proposes to take; and (3) whether his attention has been called to the fact that, on the 26th January, 1895, the Board of Trade, in their letter to the Warwickshire County Council, by paragraphs two, three and four, advised that council that brewers' casks not having any permanent mark of their capacity or measure of their contents the exemption in Section 22 applies to them; whether he is aware that this Section applies to beer glasses not used or offered as measures, that the Section 29 of 41 and 42 Vic, c. 49, states every measure whatsoever used for trade should be verified and stamped by an inspector with a stamp of verification under this Act, every person who uses or has in his possession for trade any measure not stamped as required by this Section shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £5, or in the case of a second offence £10, and shall be liable to forfeit the said measure, and any contract, bargain, sale, or dealing made by such measure shall be void; and whether he will instruct the local authorities of the country to proceed to carry out the Act?

I will answer these questions together. The Board of Trade understand that beer casks are not customarily used as measures of capacity, but as carrying vessels, and they are therefore of opinion that the Weights and Measures Acts do not apply to beer casks generally. If casks are used as measures and are not stamped the users are liable to prosecution under the Weights and Measures Acts, and furthermore, in cases in which there is a false description of the quantity of beer delivered it is open to the persons aggrieved to take proceedings under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. Licensed retailers consequently have their remedy when supplied with short measure, and I do not see that the Board of Trade can take any action in the matter. So far as the Weights and Measures Acts are concerned, the position as regards beer glasses is the same as that in regard to beer casks, but the Licensing (Consolidation) Act, 1910, provides that "all intoxicating liquor which is sold by retail and not in cask or bottle, and is not sold in a quantity less than half a pint, shall be sold in measures marked according to the Imperial standards." I have no power to instruct local authorities to proceed under the Weights and Measures Act, 1878.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the red lights placed on the ends of the piers at Shanklin, Isle of Wight, and Sandown, Isle of Wight, are not plainly visible to ships lying in Sandown Bay owing to the obstruction of the light by a metal frame; and whether, in view of the fact that this bay is often used by steamers in ballast during bad weather and by His Majesty's ships of all sizes, an improved pattern of light may be exhibited at these points in order to allow ships to verify their position when coming to anchor, or at anchor in the bay?

The lights in question are local lights belonging to the pier companies. I have been in communication with the Trinity House, who have power, with the sanction of the Board of Trade, to direct any variation in the character of any local light, and am informed by them that the lights on the pier at Shanklin were inspected in 1910, and were found to be in good order and adequate for the purpose for which they were sanctioned, namely, to mark the head of the pier as warning lights for the protection of the structure. As regards the light stated to be on the pier-head at Sandown, the Elder Brethren are instituting inquiries with a view to ascertain its character, there being no light shown on the chart, and no application having been made by the pier company for the statutory sanction of the Trinity House to its being established. As regards the suggestion in the latter part of the hon. Member's question, that general navigation would be benefited by the lights being improved, I am informed by the Trinity House that they have not received any representations on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that recent concessions as to the export of pigs from Ireland have proved inoperative, inasmuch as the London and North-Western Railway Company have refused to carry live pigs, and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board provide no accommodation for pigs during quarantine; whether these public companies are, respectively, bound to accept pigs for delivery and to provide adequate accom- modation during quarantine; and whether he can now see his way to open English and Scottish markets for the sale of pigs for slaughtering purposes during the Christmas season?

My right hon. Friend is aware that some complaints on this subject have been made, and he is communicating with the railway company and the Harbour Board on the subject. He has, however, no power to require them to provide accommodation for the landing of pigs or to accept consignments for shipment. The reply to the concluding question is in the negative.

asked whether cattle landed at the store wharf at Birkenhead can at any time after their being landed be removed to the slaughter wharf at the will of the owner?

The answer is in the negative. If cattle are sent to the detention lairs they must be kept there under the charge and observation of the Board's veterinary inspector until the prescribed period of detention is completed.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether in future, before licensing wharves in this country for the reception and detention of cattle from Ireland, he will stipulate that the controllers of the quarantine space, whether railway companies or corporate bodies, will not unduly favour large consigners, and that they will consider, and to a reasonable extent satisfy, the request of every applicant, and especially that of a feeder of cattle as distinguished from that of a wholesale dealer?

My right hon. Friend will keep this matter in view, and will bring any specific complaints to the notice of the bodies concerned. But he does not think that it would be practicable or in the general interest to make any stipulation of the character suggested as a condition precedent to the approval of a landing place. Any attempt to do so might have the effect of seriously reducing the accommodation available for the reception of cattle.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his Department have issued any simple treatise dealing with rotation of crops and general cultivation suitable to small holdings; if so, whether any steps have been taken to circulate it among small holders; and, if not, whether he will take steps to have such a treatise prepared which will give full particulars of the latest and most successful methods adopted in other countries, particularly in Denmark?

No general treatise has been issued by the Board of the character suggested by the hon. Member, but they have prepared a large number of leaflets dealing separately with specific subjects of special interest to small holders. The leaflets are supplied free of charge, and have a considerable circulation. My right hon. Friend will be glad to send to the hon. Member a list of the leaflets, with an approximate statement of the number of each circulated during the present year.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has addressed letters to various magistrates of the city of Liverpool, who have by long years of public service on the bench and otherwise gained the esteem of their fellow citizens, asking them to resign on the ground that they do not now sit regularly on the bench?

Letters were written to twenty-two magistrates for the city of Liverpool who, according to returns of attendances furnished to me half-yearly, had not attended any Petty Sessional meetings during the year ending 30th June last. As these magistrates had ceased to perform a fair share of their duties as justices of the peace, I requested them to be good enough to consider whether, in accordance with the findings of the Royal Commission on the Selection of Justices of the Peace they should not properly resign their office in order that the list of magistrates for the city might be confined, as far as possible, to those who take an active part in the administration of justice. Six of these magistrates are, I am informed, definitely disqualified by non-residence.