asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state for each of the years 1870, 1875, 1880, 1885, 1890, 1895, 1900, 1905, 1910, and 1911 the average reserve in notes and gold held by the banking department of the Bank of England; the public and other deposits of the banking department of the Bank of England; the estimated aggregate deposits with banks in the United Kingdom; and the aggregate of the external commerce of the United Kingdom?

I have no official information as to the aggregate deposits with banks in the United Kingdom, but an estimate for most of the years mentioned will be found in the issue of the "Statist" for 27th April, 1912. As regards the rest of the question the figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War in what year the last increase to the pay of officers in the Army was granted?

A substantial increase in the pay of lieutenant-colonels commanding units was made in 1907. But if the hon. Member's question refers to an all-round increase of pay to Army officers, I am afraid that I could not answer him without considerable historical research.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will state how many county councils have formed education committees under the Act of 1902?

All the administrative counties have formed education committees under Section 17 of the Education Act, 1902.

asked the Home Secretary how many persons were killed by motor omnibuses and electric trams, respectively, in the Metropolitan area, including the City, during the month of November and from 1st January to 30th November this year?

The information at present available is to the effect that the numbers of deaths caused in the Metropolitan Police District and the City together during November by motor omnibuses and electric tramcars were as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were killed in the Metropolitan area, including the City, by motor omnibuses belonging to the London General Omnibus Company during the month of November and from the 1st of January to the 30th of November this year?

I regret that I am not in a position to furnish this information, as in the Metropolitan Police District no record is made of the ownership of vehicles which cause fatal accidents.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether the Colonial Office has been authorised to put forward proposals for the annexation of the independent State of Sarawak to the British Crown; and, if not, whether he is prepared to declare the policy of His Majesty's Government in reference to the maintenance of the independent status of Sarawak as regards internal affairs?

There is not the slightest foundation for the suggestion in the first part of the question. His Majesty's Government have no intention of departing from the policy indicated by the terms of the Agreement of Protection concluded in 1888.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can say, for the convenience of the House, what time will be given after the conclusion of the Committee stage of the Government of Ireland Bill before the Report stage is commenced?

I hope to make a statement next week.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that a Russian firm can, by forming a new firm, avoid repayment to British merchants of moneys obtained from them by the use of false Bills of Lading; and, if so, whether he will draw the attention of the Russian Government to this state of the law with a view to its amendment, so that greater confidence may be established, resulting in an increase of business between British and Russian merchants?

I am informed that, according to the decision of the Ruling Senate, the highest Court of Appeal in Russia, a Russian firm, which takes fresh partners into the business or which changes its name, is no longer responsible for debts previously incurred. I understand, however, that the Russian Government have at present under their consideration a Bill to guard against the abuses which are now liable to occur, owing to the state of the law respecting the transference of business undertakings and changes in the names of firms. It is probable that this Bill will be introduced into the Duma at an early date, and it is therefore unnecessary to draw the attention of the Russian Government to the matter, as they are already taking steps to remedy it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state when he expects to receive any Report from the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the management of Poor Law institutions; and whether this House will have an opportunity of considering any draft Order on the subject before it is confirmed?

I presume my hon. Friend refers to the Departmental Committee appointed to examine the Poor Law Orders, with a view to their consolidation and amendment. I understand that the Committee hope soon to be in a position to make a first Report. As regards the last part of the question, I may refer to my reply to the hon. Member for the Henley Division on the 26th ultimo.

asked the Postmaster-General the cause of delay in the delivery of letters in Dublin from Athy and Wexford; if he is aware that letters from these towns reaching Dublin at 1.40 p.m. are not delivered before 6.10 p.m., thereby causing inconvenience to business men and others; whether any satisfactory reason can be given for the holding over of letters in the General Post Office for four hours or more; and is the practice of stamping the time of delivery of letters followed in Dublin?

Letters from Athy and Wexford reach the Dublin Sorting Office at about 2.5 p.m. and 1.55 p.m. respectively, too late to be included in the delivery commencing at 2.0 p.m. The postponement of that delivery would cause delay to a much larger amount of correspondence from the rest of Ireland, the North of England and Scotland and accordingly could not be justified. The practice of stamping the time of delivery I of letters is followed at Dublin except in the case of letters which fall into the first morning delivery and those which reach Dublin by the Day Mail Travelling Post Offices.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that a number of rural post offices have been, or are going to be, closed on one day in the week, causing inconvenience to the members of the public residing in the neighbourhood of these post offices; and whether, in this case, he can arrange for travelling assistants to take over the work of the local postmasters on the days when the post offices are closed, so that this inconvenience may be avoided?

The practice of allowing rural post offices to close early on one day a week, which was introduced upon the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on Post Office Servants of 1907, is in force at many post offices throughout the United Kingdom. The day selected for early closing is usually that adopted locally for shops under the Shops Act, when there is generally a considerable reduction in the volume of post office business. I do not think that much inconvenience results from the arrangement, and, apart from practical difficulties, which would be considerable, I should not be warranted in incurring the expense of sending a special staff to deal with the work.