asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many new class assistant clerks are employed in the Savings Bank Department of the General Post Office, Education Office, and Statistical Office of His Majesty's Customs and Excise, respectively; how many in each case are eligible by service for promotion; and how many have been promoted or nominated for promotion to second division in each of these offices since the institution of the class, and 1st January, 1912, respectively.

The figures are as follows:—

Number of Assistant Clerks, New Class.
——	Employed.	Eligible by Service for Promotion to Second Division.	Promoted or Nominated for Promotion to Second Division or analogous post.
			From the Institution of the Class to date.	Since 1st January, 1912, to date.
Post Office Savings Department Bank	265	70	51	13
Board of Education	313	164	46	12
Customs Statistical Office	186	91	20	6

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, how many second division clerks have been placed on the establishment of the Secretary's Office and Accountant-General's Department of the Customs and Excise, respectively, since 1st January, 1912; how many assistant clerks in the Customs and Excise Department are eligible by service for promotion to the second division; and how many assistant clerks have been promoted to the second division and assigned to each of these offices since the 1st January, 1912?

The answer to the first part of the question is twenty-one and sixty-five respectively; to the second, 188; to the third, six; all of whom have been appointed to the Accountant-General's Office. I may remind the hon. Member that under the terms of Clause 45 of the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, such promotions can only be made on grounds of special merit and on a certificate to be granted exceptionally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual amount of public money paid either as salary or as pension to the fifteen Lords qualified to sit for the hearing of appeals in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council?

The annual amount provided for these purposes is £78,792 6s.

asked the Chief Secretary for the amount to the credit of the Constabulary Force Fund; and how it is proposed to dispose of the same?

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply given on 4th instant to the question of the hon. Member for North Westmeath on the subject, of this fund.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that James M'Gourty, of Gortnaderry, Kilty-clogher, county Leitrim, was granted an old age pension in August last by the subcommittee, and on appeal by the pension officer the Local Government Board disallowed it on the ground of means; and whether, having regard to the fact that M'Gourty has no other means of support than that derived from the profits of one cow which is kept on his son's farm, the Local Government Board will reconsider his claim?

The farm referred to by the hon. Member belonged to the claimant, and was only assigned by him to his son in January last. It is an extensive farm, although portion of it is poor. It carries sixteen head of cattle, and was fairly well tilled, and the value of the privileges and maintenance derived therefrom was, in the opinion of the Local Government Board, well over the statutory limit for a pension.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if Denis Leahy, of Gal-bally, county Limerick, had his claim for a pension passed on three different occa- sions by the local pensions committee and rejected by the Local Government Board; that evidence that he was beyond seventy years was given by various people, amongst whom were the parish priest, the local Protestant clergyman, and the medical officer; has any pension officer the right to ignore the evidence of such people as those mentioned, or are instructions given that no evidence of any kind will be accepted unless a certificate can be produced; and, in view of the feeling which has been expressed in this case owing to the insult offered to those who certified that the applicant was more than seventy, will a special inspector be sent to investigate the matter?

Leahy's pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal, on the ground that he had not reached the statutory age. He was unable to furnish any documentary proof of age, the evidence alluded to by the hon. Member consisting of mere expressions of opinion on the part of the gentlemen referred to. All representations made by or on behalf of claimants are carefully considered, and no evidence of age is ignored either by the pension officer or the Board. As the case has been decided, the Board have no power to reconsider their decision in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the description by the Estates Commissioners of the hovels covered with green grass and the uneconomic holdings on the Colomb estate, near Cahirciveen; and whether the Congested Districts Board will now act promptly and complete the purchase of this estate?

I have seen the statement referred to. The maps and documents previously lodged with the Estates Commissioners have now been lodged with the Congested Districts Board, and the question of the purchase of the estate will be considered by them.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the date when the landlord of the M'Carthy estate, Gowlanes, Cahirdaniel, was paid his purchase money; and can he state when an inspector will be sent to make a report as to the general improvements necessary for houses, etc., on the estate?

The purchase money of this estate was advanced on 18th November, 1909. The inspector who is to visit the property with a view to reporting as to improvements to be effected before the lands are vested in the tenants will do so as soon as he has completed work on other estates on which he is at present engaged, and which the Estates Commissioners expect will be completed at an early date.

asked if the Congested Districts Board will purchase the F. Westropp estate, townlands of Dromore and Derryulk, parish of Feakle, county Clare?

As the estate in question was not congested within the meaning of the Act, the Congested Districts Board saw no objection to the estate being sold direct to the tenants through the Estates Commissioners, and they therefore decided not to make an offer for it.

asked what estates since 1906 the Congested Districts Board have purchased, have agreed to purchase, or are in negotiation for purchasing, in connection with which persons have been boycotted or intimidated, on which there are or were persons under police protection, or in connection with which disturbances occurred for which persons have been brought before any Court of Law?

It would be impossible for the Congested Districts Board to say definitely with regard to any particular estate that no person has ever been intimidated in connection with the proceedings for its sale, but when any illegal action or combination in the case of the sale of an estate comes to their knowledge, they at once intervene and intimate that no further steps will be taken pending the cessation of such illegal action. They have also circulated throughout the congested districts a notice that illegal combination against the payment of rent to the landlord pending the valuation of the estate by the Board, or intimidation in any form, will indefinitely delay, instead of hastening, the purchase of the estate.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board has taken any and, if so, what steps to complete the purchase of the Fuller estate, near Cahirciveen?

The Congested Districts Board have recently made an offer for the purchase of this estate.

asked whether, previous to the estate of Lord Massey being vested, the Estates Commissioners will consider the application of Mrs. Bridget M'Sharry, an evicted tenant, for reinstatement on the estate at Gubacreeney, Kinlough, as reinstatement of all evicted tenants was one of the conditions of the sale of the estate?

Bridget M'Sharry, now Mrs. Bridget Coyle, was reinstated in her former holding on the estate of Lord Massey, county Lei trim, and a free grant of £40 was in her case sanctioned by the Estates Commissioners for the improvement of her house and the purchase of livestock.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, if he will state the names of the prisoners now on trial in Belfast in connection with rioting, the offences with which they are charged, and the dates when these offences are alleged to have been committed; and whether, in view of the political complexion which has been given to the prosecution by the attempt to secure the hearing of the charges before magistrates likely, owing to their political views, to convict the prisoners, the Government will authorise the release of the accused men, having regard further to the time which has elapsed since the occurrences for which they are charged?

There are no persons now on trial for riot in Belfast, but preliminary investigations by a Justice of the Peace are proceeding in certain cases with a view to having the defendants returned for trial by a jury at assizes. As the offences are indictable, the hon. Member is wrong in thinking that the magistrates have any power to convict. There is no intention to abandon the proceedings.

asked the Secretary for War what courses of instruction have been held and at what places during the present year for the Officers' Training Corps; what number of officers have attended the respective courses; and what number have been obtained for the Special Reserve and for the Territorials as the result of these courses of instruction?

The following is a statement showing what courses of instruction have been held specially for officers of the Officers' Training Corps during 1912, the places at which the courses were held, and the number of officers who attended:—

Nature of Course.	Place.	Date.		Number of Officers who Attended.		Remark.
Preparatory for examinations A and B	York	January	…	23	…	—
Preparatory examination A	Warley	January	…	15	…	—
Preparatory examination B	Shorncliffe	January	…	17	…	—
Regimental exercise	Cambridge	January	…	22	…	—
Regimental exercise	Exeter	January	…	23	…	—
Regimental exercise	Dublin	January	…	7	…	—
Musketry	Hythe	April	…	40	…	—
Observation of company training of Regular troops	Aldershot	April	…	32	…	—
Preparatory for examination A and B	Portsmouth	April	…	28	…	—
Regimental exercise	Cupar	April	…	16	…	—
Regimental exercise	Aylesbury	April	…	7	…	—
Regimental exercise	Rugby	April	…	18	…	—
Regimental exercise	York	April	…	18	…	—

In addition to the special courses mentioned above, officers of the Officers' Training Corps have attended the following courses during the year:—

Musketry	Hythe	Various	…	5	…	Open to officers from Regulars S.R. and T.F.
Musketry (local courses)	Various	Various	…	14	…
Gunnery, transport, signalling and electric lighting	Various	Various	…	4	…	—
Voluntary attachment to Regular units	Various	Various	…	11	…	—
Obligatory initial course to qualify for retention of the outfit grant	Various	Various	…	177	…	—

Summary.
			Number attending.
Courses, voluntary	…	…	234
Courses, obligatory	…	…	236
			470

The answer to the second part of the question does not arise from the answer to the first part. The courses of instruction, of which a schedule is given, are either voluntary or obligatory, in the latter case to qualify officers for their outfit grant or for promotion, and in either case these courses are intended not to qualify officers for commissions they already hold, but to improve their military education to the end that they be enabled properly and efficiently to train the cadets under their command.

asked the Secretary for War how many batteries of Royal Horse and Field Artillery are now serving in the United Kingdom on the higher peace establishment and how many on the lower?

Six Horse and twenty-one Field Artillery batteries on the higher establishment, and eight Horse and fifty-seven Field batteries on the lower establishment are now serving in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary for War if he will have local allowances paid to writers employed in the Army Audit Office, Dublin, similar to those employed at the War Office and Woolwich in a similar capacity; and whether he is aware that the cost of living at Dublin is equal to that of London?

The information at my disposal does not support the view that the cost of living on the prevailing rates of wages are as high in Dublin as in the London area; and I therefore see no reason for paying the allowances suggested.

asked the Secretary for War whether any, and, if so, how many, of the Territorial Field Artillery brigades are still armed with 15-pounder guns only; and how many of such brigades are still armed with the oldest type, namely, Mark I. of such 15-pounder guns?

All brigades of Territorial Field Artillery, except the Howitzer brigade, are armed with the 15-pounder breech-loading converted gun; twenty of these have the Mark I. converted gun.

asked the Secretary for War for the names of the vendors and the price paid in the case of the land purchased at Salisbury and Ad Fines for Artillery ranges, or give a reference to the paper in which this information is given?

The names of the vendors are as follows:—Ad Fines.—Lieutenant-Colonel R. H. Carr Ellison, J. Davison, Esq., G. Dunn, Esq., Messrs. Hall, Messrs. Howey, Hon. W. J. James, W. H. Paw son, Esq., Lord Redesdale, W A. Selby, Esq.Salisbury Plain.—Combley's Trustees, Mrs. Ashley, H. J. Hallow ay, Esq., J. S. Haines, Esq., Channings, J. W. M. Williams, Esq., H. W. Hooper. Esq., G. F. Gay, Esq., F. Mills, Esq., G. W. Slade, Esq., R. Wadman, Esq., Rev. C. F. W. J. Williams, G. S. A. Watson Taylor, Esq., Dowse Trustees, Executors of T. L. Mills, A. G. Xotton, Esq., C. Awdry, Esq., H. C. Knapman, Esq., Rev. Emery, Rev. G. A. Sturton, Pembroke (Limited), Lady Dunsany, S. B. Coleman, Esq., Keytesbury Hospital, Orchester Glebe (Streeter).The acreage purchased and the price paid are as follows:—

Salisbury	…	4,847 acres	…	£115,163
Ad Fines	…	18,793 acres	…	£154,451

I am sending the hon. Gentleman a detailed statement.

asked the Secretary for War what is the present strength of the garrisons at Aldershot and Colchester, respectively, and how do the numbers compare with those obtaining at the beginning of 1910?

It is not considered expedient to publish present strengths of garrisons. I may point out that any comparison of figures taken in the trooping season is liable to be misleading.

asked the Secretary for War if he will explain why he refused to put a gentleman, otherwise eligible, on to the general Reserve of Officers because he made the stipulation that he should not be called out to fight in case of civil war in these islands?

A general Reserve, containing officers with conditions attached regarding the nature of the service to which they were liable, would be of little practical value.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland to state the number of schools in Ireland with the following averages, fifty and upwards and seventy and upwards; the number of teachers recognised in second-of-first and first-of-first grades, respectively: whether the numbers in those grades are stationary; and, if so, can he explain Rule 102 (c), which states that the number of teachers recognised in such grade above the third is fixed from time to time by the Commissioners, under arrangement with the Treasury, and state the nature of this arrangement?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that there are 3,718 schools (exclusive of Poor Law Union and industrial schools) with an average of fifty pupils and upwards, and 1,701 with an average of seventy pupils and upwards. On 31st December, 1911r there were 815 teachers recognised in the second division of the first grade, and 590 in the first division of the first grade. The maximum number of teachers that can be recognised in the grades above the third grade are fixed with the approval of the Treasury. As stated in reply to the hon. Baronet's question on this subject on 26th October, 1911, the Irish Government informed the Commissioners that they were prepared to recommend to the Treasury a limited expansion of the standard numbers at present fixed for the first grade on the understanding that no further promotions were made to that grade save on the occurrence of vacancies. The Commissioners, however, declined the offer, and no further action has since been taken in the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware that since the schoolmaster of Mendham, Suffolk, left in January last, the authorities have been trying to secure the services of a schoolmistress to take his place and that in these eleven months there have been six head teachers; and, seeing that the parish contains over 500 inhabitants, whether he will consider the advisability of recommending that a master should be placed in charge rather than a mistress?

The facts are substantially as stated in the first part of the question. I am not prepared to interfere with the discretion of the local education authority with regard to the question whether a master or mistress should be appointed to the school.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether, in view of the existence of a ring in India and in London for the purpose of pushing up the price of silver in anticipation of the Government's purchases, and of the fact that, in consequence, the Government was forced to employ a broker in London outside that ring, he will consider, in the interests of India and the British Government, whether the time has arrived for introducing legislation to put an end to all these gambling options and future transactions in silver whereby rings and corners are only made possible, especially as the two Government books just issued on these questions proves that nearly all the Governments of other countries have, or are proposing, legislative measures to prohibit all similar gambling operations, whether these be in the world's finance, trade, agriculture, or food stuffs?

The Government of India have not proposed any legislation on the subject for India, but a copy of the hon. Member's question will be forwarded to them for consideration. So far as the question relates to legislation in this country, it is one for the Board of Trade.

asked the Under-Secretary for India what words are contained in the contract notes sent to the India Office by Messrs. Samuel Montagu and Company which indicate that they acted as brokers and not as dealers; whether a different contract note is issued by them when they act as dealers; and, if so, will he give a specimen copy of both these different notes?

The forms of contract are as follows:—(1) Contract Notes sent to the India Office.Bought Note."Samuel Montagu and Co.,60, Old Broad Street,London, 8th March, 1912.No. 5.Bought for the Secretary of State for India about £7,000 fine bar silver:At 26 11/16th per oz. std.Delivery about two months.(Signed) Samuel Montagu and Co."Sold Note."Samuel Montagu and Co.,60, Old Broad Street,London, 19th April, 1912.No. 1A.Sold for the Secretary of State for India about £101,000 fine bar silver as per contracts 16, 19, 22, 23.At 27 ⅜ per oz. std.Delivery 1st May.(Signed) Samuel Montagu and Co."(2) Forms of Dealers' Contract Notes used byMessrs. Samuel Montagu and Co."Samuel Montagu and Co.,60, Old Broad Street,London,………19th………No.Sold to……………… ……… about £……… fine bar silver,At………per oz. std.Delivery…………(Signed) Samuel Montagu and Co.""Samuel Montagu and Co.,60, Old Broad Street,London………19th………No. ……Bought from………………… about £…… fine bar silver,At …………… per oz. std.Delivery ……………(Signed) Samuel Montagu and Co."

asked the Under-Secretary for India the price originally paid by the Government of India for Cooper's Hill, and the total sum spent upon buildings, repairs, and upkeep during the time it was used by the Government of India as a college?

The original purchase price paid for Cooper's Hill in 1871 was £55,000. While it was used as a college, capital expenditure was incurred upon it amounting to £116,226.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, if he will ascertain the total cost of the Swansea Corporation Bill, of this Session, to each of the local authorities concerned, and state the result of his inquiry in reply to this question?

I am informed by the local authorities that, so far as can be ascertained at present, the costs incurred by them in connection with the Bill in question are approximately as follows:—Swansea Corporation, £8,578; Oyster-mouth Urban District Council, £3,840; Swansea Rural District Council, £l,960; Glamorgan County Council, £1,552; a total of £15,930.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of bankruptcies of builders during the three years preceding January, 1906, and during the three years following that date; and, if further statistics are available, will he give the numbers for the years 1909, 1910, and 1911?

The following statement gives the information asked for by my hon. Friend, so far as relates to England and Wales. The jurisdiction of the Board of Trade in bankruptcy does not extend to Scotland and Ireland, and they are not in possession of corresponding particulars for those countries.

NUMBEK of Receiving Orders* made against Builders in each year from 1903 to 1911, inclusive.
Year.	Number of Receiving Orders.	Year.	Number of Receiving Orders.	year.	Number of Receiving Orders.
1903	330	1906	309	1909	209
1904	313	1907	308	1910	198
1905	298	1908	291	1911	240
Total	941	Total	908	Total	647
*Including Administration Orders under Section 125 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1883.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the complaints that Lowestoft fishermen, who are paid by share, are defrauded of considerable sums of money, he can issue any regulations to safeguard the men; whether the owners could be compelled to file the accounts for each voyage with the collector of Customs; whether he can issue printed notices to the men in forming them of their right to a statement of accounts; and whether, if nothing can be done in the matter by way of administration, he will consider an amendment to the law which will prevent the fishermen being defrauded?

The rights of fishermen paid by share are safeguarded by the provisions of Section 388 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. The Board of Trade have no power to compel owners to file the accounts of each voyage with the Collector of Customs, but, under the Section referred to, every fisherman paid by share is entitled to demand a copy of the settling account which is required to show in detail the amounts for which the catch has been sold and the amount of deductions; and he is entitled, in the event of a dispute, to inspect the owner's books and accounts. These provisions appear to give fishermen sufficient means to protect their interests in this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of old age pensioners resident in the county of Yorkshire and the yearly cost of the pensions paid to them during the last administrative year; what decrease there has been in the number of persons over seventy years of age receiving indoor and outdoor relief in the county of Yorkshire since the Old Age Pensions Act came into operation; and what has been the consequent saving in expenditure to the county?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. There were 62,611 old age pensioners in Yorkshire (including the nine county boroughs) on the last Friday in March, 1912, and the cost of their pensions in 1911–12 is estimated at approximately £785,000. The number of paupers over seventy years of age, in the unions in the county of Yorkshire, on the 1st January, 1909, when the Old Age Pensions Act came into operation, was not ascertained, but between the 1st January, 1910, and the 1st January, 1912, the numbers decreased as follows:—Indoor paupers, 500; outdoor paupers, 10,000. Between the financial years 1909–10 and 1911–12 the actual expenditure on out-relief in these unions fell by £76,000, but there was an increase in the expenditure on the maintenance of indoor paupers.

asked the number of old age pensioners in the city of York and the yearly cost of the pensions paid to them during the last administrative year; what decrease there has been in the number of persons over seventy years of age receiving indoor and outdoor relief in the city since the Old Age Pensions Act came into operation; and what has been the consequent saving in expenditure to the city?

The answer to the first part of the question is 1,324 as on the last Friday in March, 1912, and approximately £16,400. The Local Government Board have been in communication with the clerk to the guardians of the York Union, and they are informed that the number of persons over seventy years of age who were in receipt of outdoor relief in the City of York on the 31st December, 1908, was 188, and on 7th December, 1912, was two; and that the amount of relief paid weekly in respect of such persons between the two dates has decreased from £41 11s. 6d. to 7s. The decrease in the number of persons over seventy years of age in receipt of indoor relief in the City of York since the date when the Old Age Pensions Act came into operation is not stated.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the position of assistant inspector of wireless telegraphy is to be given to a naval officer; whether this officer is to be sent to Egypt in connection with a site for one of the Imperial wireless stations; and whether, before making the appointment, he will satisfy himself that there are no officers at present in the Post Office wireless service capable of performing these duties?

There is no such position in the Post Office as that referred to by the hon. Member. It was arranged that an officer of the Royal Marine Artillery, who has special experience of the requirements and working of long-distance wireless telegraphy, should serve on a Commission which had been appointed to select sites for the Imperial wireless stations, but the Commission has not been sent pending the decision of the Select Committee on the Marconi Agreement. There are not at present any officers in the Post Office wireless service who have sufficient experience of long-distance stations to do this work.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the names and geographical location of the 251 centres of secondary instruction in Scotland?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the lists of higher grade and secondary schools given in official publications of the Scotch Education Department, copies of which I am sending to him. From these lists the geographical position of the various schools will be apparent.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the refusal to give employment as nurse probationer in the joint hospital, Dumbarton, because an applicant was not of Protestant religion; and if he can take steps to prevent the imposition of a creed-bar in public institutions?

I have made inquiry into the case referred to by my hon. Friend, and find that the facts are substantially as stated, although the clerk to the Joint Hospital Board informs me that the board does not lay down any condition as to the religious persuasion of the members of the staff, and that, as a matter of fact, they have in the past appointed both Protestants and Catholics. I agree entirely with my hon. Friend's view that there should be no creed-bar to appointments in public institutions which are supported by ratepayers of all creeds.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that one of the members of the Commission appointed to hold an inquiry with reference to the application made by the Devon and Cornwall fisheries committees for a Grant to enable them to advance money to fishermen on easy terms for the purpose of putting motors in their boats has adversely criticised such county Sea Fisheries Committee in the public Press; and, seeing that under such circumstances such member is not in a position to make an unbiassed report, whether he will consider the advisability of substituting another person for his Commissioner?

I believe that one of the four gentlemen by whom the inquiry is being conducted has at times been a critic of the work of the Sea Fisheries Committees, but if critics of the existing order of things are to be regarded as ineligible for membership of committees such as that in question, the work of those bodies would suffer considerably. The gentleman to whom I refer has taken an active and sympathetic interest in the welfare of the inshore fishermen, and I do not doubt that in conjunction with his three I colleagues he will consider the information which they obtain in a fair and reasonable spirit, and that their work will be of value to those on whose behalf it has been I undertaken.