asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) what is the Licence Duty exigible annually from solicitors in Scotland for permission to practice; whether this was orginally imposed as a war tax, and, if so, at what date; whether any solicitors have during the last two years been imprisoned for non-payment; and whether, in any of these cases, they offered the Government to pay the licences but were unable to pay the costs of the prosecutions; and (2) whether the three solicitors who were imprisoned in Scotland for non-payment of costs connected with prosecutions for not taking out licences to pursue their calling pleaded and proved poverty as their excuse: and whether he can give any other cases where debtors have been imprisoned at the instance of the Government during the last two years when inability to pay has been definitely proved?

An annual duty on certificates to practice as a solicitor was first introduced by Mr. Pitt in 1785, not apparently as a war tax, but as a permanent part of the fiscal system. The present duties in Scotland are £9 or £8, according to whether the practice is carried on within or outside the city or shire of Edinburgh. If the practice has been carried on for less than three years the duties are £4 10s. and £3, respectively. The three solicitors who have been imprisoned for non-payment of the fine imposed by the Court have each of them pleaded lack of means as an excuse for not taking out a certificate, but have not proved it. In one case an offer was made to pay the duty without the fine or costs and was not accepted. Poverty would not be regarded as purging an infringement of the revenue law, although it is a circumstance which, if proved, would be taken into account in dealing with the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of money which the English Agricultural Organisation Society has received from the Development Fund; whether the Grant or Grants have been made in a lump sum or in the form of annual contributions; whether the society has received promises of further Grants from the fund; and whether he will give the same information with regard to the Scottish and Irish Agricultural Organisation Societies?

During the last two years three advances to the aggregate amount of £ 12,000 have been sanctioned to the Agricultural Organisation Society of England and Wales, and two advances to the aggregate amount of £2,000 to the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society. The advances to the Scottish Society were each made to cover the operations of one financial year. No fixed annual contributions have been promised, but the Development Commissioners have indicated that they will be prepared to recommend Grants in future years on the submission of satisfactory schemes, so long as the financial position of the Development Fund warrants it. As regards the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society, the matter is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the practice of placing a number of unattached surveyors of Customs and Excise, of Customs origin and having no experience of Excise Duties, in temporary charge of former Excise districts, seriously interferes with the prospects of promotion of officers trained in the Excise branch; and whether, in view of the promise made on behalf of the Government that as a result of the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise departments the prospects of no class and, as far as possible, of no official should suffer thereby, he will say what steps it is proposed to take to fulfil this promise?

The arrangements in question follow on the recommendations of the Amalgamation Committee, who made other recommendations to meet any hardship caused to the officers of either of the old services by the unavoidable suspension of promotions.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any steps have been taken by the Estates Commissioners to acquire the untenanted land on the Taylor estate at Patrickswell, county Limerick, with a view to its distribution among evicted tenants, small holders, and labourers, and, if so, to what extent; and in what townland is the land situated?

The owner has intimated his willingness to accept the Estates Commissioners estimated price for some 160 acres of land at Faha, and the Commissioners will issue their formal proposal to purchase these lands as soon as their requirements as to title, and other matters have been complied with.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the attention of the Congested Districts Board has been directed to the state, of congestion which exists in the parish of Killimardery, county Galway; whether he is aware of the untenanted tracts of land, the property of Lord Ash-town, to be found in the district; whether the Board made any request to Lord Ash-town for the sale to them of the Duckloon farm and other untenanted lands on the estate; and whether, in view of the necessity of relieving congestion in the district, he will represent to the Congested Districts Board the advisability of making a request to Lord Ashtown in the matter?

The Congested Districts Board have received memorials requesting them to acquire grazing lands in the parish of Killimordaly for distribution amongst the uneconomic landholders in the district. The Board communicated with Lord Ashtown, but he is not prepared to sell the lands referred to, including the townlands of Doughloon.

asked whether the untenanted land on the Roche Kelly estate, at Ballybricken, has yet been acquired; and, if so, when will it be distributed?

The owner has accepted the Estates Commissioners' estimated price for the land referred to, but it has not yet been acquired by them.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many men offered themselves as recruits during the year 1910; how many of them were, on medical inspection, rejected as unfit for service, and how many of those passed as fit for service were, within three or six months of enlistment, discharged as unfit for service; and whether he will give the same information with regard to the year 1911?

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to refer to pages 45, 47, and 57 of the General Annual Report for last year (Cd. 6065) for full information on this subject. The figures for which he specially asks are as follow:—

	Year emding.
	30–9–10.	30–9–11.
Offered themselves as recruits (served with notice papers)	63,751	65,724
Rejected by medical officers (both before and after attestation, but before joining units)	13,735	12,304
Discharged within three months of enlistment for medical reasons	551	516
No information regarding discharges for medical reasons of men with between three and six months' service is available.

No information regarding discharges for medical reasons of men with between three and six months' service is available.

asked the Secretary for War whether he can state the reason of the delay in supplying Special Reserve battalions with tripod mountings, and what is the cost of the mountings; whether he can say why Territorial battalions are being supplied with tripod mountings before the Special Reserve; whether it is possible to supply the tripod mountings before the next annual training; and, if not. whether he will make arrangements to lend mountings to the units not so supplied in order to enable the gun detachments to be efficiently trained?

The provision of Mark IV. tripods has to be spread over a number of years, and it was considered expedient to equip the Territorial Infantry with tripod mountings before the Special Reserve. The cost of the mounting is £28 10s. It is proposed to commence the provision of tripod mountings next financial year, but it is not possible to say how many will be available before the next annual training. It is not practicable to lend mountings as suggested, as all those available are required by the units having them on charge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that, about two months ago, Alex. Horner, chauffeur to Mr. J. A. H. Macnair, was conversing with a policemen when a man came up and reported that an elderly lady had been knocked down in the street and robbed by three men; that this informant had followed the thieves and saw them go into a stable loft; that the policeman asked Horner to accompany him, and together they went to the loft, overpowered the thieves, and took them to the police office in Kensington High Street, that the following day Horner was summoned to attend the Police Court and, after spending several hours there, the thieves were remanded without his evidence being taken; that, a week or two later, he was again summoned to the Police Court, gave his evidence, and spent practically the whole day there, when the thieves were committed to the Central Criminal Court; that Horner, in response to a summons which stated that, unless he attended, he might be fined £40, went to the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday, 3rd December; that he spent the whole day in a room with other witnesses for this case, but the case did not come on and he was instructed to return on the following day; that the same waste of time occurred on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and the case was not taken until Saturday, 7th December; that, in consequence of this case, Mrs. Macnair has been deprived of the services of the chauffeur for seven days when she happened to be particularly busy, and has incurred considerable expense in taxi-cab fares; and will he say if he can take any steps to improve the arrangements for the attendance of witnesses and diminish the inconvenience and loss arising from their inability to carry on their ordinary occupations for so many days, having in view that not only is the time of witnesses absolutely wasted, but that the present system is a discouragement to the public to assist the police in their work?

I am making inquiry into the facts of this case, and will let the hon. Member have an answer later.

asked the Home Secretary what was the average number of workmen employed in each of the shipbuilding yards on the River Wear where accidents occurred during last year; and what were the numbers of fatal, serious, and minor accidents, respectively, which occurred in each of these yards?

The Home Office is not in possession of the information as to the average number of persons employed, and has no power under the Factory Act to ask for it apart from the periodical general return under Section 130. I will communicate, however, with the occupiers, and see if I can obtain the information, and when I have heard from them I will communicate with my hon. Friend.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that the contract note for silver is so worded, according to the custom of the bullion trade, that the broker employed practically becomes his own principal, and which, being a broker, can equally act as a jobber, thus being in the position to make profits on (he transaction himself as well as earn his commission; and, if so, whether he will consider the desirability of a change in this system in the interests of honest traders and sound finance?

The various firms of bullion brokers use somewhat different forms of contract notes, and the Secretary of State is not prepared to say whether the effect, is as stated by the hon. Member. He will consider whether any change is practicable and desirable in the form to be used in transactions to which lie is a party.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that Mr. Thomas Miller, vaccination officer of Croydon, is issuing to certain parents an official blue paper described as Form X.; whether this violates the routine for vaccination officers prescribed in the Orders of the Board, by reason of the fact that no such form has been issued by them; and, if so, whether he will give instructions for its withdrawal?

I have made inquiries and find that the form referred to is in use at Croydon. It is not a form prescribed by my Department for the use of vaccination officers, and in my opinion it ought not to be so printed as to convey the impression that it is an officially authorised form. I am communicating with the guardians in this sense.

asked whether there is anything in the duties of a vaccination officer, or instructions to vaccination officers, issued by the Local Government Board, stating that a vaccination officer is to communicate with a person making a statutory declaration that is not in accordance with the requirements of the Vaccination Act, 1907; and whether it is to the pecuniary advantage of a vaccination officer to refrain from giving any information to a person desirous of making a statutory declaration of his objection to vaccination?

No general instruction has been issued to vaccination officers to the effect suggested in the question, but full instructions as to the making of a statutory declaration are contained in the form which is handed by the Registrar to the person registering a birth. Where a declaration not in accordance with the requirements of the Act has been made a vaccination officer would have no pecuniary inducement to withhold information on the subject, unless, as a result of his doing so, the child in question was likely to be successfully vaccinated.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the Lord Advocate has advised that trawl fishermen may be employés of owners of boats and so come under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, and that many line fishermen have been held to be co-adventurers and so are not compelled to insure, the benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Act can now be given to trawl fishermen who, although sharemen, are really employés of the owners of boats?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply. I have had this question under consideration in connection with the Bill of the hon. Member for Grimsby. I agree that there is a case for reviewing the provision in the Compensation Act which excludes share-fishermen from the benefits of the Act, so far at any rate as regards men who contribute only their services to the venture and are, not in the position of part-owners, but the matter presents special points of difficulty, for example, the manner in which the average weekly earnings are to be calculated, which will have to be provided for in any Bill on the subject. I am afraid I cannot hold out any prospect of the Government being able to deal with the matter at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken in Germany to combat the prices now being charged for oil and petrol; and if he is considering the question of the trusts which are controlling the price of oil at the present time and the effect that they may have on the interests connected with lighting, locomotion, and shipping in this country?

I understand that the German Government have recently introduced a Bill into the Reichstag to confer the monopoly of the sale of illuminating oil in Germany upon a company to be formed and to be operated under Government control; and that it is proposed that the dividends payable by the company, and the Government share in the profits, shall vary inversely with the price charged to the consumers. With regard to the second part of the question, I shall be glad to consider any evidence which the hon. Member is in a position to furnish, showing that the prices of oil and petrol in the United Kingdom at the present time are being artificially raised by the operations of combinations.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if any experiments are being made or money set aside to encourage the production of alcohol or vegetable spirit for industrial purposes to meet the price now charged for petrol and other spirits?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the steamship "Irishman," belonging to the White Star Company, which left Liverpool for Australia on 13th September, has now arrived at her destination, or whether she is now in quarantine, and, if so, where; whether any complaints have been received as to the quality of provisions and drinking water supplied to passengers; whether any epidemic has occurred during the voyage; and, if so, whether any deaths of passengers, particularly children, can be traced to such epidemic?

I am informed that the steamship "Irishman" arrived at Adelaide on 2nd November, and sailed from Sydney on her homeward voyage on 4th December. We have received from my hon. Friend a complaint as to the provisions and water supplied to the passengers, and this is being investigated. The owners state that on arrival at Adelaide nineteen children suffering from measles and two from whooping cough were removed to the Adelaide Hospital, and that they have been informed by cable that six children have since succumbed. There were five deaths on board the steamer, of which one was from pertussis, one from congenital heart disease, and one from gangrene of the lung. The other two cases have been reported by cable to the owners as due to-causes other than measles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the word "charge" in Clause 1 of the Railways (No. 2) Bill is intended to include passenger fares?

The reply is in the negative.

asked in what respect the provisions of Section 1 of the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1894, are inadequate to carry out the objects sought to be attained by the Railways (No. 2) Bill recently introduced into this House?

The Act of 1894 requires a railway company to justify an increase of rate before the Railway and Canal Commission, if challenged, but does not indicate what circumstances are to be regarded as a valid justification in any given case, and it has been doubted how far a general rise in the cost of working a rail- way due to improvements in labour conditions can be pleaded as justifying the increase of a particular rate unelss and in so far as the cost of that particular traffic has been affected by the general rise. The Railways (No. 2) Bill provides that, on proof of the various matters enumerated in the Bill, a general rise in cost of working due to improved conditions of labour introduced since August, 1911, shall be treated as justifying a reasonable increase in a particular rate.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has considered a proposal made to him for the issue of a new form of reply post card, bearing on its face the spaces for two addresses, namely, of the sender and the addressee, and whether he is prepared to entertain the issue of reply post cards in this form?

The use of single cards as reply post cards is open to (ho objection (hat the presence of two addresses and two postage stamps on each card would tend to impede sorters and other officers in dealing rapidly with such cards in the post, and would involve risk of missending. Further, if such cards, when first posted, were put through the electric date-stamping machines which are now widely used, the stamps for reply would as a rule be prematurely cancelled. I do not see my way, therefore, to issue such cards.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been directed to the withdrawal from certain railway companies of the right of receiving and transmitting telegraphic messages; whether he is aware that this withdrawal occasions inconvenience to members of the public; will he say how many stations have been affected by the withdrawal; and will he consider the desirability of restoring a practice of convenience to the public?

I am not aware of any case of withdrawal, but if the hon. Member will inform me of any specific instance which he has in mind I shall be glad to have inquiry made.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the wages of the mail van drivers (Belfast) range from 17s. 9d. to 21s. 3d. for a week of from 64 to 80 hours; and whether, having regard to the fact that carters in the employ of city (Belfast) firms are paid 24s. per week of 59 hours, steps will be taken to insist that the firm doing the mail van work for the Post Office shall pay an equivalent wage to their drivers?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether for the year ending March, 1912, the capital expenditure in respect of trunk lines was less than the expenditure for the year ending March, 1911; and whether, in view of the numerous delays in trunks, he will say what steps he has taken or proposes to take?

It is the case-that for the year ended 31st March, 1912, the capital expenditure on trunk lines was somewhat less than the expenditure for the previous year. A very large number of additional circuits are being constructed during the current financial year.

asked the Postmaster-General when the establishment of a telephone exchange in the neighbourhood of the British Museum was first determined by the Post Office; what has been the cause of the delay; and when he expects this exchange will be brought into use?

Proposals for the provision of a new telephone exchange in the vicinity of the British Museum were first made in 1909, but it was not possible until October, 1911, to obtain a suitable site in the situation where it was wanted. Difficulty in forecasting the telephone requirements of the new area led to some delay, but the building plans were settled and were approved by the City Corporation (the freeholders) in June, 1912. The building will probably be ready in March next, after which some months will be required for the installation of the telephone equipment and preparation for the opening of the exchange.

asked what were the outstanding applications for telephones in the London area and the provincial areas, respectively, on 1st January, 1912; to what extent these have now been reduced; how many further applications have been received since that date; and how many remain uncompleted?

London Area.
Number of applications for direct exchange lines (including those made to the National Telephone Company) outstanding on the 1st January, 1912	2,115
Number of applications for direct exchange lines received between the 1st January, 1912, and the 30th November, 1912	14,426
Total number of applications out standing on the 30th November, 1912	1,939

I regret that corresponding provincial statistics are not available. Steps are being taken to obtain in the future particulars of outstanding orders for telephones in respect of the whole of the Post 'Office service.

asked the Postmaster'General if he will state how soon after the award of the Railway and Canal Commission he expects to be in a position to announce the new rates; whether, in the event of their unfavourable reception, he will appoint a Parliamentary Committee to inquire and report on the same; and whether, in the event of such a committee being appointed, he will be willing that it shall have power to inquire whether the arrangements of the Post Office are adequate to properly provide for the development of the telephone system?

I hope that it may be possible to announce the revised scale of rates in the first half of next year. What would be the best form of committee for the consideration of the proposals if they should not be generally acceptable, and what the scope of its inquiry should

—	National Telephone Company's System.		Original Post Office System.
Total number of subscribers' lines (excluding call offices) on 1st January, 1912	362,614		80,456
Approximate percentages of these paying subscriptions at the following rates (with approximate rentals where available):—
Unlimited service	39%	(£1,574,000)	17%
Message and measured service rates introduced before 1907	26%	(£684,000)	65%
Measured service rates introduced in 1907	35%	(£1,027,000)	18%
Party line rates (included in the above)	11%	(£160,000)	3%

asked the Postmaster-General why no trunk call book of subscribers is kept at the Members' trunk call office at the House of Commons as used to be kept when the telephone system was in the hands of the National Telephone Company; whether he is aware that, in consequence, when a Member wishes to call up over the trunk system, and knows the name, but not the number of the subscriber, the operator has to telephone to the inquiry office, and that this has entailed a loss of four minutes in getting the number telephoned back to the operator before he can ask for the call; and whether, seeing that if the trunk call books were available for the use of Members at their office in the House of Commons they or the operator could find the number in half a minute, he will supply a trunk call book with a view to the general saving of time?

I understand that the reference is to the Call Office in the Members' Cloak Room, formerly supplied by the National Telephone Company. I have given instructions for a complete Telephone Directory to be available there.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can give any further information concerning the number of telephone subscribers' lines at the various rentals on the original Post Office system and on that of the National Telephone Company?

As promised in my answer of the 7th November, I give such information as it has been possible to obtain without serious difficulty. The figures are as follows:—

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will put copies of the last eighteen months' issues of the "Post Office Electrical Engineers' Journal" in the Library of the House of Commons?

The magazine in question is owned and edited by the Institute of Post Office Engineers. It does not belong to my Department, and is not an official publication; but I have ascertained that the publishers (Messrs. Alabaster, Gatehouse, and Company, of 4, Ludgate Hill, E.G.) will be glad to comply with any order given to them by the Librarian of this House on the usual terms.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that four of the horses shipped on the ss. "Truro" from Hull to Ghent were slaughtered on board by having their throats cut; whether this ship carries a proper killing instrument approved by the Board of Agriculture, as provided by Section 3 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910; and whether the provisions of that Section are carried into effect?

I am informed that one of the horses shipped on board the steamship "Truro" from Hull to Ghent on 30th November died from natural causes, and that five, which sustained injuries in consequence of the heavy weather, were slaughtered by means of a humane killer. I have no reason to believe that there was any contravention of the requirements of the law in the case of the vessel in question, but I should be obliged if my hon. Friend would let me see any information which he may have received on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease occurred in England during 1911 and 1912 up to the present date; how many in Ireland during the same period; and how many in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and Austria-Hungary in the same space of time?

The total number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which occurred in Great Britain, Ireland, And Holland during 1911, and up to the roost recent date for which the information is available during the present year is as follows:—

	1911.	1912.
Great Britain	19	83 (to 5 Dec.)
Ireland	Nil	68 (to 30 Nov.)
Holland	70,448	294 (to 31 Oct.)

The Returns issued by the Governments of the other countries named do not afford information which is comparable with the above figures, but the following tables will probably serve the purpose which the hon. Member has in view:—BELGIUM.Number of places ("foyers") infected with foot-and-mouth disease during the fortnight ending—

			1911.		1912.
January 15th	…	…	Nil	…	74
April 15th	…	…	28	…	11
July 15th	…	…	4,097	…	5
October 15th	…	…	1,069	…	1

FRANCENumber of places ("étables") infected with foot-and-mouth disease:—

			1911.		1912.
January	…	…	Nil	…	2,959
April	…	…	216	…	463
July	…	…	16,027	…	2,426
August	…	…	33,966	…	1,947
October	…	…	14,115	…	3,459

GERMANY.Number of places ("Gehöfte") infected with foot-and-mouth disease at the following dates:—

		1911.		1912.
January 15th	…	5,117	…	7,881
April 15th	…	11,917	…	2,103
July 15th	…	25,406	…	1,031
October 15th	…	84,463	…	240
November 15th	…	30,444	…	255

AUSTRIA.Number of places ("Höfe") infected with foot-and-mouth disease:—

Week ending	1911.	Week ending	1912.
January 4th	34,074	January 3rd	24,208
April 5th	8,642	April 3rd	866
July 5th	19,519	July 3rd	292
October 4th	110,382	October 2nd	971
November 22nd	77,529	November 20th	694

HUNGARY.Number of places ("cours") infected with foot-and-mouth disease:—

Week ending	1911.	Week ending	1912
January 4th	37,486	January 3rd	6,708
April 5th	21,484	April 3rd	52
July 5th	45,544	July 3rd	120
October 4th	52,524	October 2nd	64
November 8th	21,267	November 6th	20

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when the normal conditions of trade in cattle will be resumed between Great Britain and Ireland; and, if no definite decision on the above can be come to, will the ports of Munster and Connaught be thrown open, as no disease has been known to exist there during the past thirty years, and by doing so prevent loss to the poorer farmers who cannot dispose of their sound stock?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when he now proposes to withdraw the present total prohibition of the importation of Irish cattle and permit shipments of fat cattle for immediate slaughter and store cattle under reasonable quarantine regulations?

An Order was issued yesterday which permits of the landing of Irish animals for slaughter at authorised landing places, provided that they come from the districts with regard to which we can be reasonably confident that foot-and-mouth disease does not exist, and out of which movement is not for the time being prohibited. In view of the circumstances which I explained fully to the House on Monday last, I do not think that any further modification of the restrictions can as yet be made consistent with full security against the introduction of the disease into Great Britain, but the situation is being closely and continuously watched by my right hon. Friend the Vice-President and myself, and I hope that, if nothing untoward occurs, it maybe possible for me before very long to provide for the admission of a certain number of store cattle from those parts of Ireland to which there is no reason to believe that the disease has been conveyed. They would, of course, be subject to a short period of detention and supervision at the landing place, and subsesequently on the farms to which they are sent. I hope also to be able at the same time to extend the area from which animals are allowed to enter British ports for slaughter.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, during the six months' probationary period since the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, any case of infectious disease has been reported from any part of the province of Munster, or in any locality within 150 miles of the port of Cork, or among any of the many thou- sands of cattle, sheep, and swine shipped from that port during the above period; whether, if the province of Munster, enjoying such complete immunity from disease, formed part of England, its farmers and cattle-traders would have suffered any loss or interference with their trade; and whether, having regard to the penalties caused or inflicted upon this province by the present restrictions, he will extend to Ireland the same system in force in England in districts with a similarly clean bill of health?

The facts stated in this question were put with much force in the House by the hon. Member for Mayo on Monday night, but as I have said in reply to similar questions the conditions under which the trade between the two countries is necessarily carried on owing to their geographical position, appears to me to vitiate the analogy which he draws in the concluding parts of his question. The hon. Gentleman can gather from my reply to the hon. Member for East Limerick that I recognise that we have good reason to be confident that animals shipped from Munster and some other districts in Ireland, will show a clean bill of health on arrival, and it is on this view of the position that the Order issued yesterday, and that which I now have in contemplation with regard to store stock are based.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the English Board and the Scottish Board are now going to issue separate market reports; and, if so, when this will be done and what is the cost of collecting now in England and Wales and Scotland, respectively, under the English Board?

The Returns of market prices will be issued separately by the two Departments after the end of the present year. The steps to be taken to obviate any inconvenience to the agriculturists of the two countries by reason of the new arrangements and the precise form in which the Returns are in future to be published, are under consideration. The cost of the collection of the Returns is estimated at £2,750, of which about one-fourth-is in respect of markets in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware of the proposal on the part of the owner to sell a large number of farms and small holdings situated at Manley, Kingswood, and Mouldsworth, in Cheshire, and of the fact that the tenants are unable, under the present circumstances, to purchase; and whether the Government intend this Session to carry out the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed last year to inquire into the position of farmers on the breaking up of estates, which Committee, among other things, reported in favour of a scheme for assisting tenants of agricultural land to become the occupying owners and cultivators of the same?

I am aware that the estate to which the hon. Member refers was put up for sale by auction last month. The Cheshire County Council, with the approval of the Board, endeavoured to purchase the fifteen small holdings on the estate with a view to retain the present tenants thereon, but they succeeded in purchasing only two. A Bill has been introduced, and is now awaiting its Third Beading in another place, which will give effect to some of the recommendatons of the Committee to which the hon. Member refers, but it is not proposed to carry into effect the particular scheme to which allusion is made in the latter part of the question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is aware that dissatisfaction is being expressed in South Uist at the delay in dealing with the numerous applications for small holdings in that district; and if he can hold out any hope that proceedings will be expedited so that an early settlement of this pressing question may be reached?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Boss-shire on Monday.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether he can give any official information regarding the sentence given to the Portuguese corporal who murdered the Reverend A. J. Douglas in East Africa?

According to a telegram received from the Governor of Nyassaland who was represented at the trial, the sen- tence was solitary confinement for one year; but, according to a telegram received from His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon, it was one year in a military convict prison or alternatively sixteen months' service in a disciplinary company. The Governor of Nyassaland is sending a report by mail.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to an alleged breach of the terms of Section 68 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1872, by an assistant master in the Inverurie Academy higher grade public school in having on a number of occasions given religious instruction at other times than those sanctioned by the time-table; whether he is aware that such a practice prevents the due operation of the Conscience Clause; and whether he will make a full inquiry into the matter?

I am in communication with the school board on the subject.

asked the Lord Advocate whether it is to be the fixed rule of his Department not to appoint to sheriff principalships in Scotland under the Act of 1907 solicitors who have acted for five years as sheriffs substitute, in view of the fact that these would be wrhole-time servants of the State?

The answer to my hon. Friend's question is in the negative.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by the Marylebone Borough Council protesting against the erection of any additional buildings in Regent's Park, and desiring that its value as an open space may be preserved for the use of the public; and whether the Government are prepared to give effect to this resolution by refusing to allow any buildings to be erected or any lands to be enclosed in the park, and throwing open to the public any lands now enclosed whenever leases fall in and a suitable opportunity arises?

The resolution referred to has been seen by the First Commissioner. The control of buildings in the private enclosures is not, however, within his control, but of that of the Com- missioners of His Majesty's Woods. It is the policy of the First Commissioner to acquire, as opportunity offers, parts of the enclosures and to add the land so acquired to the area of the park.