asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that most of the undeveloped land round cities and towns in Ireland is let on long leases with restrictive covenants and penal clauses against building, and hence no Undeveloped Land Duty can be claimed against the owners of the fee simple of the land; and will he take steps to remedy this state of affairs so that the owners may be made amenable to such Duty or allow their lessees to build thereon by removing the restrictive covenants and penal clauses?

I am aware that in some cases undeveloped land in Ireland is let on long lease, subject to restrictive covenants of the nature indicated by the hon. Member. Where, however, land is let upon lease for a term of which more than fifty years are unexpired, the lessor is not the owner for the purposes of Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, and is therefore, in any event, immune from liability to Undeveloped Land Duty. The practice is not, I am informed, at all a common one, and I am not at the present time contemplating legislation to counteract its effects.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give the amount of Excise Duties paid at Dublin and Belfast, respectively, for the last financial year?

The net amount of Excise Bevenue collected at Belfast and Dublin during the financial year 1911–12 was as follows:—

Belfast	…	…	£2,135,445	5	9
Dublin	…	…	2,289,791	10	6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in consequence of a recent decision of Mr. Justice Horridge, all appeals by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue against decisions of referees are abortive by reason of the fact that no rules have been issued in regard to such appeals by the Rules Committee; and what steps it is proposed to take to allow of these appeals being heard at an early date?

The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have appealed against the decision in question and the case will come before the Court of Appeal very shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the figures for the receipts from motor and carriage licences in the years 1908–9, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, respectively; and how much of the proceeds was paid into the Road Board Funds before the end of 1911–12?

The receipts for the respective years were as follows:—

——	1908–9	1909–10	1910–11.	1911–12.
	£	£	£	£
England and Wales	536,954	614,125	940,786	909,922
Scotland	64,002	65,407	102,104	94,168
Ireland	—	—	19,057	15,826
Total United Kingdom	600,956	679,532	1,061,947	1,019,916

The amounts paid to the Road Board under Section 90 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, up to 31st March, 1912, were £830,302.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what is proposed to be done by the Estates Commissioners in the case of Mr. Joseph Redmond, son of Mr. Martin Redmond, an evicted tenant, formerly of Kilcavan, Inch, county Wexford?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Redmond's application for reinstatement was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and cannot, therefore, be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the Estates Commissioners have considered the case of Mrs. Catherine Gahan, of Lacabeg, Kildavin, Ferns, country Wexford, an evicted tenant; and what steps they propose to take with reference to it?

The Estates Commissioners have inquired into and considered Catherine Gahan's application for reinstatement in a holding on the Tottenham estate, county Wexford, formerly occupied by her, and now in the possession of another tenant, and have decided not to take any action in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will call the attention of the Local Government Board to the backward state of the building of labourers' cottages in Enniskillen rural district, and in particular to the fact that in Lisbellaw district no work at all has been done on about sixteen plots for which the owners have been paid nearly three years ago, for instance, site No. 101, Tat-tenamallard; and will the attention of the district council be called to the provisions of Section 15 of the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1883, under which the owners are entitled to have sites on which nothing is done for two years reconveyed to them?

The Local Government Board inform me that fifty-four of the seventy-one cottages in the scheme of the Enniskillen Rural District Council have been contracted for. The Board realise the delay that has taken place in building the cottages in this district, but the council have experienced great difficulty in getting contractors to carry out the works. The question of the steps to be taken by the council as to the remaining seventeen cottages will receive the attention of the Board.

asked the Chief Secretary the number of vacant places in St. Mary's Training College, Belfast, and Our Lady of Mercy College, Carysfort Park, Blackrock, for the session 1913; and will he state the number in each college set apart for untrained teachers employed in National schools by Rule 165 (2)?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the number of vacant places in Saint Mary's Training College, Belfast, and in Our Lady of Mercy Training College, Carysfort Park, Blackrock, County Dublin, for the session beginning in September, 1913, cannot at this date be exactly stated, but approximately the number of vacancies in the former college will be fifty-one and in the latter 108. The Commissioners require that, subject to certain conditions, 20 per cent. of the places available in a training college shall be set apart for untrained teachers.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners received a memorial in June, 1907, asking them to purchase the lands of Clonabraney, on the Wade estate, for distribution; whether at that time the agent for the estate expressed his willingness to sell portions of the untenanted land; whether the lands were inspected with the object of purchasing them; whether he is aware that no member of the Wade family has lived on the estate for the past thirty years, and will he say who it is who now seeks to effect a repurchase; whether the Commissioners, before consenting to a resale, will have regard to Section 3, Subsection (3), which states that, in entering into an agreement for the resale of any land to the vendor of an estate, the Land Commission shall have regard to the amount of land available for the enlargement of holdings where they consider such enlargement necessary; and whether the Commissioners are aware that the untenananted land is sorely needed for small holders on the estate?

The reply to the first paragraph of the Question is in the affirmative. This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants, and the owner proposes to repurchase his demesne under Section 3 of the Act of 1903. The matters referred to by the hon. Member will be duly considered by the Estates Commissioners when the estate is being dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary whether J. H. Nicholson, Esquire, of Balbrath, Kells, county Meath, has offered any of his untenanted land to the Estates Commissioners; whether they have initiated any negotiations for purchase; and, if acquired, will it be used for the enlargement of local uneconomic holdings?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. There is no untenanted land included in the sale proceedings, but the Estates Commissioners understand that if they require some untenanted land for the enlargement of any small holdings, the owner will sell it provided an agreement as to price is come to, and the matter will be considered by the Commissioners when they are dealing with the estate in order of priority.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the cavalry barracks at Ballincollig have been now for a considerable period unoccupied; and whether, having regard to the convenience of Ballincollig as a cavalry station, he will consider the question of its re-occupation?

The Ballincollig Barracks are now occupied fully by a Royal Field Artillery brigade. There is not sufficient accommodation there for a cavalry regiment.

asked what amounts were expended on the Territorial Force and on the Bulgarian Army respectively, in the fiscal year 1911–12; what were the relative peace strengths of the Territorial Force and the Bulgarian Army on 1st October last; how many men of at least one year's training and over nineteen years of age the Bulgarians have put in the field during the last two months; and how many men over nineteen and of at least one fortnight's training the Territorial Force could put in the field at the present time?

The information is as follows:—

Territorial Force Estimates	£3,200,000
Bulgarian Army Estimate	£1,620,021
Territorial Force strength, 1/10/12	261,388
Bulgarian peace establishment, 1/10/12	59,529
Bulgarian Army. Approximate number of men of at least one year's training and over 19 years of age, which has been put into the field during the last two months	340,000
Territorial Force. Numbers of N.C.O.'s and men who attended camp in 1912 for days over	154,995

The statistics do not show how many of these were of nineteen years of age and over.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the case of Joseph Turland, who was convicted at the county Petty Sessions held at Northampton on the 11th instant of being on certain land at Great Billing in search of game; and whether, seeing that there was no evidence that Turland had ever been seen off the high road, and that he has borne an excellent character, he will inquire into the case?

My right hon. Friend has made inquiry in the case, but finds no sufficient reason for interference in the prisoner's favour. The conviction was, I understand, not for trespass in search of game, but under the Poaching Prevention Act, so that it was not necessary to prove that defendant was seen off the high road. The question whether the evidence was sufficient to establish the charge might have been raised on an appeal. I am informed that an intimation was given that there would be an appeal, but this was not proceeded with. I may add that this was the prisoner's second conviction.

asked the Home Secretary how many county and county borough councils, local education committees, asylum committees, urban district councils, and boards of guardians have sent resolutions to the various Government Departments or Cabinet Ministers asking for further legislation for the care, protection, and control of the mentally defective and the feeble-minded?

Resolutions in favour of legislation on the lines of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Feeble-minded have been received at the Home Office from fourteen county councils, forty-four borough councils, 110 education committees, six urban district councils, and 280 boards of guardians. Many of these bodies have sent in more than one resolution on the subject, and the total number of resolutions in favour of legislation received at the Home Office is about 800. I cannot say how many resolutions have been received by other Government Departments or Cabinet Ministers.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the practice of electing the Siem of the Cherra State in the Khasi and Jaintea Hills district, in the province of Assam, was abrogated in the election of the present Siem, and has caused dissatisfaction among the twelve clans in the district; and whether, having regard to the immemorial custom among the people of the Cherra State to elect their chief by the votes of the representatives of the twelve clans, there is any reason why this custom should not be allowed in future?

As regards the election of the present Siem, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him on 29th October, 1906, to which the Secretary of State has nothing to add. As regards the future, that method of election will be followed which the Government of India are satisfied is in greatest accordance with the ascertained usage of the people.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether Mr. Chidambarum Pillay is still undergoing rigorous imprisonment in an Indian gaol; if so, whether it is contrary to practice that when a prisoner is sentenced to transportation he should be kept in an Indian gaol, with no possibility of being granted the amenities that transported prisoners receive when sent to the Andamans; whether, having regard to the character of the crime for which Mr. Pillay was sentenced, steps will be taken to have him sent to the Andamans; and whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Pillay was actually sentenced to transportation before, and not after, the late King Edward VII.'s Proclamation of remission to convicts, the full term of remission will be granted in this case?

As regards the earlier part of the question I have nothing to add to the full answer given to the hon. Member on 7th March last. As regards the last question, the sentence which the convict Pillay is serving was passed by the Madras High Court after the date of His late Majesty's Proclamation, and the orders of remission issued by the Government of India to give effect to the Proclamation were confined to convicts undergoing sentences at that date. Apart from this, a certain discretion was exercised by the Government in dealing with individual cases.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether he has given his consent to the borrowing by the West Suffolk County Council from the Road Board of the sum of £19,000 for the re-construction of the New-market, Bury, and Ipswich main road; and, if not, why such consent is being withheld?

Consent has not yet been given, the borrowing powers of the county council under Section 69 of the Local Government Act, 1888, being, apparently, insufficient. The Local Government Board are in communication with the county council on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade where the latest Return of the wages paid by railway companies to their men is to be found; what is the date of this Return; and whether, in view of the questions raised by the Railways (No. 2) Bill, he will give a Return showing the result of the increases made by railway companies since they undertook to accept the findings of the recent Royal Commission, giving in the case of each company details of the number and grade of men who have received increased wages, and the annual sum of money required to pay such increases?

The latest detailed information respecting the wages paid in the railway service relates to the year 1907 and is contained in Volume VII. of the Report on the Earnings and Hours of Labour of Workpeople issued at the beginning of the present year. The average earnings per head in a selected week in the four principal departments are given in the recently published Report on Changes in Rates of Wages and Hours of Labour in 1911. A Return is in preparation, in pursuance of an Order of the House of the 28th June last, showing the number of men employed and the amount of wages paid by the several companies in various specified departments during each of four selected weeks in 1911, and a similar Return will be moved for next Session for corresponding weeks in 1912. Thereafter a Return will be moved for annually showing the average weekly number of men employed and wages paid. I may perhaps point out that under the Railways (No. 2) Bill, if an increase of rate is challenged the railway company will have to prove to the satisfaction of the Railway and Canal Commission that, amongst other things, there has been a rise in the cost of working the railway resulting from improvements in labour conditions made since August, 1911.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the scale of pay for the managers and staff of the Labour Exchanges; and if he can say that all the managers and staff are being paid according to the scale?

I am circulating with the Votes a statement showing the rates of pay of each grade of the staff employed permanently in the Labour Exchanges. So far as I am aware all the officers concerned are being paid in accordance with the scale appropriate to their class.Scales of Pay of the Managers and Clerical Staff of the Local Labour Exchanges.

1st Class Managers	£250–10–400
2nd Class Managers	£250–10–350
3rd Class Managers	£200–5–250
4th Class Managers	£150–5–200
Clerks (men)	£ 60–5–150

(With an efficiency bar at £105)

Clerks (women) higher grade.	£110–5–150
Clerks (Woman) lower grade.	£ 60–5–105

Clerk messengers	20/-	1/-	30/-per wk.
Boys and girls	11/-	1/6	20/-per wk.

Note.—The scale for girls has recently been slightly modified so as to correspond to the scale for boys. This alteration may entail some small revision in the salaries of a very limited number of existing girl clerks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet taken any steps to extend the Trade Boards Act to shirt making?

Shirt making is among the trades which are now receiving consideration in connection with the contemplated Provisional Order making a cautious extension of the Schedule of the Trade Boards Act. We shall not be in a position to come to a definite conclusion until we are in receipt of all the necessary information as to the conditions of this and other trades which is now being obtained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many, and what proportion, of the managers and staff of the Labour Exchanges who were appointed in the first year after the passing of the Act have yet been put on the establishment?

Of the 136 managers of Labour Exchanges appointed during the first year two were established Civil servants and retained their establishment, six have since been established after promotion to a higher grade, and the Treasury have also assented to the establishment of forty-one who remain in the grade of manager. None of the clerks have yet been established, but their case is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the staff of the Labour Exchanges who worked overtime in June and July last for the purposes of the National Insurance Act have not been paid for the extra service; and was such payment promised?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given on this subject yesterday to the hon. Members for the Horncastle Division of Lincolnshire and the Westhoughton Division of Lancashire, of which I am sending him a copy. As there stated, the payment of gratuities in respect of the overtime worked in the months in question will be made forthwith.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many chambers of commerce and trade associations have already appealed to him to make sure of the passage into Law this Session of the Bankruptcy Bill [Lords]; and if he can state what prospect there is of the above Bill being passed into Law this Session?

Twenty-one such representations have at present been received. With regard to the latter part of the hon. Member's question, I can only refer him to the answer, of which I am sending him a copy, given on Monday last by the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Brentford Division. If the Bill should fail to pass this Session, it is proposed to reintroduce it at the earliest possible moment next Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the total number of passengers carried by omnibuses in Greater London, distinguishing the number carried by horse and by motor omnibuses, during the years 1910 and 1911?

From information supplied by the omnibus companies, it appears that about 377 million passengers were carried by omnibuses in Greater London in 1910, and 400 million in 1911. I cannot say how many of these were carried in horse-drawn vehicles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into the conditions of employment in the linen and other making-up trades of the North of Ireland, he will take steps forthwith to have the provisions of the Trade Boards Act applied to the trades concerned, and also to have the other recommendations of the Committee carried into effect?

The branches of trade to which my hon. Friend refers are among those which are receiving careful attention in connection with the question, now under consideration, of making a cautious extension of the Schedule of the Trade Boards Act by Provisional Order. The other recommendations of the Committee relate to matters which do not fall within the province of the Board of Trade, but which concern the Home Office and the Irish local authorities.

asked the Postmaster-General why Mr. R. R. Todd, of 617, Finchley Road, is still without a telephone service; whether he is aware that Mr. Todd gave notice of his removal from 54, Aberdare Gardens, on 21st October, and filled up the necessary form by the 14th November, and wrote again to 144A, Queen Victoria Street, on 29th November, receiving an answer on 3rd December that the necessary inquiries had not been completed, but that on 10th December Mr. Todd was still without a telephone service, though he had received a request for a further deposit in respect of future calls; and will he take steps to provide Mr. Todd with the required service without delay?

I regret that I am unable to ascertain at present what are the precise facts of the case, but I am making inquiry and will communicate with the hon. Member. I will also see that the I circuit is provided as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the total number of persons proceeded against for drunkenness and breach of the peace in Scotland during the year 1911?

The total number was 87,937.