asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what negotiations are in progress for the sale of the Noughavel farm, in the Kilfenora district, West Clare; whether he can give the name of the present owner; and whether attention will be given to the matter by the Congested Districts Board as soon as possible so as to provide land for the uneconomic holders in the neighbourhood?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 26th June, 1911, to which I have nothing to add at present.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he has had brought to his notice any case of a soldier of good character who, after completion of twenty-one years' service, has been unable to obtain any pension; and (2) whether an official pamphlet was issued by the War Office about the year 1893 stating that men belonging to the "Royal Northern Reserve might qualify for a pension by re-enlisting for periods of two years at a time until the completion of fourteen years' colour service, and promising that, if prevented from completing this period of colour service by reason of their attaining the age of forty-five years, they should be transferred to a special reserve in order to complete twenty-one years of service from the date of their first entering the Army, all previous periods of service being counted towards this?

In the case of men of the Royal Garrison Regiment to which these questions refer a total service of twenty-one years of which fourteen years must be colour service was necessary to earn pension. These questions would appear to refer to a particular class of men who entered the regiment under the Royal Warrant of 28th February, 1903, and who were prevented by the age limit of forty-five then imposed from completing fourteen years' colour service. These men could go on to the Reserve division of the Militia, but service in that capacity did not count towards the fourteen years' colour service.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he has had under consideration the case of elementary school teachers, who, from insufficient salary or from family or other reasons, were unable to make the necessary payments required by the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898; whether any provision is made under the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1912, to extend the benefits of that Act to such teachers; and whether, if not, he will take the case of such teachers into consideration with a view to proposing legislation at an early date for the amendment of the Act in this respect?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. With reference to the third part of the question, I have asked a Departmental Committee to advise me whether the cost of the Amendments of the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, made by the Superannuation Act of 1912, will fall short of the money at my disposal; and if so, to consider, amongst other alternative methods of improving the existing system, proposals for permitting teachers who did not accept the Act to accept it now if otherwise qualified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the total external trade of the British Empire has risen from £741,000,000 in 1891 to an estimated total of £1,356,000,000 in 1911, and in view of the enhanced and increasing importance of the Dominions of the Empire, he will consider the desirability of reconstructing the whole system of Consular representation and of inviting all the Dominions to co-operate in a greatly enlarged and more efficient service, especially having regard to the fact that the expenditure on the Consular service of only £415,000 a year is quite out of proportion to the trade interests involved and to the great possibilities of its expansion, forming, as it does, a charge of less than £:0003 on the value of the total trade?

As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, by the reply to his question of the 25th ultimo, proposals are being made to the Treasury for promoting increased efficiency in the Consular service that will, if granted, meet its most pressing present requirements. The hon. and gallant Member was also informed of the arrangements which have been made with the Canadian Government to make the Consular service more useful to the trade and commerce of that Dominion, and that His Majesty's Government are prepared to consider the extension of these arrangements to the other Dominions, the Governments of which are being informed of them. It is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to ask the Dominions to make any contribution towards the cost of the Consular service.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the amount spent by the Governments of France and Germany, respectively, upon the Consular service of their countries?

A complete answer to this question cannot be given by reference to official documents. I have already requested His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin to obtain a statement of the total expenditure on the German Consular service. A similar request shall be addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador at Paris.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, in view of the renewed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland, he will consider the advisability of preventing the distribution of manure from Merklands Wharf, Glasgow, or elsewhere where cattle are slaughtered after landing, with the object of preventing the possible spread of disease, in view of the danger of the germs of disease being carried in manure so spread through the country; and will he state what steps, if any, are taken to effect sterilisation, and whether this can effectively be done?

Manure is not removed from the wharf until all the animals have been closely examined by a veterinary inspector of the Board and found to be free from foot-and-mouth disease, and it is thoroughly mixed with quicklime before removal. In view of these precautions I am satisfied that there is no necessity for the adoption of the course suggested.

asked if the proposed Research Committee for the investigation of foot-and-mouth disease in India has been appointed; and, is so, when will the Committee commence their work?

The Committee to which the hon. Member refers was appointed on the 14th June last. Two of the veterinary inspectors of the Board left England for India on the 6th September to commence investigations on lines which had been already approved by the Committee, and Sir John McFadyean, one of the members of the Committee, left for India on the 29th ultimo with a view to the conduct and supervision of the work on behalf of the Committee. The Government of India have also detailed three of their veterinary officers to co-operate with our nominees in the work of the Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board had had under consideration a proposal of the Irish Department of Agriculture to withdraw the restriction at present placed upon the export and import of hay into the respective countries; and if any decision has been arrived at?

The proposal to which the hon. Member refers has been carefully considered, but I regret that under existing circumstances I do not see my way clear to agree to it.

asked how many purely agricultural schools there are established in Great Britain and Ireland, and how many students attended these schools in 1911?

If the hon. Member will allow me, I will send him a memorandum which will give him the information for which he asks, so far as England and Wales are concerned, in a more convenient and intelligible form than would be possible in an answer to a Parliamentary question. With regard to Scotland and Ireland, perhaps the hon. Member will address himself to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland and the Vice-President of the Department for Agriculture in Ireland.

asked how many acres of land in England are devoted to the growing of sugar beet, and how many tons of sugar were manufactured in 1911?

Five hundred and thirty-two acres were devoted to the growing of sugar beet last year, and 3,870 this year. No sugar was manufactured in England last year.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has received from the Central and Associated Chambers of Agriculture, and from other agricultural or trading oganisations, copies of resolutions passed by them in favour of the adoption of a uniform system of weights and measures; and whether His Majesty's Government will take any steps in the matter?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The representations which have been made to me show that there is great diversity of opinion on the subject, and I think that it would be premature for the Government to take any action at present.