asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a man who will be seventy next May, and who is employed in the building trade, and who, having been a member of the Oddfellows for forty years, has continued his full subscription to his society, and whose employer has deducted 6½d. a week for sickness and unemployment benefit under the National Insurance Act, and who has now been ill for four weeks, is entitled to any benefit, either for sickness, medical, or unemployment, under the Act, and, if so, what; whether he is bound during sickness to contribute 7d. per week for sickness benefit under the Act and 5d. for unemployment; and, if so, when he becomes entitled to either under the Act, will he receive full benefit under the Act as well as the sick pay he is entitled to from his society?

In the case of a man who was between sixty-five and seventy years of age on 15th July, 1912, contributions are payable under Part I. of the National Insurance Act while he is employed until he reaches the age of seventy, and in return he will be entitled to such benefits as may be determined by his society, or, in the case of a deposit contributor, by the insurance committee. He is not required to pay contributions during sickness. The benefits to which he becomes entitled under the Act are additional to any benefits to which he may be entitled by reason of any private insurance effected by him independently of the Act. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a table of benefits which has been issued by the Commissioners for the guidance of societies, and has been adopted by the great majority of societies. As regards Part II. of the Act, a workman is not entitled to unemployment benefit if he is not capable of work or is in receipt of any sickness or disablement benefit or disablement allowance under Part I, of the Act; usually, therefore, a workman who is ill would not be entitled to unemployment benefit. No contributions are payable under Part II. if the workman is sick and receives no wages.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps have been taken to secure medical attendance under the National Insurance Act for those entitled to it after 15th January in the administrative county of West Sussex?

A conference is now taking place with members of the insurance committee to determine the exact arrangements for the administration of medical benefit in this area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many medical practitioners there are at present resident in the county of Sussex; and how many of them have accepted his invitation to place their names on the panels to serve under the National Health Insurance Act?

A conference is now taking place to receive reports from insurance committees as to the number of doctors who have declared their intention of serving on the panels. I hope it will be possible to publish the exact figures as regards the area mentioned in a few days.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a delay of many weeks sometimes takes place between an application for and the first payment of an old age pension; and whether he will take steps in such cases to pay in a lump sum the amount of the pension lost by such delay as soon as the claim has been substantiated?

Under Section 5 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, an old age pension commences from the first Friday after the claim is allowed. I may point out, however, that under No. 16 (1) of the statutory Regulations a claim may be made four months before the date on which the claimant will become entitled by age or otherwise to a pension, and it therefore rests primarily with the applicant to make his claim in due time. I am not aware of any unnecessary delay arising in such cases.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Local Government Board for Ireland received a request from the Newmarket, county Cork, pensions committee that they might send an inspector to inquire into the circumstances of Michael Sheehy, who was an applicant for an old age pension, and on whose application the pension officer reported means exceeds £31 10s. a year; and, if so, what steps have the Local Government Board taken to comply with the request of the pensions committee?

The Local Government Board received the request referred to, but, having regard to the information before them, they did not consider it necessary to have an inspection made in this case, and the pensions committee were informed accordingly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the fact that Mr. Eugene Daly, of Rowls, Meelen, county Cork, is a most popular man, he will recommend the removal of the police hut which was several years ago placed on his farm for protection purposes, the cause of dispute being in no way connected with the land agitation?

The responsible police authorities are of opinion that it would not be safe to remove the hut, which has been established for the special protection of Eugene Daly.

asked what steps have been taken by the Local Government Board for Ireland to order an investigation into the condition of the graveyard situate at Ballinakilla, Milford, county Cork, which is under the control of the Church authorities and cannot be dealt with by the Kanturk Rural District Council acting as the sanitary authority?

The medical officer of health at Milford has been asked by the Local Government Board to furnish a report on the condition of this graveyard, and on receipt of his reply the Board will be in a position to consider the advisability of addressing the Kanturk Rural District Council, in whom, as would appear from the Report of the Commissioners of Church Temporalities in Ireland, the burial ground would seem to be vested?

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether any representations have reached him from ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary respecting the disposition of the Constabulary Force Fund; is he aware that the ex-members of the force contributing to the fund consider that they are being unjustly and unfairly dealt with by those having charge of the fund; is he aware that a number of men are to be found all over the country who for over forty years have been obliged to pay 2½ per cent. of their gross pay to this fund without ever having benefited and without any possible chance of ever receiving a penny of benefit from this fund; and will he state what action the Government propose to take in the matter?

I have received several communications from ex-members of the Royal Irish Constabulary on this subject. I am not aware of any reason for contributors considering that they are unjustly or unfairly dealt with. The fund has always been administered strictly in accordance with the rules approved by the Lord Lieutenant and the Treasury, and all claims paid in full. The contribution to the fund is only 1½ per cent. on pay and ½ per cent. on pension, and the benefits from such contributions are intended for widows and orphans of the subscribers, not for the subscribers themselves. The subscriptions of those who from time to time cease contributing to the fund because benefit cannot arise under the rules form part of the capital, and are required to enable the liberal scale of gratuities in operation to be maintained. No circumstance has arisen to call for any action by the Government in relation to the fund, which is perfectly solvent and is promptly meeting all claims upon it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the tenants on the estate of Messrs. Sellars and Doherty, situate at Marble Hill, Woodford, purchased their holdings in March, 1909; whether he is aware that they are still paying the old unreduced rent; and whether he will call the attention of the Estates Commissioners to the matter in the hope that this old-fashioned sale may be completed?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, and has not yet been reached in order of priority. The Commissioners have no information as to what arrangements were made between the vendor and the tenants on the property as to payment of rent pending the completion of the sale.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the estate owned by Jones, E. C., 3,107, is an all-cash estate; when will the owners be paid; and what was the exact date of the filing or lodgment of the purchase agreements with the Estates Commissioners in this estate?

This estate was the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the purchase agreements in respect of the lands included in the proceedings for sale were lodged on 17th October, 1905. The estate was on the principal register of direct sales (all cash), and the purchase money was advanced in May, 1911.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Knockreigh estate, county Kilkenny, of Mrs. Bailey, has been inspected by the Estates Commissioners with a view to purchase; if so, whether it is intended that the untenanted portion of this estate shall be acquired for distribution amongst uneconomic landholders, evicted tenants, and others entitled to portions thereof; and, with a view of avoiding confusion, will he see that local responsible opinion is consulted so that none other than those legally entitled will receive portions of this estate?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owners to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1909, and there is no untenanted land included in the sale proceedings. The estate has been inspected and will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Mary Reidy was evicted from her holding situate at Bally-cahill, Killimer, county Galway, estate of Francis Lynch, 12th August, 1883, and that an application was made under the Evicted Tenants Act for reinstatement; and will he say whether the inspector investigating the case reported in her favour; and, if so, why no provision has been made for this lady and her family during the intervening years?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Mrs. Mary Reidy for reinstatement in a holding on the Lynch estate, county Galway, and, after inquiry and consideration, decided to take no action in the matter. The reports of the Commissioners' inspectors are confidential documents.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what building Grants were made to convent schools during the six years ending the 31st March, 1912; if he will divide those Grants into building Grants made to convent schools which adopt the principle of classification, and building Grants made to convent schools which do not adopt that principle; and if he will divide those Grants into building Grants which cover the whole cost of erection, Grants which cover only two-thirds of the same, and Grants which cover less than the whole and more than two-thirds?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that during the six years ended 31st March, 1912, building Grants to the amount of £27,992 were given towards the erection of vested convent national schoolhouses. With two exceptions all the schools in respect of which the above Grants were given were paid according to the system of capitation, but quite recently one of them has adopted the principle of classification. In no case was a larger Grant than two-thirds of the Board of Public Works estimate of cost sanctioned.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if he has yet made inquiry into the specific charges of non-compliance with the Fair-Wages Clause in Government contracts against Messrs. Gwynnes, of Hammersmith; and, if so, with what result?

The reply is in the affirmative. The result is being communicated to my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General if he has yet inquired into the specific charges of non-compliance with the Fair-Wages Clause in a Government contract against Messrs. Hendersons, coachbuilders, of Glasgow; and, if so, with what result?

This firm informs me that they have raised the wages of their painters and bodymakers. But I am not yet in a position to decide whether the rate of wages previously paid was such as to contravene the Fair-Wages Clause.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that, in connection with the complaint as to the violation of the Fair Wages Clause by Messrs. R. B. Brown and Messrs. Albrech and Albrech, these firms have reduced the hours but in doing so have also reduced the wages of the employés; that, for instance, in the case of the latter firm, the men, whose hours have been reduced from fifty-two and a half to forty-eight per week, have still to work the fifty-two and a half hours in order to earn the amount of wages they earned before the hours were reduced; and whether he will have these cases closely inquired into and prevent any evasion of the Clause in question?

As a result of careful investigation, it was found that there was no definite recognised or prevailing rate of wage for cutters in Leeds, and that payment was generally made according to ability. So far as the diversity of rates admits of a comparison, the rates paid by these firms do not compare unfavourably with those generally paid in the district, and cannot be regarded as infringing the Fair-Wages Clause in the contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for War the average number of soldiers in one battalion employed on garrison and regimental duties, such as officers' and mess servants, clerical, sanitary, and other orderly duties; and whether, in view of the desire to find employment for old soldiers and the necessity of full military training being given to soldiers during their period of enlistment, he will consider the employment of old soldiers for the above purposes?

The whole question of employing men who have left the colours on the various duties referred to in lieu of serving soldiers has been fully considered on several occasions and it has always been held that the cost would be too great. The information required by the first part of the question is not readily available, and I hope that my hon. Friend will not press for it.

asked the Secretary of State for War the comparative cost of uniform for an officer in a Line Regiment in 1900, 1905, 1910. and at the present time; whether any steps have been taken or are in contemplation to create a special branch of the Army Clothing Department to deal exclusively with officers' uniforms, or whether, in view of the charges made on officers by West End tailors, instructions will be issued to commanding officers to make special arrangements by contract with ordinary tailors whereby officers in their regiments could secure their outfit at a reasonable cost?

As uniform is obtained by private purchase from tailors the War Office has no definite information concerning the cost, which varies according to the branch of the Service, the unit, and the firm from which purchased. It has not been considered practicable to create a special branch of the Army Clothing Department to deal exclusively with officers' uniforms. Commanding officers are forbidden to exercise any pressure upon officers to deal with a particular firm, and it is not therefore at present proposed to issue instructions to them to make special arrangements by contract.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) the number of recruit officers and of recruits of the Territorial Army who have fired the standard test, Table A, Part I., for the musketry year 1911–12; and if he will say how many in each category qualified in the above test; how many fired and failed to qualify; how many have not fired the standard test; (2) the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and trained men, respectively, in the Territorial Army who have fired the standard test, Table B, Part II., for the musketry year 1911–12; if he will say how many in each of the above three categories fired this test on an open range; how many on a thirty-five yards or miniature range; and (3) the number of officers, non-commissioned officers, and trained men, respectively, in the Territorial Army who qualified in the standard test, Table B, Part II., for the musketry year 1911–12; if he will also say how many in each of the above categories fired this test but failed to qualify; and of these how many have been returned as efficient with certificates from their commanding officers that they have fired at least fifty rounds of ball ammunition or its equivalent on an open range or a thirty-five yards or miniature range, respectively?

The statistics required are being compiled, but the labour involved is very heavy, and it is not expected that the figures will be ready until the beginning of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether officiating clergymen are paid for their services in officiating at the Sunday services known as church parades according to the value of their time or to the number of services at which they officiate, or according to the number of soldiers who are compulsorily made to attend such services?

Officiating clergymen are in normal circumstances paid by capitation rates based on the average numbers borne on the strength of the garrison on each Sunday during the period of the claim.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the two words at the beginning of paragraph 1,333, King's Regulations, "every soldier," mean every officer as well as every noncommissioned officer and man; and, if so, provided there does not appear to be any good reason for treating officers differently from men with regard to regular weekly-attendances at compulsory church parades, whether all officers of all ranks are equally bound, when not prevented by military duty, by this Regulation to attend these; compulsory services?

The words "every soldier" do not include officers. Officers,, however, are bound to attend church parades unless prevented by military duty or granted leave therefrom.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any, and, if any, what, part of the sum of £60,000 allocated by the Treasury for the purposes of medical treatment of children in the public elementary schools in England and Wales has yet been granted to any, and, if any, which, of the local education authorities?

No Grant has yet been paid. Applications are now being received and dealt with, and payment will shortly be made.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the Secretary of State has received the expected report and records of the Midnapore case; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The Secretary of State has not received a final report on the case. Mr. Weston and the two police officers who were defendants in the civil suit have in consequence of the judgment on appeal been granted retrospectively such promotion, acting or substantive, as would have accrued to them but for the original judgment of the High Court.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the salaries paid to heads of Department at the Foreign Office are lower than those paid to similar clerks at the India Office and to principal clerks at the Treasury; and whether, in view of the importance of the work at the Foreign Office and the desirability of placing the conditions of service in that Department on an equality with those of other Departments, the Government will take steps to readjust the salaries accordingly?

I see no reason for a readjustment of salaries as suggested by my hon. Friend. The work and organisation in various Departments differs to such a degree that it is not possible to draw valid comparisons between the salaries paid in the cases referred to in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, with a view to conserving, apportioning, or regulating the available water supplies of the country, he will consider the advisability of Parliament setting up a national water authority; or whether, considering the importance of the subject, he will appoint a small Committee of water experts to inquire into and report upon the necessity of such action being taken?

I have a Bill in preparation touching this question. In the meantime the Local Government Board have been engaged in collecting a large amount of valuable information as to the existing sources of supply. I have appointed a geologist on the staff of the Department with particular reference to this subject. The information gained in this way and also from the researches of the Geological Survey Office cannot fail to be of service in the consideration of questions such as those referred to in the hon. Member's question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the present position of the case in which the Crown is seeking to secure its rights in the foreshore at Sea View, Isle of Wight; and whether there is any prospect of it coming to an early conclusion?

Since my last reply to my hon. Friend on the 14th October last, the Court, on the application of the Board of Trade, have made an order for leave to file an amended information in the suit, and to administer interrogatories to the defendants in respect of the amendments in the information. The amended information and interrogatories have been duly filed and served upon the defendants, and the next step is for the defendants to file their answers thereto.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the Report of the chief inspecting officer of railways, Colonel Yorke, R.E., on the cause of the railway accident which happened at Ditton Junction, London and North Western Railway, wherein he criticises the present methods adopted by railway companies with regard to engine drivers learning the road; and, having regard to the importance of this question, and, further, the fact that no uniformity exists between railway companies on this question, whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Royal Commission or Departmental Committee to consider the whole question before any instructions are issued on the matter?

The observations in Colonel Yorke's report, to which my hon. Friend refers, relate specifically to the London and North Western Railway Company only, whose attention has already been called to them. My right hon. Friend will consider when he receives their reply whether further action should be taken in the matter; but, as at present advised, he does not think that the question raised is one for a Royal Commission or a Departmental Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value of the imports from Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, respectively, into the United Kingdom during the last five years, and the proportion of raw material and food supplies to manufactured articles?

The following statement gives the desired information for the years 1908 to 1911, inclusive. Similar particulars for 1912 are not yet available:—

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in the interests of British residents in Italy, an endeavour will be made to induce the Italian Government to assimilate the postal rates for letters from Italy to the United Kingdom with those which prevail for letters sent from the United Kingdom to Italy, and in accordance with the arrangement entered into by the Postal Union?

Under the terms of the Postal Union Convention, any country is permitted to postpone wholly or in part the application of the general scale of international letter postage, namely 25 centimes for the first 20 grammes and 15 centimes for each subsequent 20 grammes, or fraction thereof. The action of the Italian Post Office in availing itself of this option and maintaining its present rate of postage on letters for other countries (25 centesimi for each 15 grammes or fraction of 15 grammes) is therefore a matter which is entirely within its own discretion, and in which I am not able to intervene.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture for what length of time after the latest case of foot-and- mouth disease in a district in England the movement of animals there is restricted; and, that time having elapsed since the latest case in Westmeath, why the Board refuse to open British ports for Irish cattle unless the restrictions are continued in Westmeath longer than would be deemed necessary in England?

The length of time during which the movement of animals is restricted in the neighbourhood of a place infected with foot-and-mouth disease depends upon the circumstances of each case, and no general rule can be laid down. In view of the exceptional circumstances of the outbreaks at Mullingar, it was considered advisable to postpone for the present the admission of store stock into Great Britain from Westmeath.

asked whether there are any restrictions placed on the landing at the ports in the United Kingdom of goods packed in hay and straw coming from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is known to exist; and, if so, to what countries do these restrictions apply?

The answer is in the negative. Perhaps I may mention that the possibility of infection being introduced by means of foreign hay or straw used for packing merchandise was carefully considered by the Departmental Committee on foot-and-mouth disease which reported last year; the Committee, while expressing the opinion that such packing material is a possible source of danger, decided unanimously that they could not on the evidence recommend its prohibition in view of the serious dislocation of trade which would be involved.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that there has been no recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in any part of Ireland, he will remove the restrictions on the landing at the ports in England, Scotland, and Wales of hay and straw exported from Ireland?

I am not at present prepared to make any statement, but if hon. Members will repeat their questions in a fortnight's time, I hope then to be in a position to announce when a relaxation of the existing restrictions upon the importation of Irish hay and straw into Great Britain can take effect.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the suspicion of an unknown centre of disease having existed in county Meath is now proved to be without foundation, owing to the immunity from infection enjoyed by the animals which were in contact with the suspected cases and which have since been shipped to Dundee and another British port; will he now allow animals from county Meath, where there has not been a confirmed case for four months, to-be landed in Great Britain on the same conditions as fat and store cattle are received from unscheduled counties in Ireland; and, if not, will he state his reasons for not doing so?

This question, in so far as it relates to the existence of disease in Ireland, should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President. Stock from county Meath may now be landed in Great Britain under the same conditions as stock from the other unscheduled districts in Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, if he perseveres in his intention of enforcing a period of detention upon animals landed from Ireland, he will leave it optional with the owners to feed or not to feed them as they in their judgment may consider the necessities of the animals require in each particular case; what form of food it is proposed to supply during summer and autumn months when beasts coming off rich fresh pastures would not eat what must necessarily be hay nearly 12 months old; and whether, before formulating rules for the proper feeding of animals under the various conditions which they may be landed, he will confer with and take into account the views of experienced stock-owners, both in Great Britain and Ireland, as men more likely to give practical advice than professional gentlemen who have no experience of the tending of cattle?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture (1) whether the proposed detention of animals from Ireland at the port of debarkation for a period of 12 hours represents the maximum limit of time for animals that may have travelled a long distance by rail before being shipped, and may have a long journey to travel by rail after being landed to the farm of destination; if so, what will be the minimum period of detention; whether he is aware that animals from county Meath and district, passing through the ports of Dublin and Drogheda with only a few hours' journey by rail and sea, will, in the opinion of experienced owners, require no feeding on being landed before being taken to an adjacent market; whether he will consider the advisability of detaining animals from such places to a time barely necessary to carry out the veterinary inspection while that operation continues to be in force under the rules of his department; and (2) whether the owners of animals landed in this country from Ireland and detained under his proposed rules will, in the event of enforced feeding of the animals being imposed on them have any guarantee that the fodder will be of the right description; and, if not, will they have any redress, and whether he proposes to appoint any inspectors to see if owners are compelled to purchase fodder that it is of the kind they approve, and not of a worthless quality?

The proposed Order will provide for the inspection of all Irish stock at the landing places in Great Britain by veterinary officers of the Board. For this purpose, and in order that they may be rested, fed, and watered before proceeding to their destinations, all animals, without differentiation of any kind, will have to spend twelve hours at the landing place. I have no reason to suppose that any difficulty will arise in regard to the provision of suitable food, but the local authority will be charged with the duty of enforcing the provisions of the Order and of safeguarding the animals from neglect, and a veterinary inspector of the Board will always be on I the spot.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether an arrangement has been arrived at under which imports of hay may shortly be resumed from Ireland?

I am not at present prepared to make any statement, but if hon. Members will repeat their questions in a fortnight's time, I hope then to be in a position to announce when a relaxation of the existing restrictions upon the importation of Irish hay and straw into Great Britain can take effect.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is in a position to announce any modification of his proposal to permanently detain Irish cattle at landing ports for a minimum period of twelve hours?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers which I have given to questions addressed to me on this subject by the hon. Member for St. Patrick's Division of Dublin yesterday and by the hon. Member for North Meath to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the lease of South Villa, expiring the 10th October, 1914, was surrendered and, if so, at what date; whether a new lease was then granted and, if so, for what period; what was the area of grass lands let with the old and new lease, respectively; and for what term are such grass lands held?

The lease of South Villa, which would have expired in 1914, was surrendered in 1884 and a new lease was then granted to expire in 1924. That lease has been surrendered as from 10th October, 1911, and a new lease has been agreed to be granted from that date for a term of 99 years. The 1884 lease comprised an area of 9a. 2r. 1p. Of "grass lands" (which are in fact ornamental pleasure grounds), and the lease to be granted will comprise about eight acres of those lands.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, in view of the losses sustained by the store cattle trade in Ireland, when he proposes to alter the rules as to quarantine now prevailing at ports in Great Britain with regard to Irish store cattle; and can he state what calculation his Department makes to be the cost per head of four days' quarantine of Irish store cattle at British ports?

With regard to the first part of this question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have just given to the similar questions addressed to me by my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardineshire. With regard to the latter part of the question, I am informed that the wharf charges vary coin-siderably, but in no case exceed one shilling per day, and that the cost of feeding may be reckoned at about one shilling and ninepence a day.