asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say how-many of the 8,087,036 cards received from approved societies up to the end of 1912 were returned by or in respect of women?

The classification of approved societies' cards distinguishing between men's and women's is not yet completed. I will see that the hon. Member is furnished with the information as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will give statistics as to the estimated numbers of members of the approved societies in connection with each of the twenty largest trade unions, as reported to the National Health Insurance Commissioners, on the latest date to which the figures have been made up?

The information asked for is not yet available. I will, however, see that it is supplied to my hon. Friend as soon as it is obtained.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he consulted the National Health Insurance Commissioners before issuing a notice to medical officers informing them that insured Post Office servants would be free to avail themselves of the services of any other doctor?

The Insurance Commissioners had been consulted as to the possibility of their recognising the Post Office medical system as an approved system under Section 15 (4) of the Insurance Act; and as there was at the time some uncertainty as to their decision, it was thought desirable to issue the circular referred to in order that the Post Office medical officers might be acquainted with the exact position of affairs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the panels of Referees, under Section 90 of the National Insurance Act, have yet been completely constituted; whether chairmen of the Courts of Referees have yet been appointed or persons selected for appointment as chairmen; whether regulations for the constitution and proceedings of such Courts have yet been made; what remuneration and allowances for the chairmen and members of such Courts have been fixed; and whether he will present a Return setting forth the names, occupations, and addresses of the persons chosen to serve on the panels and as chairmen of the Courts, the regulations for their constitution and proceedings, and the remuneration and allowances to be paid to such persons and chairmen respectively, together with all the other regulations made by the Board in connection with Part II. of the said Act?

In accordance with the Unemployment Insurance Regulations, 1912, workmen's representatives, making up practically complete panels, have been elected by insured workmen. A large number of invitations to act on the panels of employers' representatives have been sent out, and a sufficient number have been accepted to enable the panels to be constituted immediately. In the case of the great majority of the Courts, chairmen have been selected for appointment, and have agreed to act. Regulations respecting the constitution and proceedings of the Courts are contained in the Unemployment Insurance Regulations, 1912, of which I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. The scales of allowances for the various members of the Courts have not yet been completely settled. I propose to move in due course for a Return, giving much of the information desired by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the facts that the average lowest price of silver as quoted in London from 1873 to 1887 was 50 l–16d. as against 39⅝d. for 1888 to 1893; wheher he is aware that 29 per cent. of the depreciation took place in the latter year when all option contracts became subjected to a daily settlement for gambling differences, and that the price gradually fell to 24d. by 1902; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made as to whether there were any other root causes to account for the price depreciation since 1888, other than the introduction into London in that year of this metal as a gambling commodity under the bear and bull systems of options and futures?

I cannot add anything to the replies given to the hon. Member on behalf of the Secretary of State for India on 31st December and 7th January.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the Admiralty circular letter of the 15th July, 1912, stated that officers and men of the Royal Flying Corps would be paid at certain rates, with additional flying pay of 8s. a day for officers and 2s. a day for men, and that in the circular letter it was laid down that these allowances would be paid continuously as in the submarine service, and that officers and men would receive only half the flying pay whilst under instruction and full allowance when qualified; whether the Admiralty have lately ordered that officers and men will only receive flying pay on days on which they actually make an ascent, half-rate whilst under instruction and, presumably, though this point is not confirmed, the full rate when qualified; whether he is aware that it was under the former conditions that officers and men were induced to volunteer for the airship service, since no distinction was made between the airship section and the aeroplane section; and if he will state why the regulations in regard to the payment of flying pay to these officers and men were altered?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but the flying pay for men is 4s or 2s. a day, according to their flying proficiency. As regards the second part of first part of the question is in the affirmative so far as the naval airship section is concerned. With regard to the remainder of the question, I have nothing to add to the reply given by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Noble Lord the Member for Horsham on the 1st of this month.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many local inquiries concerning the provision of school accommodation, elementary, and other than elementary, respectively, have been held in each year from 1902–3 to the present time?

The number of public inquiries which have been held locally in connection with the provision of elementary school accommodation since 1902–3 is 93. No special record of any other local inquiries has been kept, but a number of conferences of the nature of public inquiries have been held. They have, how- ever, generally been concerned with questions of organisation and co-ordination of schools, rather than with the supply of school accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any special inspectors of horses and ponies have yet been appointed under the Coal Mines Act, 1911; if so, when such appointments were made; whether such inspectors will report directly to the Secretary of State; if so, how often; and whether such reports will be laid on the Table of the House?

I am informed by the Civil Service Commissioners that the qualifying examination which the selected candidates for these posts are required to pass takes place to-morrow. I have asked the Commissioners to take the necessary steps with a view to the appointment of the candidates as rapidly as possible. The inspectors of horses will report to the district inspectors under whom they work. Their reports, like the reports of the other inspectors, will be confidential, but the district inspectors will report annually in the reports which are presented to Parliament on the care and treatment of the animals in their districts and on the observance of the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if officials going to African Protectorates could be informed before leaving home what particular station will be allotted to them on arrival; and if he is aware that some married officials would not take their wives with them if they knew they were going to be assigned unhealthy stations?

So far as possible officials are informed to what station they will be posted on arrival, but this is frequently impracticable owing to the exigencies of the service. As to the second part of the hon. Member's question, married officers are warned against taking their wives out with them until they have acquired personal experience of the local conditions and have ascertained whether suitable accommodation is available. They are further warned that suitable accommodation for European women and children is only available to a very limited extent at certain stations, and that the conditions of life in many parts of the African Protectorates are unsuitable to them.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what was the number, according to the Census figures of 1891, 1901, and 1911, respectively, of persons of independent means not employed or engaged in any business, profession, or paid occupation?

The numbers of persons classified in the Census Reports as "living on own means"were:—In 1891–97,466 males and 409,097 females. In 1901–93,381 males and 361,996 females. These numbers do not include persons classified as "retired from business" or as "pensioners," who were as follows:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the dangerous character of the north-west coast of Devon and Cornwall, and of the frequent heavy loss of life and shipping on this coast through lack of a harbour of refuge; and will he take steps to provide a harbour?

From a report made by Sir William Matthews in 1906 it appeared that the cost of a harbour of refuge on this coast would be very great, and, as at present advised, I am not prepared to say that the case is sufficiently strong to justify any heavy expenditure out of public funds in the absence of any substantial contributions from local sources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in the case of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society of Australia, the premium receipts, the receipts of interest on funds of the society invested, the gross receipts, the payments on claims and surrenders, the cost of administration including directors, the gross expenditure, the amount invested and the rate of interest in 1889 and in 1912, respectively; the names of directors of the society now having the use of the society's money in addition to their fees, with the amount in each case and the nature and value of the security held by the society; the number of persons now insured with the society; the total amount paid in premiums by those persons; the estimated total liability of the society to them; and the assets secured to meet that liability?

Particulars as to the receipts and expenditure of the Colonial Mutual Life Assurance Society for the year 1912 are not yet available, but I am having sent to the hon. Member the comparative figures asked for with respect to the years 1889 and 1911, so far as they can be ascertained from the returns filed by the Society. As was stated in reply to the hon. Member's question on the 13th November last, the Board of Trade have been informed by the society that no money is owing to the society by any director. I am also sending the hon. Member particulars with regard to the last part of his question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has read the observations printed with the summary of the statement of affairs of the National Provincial Insurance Corporation, Limited, made on the 12th February, 1912, by the Assistant Official Receiver; whether he will tate the total amount of money received by Frederick England in salary, fees, remissions, and otherwise, from that firm, from the Irish Provident Assurance Company, from the Empire Guarantee and Insurance Company, from the Reinsurance and Guarantee Corporation, from the Lancashire Plate Glass, Fire, and Burglary Insurance Company, and from the Erin Assurance and Investment Company, all now in liquidation after having ruined many victims; whether he will name any companies still surviving of which Frederick England is a registered officer; whether the Board has any power to prevent a liquidator, as in the first and second of the foregoing cases, keeping the liquidation in Court until the entire assets are wasted; and, if not, whether he will ask Parliament for such power next Session?

I have seen the Official Receiver's observations in the case of the National Provincial Insurance Corporation, Limited. Frederick England received from that company £5,360 11s. 5d. in respect of salary, commission, and fees, and £1,259 17s. 8d. in respect of expenses. He received from the Lancashire Plate Glass, Fire, and Burglary Insurance Company, Limited, £10 for director's fees, and £25 for expenses. Nothing was paid to him by the Reinsurance and Guarantee Corporation, Limited. He has also lodged proofs of debt in respect of salary, fees, and expenses for £2,945 16s. in the case of the National Provincial Insurance Corporation, Limited, and for £184 12s. 3d. in the case of the Lancashire Plate Glass, Fire, and Burglary Insurance Company, Limited. I have no information as to any amounts received by Frederick England from the other companies mentioned in the question, or whether he is now an officer of any company. I am not aware of any ground for the hon. Member's suggestion that the liquidation of the National Provincial Insurance Corporation is being unduly prolonged, and the Board of Trade have no jurisdiction in the case of the Irish Provident Assurance Company. Limited, which is being wound up under an order of the Irish Courts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state with regard to the Law Integrity Insurance Company, Limited, its present nominal capital, paid-up Capital, total income, and total expenditure since formation, total borrowed from and total lent to its own directors, present holding and present salary of the chairman and each of the directors, total liability of the company, total assets secured to meet that liability, and the nature and value of the deposit made with the Paymaster-General in respect of life insurance?

The last Return filed by the Law Integrity Insurance Company, Limited, with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies shows that on the 13th November last the nominal capital of the company was £100,000, and that the paid-up capital was £14,359. I am causing a list of the directors of the company, with particulars of the shares held by them on the 13th November last to be sent to the hon. Member. According to the balance-sheet filed by the company showing the position on the 30th June, 1912, the liabilities on that date including the Bond Investment, Sicknsss, Fire, and Fidelity Guarantee Funds amounted to £29,570 9s. 7d., and the assets, including an item of £27,098 16s. 8d. described as establishment account, amounted to £44,737 10s. 4d. The deposit made by the company in respect of life assurance business consists of £14,160 Midland Railway Two and a Half per Cent. Preference Stock, £5,000 London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Five per Cent. Second Preference Stock, and £5,000 North-Eastern Railway Four per Cent. Preference Stock, the total value of which is about £20,400. The other information asked for is not disclosed in the company's returns and I am therefore unable to furnish it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will instruct the inspecting officer who has charge of the investigation into the cause of the recent fires on the trains of the London tube railways to also consider the danger to the travelling public by the carriage of miscellaneous classes of merchandise on the tube trains; and whether it is safe for such parcels to be carried in the compartment next the electric motor; and if he will publish the report made on this question?

It has not been considered necessary to order an inquiry into the recent electrical failure at Down Street Station, to which I presume that my hon. Friend refers. I am advised that the carriage of parcels on tube railways is not likely to involve any danger to passengers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the services of an assistant clerk, at present serving in the General Post Office engineering department, were applied for on 13th December, 1912, by the National Health Insurance Commissioners; and whether, in view of his recent statement that he would not stand in the light of any assistant clerk who wished to be transferred from the engineering department, he will inquire into the delay in this case and will grant permission for the immediate transfer of the clerk?

The transfer of the assistant clerk, to whom the hon. Member is understood to refer, will be effected as soon as a successor is assigned by the Civil Service Commissioners?

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that Staff Quartermaster-Sergeant Stickney, who was discharged from the Army Ordnance Corps on 26th March, 1912, because he made a statutory declaration under the Vaccination Act, 1907, at Roberts' Heights, on 26th January, 1912, was recently recommended by the recruiting officer at Leeds for the vacancy of postman existing at Dewsbury, and, after waiting four weeks, the recommendation was returned, the applicant being declared physically unfit for the duties of postman; will the name of the Post Office medical officer who examined Stickney be stated, in view of the fact that Stickney states that he has never been examined by a Post Office medical officer, but has been examined by a civil medical practitioner, who has certified him to be medically fit on 4th April, 1912, and Stickney was actually engaged at the Richmond post office, Surrey, during Christmas week, 1912, as a temporary postman?

Mr. Stickney, who was discharged from the Army as medically unfit, was put forward for the vacancy referred to on 25th November last. In view of his Army medical history, of which particulars were furnished at the same time, the chief medical officer to the Post Office advised that he was physically unfit for an established post, and the military authorities were, informed accordingly on the 6th December. The temporary Christmas force are not subject to medical examination.

asked the Postmaster-General on what principle promotions among the female staff of the London telephone service are made or proposed to be made; and if equality of treatment of the staff of the National Telephone Company and the Post Office staff will be strictly observed in accordance with the memorandum and pledges on the matter?

Steps will be taken to form combined seniority lists of the female staff in the London telephone service, and every effort will be made to accord equality of treatment to the two sections of the staff in the preparation of these lists. Meantime vacancies occurring in the supervising grades of each of the two sections of the staff are being filled as far as possible from within that section.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that at present business users of the telephone in Glasgow are in some instances paying twice and even three times more than they formerly did for their telephones and in many cases more than double what other subscribers are paying, while the latter, who may be their rivals in business, may be making a much greater use of the telephone; whether he will revert to the old rate until the new charges have been definitely settled; and how long does he anticipate it will be before the new charges can be definitely settled?

I am aware that the rates of subscription which were adopted in 1907 are higher than the rates in force under some earlier contracts which were entered into by the Corporation of Glasgow and the National Telephone Company. Although I have agreed not to determine existing contracts pending the general revision of rates, I should not be justified in offering obsolete rates in other cases under new agreements. As I have already stated, I hope that the revised scale of rates for general adoption will be announced during the first half of this year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any tender for the erection of wireless stations for the Imperial scheme was ever received from the Telefunken Company?

No tender was received from the Telefunken Company, but after the Marconi tender had been accepted the managing director of Siemens Brothers and Company sent to the secretary to the Post Office particulars and cost of a Telefunken equipment for a 2,000 miles simplex station.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he is aware that an important fair is due at Enniskillen on the 10th January; and can he see his way to remove the restrictions on the movement of cattle in North Fermanagh before that date, and in time to allow public notice to be given, as there is great distress among small farmers in Fermanagh and adjoining counties owing to the want of oppor-trinities of selling their cattle?

The restrictions are re-moved by Order to-day.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he can now see his way to have the cattle-trade restrictions in county Fermanagh immediately removed, so that the Enniskillen fair may be held on the 10th instant, at which the people of the district may dispose of the cattle which, to their loss and inconvenience, they have been prevented from selling for a considerable time?

The Department have made an Order the effect of "which is to remove all restrictions from county Fermanagh. Enniskillen fair can therefore be held.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, as representing His Majesty's Commissioners of Woods and Forests, if he will state what are the terms of the leases of lands in Regent's Park to the Royal Botanic Society and to the Toxophilite Society, respectively; what rents are payable; when do such leases expire; and what is the area included in each lease?

The lease to the Royal Botanic Society is for a term of thirty one years, expiring on the 5th April, 1932, at a rent of £450 per annum. The area leased is 18 acres 1 rood 22 poles. The land used by the Toxophilite Society is held on a yearly tenancy at a rent of £200 per annum. The area is about 6 acres 2 roods.