asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) what is the position, under the National Insurance Act, of doctors' dispensers who have dispensed for many years, but had ceased to be doctors' dispensers and were running drug stores for a period of years prior to the passing of the Act; are they debarred from dispensing in future unless they have a registered chemist on the premises; (2) what is the position, under the National Insurance Act, of a man of many years' practical experience, but an unregistered chemist, who has dispensed for public in stitutions and doctors, but who was not a doctor's dispenser or an institution dis- penser during the three years mentioned in Section 15 of the Act, but was for that period dispensing doctors' prescriptions behind a chemist's counter; is he debarred from dispensing insurance medical prescriptions under the Act; (3) if his attention has been called to the case of J. P., who was brought up in the business of a chemist and has known no other calling, who has passed the preliminary examination recognised by the Pharmaceutical Society, served four years' indentured apprenticeship with a fully qualified chemist, has had a twelve months' course at a college of pharmacy in Manchester, has held the positions of branch manager and assistant for several years, and has done the dispensing at one of the shops of a well-known firm of chemists, has now embarked the whole of his capital in purchasing a business, and has dispensed a great number of physicians' prescriptions during the three years prior to the passing of the Act, but has not dispensed solely for a doctor during that time, and is therefore debarred from dispensing medicines under the National Insurance Act; and will he say whether, in pursuance of the pledge given on 2nd August, 1911, the necessary steps will be taken to allow this man and others similarly situated to dispense under the Act; and (4) if he is aware that hundreds of capable dispensers and chemists, many of whom have served apprenticeships to registered chemists and who know no other calling, have reason to fear that they are disqualified from dispensing medicines under the National Insurance Act; and will he say what steps he proposes to take to secure to them this right?

asked if, under the National Insurance Act, doctors' dispensers can be placed upon the panels; if so, what, if any, conditions are enforced in dealing with applications; and whether men who have been dispensing for the last thirty years, but do not happen to have been working with doctors latterly are excluded, while men who have combined such duties as the grooming of horses and cleaning-out of stables with occasional elementary dispensing work are admitted?

The Act gives effect to the pledge given on 2nd August, 1911, that no persons should become disqualified for dispensing medicines through the passing of the Act. The conditions under which persons are allowed to arrange with insurance committees to supply medicines requiring dispensing, to dispense medicines for other persons and firms who are supplying them, and to supply drugs not requiring dispensing, are laid down in explicit terms in Section 15 (5) of the National Insurance Act, and the Commissioners have no power by regulation to vary that Section.

Is the right hon. Gentle-aware that since I asked a single question on this subject I have received heaps of letters from people who say—

It is impossible for the right hon. Gentleman to answer as to the letters the hon. Member has received.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to reply to the last part of my question?

I have replied. The conditions are laid down fully in the Act. I will send the hon. Gentleman a copy of it.

Ts the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave a pledge to the House that no one who was then qualified to dispense should be deprived of his living under the Insurance Act, and is he not aware that owing to the actual words in which that pledge was carried out a large number of dispensers are deprived of their living, because they are not now allowed to dispense under the Act?

No qualified dispenser is deprived of his living under the Act, and not only that, but a large number who are not qualified get special qualifications under particular Clauses of the Act.

Has the right hon. Gentleman looked into the facts stated in the question? Is he aware that men who have been dispensing for twenty years are now deprived of their living under the Act?

I do not understand the effect of the right hon. Gentleman's reply to Question No. 31. Will he tell me if a man who has been a dispenser for doctors for ten years and who was running a drug store at the time of the passing of the Act is now in a worse position under the Act than a man who has been a doctor's dispenser for the three years preceding the passing of the Act?

I think if the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to look at the Sections to which I have referred him he will see that he has got a full answer.

asked if the yearly remuneration or allowance due to a medical practitioner under any regulation made by the Insurance Commission in respect of any insured person who may apply and be accepted by him to be entered on his list, is held to date from the I01h January, from the date on which the medical practitioner agrees to accept such insured person, or from the date on which he first professionally is required to attend on such person?

The payment is due in respect of the period commencing 15th January or whatever later date the doctor joined the panel.

Does it make any difference to the funds of friendly societies or approved societies or to the insurance company, when he comes on the doctor's panel? Is it to their advantage or disadvantage that an insured person fails to put his name on the panel?

The doctor is paid from the time he takes responsibility. He is not paid before that time.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a majority of insured persons have failed to take steps to be placed on the list of any approved medical practitioner on the panel in their district, and that their failure to do so will be attended with discomfort and danger to themselves in the event of sudden illness or other emergency and inconvenience to the medical practitioners on the panel; and whether the Insurance Commissioners will direct the local committees to notify insured per sons of the obligation imposed on them to forthwith apply to be placed on the list of a medical practitioner on their local panel?

I have no information to suggest that insured persons are not taking the necessary steps to select a doctor from the panel who will attend them in case of illness. Indeed, all the evidence in my possession shows that not only the sick, but persons in good health have come with quite unexpected alacrity to have their names registered by panel doctors to be their patients in the event of possible future illness.

asked how the Insurance Commissioners propose to allocate to the rural districts where they temporarily reside the medical contribution of an insured workman who changes his place of abode on an average of four or five times in a quarter; and will the approved society have to notify the change of residence each time to the local insurance committees, or will it be sufficient to notify only that local insurance committee where the approved member resides at the beginning of each quarter?

Arrangements for the necessary notifications and adjustments of contributions in the special class of cases referred to by my hon. Friend are now being completed, and I will communicate with him at the earliest possible date.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the circumstances of the death of Frederick Richard Townsend, an insured person under the National Insurance Act, and to the verdict of the jury who inquired into the cause of death, when the jury referred to the scandalous amount of clerical work required of a panel doctor, and the coroner in summing up said that the man's life ought to have been saved if the doctor, owing to his work, had not been prevented from examining the case; and what steps will be taken for limiting the number of insured persons any one doctor may agree to treat?

I am informed that the London Insurance Committee are conducting an inquiry into the allegations made at the inquest in the case referred to that the amount of work imposed upon the doctor in attendance upon the patient by the Insurance Act, the regulations made thereunder, and the arrangements of the insurance committee were such as to preclude the doctor from a proper examination of or attendance upon his patients. Until this inquiry is completed, it would be improper for me to make any statement on the subject.

Will compensation be paid to the relatives of this man owing to the neglect of this doctor to carry out his obligations under the Insurance Act?

I cannot say that. It is a more or less judicial inquiry, and I think that it would be very unfair to the doctor himself if I made any statement until I get the Report.

Will the right hon. Gentleman make any observations in regard to the death of a domestic servant which occurred in somewhat similar circumstances?

I do not like to make any observations unless I have some facts to warrant them.

She is dead.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that claimants are kept waiting daily for two hours in the streets of London while seeking to gain admission to the doctor, and will he endeavour to provide some temporary shelter for such persons until the necessary number of doctors to attend on the insured sick persons is secured?

I am not aware of any such facts. There are far more doctors on the London panel than are necessary to meet existing needs.

How many lives will have to be sacrificed before the Government mitigates the severity of this Act?

I know of no lives being sacrificed. I know of a number of lives that probably Will be saved.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that, though the Rochdale Insurance Committee has been in existence for several weeks and medical benefit has actually been in operation for upwards of one week, the Commissioners have not yet issued the Regulations necessary for the due election of the medical members of the Insurance Committee; and, if so, what explanation he can give of an omission so unsatisfactory to the medical profession?

When the Rochdale Insurance Committee was constituted, like the other insurance committees, in May last, the British Medical Association was invited to obtain from the medical profession throughout the country the names of medical practitioners suitable for appointment as representing the profession in each area, in the same way as central organisations representing approved societies obtained names of their representatives throughout the country. The Association declined this offer, and, in the ordinary course, no new appointments would be made until new committees are appointed. The Commissioners have, however, decided to allow representation on the present committees, and are arranging for the election at the earliest possible date of direct representatives of the profession on the various committees, and also for the appointment of medical members of the committees by the county and county borough councils and the Insurance Commissioners.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Dr. Guinness, of 30, Walbrook, E.C., whose name appears on Panel C, London, is not known or found by insured persons at that address; that doctors who reside in the suburbs and have no surgeries in the City are likewise entered on London panels; and whether the Government have satisfied themselves as to the efficacy of panels so constituted?

I am informed by the London Insurance Committee that the practitioner referred to sent in his name, with the address stated, for inclusion in the first list of the London panel, but that since that list was published he has left England. A revised list, which will include over 300 additional names of practitioners who have applied to be put on the London panel since the publication of the first, will be issued this week, and will omit the name of the practitioner referred to as he is no longer available.

asked (1) what course an insured person ought to pursue when he has incurred expense by obtaining treatment from a doctor not on the list, and has failed to receive any reply to repeated applications to the insurance committee for permission to contract out, and is so placed that it is a matter of urgency to him to ascertain how far the expenses he has incurred and may incur will be met by the insurance committee; and is the Government aware that many insured persons in London are in this position; (2) whether an insured person under the National Insurance Act is acting in accordance with the instructions printed at the foot of the medical ticket issued by the Insurance Commissioners if he returns that ticket to the insurance committee with his application for permission to contract out, or should he only forward it when he has actually incurred the expense towards which he is claiming a contribution?

The National Insurance Act contemplates that permission to an insured person to make his own arrangements and receive a contribution towards the cost from the insurance committee will only be given in special circumstances. Insured persons are, therefore, not entitled to assume that their own applications can be granted, and if in these circumstances they choose to incur expense by obtaining treatment from a doctor not on the panel they must be prepared to take the risk of receiving no contribution if their application cannot be acceded to. The medical ticket should be retained by the insured person until the insurance committee have directed him to forward it to them.

Is not that in direct conflict with what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said the other day?

No. It is a direct carrying out of the Act which was passed twelve months ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that an official of an assurance company is advising insured persons to select one particular doctor; that it was only after repeated inquiries that he admitted that they could choose for themselves; whether such a proceeding is in accordance with the regulations of the Insurance Com missioners; and whether he has sanctioned such a practice?

If a case were substantiated of an insured person being deliberately misled into thinking his choice of a doctor on the panel was in any way fettered the Commissioners would take a serious view of such conduct, and would take the appropriate action with regard to all persons found to be responsible for it.

asked whether, in the case of a practitioner on the panel supplying his own drugs, Regulation 47 only assures to him a capitation fee of three-seventeenths of the amount avail able for medical benefit; and if, under these circumstances, the total capitation fee may not exceed 8s. 6d.?

The medical practitioners, in the circumstances stated, would receive three-seventeenths in respect of drugs, and fourteen-seventeenths in respect of medical attendance and treatment, making a total capitation fee of 8s. 6d. In addition, each would receive his proportionate share of the sum, equal to 6d. per head per annum, of all insured persons entitled to obtain medical attendance from practitioners on the panel in respect of the domiciliary treatment of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis, making a total of 9s. in all.

Will the proportion of the drug suspense fund referred to in the right hon. Gentleman's answer be certain to amount to sixpence?

I understand that agreements are being made on that basis.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the total amount of the contributions under the National Insurance Act up to 31st December, 1912, the amount disbursed in benefits, and the cost of administration, giving separately the expenses of the Commissions, of approved societies, and of the insurance committees?

The amount received in health insurance contributions up to the date mentioned was about £7,500,000. I am unable to give the information asked for by the hon. Member as to expenditure, as it would involve asking for returns which are not now required for administrative purposes from 235 insurance committees and over 23,000 societies and branches.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will consider whether that is not information that ought to be placed before Members of the House?

I will consider it. Of course full information will in due time be put before the House.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say when he expects "due time" to arrive?

The first appropriate opportunity.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether he is aware that since the passing of the National Insurance Act the membership of the Ancient Order of Hibernians is increasing, and that on the 11th instant the Insurance Commissioners had in their possession over 130,000 cards for members of the order from Ireland and 50,000 for members residing in Great Britain; and whether he can give the name of any similar secret and political order which has applied for and obtained leave to form an approved society for its members under the terms of the National Insurance Act; (2) whether his attention has been called to a resolution passed by Cootehall, county Roscommon, branch No. 674, of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, directing that members in bad standing be expelled and their names published; whether he is aware that many insured persons have chosen a branch of the order as their approved society; and whether he will say what right is possessed by such insured member against the grand master, or other official of the order, in respect of contributions paid in the event of expulsion on the ground of political delinquency?

The separate section formed in connection with the organisation referred to includes about 130,000 Irish Members, in respect of whom about 115,000 cards have now been received. About 25,000 cards have been received in respect of Scottish Members, and the returns show 8,750 English Members. A number of organisations having political objects (amongst which I may mention the Orange and Protestant Friendly Society, which includes over 60,000 members) have, like the one referred to, promoted separate sections which have become approved for the purpose of administering the Act. No member can be expelled from the approved section except in accordance with the rules of the section, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Any insured member has an appeal to the Insurance Commission against expulsion; and even if the expulsion were sanctioned he could take his transfer value representing approximately his original reserve value and the value of his subsequent contributions to induce another society to accept him on the same favourable terms as when he entered insurance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman describe as a political society a society that pledges its members never to take service in the Army, the Navy, the police, or anything of that kind?

I do not know to what society the hon. Member refers.

The Ancient Order of Hibernians.

asked the number of women and girls insured under the National Insurance Act?

The number is approximately 3,750,000.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the stationmaster at Hunwick, North Eastern Railway, upon stamping a number of employés' insurance cards for the week ending Monday, 9th December, 1912, endorsed the cards with the words "on strike"; and, having regard to the fact that this is a breach of the instructions of the Commissioners and an interference with the privacy of insured members, and must necessarily prejudice a man when seeking employment by the card being so endorsed, he will say what action he proposes to take?

The Regulations governing the collection of contributions under the National Insurance Act require that no mark shall be made on a contribution card except as expressly provided. I am communicating with the North Eastern Railway Company in regard to the matter referred to in the question.

asked whether, under the provisions of the National Insurance Act, an employer is entitled to deduct 3d. of the weekly wage from girl factory hands in the case of girls who only receive one to three days' work in the week at the rate of 2s. 6d. per day, but who are compelled by the conditions of their employment to remain at the factory the whole of the working week, namely, five days?

Where the conditions are as stated by my hon. Friend the rate of remuneration per working day is to be arrived at by dividing the actual earnings by the number of full days during which the worker has been in attendance at the factory. As the rate to be calculated would not on the facts stated exceed 1s. 6d., the employer should affix a 5d. stamp and is not entitled to make any deduction from wages if the employés are over twenty-one. If they are under twenty-one, the ordinary contributions of 3d. each from the employer and the employé are payable.

asked whether the Supplementary Estimates will include the grant of £50,000 a year recently announced for the purposes of the National Insurance Act in Ireland?

I will ask the hon. Member to refer to the answer which I gave on the 22nd instant to the hon. Member for North Down with regard to Supplementary Estimates.

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me the substance of the answer?

I cannot state the services, but there will be ample notice.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will say, where the employer of an insured per son had notified the Insurance Commissioners previous to 15th July, 1912, that he adopted the provisions of Section 47, but the full contribution was paid during the succeeding three months, whether repayment will be made of the excess paid by the insured person; and why the Commissioners have refused to make repayment?

Where an employer after giving due notice under the provisions of Section 47 has paid contributions in error at the full rate in respect of persons to whom the notice relates, claims for a refund of the amounts overpaid have been admitted by the Commissioners. If the hon. Member has a case in mind in which the application for a refund has not been granted, and will furnish me with particulars I shall be glad to inquire into the matter.

asked whether an insured person who is engaged in a musical comedy company on tour in the country can obtain medical benefit; whether he is entitled to call on any panel doctor in any part of the country to treat him without payment; and how is such doctor to be paid?

Arrangements are made under the medical regulations whereby persons changing their residence within the year are able to change their doctors on giving notice to the insurance committee of the area to which they are moving. Where insured persons belong to a profession which is constantly moving from one place to another, and staying in each of them for a very short time, they would appear to be among those to whom Section 15 (3) contemplates that permission might, in view of their special circumstances, be given to make their own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment, and to receive a contribution towards the cost of the same.

Will the right hon. Gentleman allow in these cases persons to make their own arrangements?

That rests with the insurance committee. I think they are very appropriate cases.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say with which insurance committee it rests, seeing that these people are moving about all over the country?

The insurance committee of the district in which the person is resident or of the one in which he applies.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration the case of domestic servants, who may be going up and down between Scotland and England very frequently?

Yes. I think that would be a very appropriate case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is satisfied that the present old age pensions officer in Spiddal, Connemara, can discharge his duties to the public satisfactorily, seeing that practically every old age pensioner in his district is completely ignorant of the English language; whether the Board of Customs and Excise has at any time invited or received applications from Irish-speaking officials in England and Scotland for transfer to Irish-speaking districts such as Spiddal; whether he is aware that the Welsh public recently successfully insisted on the withdrawal of the appointment of a certain gentleman to the position of Welsh insurance secretary on account of his ignorance of the Welsh language; and whether the Irish-speaking public will receive the same consideration?

No applications have been received for transfer to Spiddal, and I am not aware that any difficulties have arisen with regard to the performance of his duties by the existing officer. The Board of Customs and Excise do already, in selecting pension officers for Irish-speaking districts give a preference as far as possible to Irish-speaking officers.

asked the Prime Minister whether either this Session or next he will grant an opportunity for discussing the question of granting new leases of lands in Regent's Park; and whether the granting of further leases will be stayed until after that opportunity has been afforded?

I am informed that no new leases in Regent's Park will be completed before April next, and opportunities will therefore arise for the discussion of the subject, if desired, before the end of the financial year.

asked whether, in the- event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law, Acts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, not expressly excepting Ireland, will after that apply to Ireland?

The question whether an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom applies, in the absence of express provision, to Ireland will, after the passing of the Government of Ireland Bill, as now, be a question depending on the intention of Parliament as shown by the provisions of the Act.

Is the answer in the affirmative or the negative?

The answer is as I have given it.

asked whether, in view of the desirability of finding points of agreement with the Unionist representation from Ireland on the Government of Ireland Bill, and as the proposal for the temporary exclusion of Ulster from that Bill until its Parliamentary electors have presented a petition to His Majesty in favour of its inclusion meets with the approval of representatives from Ulster, the Prime Minister would suggest that such an Amendment be inserted when the Bill is in the House of Lords; and, in that event, if the Government would favourably consider?

The answer is in the negative.

In view of the desire of the Government to find points of agreement, what is the good of expressing such a desire if all the points of agreement are to be one-sided ones?

May I ask the Prime Minister if there is any foundation for the suggestion that the Government want to find points of agreement?

Certainly.

They would not be allowed to.

asked whether a Civil servant of any rank will be liable to disciplinary measures of any kind if he becomes a member of the recently formed Civil Service Federation, or whether such membership would in any way jeopardise his chances of advancement in the Civil Service?

I have no knowledge of this particular organisation, and cannot express any opinion.

asked whether, in view of the desire of agricultural producers and all classes of traders that the Hallways (No. 2) Bill shall be fully discussed in this House and under normal conditions of debate, the Prime Minister can arrange with those in the House who represent the interests of the railway companies that the Second Beading of this Bill shall be taken during the first week in April instead of amid great pressure of other public business and possibly during abnormal hours in the current Session?

I fear I do not see my way to accede to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked whether it is proposed to consider the Railways (No. 2) Bill, after the passage of its Second Reading, in Committee of the Whole House or to send it to a Standing Committee?

To a Committee of the Whole House.

asked if it is proposed to proceed with the further stages of the Bee Disease Bill this Session or to defer its detailed consideration until next Session?

I fear it is not possible to give facilities to proceed with this Bill this Session. I can make no promise for next, Session, but the claims of the Bill will certainly be considered.

asked whether, in the event of the Franchise and Registration Bill becoming law during the life of the present Parliament, it is the intention of the Government to intro duce a Redistribution Bill before or after the next election?

I can add nothing to the statement I made on this subject on Thursday last.

asked whether, if a Women Suffrage Amendment is carried, and if Mr. Speaker rules that such Amendment necessitates the introduction of a fresh Bill, the Prime Minister will still press on the Bill this Session and see it passed into law in time to become operative before any dissolution is rendered necessary under the terms of the Parliament Act?

I shall make a statement on this subject later on.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman when he makes such a statement to bear in mind that both his followers in this House and women in the country attach the utmost importance to one particular point, and that is, that they should have not merely an opportunity—

That does not arise out of the question.

When the right hon. Gentleman makes the statement, will he make it in such a Parliamentary form as will render it susceptible of debate?

We shall see.

May I ask the Prime Minister whether he will bear in mind, not merely the giving us an opportunity of voting on this question, but of getting it upon the Statute Book, in spite of the House of Lords, before the next General Election?

As I said before, all relevant considerations will be carefully borne in mind.

asked whether the Prime Minister will give facilities for the introduction of an Amendment to the Standing Orders by which a limitation of the length of speeches could be enforced during the discussion of that part of the Franchise Bill which is not included in the Appendix to his Allocation of Time Resolution, so as to secure the discussion of a larger number of Clauses and Amendments than is possible under the Resolution in its present form?

I fear I cannot give the facilities requested by the hon. Member.

asked whether the outrages committed during and since the war on the Mahomedans of Macedonia have aroused much indignation in India; and whether the Government proposes to give expression to its sympathy with victims, whose co-religionists form so large a proportion of His Majesty's subjects?

I am aware that the reports of the treatment of the Moslem inhabitants of territory in Bulgarian and Servian occupation have attracted widespread notice. The attention of the Bulgarian and Servian Governments has been drawn to the matter.

Will the right hon. Gentleman ask his colleagues to refrain from expressing sympathy with the enemies of the Turk, which is regarded in India as a cruel aggravation?

asked the President of the Board of Education if he has information as to what changes and developments have recently taken place in connection with the compulsory scheme of continuation schools in Berlin?

I am sending the hon. Member, with this answer, some information in connection with a scheme for making the attendance of girls at continuation schools compulsory, which has recently been accepted by the municipal authority of Berlin and now awaits the sanction of the higher authorities.

Will the information appear in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

I think the hon. Member had better wait until he sees the information given in the reply to the question, and then submit another question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) if the nurses at the West Ham union's infirmary are being overworked through the overcrowding of the infirmary; if he is aware that the nurses are working twelve and fourteen hours per day, seven days per week; if he is aware that at times there have been as many as nineteen nurses on the sick list at one time; and if he intends taking any action in the matter; (2) if the West Ham Board of Guardians have applied to the Local Government Board to engage an additional nursing staff at their infirmary in consequence of the long hours worked by the nurses, so that they can give the nurses one day's rest in seven; and if he will explain why the Local Government Board have refused the application?

I am aware that there has been some overcrowding in the infirmary referred to pending the provision of additional accommodation at Forest Gate. The institution there is now open and the number of inmates at the infirmary will, I hope, shortly be reduced to the normal number. As regards the hours worked by the nurses and the number on the sick list at one time, the information before me does not entirely accord with the figures given by the hon. Member, but I may say that I gave careful consideration to the application of the guardians for an increase in the nursing staff, and I assented to the appointment of six additional nurses. Having regard, however, to the duties performed and the circumstances and conditions under which those duties are discharged, I did not feel justified in assenting to the full proposals of the guardians.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he thinks that the appointment of additional nurses would enable the guardians to allow the nurses one day's rest in seven?

I cannot tell that until the new accommodation at Forest Gate has been entered upon and some experience gained.

If the board of guardians make another application, will the right hon. Gentleman favourably consider it, so that the nurses may have one day's rest in seven?

As in this case, I shall give it sympathetic consideration.

asked whether the attention of the President of the Local Government Board has been drawn to the fact that Mr. E. Tonge, 1, Angel Cottages, Plynlimmon Road, Hastings, in April last, when his child was about two months old, made a declaration of objection to vaccination before Mr. Eaton, J.P., and posted the form to the vaccination officer; whether he is aware that the officer is now threatening proceedings on the ground that he did not receive the exemption paper, although he did not send Form Q to the parent; and whether he will inform the officer that, under the circumstances, this is a case in which a summons need not be issued?

My attention has been drawn to this case. I communicated with the vaccination officer, and, upon receiving his reply, informed him that, in my opinion, this is not a case in which he should take further proceedings.

asked the number of females in the United Kingdom engaged in trades and professions, classifying them under their various trades and professions and industrial occupations, for 1901 and 1911?

The numbers in England and Wales for 1901 are shown in the Census volume of "Summary Tables" (Cd. 1523). I am informed by the Registrar-General that the tabulation of the numbers for 1911 is not yet completed, and that the numbers will not fee available for some time.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state how much money has been collected from the workmen at Rosyth by the compulsory deduction of 2d. per week from their wages since the works started, and how the money has been spent; who audited the accounts; and whether any balance-sheet has been issued to the men in accordance with the provisions of the Truck Acts?

The points raised by my hon. Friend relate to matters entirely under the jurisdiction of the contractors, but Messrs. Easton Gibb have kindly furnished me with the following information. The preparation of the statement of total contributions asked for in the first part of the question involves, I understand, some little trouble; but the firm will be quite prepared to give the amount collected year by year if my hon. Friend desires it. The whole of the money collected, without any deduction whatever, has been spent in payment for medical attendance on the workmen and their families. The accounts have been audited by a certified chartered accountant—the firm bearing the cost of the audit. A notice is posted on the works stating that the balance-sheets can be inspected on application by any workman who has subscribed to the fund, which is managed by a committee formed partly of workmen and partly of Messrs. Gibb's staff. I assume that all these arrangements will be affected, so far as the future is concerned, by the operations of Part I. of the Insurance Act.

Will the right hon. Gentleman suggest to the contractor the advisability of circulating the balance sheet freely to all workmen whose wages are deducted for the purpose without compelling them to make application to the firm for the same?

The balance sheet is posted publicly at the works, where all workmen are able to see it.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that a large amount of extra attendance was given at the dockyards by the clerical staff of the Expense Accounts Department during November and December last; whether any submissions for payment to be made have been received at the Admiralty; and, if so, can a date be given when such payment will be sanctioned?

The reply to the first two parts of the question is in the affirmative. It cannot be stated definitely when payment for the overtime will be sanctioned, but it is hoped that a decision will be communicated very shortly.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is now in a position to make a statement in reply to the frequent questions put to him with regard to the promised concession to petty officers and men of His Majesty's Fleet as to wearing plain clothes when on leave?

I have nothing to add to the statement made by the First Lord in reply to the hon. Member's question on nth December, except that the Commanders-in-Chief at the ports have now issued orders on the subject.

Are we to understand that those Orders apply to both officers and men?

Chief petty officers, petty officers, non-commissioned officers, leading rates and men with one or more good conduct badges may wear plain clothes when on long leave; when on short leave at the three Home ports, Portsmouth, Devonport, and the Nore. In case of smaller bases, when on short leave, provided their homes are in the vicinity.

asked whether at the second distribution of insurance cards at Devonport Dockyard the time taken at the north yard was forty minutes, so that the last men were compelled to wait that time after the bell had rung before receiving their cards; and can he see his way to prevent this en croachment on the men's time at future distributions?

The distribution of insurance cards was made at Devonport Dockyard on Friday, the. 17th instant, at the same time as the workmen received their wages, and consequently no special muster was necessary. Except in the case of men who missed their turn, the extra time taken by the bulk of the card distribution was under fifteen minutes over and above that required for the payment of wages.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the case of a boy eight years old being tried before the Northern Police Court, Glasgow, charged with begging for his Christmas tree, and ordered to be detained in a reformatory prison for eight years; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in this case?

My attention was called to this case, and I made inquiries about it recently. The order was for eight years' detention, not in a prison, but in an industrial school. Such an order is not punitive, either in intention or in fact. The magistrate has informed me that he took the course which he did as being the best in the interests of the boy himself, and I am not disposed to interfere.

A boy of eight years is sent to prison for eight years for begging, and you are not going to interfere?

He has not been sent to prison, but to an industrial school.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to be good enough to repeat his last answers, as they have not reached this side?

My answer was that he has not been sent to prison, but to an industrial school.

For eight years?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the father of this child is supporting a family of ten persons on 22s. per week, and if the sending of this boy to an industrial school is in the best interests of this child? Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he has taken into consideration what can be done in the best interests of the other children?

I am afraid I cannot answer that question.

Is the House to understand that this child was merely begging in the street, and has been sentenced in consequence to eight years?

The magistrate informs me that from the evidence that was brought before him in regard to the child's surroundings he thought it in the best interests of the child that he should be dealt with in this way.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the report of the police investigation was that the father was a decent, hard-working man, earning 22s. per week, with a family of eight children?

I cannot discuss the evidence.

Is this the result of legislation for the benefit of the poor?

Will the right hon. Gentleman consent to lay the evidence on the Table of the House?