asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the anxiety in the Highlands and Islands with reference to the Report of the Committee on the medical service, he will say when it is likely he will be able to make a statement?

I fear I cannot give a definite date, but I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what practical steps beyond making inquiries he has caused to be taken to give immediate alleviation or mitigation of the suffering that members of approved societies are actually undergoing through being deprived of the continuance of their treatment at hospitals, such treatment being unfinished, and who, moreover, are prevented from obtaining treatment from doctors on the panels on account of the non-issue by approved societies of the membership tickets to which these insured individuals are entitled; and will he say if his attention has been already called to such cases?

I am not aware of any cases in which approved societies have failed to issue medical tickets to their members who are entitled to them, or that hospitals are refusing to give treatment to persons who are not in a position to apply for it under the Act, on the ground that they are insured.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the proceedings at the inquest on the body of Thomas Butler at Mile End, especially to the evidence showing that the deceased man had been deprived of medical benefit under the National Insurance Act through the failure of his employer, Mr. Alfred Waterman, a second-hand bootmaker, of Hoxton Street, to pay the contributions required by the Act on behalf of the deceased; and what action, if any, he proposes taking in the matter?

I am inquiring into the case, and will notify my hon. Friend of the result. I should, however, remind him that all insured persons entitled to receive medical benefit under the Act, who were members of approved societies on 15th January, have been entitled to medical benefit since that date, irrespective of the number of stamps on their card.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the clerks engaged at Cardiff and throughout Britain to do the work under the National Insurance and Labour Exchanges Acts were given a salary of only £60 per year; if, in the introductory work connected with these Acts, they have been called upon to work very long hours and overtime practically from June to December, 1912, and for such overtime they have only received remuneration for the months of June and July; is it his intention to pay for the overtime worked; if not, will he say why this is not to be done; have appointments been recently made in connection with these Acts at salaries ranging from £65 to £110 per annum; and have these higher-salaried appointments been given to persons outside the original staff of clerks, who have had to instruct those later-appointed, higher-paid clerks as to their duties?

The male clerks in the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance service are on a scale of salary rising by increments of £5 from £60 to £150. Applicants may, however, on grounds of experience and age, be appointed slightly above the minimum, while a certain proportion of appointments have been made in the middle of the scale at £110 on the recommendation of the Civil Service Commissioners. Labour Exchange clerks are not entitled by the terms of their appointment to payment for overtime. In connection, however, with the preliminary administration of unemployment insurance, a considerable amount of overtime has been necessary during the last six months in the Divisional Offices, and during January in the Labour Exchanges. Gratuities have been paid in respect of the overtime worked in June and July, both in the Divisional Offices and in the Labour Exchanges, and it is proposed to pay further gratuities to clerks employed in the former in respect of overtime worked between the end of July and the end of January, and to clerks employed in the Labour Exchanges for overtime worked during the present month.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether soldiers, if they fall ill when serving with their regiments, have to pay the usual 7d. per day for hospital stoppages besides their rate under the National Insurance Act; and what extra benefit, if any, such men get in exchange for this extra payment which they have to compulsorily make under the Act?

The deductions made from a soldier's pay and the contributions of the Army Council under Section 46 of the National Insurance Act are the sums actuarially required to provide maternity benefit during service and a full transfer value on discharge. A soldier does not get nor is he required to pay for medical, sickness, or sanatorium benefit while serving. No part, therefore, of the benefits provided by the National Insurance Act is covered by any hospital stoppages, which are made for other purposes

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what benefit, in event of illness, soldiers, who have served less than twelve years with the regiment, or have served seven years with the regiment and less than five on the Reserve, who have elected to serve the full twenty-one years with the regiment but fall ill before that period has been completed, and who have served their full twenty-one years, respectively, can get under the National Health Insurance Act; and if, in the case of men who have elected to serve the twenty-one years, and who cease their contributions before that period is complete, those men lose the whole sum they have previously had to compulsorily contribute?

The length of a soldier's service does not affect his position under the National Insurance Act. So long as deductions are made from pay, whether a man has re-engaged or is in his first period of service, he is entitled to maternity benefit and a transfer value is built up for him; and he only pays the actuarial equivalent for these two insurances. If on re-engaging he elects not to have deductions made, he ceases to be insured, and consequently ceases to be entitled to benefit and his position is identical with that of civilians who lapse from insurance. If, however, on discharge he is unable to obtain admission to an approved society owing to the state of his health, he becomes entitled to benefits at the ordinary rate and subject to the ordinary conditions out of the Navy and Army Insurance Fund.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the age of Mr. E. C. Simmons, senior clerk in the Statistical Office, Customs and Excise; and when it is proposed to retire him under the Customs General Order 31/1908?

The date of retirement for all Civil servants is, subject to the regulations from time to time in force for the Civil Service, within the discretion of the heads of their departments.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what sum represents the total amount allocated by the Road Board for expenditure in Ireland up to the 31st March, 1913; what amount per annum since inception of the funds does this represent; what sum exclusive of loans represents the total amounts actually granted and accepted out of this allocation; what is the minimum sum the Road Board deem necessary to cover the contingency of so-called indicated Grants being taken up before the end of the financial year, the 31st March, 1913; what sum represents the maximum amount which, not having been utilised for Grants nor being reserved for indicated Grants, is, in effect, unpledged, and therefore open to application in Ireland up to the 31st March, 1913; how many Irish county or county borough councils have refused Grants in whole or part on the ground that they cannot see their way to treat on the Road Board's terms; what is the aggregate of indicated Grants which have been so refused; if a number of county and county borough councils have refused Grants, has the Board invited, or does it propose to invite, other county and county borough councils to participate in the surplus accrued thereby; in what Irish counties has the Board declined to contribute half the cost of the proposed steam-rolling work, and in what counties has the Board proposed to contribute, or does contribute, more than half that cost; in what manner does the Board deal with moneys received from county and county borough councils in repayment of loans, and is the aggregate of repayments placed for redistribution to the reedit of that part of the United Kingdom from whose allocation the money was made; and will the Board (cœteris paribus) give special terms in cases where good stone is particularly difficult to obtain?

The following statement shows the payments and commitments of the Road Board in regard to Irish Grants:—

Grants made	£79,792
Additional Grants indicated	60,284
	£140,076
Amount requisitioned by high way authorities in respect of work done and actually paid under Grants	£37,572

The Board have no means of estimating what amount of the indicated Grants will be taken up before 31st March, 1913, but they have no doubt that the whole of the indicated Grants will be taken up as soon as the highway authorities concerned have completed the preparation of their preliminary arrangements for proceeding with the works towards which Grants have been indicated. The Board do not insist upon indicated Grants being taken up within the limits of the financial year, but are prepared to make the Grants indicated as soon as the highway authority is ready to proceed with the work. The Road Board are prepared to make Grants to highway authorities in Ireland to an aggregate amount of £100,000 in addition to the amount of £140,000 already indicated, and they are now engaged in selecting and obtaining particulars of the works of road improvement in respect of which applica- tions for Grants out of the above-mentioned sum will be entertained.The allocation of £240,000 to Ireland works out at £80,000 per annum for three years (approximately) since inception of the fund to 31st March, 1913. No Irish county or county borough has refused a Grant on account of its terms, either in whole or part, except the county of Kildare, to whom a Grant of £1,045 towards a net improvement cost of £l,393. was offered and the county replied to the Board that all the district councils affected, except one, "disapproved of the proposals for steam rolling on the terms offered." The Board have not in any case refused to make a Grant on the ground that a county council was not prepared to spend more than half the total cost. As regards contributions exceeding half the cost of proposed work, the Board have in two counties indicated their willingness to make special Grants, and plans and specifications are being prepared for the proposed work in these counties, namely: In county Kerry work is being prepared to an aggregate of about £18,000 towards which the Board are to contribute 90 per cent., and in county Mayo work is being prepared to an aggregate amount not yet definitely settled, towards which the Board are to contribute 90 per cent. In both these cases the Board considered that it was in the public interest that the work should be proceeded with although the counties concerned were not able to contribute more than a nominal percentage. The question of dealing with moneys received from county and county borough councils in repayment of loans has not arisen for consideration as no such repayments have been made or become due. The Board are not prepared to pledge themselves to give special treatment in all cases where good stone is particularly difficult to obtain. They consider every application on its' merits and take into account all the circumstances relating to each case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the allocation of public money for national development of postal or other services as between England and Scotland, any account is taken of proportionate expenditure in the two countries, and in view of the fact that of a capital account expenditure on underground telegraph lines of £2,100,000, only about one-ninth, or. judging of expenditure by mileage, £233,000 has been spent in Scotland, he will grant a larger sum in this year's Post Office Estimates to bring this necessary work to a completion in Scotland; and if he or his Department has received any representation from present or past Secretaries of Scotland as to the disadvantages under which Scotland suffers under existing conditions?

Any representations made by the Post Office as to the provision for underground telegraph lines in Scotland in the Estimates for 1913–14 will receive careful attention. But the governing consideration must be the requirements of the public service as a whole; and the principle of proportionate expenditure in the two countries cannot be admitted as applicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Road Board has power to grant money for extra maintenance of roads caused by motor traffic; and, if not, will he take the circumstances of the northern counties of Scotland into account when framing the next Budget?

As regards existing roads the Road Board may make advances towards the cost of improvements, but Section 8, Sub-section (5), of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, does not admit of their making advances to the cost of "ordinary repairs essential to placing a road in a proper state of repair." I am unable to make any statement as regards the second part of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what steps he proposes to take next Session to provide suitable buildings for technical instruction in county Wexford?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 22nd instant.

asked the Chief Secretary who the present supervisor is of the Castleisland Parish Committee, and the date of his appointment; on what date the accounts of the Castleisland Parish Committee for 1911–12 were closed; and the names and addresses of the committee of the Catleisland Parish Committee for the year 1911–12 and for the year 1912–13?

The present supervisor of the Castleisland Parish Committee is Mr. Richard J. Walsh, lie was appointed by the committee on 28th June, 1911, and his appointment was sanctioned by the Congested Districts Board. The accounts of the committee for the year 1911–12 were closed on 4th June, 1912. The names of the committee for 1911–12 as furnished by the committee are as follows:—Ex-officio Members.—Rev. M. Keane, C.C. (Chairman); Rev. Mr. Rowan (Rector, Vice-Chairman); Dr. Rice; Right Rev. Monsignor O'Leary. P.P., V.F.; Dr. Daly; Rev. P. Buckley, C.C.; Dr. Prenderville; Dr. Murphy; S. Prenderville, J.P.; M. Nolan, J.P.,; B. G. O'Connor, R.D.C.; C. M. Brosnan, R.D.C.; J. Horan, R.D.C.; J. O'Connor, R.D.C; W. H. O'Connor, R.D.C; B. O'Connor, R.D.C; J. Nolan, R.D.C.; C Crowley, R.D.C.; E. Browne, R.D.C.; P. J. Kearney, V.C, R.D.C.; B. Scollard, R.D.C.; M. J. Brosnan, R.D.C.; P. Carmody, R.D.C.; J. M. Hickey, R.D.C.; D. Sweeney, R.D.CElected Members.—Messrs. C Kerin, farmer; C J. Brosnan, farmer; M. Wolfe, farmer; D. Crowley, farmer; T. Curtin, farmer; T. T. O'Connor, farmer.The Committee for 1912–13 is as follows: Ex-officio Members.—Rev. Monsignor O'Leary, P.P., Presbytery, Castleisland; Rev. Father Keane, C.C., Presbytery, Castleisland; Rev. Father Harrington, Presbytery. Castleisland; Rev, Mr. Rowan, Rectory, Castleisland; Brian O'Connor, J.P., C., R.D.C., Castleisland; Simon Prenderville, J.P., Castleisland; Martin Nolan, J.P., Droumtrasna, Castleisland; Dr. Daly, Castleisland; Dr. Rice, Castleisland; Dr. Prenderville, Castleisland; Pierce Gun Mahony, Kilmurry, Castleisland; P. J. Kearney, R.D.C., Cordal, Castleisland; Jer. Burke, R.D.C., Cordal, Castleisland; David P. Herlihy, R.D.C., Knockayeala, Kingwilliamstown; Edmond Browne, R.D.C., Mullin, Scartaglen, Castleisland; Martin J. Brosnan, R.D.C., Leamydoody, Cordal, Castleisland; John M. O'Connor, Portduff, Castleisland; James E. Horan, R.D.C., Laccabawn, Castleisland; James P. Nolan, R.D.C, Knockrour, Scartaglen, Castleisland; Cornelius Crowley, R.D.C., Knockayeala, Kingwilliamstown; Patrick Carmody, R.D.C., Coom, Cordal, Castleisland; Bryan O'Connor, R.D.C., Gortglass, Scartaglen, Castleisland; William H. Connor, R.D.C., Dromultan, Scartaglen, Castleisland: Cornelius Brosnan, R.D.C., Castleisland; Denis McSweeney, R.D.C., Carker, Scartaglen, Castleisland; James Hickey, R,D.C., Crenny, Castleisland.Elected Members.—Timothy T. O'Connor, Cordal, Castleisland; Thomas Curtayne, Cooni, Cordal, Castleisland; Maurice Wolfe, Knockeen, Castleisland; Cornelius Brosnan, Close, Castleisland; Cornelius Kevin, Scartaglen, Castleisland; Denis Crowley, Mountfalvey, Scartaglen, Castleisland.

asked the Chief Secretary of Ireland if he will cause to be prepared a Return giving the names of justices on the commission of the peace for the county Mayo, showing the resident and ex-officio magistrates separately; the year of their appointment; whether they have a residence within the county; the Petty Sessional districts to which they are attached; the number of possible and actual attendances of each during the last five years; and their religious denomination?

The Returns which have been presented to Parliament from time to time give the names of the magistrates in each county with the date of appointment and particulars of the designation, profession or occupation of each magistrate, as well as the numbers of each religious denomination. The further information asked for by the hon. Member is not available, and it would serve no useful purpose to institute the extensive inquiries necessary to obtain it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether of the 6,074 justices of the peace in Ireland only 2,396 are Catholics; is he aware that the Catholics are nearly 74 per cent, of the population in that country; that non-Catholics hold 3,656 commissions of the peace, or over 60 per cent, of the whole; and will he, in view of the dissatisfaction existing in this matter, consider the advisability of setting up the system at present working in England, or some other suitable means to satisfy public opinion?

The Lord Chancellor informs me that the figures given in the question are substantially correct. With regard to the last paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 1st May, 1911.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has now considered the application for a grant in aid of the proposed road at Dirreenavourig, near Sneem, towards which a local contribution has been promised; and whether the Grant will be made, in view of the necessity for this improvement?

The Congested Districts Board have agreed to contribute one-half of the actual cost of the proposed road, subject to a maximum contribution of £30.

asked whether the Estates Commissioners received an application for reinstatement from William R. A. Johnston, son of a former tenant, on the estate of the Representative Church Body; and whether it is intended to provide a holding for him elsewhere in the district, the former holding being now in the occupation of another tenant?

The Estates Commissioners received an application from W. R. Johnson for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by his father, who was evicted for non-payment of rent. The Commissioners are not prepared to take any action in the matter, and applicant hat already been so informed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that all the papers with reference to the Boyd estate, Duncormack, South Wexford (Record No. 9545), have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and can he say when the estate will be inspected?

Formal proceedings for the sale of this estate to the Estates Commissioners were instituted by the lodgment of the necessary documents on the 10th instant, and the estate will be dealt with in order of priority.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in regard to the Noughaval farm, near Kilfenora, West Clare, Mr. T. H. Blackall has sold his interest to any individual; whether his offer of June, 1911, to the Congested Districts Board is still available; whether he can state why the Board has not acquired this estate; whether it is proposed to acquire it in the near future; and whether in that case it will be dealt with according to the provisions of the Land Act of 1909?

The Congested Districts Board understand that Mr. Blackall has disposed of his interest in the farm referred to, but they do not know the name of the purchaser. The Board are not prepared to negotiate for the purchase of the tenancy unless they acquire the fee-simple. The owner of the estate on which this farm is situate has not expressed his willingness to sell his estate to the Board, and they do not propose at present to take steps to acquire it compulsorily.

asked the Chief Secretary whether negotiations are now in active progress for acquiring land in West Clare for the re-instatement of evicted tenants; and whether, in regard to Daniel Neylon, of the Stratford estate, Kilfenora, West Clare, whose case is typical, regard will be paid to the fact that he has been living for years in the expectancy of reinstatement, according to the promise of the Estates Commissioners, and that, by carrying out the provisions of the Land Act of 1909, it would be possible for the Congested Districts Board to acquire sufficient land to permit the reinstatement of all the evicted tenants in West Clare as well as the establishment of all the congests on the soil?

The Estates Commissioners are in negotiation for the acquisition of untenanted land in county Clare, and in its allotment the cases of evicted tenants (including that of Daniel Neylon) whose applications have been approved of by the Commissioners, will be considered and dealt with as rapidly as possible.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the place in which a man was confined in His Majesty ship "Torch," and which has been described as a refrigerator, was in fact a deck house on the quarter deck containing the refrigerating machinery, which was idle at the time; that the cabin capacity was four times that of the regulation cell; that the lighting and ventilation were superior to any of the officers' cabins; and that the man in charge of the machinery was in the habit of sleeping there when the engines were not in use?

The expression I used was "the refrigerating room." The official report stated that cell punishment had been carried out in a portion of the engine room uptake and in the wireless room as well as in the refrigerating room. These places are all well ventilated and large enough for cells, but confinement in them is a breach of Article 743 of the King's Regulations and Admiralty Instructions, in which it is laid down that confinement in any other closed place than the established cells or under a screen is forbidden.

asked the number of engine-room artificers who have entered the Royal Naval Reserve from the mercantile marine and from other sources?

The present number of engine-room artificers. Royal Naval Reserve, borne is 569, of whom 165 were entered from the mercantile marine and 404 from other sources.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether claims have been received from George Keay and crew, of Cellardyke, of the steam drifter SN. 297, "Redvers Buller," North Shields, for £4, and from James Muir and crew, Cellardyke, of the steam drifter SN. 268, "Baden Powell," North Shields, for £5 10s. for nets or gear destroyed on Thursday, 18th July, by His Majesty's gunboats, about forty miles East by South of the Tyne; and, if so, whether he can expedite the settlement of these claims, which have been pending for six months?

The claims have been received. Inquiries are complete in the case of the "Redvers Buller," and payment of compensation will shortly be made. It cannot, at present, be established that the damage to the gear of the "Baden Powell" was caused by His Majesty's ships, and further investigation will be necessary before the claim can be decided.

asked what is the number of men engaged in the Naval Ordnance Department, Woolwich Arsenal; how many men are in receipt of 24s. per week; if these have been subjected to a reduction out of this small wage for the National Health Insurance; and how many have received a rise through the recent regrading system?

The total number of men employed in the Naval Ordnance Department at Woolwich is 410. Two hundred and sixty-eight are classed as labourers, and paid the minimum rate of 24s. per week. Six of these, however, receive up to 3s. per week for special duties, and six are paid piecework rates, amounting on an average to 8s. per week more than their ordinary pay. Fourpence per week is deducted from the wages of 266 of the 268 labourers on account of their contribution under Part I. of the National Insurance Act; the remaining two are exempt from the Act. Six men have received increases in pay on account of the regrading system.

asked the Secretary for War if General Plumer, commanding officer at York, is in favour of all the higher commands in the Special Reserve battalions and Territorials being held by Regulars and ex-Regulars, and that therefore he will rarely recommend commanding officers for extensions of command, with the result that Regulars have been appointed to command in cases when, if he had recommended the Special Reserve commanding officer for a short extension, the promotion could have gone in the battalion, the second in command then being qualified for promotion?

I do not know to what case my hon. Friend alludes. Since Lieutenant-General Sir H. Plumer assumed command of the Northern Command, there have been five vacancies among commanding officers of Special Reserve battalions; four of those have been filled by the promotion of majors of the Special Reserve and one by bringing in a retired Regular officer of the Territorial regiment. There are no ex-Regular officers commanding Territorial Force Infantry battalions in the Northern Command.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies on what ground the local government in Malta refused to grant a site for the hotel the erection of which formed one of the recommendations of the Royal Commission?

The only definite offer to erect an hotel recently received by the Malta Government was on too onerous terms; among other conditions a free site and freedom from existing and future taxation was demanded.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies (1) the total value of imports into Canada from the West India Colonies of Trinidad, Tobago, British Guiana, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua, St. Kitts, Dominica, and Montserrat in 1890, 1899, and 1911; and in what year Canada first gave a preference in her market to imports from the British West Indies; (2) the total value of imports into Canada from the British West Indies and British Guiana in 1890, 1899, and 1911; and what proportion of these imports consists of sugar, and the value of the sugar imports?

The total values of the imports from the British West Indies into Canada for the years 1889–90, 1898–9, and 1910–11 were £1,429,588, £954,471, and £10,262,583, respectively. The values of the sugar included in these totals were £423,514, £326,082, and £9,858,958—that is to say, 30 per cent., 34 per cent. and 96 per cent, of the totals. A preference to imports from the British West Indies was first given by Canada in 1898. The figures for the individual Colonies mentioned are not in all cases distinguishable in the Returns, and such figures as are available could not conveniently be given within the compass of a reply. I shall be happy to place the relevant Reports and Blue Books at the hon. Member's disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state for 1901–11 the number of men and women, respectively, engaged in the public educational system of the United Kingdom, namely, elementary schools (including pupil teachers), secondary schools, technical institutes, schools of art, I colleges, and university councils?

The figures in the attached Return relate to England and Wales only, and to the year 1910–11. They show the number of teachers only; the Board do not possess records as to the number of persons otherwise employed in connection with education. The figures are confined to institutions in receipt of Grants from the Board of Education. Part-time teachers are counted once for each institution in which they serve; the number of individual teachers is, therefore, less than shown in the table—

Number of Teachers, 1910–11.
—	Men.	Women.	Total.
1. Public Elementary Schools (excluding certified efficient schools, etc. Note 1	43,130	129,172	172,302
2. Secondary Schools, Pupil Teachers Centres and Preparatory Classes. Note 2:—
(a) Secondary schools on the Grant list:—
(i) Full-time teachers	5,120	4,894	10,014
(ii) Part-time teachers	1,406	1,300	2,706
(b) Pupil teacher centres and preparatory classes not forming integral parts of secondary schools on the Grant list:—
(i) Full-time teachers	121	209	330
(ii) Part-time teachers	80	54	134
3. Technical, Art, and Evening and similar Schools. Note 3:—
(a) Technical institution courses and day technical classes	1,395	417	1,812
(b) Schools of art and art classes (including Royal College of Art)	1,291	429	1,720
(c) Evening and similar schools	26,078	11,229	37,307
4. Training Colleges for Elementary School Teachers. Note 4:—
(a) Training departments of universities and university colleges:—
(i) Full-time teachers	56	55	111
(ii) Part-time teachers	272	52	324
(b) Other training colleges:—
(i) Full-time teachers	201	425	626
(ii) Part-time teachers	177	98	275
(c) Total	706	630	1,330
5. Universities, Constituent Colleges of Universities, and University Colleges (including Medical Schools, but excluding University Training Departments for Elementary School Teachers). Note 5:—
Number of professors, lecturers and demonstrators:—
(i) Full time	*	*	1,108
(ii) Part time	*	*	1,194
* Most of the professors, lecturers, etc, are men, but some are women; exact figures as to the number of men and women cannot, however, be given.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of young men between the ages of eighteen and nineteen in the United Kingdom, as shown by the Census of 1911?

The number was 423,496.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether his attention has been called to the fact that a large number of European and Japanese women are imported into India for immoral purposes; whether the International Convention against the white slave traffic has been adopted by the Indian Government; and whether the Indian law is adequate to carry out that Convention?

A Bill to suppress the importation of foreign women into India has been introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council by an unofficial member and has been referred for opinion to local governments. The Secretary of State has also consulted the Government of India as to whether India should adhere to the International Convention. At present he is not in a position to say whether the Indian law is adequate to carry it out.

also asked whether there is in India a considerable traffic in native girls for immoral purposes; whether the existing laws are adequate to suppress it; and, if not, what measures the Indian Government propose to take?

Traffic in young girls exists to a varying extent in different parts of India. It is closely connected with the social and religious usages of the population, and there is no clear evidence that it is an increasing evil. The question of strengthening the penal provisions of the law is at present under inquiry in connection with a Bill introduced in the Imperial Legislative Council by an unofficial member.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the number of old age pensioners resident in the Skip-ton Parliamentary Division and the annual cost of the pensions paid to them during the last administrative year; what decrease there has been in the number of persons over seventy years of age receiving indoor and outdoor relief in the different unions of that Parliamentary Division; and what has been the consequent saving in the poor rates of those unions?

I am not in a position to give the information asked for in the first part of the question. Statistics as to old age pensioners are not available for areas other than counties, county boroughs, and Metropolitan boroughs. The following table shows for the four Poor Law unions comprised in the Skipton Parliamentary Division the decreases and increases (a) between the 1st January, 1910, and the 4th January, 1913, in the number of persons over seventy years of age receiving relief, and (b), between the years ended March, 1910, and March, 1912, in the expenditure on the maintenance of indoor paupers and on out-relief:—

Name of Poor Law Union.	Decrease (-) or increase (+) between 1st January, 1910, and 4th January, 1913, in the number of persons over 70 years of age receiving relief.		Decrease (-) or increase (+) between the years ended March, 1910, and March, 1912, in the expenditure on the maintenance of indoor paupers and on out-relief.
	Indoor Paupers.	Outdoor Paupers.	Maintenance of Indoor Paupers.	Outdoor Relief.
			£	£
Clitheroe	- 14	- 42	- 185	- 317
Sedbergh	+ 2	- 5	- 41	- 67
Settle	- 6	- 31	+ 163	- 290
Skipton	+ 9	- 76	+ 346	- 415

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are now, according to the Census of 1911, the six largest industries in the country in the order of their magnitude gauged by the number of hands employed therein?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am informed by the Registrar-General that the tabulation of the Census figures of 1911 relating to occupations and industries is not yet completed, and that the information will not be available for some time.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he is aware that the rates of the industrial districts of London are on an average about 1s. 6d. in the £ more than the rates of wealthy districts such as the City, Westminster, and Kensington; and whether, seeing that this forms a handicap to London industries, with a view to securing equality of treatment for all parts of London, he proposes to introduce legislation to equalise rates throughout the Metropolis?

I am aware that in certain industrial areas in London the rates are considerably higher than in the districts referred to by my hon. Friend. The matter is one to which I have given a good deal of attention, but I am not in a position at the present time to promise early legislation on the subject. As my hon. Friend is aware, the question of local taxation is under consideration by a Departmental Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether the, present medical staff of the Board of Trade is so inadequate that its duties are almost wholly confined to the inspection of emigrants travelling on emigrant-carrying ships; and, if so, what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The medical officers of the Board of Trade are appointed to perform certain specific duties under the Merchant Shipping Acts, including the inspection of emigrants. I have no reason to think that the staff is inadequate to perform those particular duties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is assured that the classification of colour blindness by the Departmental Committee of the Board of Trade is satisfactory, or if he proposes to take any steps to modify the same?

As at present advised, I do not propose to take any steps to modify the method of classification of colour blind persons adopted by the Departmental Committee, which is only one of several methods used by the appeal examiners. I would point out that the Committee recognised in their Report that this method had had only a short trial, and that they were convinced that the final decision as to whether in a given case colour deficiency is so great as to involve incompetency ought to remain with the appeal examiners.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) in how many cases he has confirmed the by-laws framed by town councils for regulating the hours during which places of refreshment in Scotland are to remain open under the provisions of the Burgh Police (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1911, giving in each case the name of the burghs concerned and the hours of closing which have been fixed; in how many eases confirmation has been refused; (2) how many of the cases in which by-laws framed by town councils in Scotland for regulating the hours during which places for public refreshment are to remain open have come before him for confirmation, the by-laws were confirmed by the sheriff of the district in the form proposed or agreed to by the town council, giving in each case the names of the burghs concerned?

The particulars asked for by my hon. Friend in these two questions are given in the appended tables. In every case the town council by making application to the Secretary for Scotland to confirm by-laws in a form which has already been approved by the sheriff must be presumed to be in agreement with the sheriff's decision. As already explained to my hon. Friend in reply to his question of the 14th January, I am unable to give any authoritative statement of proceedings before the bylaws reached my office. I may add that while, as the tables show, I am still in correspondence with certain burghs, I have not so far in any instance refused confirmation of by-laws fixing hours of closing.

asked the Postmaster-General the total length of all underground telegraph routes in England, indicating specially the length of the main line routes from Porthcurno to London and from London to Gretna?

The total length of the main underground telegraph routes in England is 1,197 miles. The length from Porthcurno to London is 318 miles, and from London to Gretna 324 miles. In addition, there are many comparatively short underground telegraph lines in connection with aerial lines, and not connected with the main underground system.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to complaints by subscribers in the Glasgow area to the telephone system that the type of instrument, having fixed transmitters, now being supplied to them is not suitable for use in commercial offices; and, if so, whether he will state what steps, if any, he has taken or proposes to take to remedy this defect?

The type of instrument previously in use in connection with certain old exchanges in the Glasgow area is unsuitable and unreliable when fitted to circuits connected with exchanges worked on the modern central battery system. The replacement of these old exchanges by modern apparatus has consequently necessitated the replacement of the older type of instrument by the type to which the hon. Member refers, and which is in use in commercial offices in London and most other large cities as well as in all cities in the United States.