asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether insured persons, of whom there are about 1,500, who were formerly treated at the Penge Dispensary by doctors who are not at present on the panels for the district, will be able to continue to receive treatment from the same practitioners?

I am informed that the Penge Dispensary has made no application to the Kent Insurance Committee for approval as an institution under Section 15(4) of the Act, and it will not therefore be possible for insured persons to obtain their medical attendance and treatment through that institution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he will state what are the estimated total amounts included in the Civil Service Estimates and Supplementary Estimates for the year 1912–13 for grants and special grants in aid of National Health Insurance, United Kingdom, showing separately the total grants for benefits and the total other expenditure, including in both cases amounts borne on other Votes, such as Post Office, Stationery, Friendly Societies Registry, Office of Works, etc., necessitated by the National insurance Act?

The totals are:—

	£
Grants in aid of benefits (including State contributions in respect of low paid labour, etc.)	3,085,550
Grants in aid of expenses of Act, administration of Approved Societies and Insurance Committees	625,100
Administration expenses charged directly to moneys provided by Parliament (Insurance Commissions, Audit, Works, Stationery and Printing, Postal Services, etc., etc.)	624,257
	£4,334,907

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether insurance committees can enter into an arrangement with the nursing associations in their area for the nursing of all insured persons in that area and make money grants, under Section 21 of the National Insurance Act, for the support of their nurses engaged in this work, or whether they are only entitled to make such an arrangement and money grant with respect to deposit contributors?

The contributions contemplated by Section 21 of the National Insurance Act would be made in respect of deposit contributors only by insurance committees, any contributions in respect of members of societies being made by those societies. Insurance committees have power to make payments for nurses, to a limited extent, in respect of members of approved societies as well as deposit contributors out of the sanatorium funds available under Section 16 of the Act and in some cases arrangements of the kind have been made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether, in view of the fact that many insured persons are not sufficiently familiar with the steps they arc required to take and the forms they have to fill up in connection with claims by themselves under the National Insurance Act, he will issue and deliver to each insured person through his or her approved society, and in the case of deposit contributors through the Post Office, a book of instructions as to what steps an insured person should take in order to receive with the least possible delay the benefit applicable to his or her condition, separately specifying the steps to be taken and the forms to be filled up for each class of benefit?

As regards members of approved societies the procedure with regard to claims for sickness and maternity benefit is determined by the rules of the society which is responsible for administering these benefits. No general instructions of the kind contemplated in the question could, therefore, be given.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there have been any cases where advantage has been taken of Section 56 (1) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, which permits the Treasury to accept in lieu of the whole or any part of any estate, settlement, or succession duties such part of the property as may be agreed upon; if so, can he give particulars; and whether any applications under the Section have been made and refused?

There have been forty-five applications under the Section to which reference is made. In thirty-six of these cases the property offered was not suited to the requirements of any public Department or authority, and the remaining nine cases are still under consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many local inquiries under the Labourers Acts were held during the three months ending 31st January, 1913, and in what counties and rural districts; from how many district councils in county Cork have demands been received for inquiries; on what dates were they received, and how many cottages and allotments are embraced in them; are any inquiries into improvement schemes at present fixed or pending; if so, where and on what dates will they be held; and whether the present staff of inspectors has been found sufficient to cope with the work of the Labourers Acts in respect of these inquiries?

Eleven inquiries were held during the three months ending 31st January, 1913, in the following counties: One each in Antrim, Armagh, Cork, Down, Dublin, Longford, Queen's County, and Tyrone, and three in Donegal. Petitions for confirmation of new schemes have been received from nine rural districts in county Cork, namely:—

Rural district.		No. of cottages and allotments. Cottages. Allotments.			Date of receipt of petition.
Bandon	…	114	and	15	30th Oct., 1911
Castletown	…	29		—	12th Oct., 1912
Clonakilty	…	49	and	3	25th July, 1911
Cork	…	653		—	7th Dec., 1911 & 3rd Oct., 1912
Fermoy	…	256	and	12	19th June, 1911
Kanturk	…	305		—	11th Nov., 1911
Kinsale	…	169	and	11	21st Mar., 1911
Mallow	…	249		—	11th Oct., 1912
Youghal	…	53	and	14	6th Feb., 1912

Inquiries are fixed or pending at present in six districts, namely, Ballyshannon, Belleek, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, and Stranorlar. The dates have not yet been fixed in these cases, with the exception of Monaghan, which will be held on the 21st instant. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. Patrick Foy, of Bunninadden, county Sligo, has yet offered his property, situate in Turlough parish, county Mayo, for sale through the Congested Districts Board; and, if not, as all the adjoining properties have already been valued by the Board for the purpose of sales, will the Board endeavour to acquire the two holdings comprising this small estate?

Mr. Patrick Foy has not offered his estate for sale through the Congested Districts Board under the Act of 1909. The Board will make inquiry regarding it.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the congested estate of the late Mr. W. E. Kelly, situate in the parishes of Aglish and Ballyheane, county Mayo; and, if so, with what result?

The Congested Districts Board have issued an offer for the purchase of this estate and are at present in communication with the owner regarding it.

asked what steps, if any, the Congested Districts Board have taken to acquire the Phibbs Irwin estate (in lunacy), situate in the parish of Turlough, county Mayo.

The Congested Districts Board have received the maps and documents necessary for a preliminary inspection to be made of the estate referred to. The estate will be inspected and a decision arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what payments were made by the Admiralty during the financial years 1905–6, 1906–7, 1907–8, 1908–9, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, and the expired portion of 1912–13, to Members of Parliament being barristers, giving the name and amount in each case?

The following payments were made:—

	£	s.	d.
1907–8.—To Sir W. S. Robson Solicitor-General (Bermuda Dockyard Extension Arbitration)	19	16	0
1908–09.—To Sir S. T. Evans, Solicitor-General (Pembroke Jetty Contract)	45	2	11
1910–11.—To the Right Hon. A. Lyttelton, K.C., M.P. (Malta Dock Extension Arbitration)	628	3	8
1910–11.—To the Right Hon. A. Lyttelton, K.C., M.P. (His Majesty's Ship "Mohawk" Arbitration)	75	12	1

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the German cable used at Tidworth and Bulford Camps is being insulated with re-manufactured rubber or Partly so?

It is understood that a certain amount of re-manufactured rubber is used in the outside vulcanised covering of the cable, which is mainly for mechanical protection for the pure rubber inner covering. The rubber used was subjected to mechanical tests, and found quite satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the number of chaplains of various denominations appointed to His Majesty's Prison, Holloway; and will he state their respective salaries?

There are two Church of England chaplains, namely, one chaplain, at a salary of £300 per annum, rising by £10 per annum to £400 with quarters, and one assistant chaplain, at a salary of £200 a year; and one Roman Catholic priest, who is a part-time officer and receives £100 per annum. In addition, one Wesleyan minister, one Congregationalist (representing the Free Church Council), and one Rabbi visit the prison regularly, but give their services gratuitously.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any cases have been brought to his notice of serious physical injury resulting from forcible feeding?

The answer is in the negative.

asked if any, and, if so, how many militant suffragist prisoners are at present being subjected to the operation of forcible feeding?

No suffragist prisoner is being forcibly fed at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can approach the Portuguese Government with a view to getting equal treatment for British manufacturers of motors and tyres, under their tariff, with French or German manufacturers?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers returned to the hon. Member for the College Division of Glasgow on Wednesday last.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to reintroduce the Mental Deficiency Bill at an early moment in the coming Session, and to use every endeavour to have the Bill passed into law during that Session?

As has been repeatedly stated, the Government hope to pass the Bill into law next Session.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of goods, wholly or mainly manufactured, the produce of the United Kingdom, exported to Australia in 1881 and 1911, respectively; (2) what was the value of goods, wholly or mainly manufactured, the produce of the United Kingdom, exported to South Africa in 1881 and 1911, respectively; (3) what was the value of goods, wholly or mainly manufactured, the produce of the United Kingdom, exported to New Zealand in 1881 and 1911, respectively; and (4) what was the value of goods, wholly or mainly manufactured, the produce of the United Kingdom, exported to Canada in 1881 and 1911, respectively?

I will have a statement printed in the Votes when figures for 1881 have been compiled from the published Returns. I fear, however, that the available information for this earlier year is somewhat incomplete.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will reconsider the question of the establishment of a telephone call office at Beckermet, Cumberland, in view of the fact of the increase of the population and of the rateable value, which is now between £33,000 and £34,000?

I shall be happy to make further inquiries to ascertain whether there has been any change in the circumstances since last year which would now justify the establishment of a telephone call office at Beckermet, Cumberland.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has personally considered an application recently made on behalf of three farmers in the neighbourhood of Woolaston, in the county of Gloucester, for the establishment there of a rural party line telephone service; why, seeing that the main telephone line from Lydney to Chepstow passes within five yards of the house of one farmer and within half a mile of those of the other two, such application has been refused; and whether there is any and, if any, what method open to these farmers of obtaining telephone facilities at an annual contribution within their financial means?

A canvass was made at Woolaston to ascertain whether sufficient support to justify the provision of a rural party line could be obtained. Only three offers to subscribe were, however, obtained, whereas Woolaston being over three miles distant from the nearest existing exchange, about ten subscribers would be necessary before a service could be provided at the ordinary rural party line rate. The main telephone trunk lines are not available for use for rural exchange party lines.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that there was an outbreak of swine fever in January, 1913, among the swine belonging to William Dowse, of 6, Brunswick Street, Leamington, and that swine to the number of forty-seven, and value of £90, were slaughtered under an order of an inspector of the Board; whether the Board have refused to grant any compensation for this loss to William Dowse; if so, on what grounds this decision has been arrived at; and whether it is in accordance with the previous practice of the Board in such cases?

An outbreak of swine fever was confirmed on Mr. Dowse's premises on 18th January. Two pigs only were slaughtered by order of the Board, and compensation was paid on the scale authorised by the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894. The Board dealt with this case in accordance with their usual practice.