asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what will be the number of fully-manned, fully-commissioned modern large destroyers Stationed in British ports in January, 1914; and what will be the number of similar destroyers possessed by Germany at that time?

By January, 1914, there will be 110 large modern destroyers in home waters, in- cluding the "Swift," if the proper number of the "Dragon" class has been delivered. In January, 1914, it is anticipated that there will be seventy-seven German destroyers organised in flotillas, which, if not actually in commission, may be regarded as instantly ready, full crews being provided for them permanently.

asked the number of men constituting the complement of a fully-commissioned German battleship and battle cruiser of the "Dreadnought" type; and what is the complement of fully-commissioned British ships of the same type?

I must refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Montrose Burghs on the 19th March last.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that payment for overtime worked by the clerical staff at the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory, Greenock, was suspended in July last; that overtime was continuous throughout August and September, a total of 450 hours extra attendance being given by the clerical staff; whether applications have been made to the Admiralty for payment; and, if so, will he say when this will be sanctioned?

The facts are as stated, and payment is being sanctioned in the cases of individuals who have worked a considerable amount of overtime.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the terms of the Russo-Mongolian treaty interfere with the principle of equal opportunities in Chinese territory; whether this country derives benefit from the convention directly or indirectly; and whether, in regard to its ratification, the question of the integrity of China has been considered by the Powers?

The terms of the treaty are at present under consideration, and I am not yet in a position to state whether British interests are in any way affected. As His Majesty's Government are not a party to the treaty there can be no question of ratification as far as they are concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if the Mounted Infantry cobs provided for the use of the 15th Hussars, at Longmoor camp, have gone through the school training which is given to all Cavalry horses; and, if not, whether there is any precedent for supplying a Cavalry regiment with horses which have not gone through Cavalry training, except in time of war; and (2) what are the names of the officers who reported to him that the Mounted Infantry cobs provided for the use of the 15th Hussars were fit for Cavalry purposes; and what regimental experience these officers had of Cavalry requirements?

On the arrival of the 15th Hussars in England the following alternative courses were open to the Army Council: (1) To use Mounted Infantry cobs to mount the Hussars and render them immediately fit for service as divisional Cavalry; (2) to fill up the 15th Hussars with four-year-old remounts, in which circumstances the regiment would be unfit for war for two years; (3) to fill the 15th Hussars by drafts from other Hussar regiments of the Expeditionary Force. This would have resulted in the transfer of fifty aged horses from each of the six Hussar regiments, and the inclusion in their ranks of 140 remounts, thus interfering with the efficiency of the whole Cavalry Division. The Army Council decided on the first of these alternatives.

May I ask whether there is any precedent for taking the action that was taken?

I could not say off-hand, but I should imagine that there are any number of precedents for taking the action we have taken. What we did was to do what we thought was in the best interests of the Army in order to keep this regiment in a fit state to take the field.

Is it a fact that when this regiment arrived there were no suitable horses for them?

There were these horses which were suitable in every respect.

Were they suitable for taking the field?

Yes, that is exactly what they were fit for.

I suppose we are to understand that nothing but four-year-old horses were available in case of mobilisation?

No, Sir, the hon. and gallant Gentleman must assume nothing of the kind. We took the course we considered best to make the 15th Hussars able to take the field if necessary at the first possible moment. I think the action that was taken was a very proper action.

Are they not untrained?

No, Sir, they are very fully trained for all the purposes for which they will be required in war.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has seen the resolutions of Territorial Associations to the effect that they have never been able to get the necessary number of men, and that the numbers are likely to still further decrease; and whether, in view of this failure, he can say what steps he proposes to take to make the Territorial Force sufficient in numbers and efficient in training for the defence of the country?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Falmouth on 17th December. During the last four months the Territorial Force has shown a continued increase in recruiting.

Is it not a fact that a representative of the Government said in the House of Lords that they were short of numbers, and that they were likely to get less? Is the right hon. Gentleman going to leave us in that position?

The Territorial Force showed continued increase in recruiting. It is constantly stated outside that the force is going down. It is not. It is going up.

asked the Secretary of State for War, if members are not joining the Territorials in the numbers hoped for and anticipated; and, if so, whether, seeing that employers who encourage their employés to join are placed in considerable disadvantage with those employers who will give their men no extra leave, he will consider if the State could pay the contribution of both employers and employés under the National Insurance Act in respect of men serving in the Territorials?

At the present time recruiting is progressing satisfactorily; the figures for the December quarter of 1912 are considerably in excess of those for the same quarter in 1910 and 1911. The figures for re-engagements show a similar improvement. During January the net increase of non-commissioned officers and men amounted to 1,291. As regards the second part of the question which presumably refers to the contribution under the Insurance Act the suggestion will be carefully considered.

asked whether the War Office in 1906 issued invitations to manufacturers and others to submit 303 light bullets for trial; whether it was in consequence of the official trials of the light bullets submitted in response to this invitation by Mr. Henry Holland that the present bullet was adopted; and in what particular, if any, does the present light bullet differ from the patent bullet submitted by Mr. Holland to the War Office in 1907 and officially tried by them?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second part in the negative. As regards the third part of the question, the present light bullet differs in weight, shape, and material, from that submitted by Mr. Holland.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the late Secretary for War promised to see Mr. Holland on this matter, but was prevented from doing so owing to his elevation to the House of Lords? In view of that fact, and seeing that Mr. Holland has spent at least £1,000 for the War Office, could not the right hon. Gentleman arrange to see him? If the right hon. Gentleman cannot see him, is it likely that other rifle manufacturers will spend money in this way?

I do not know anything about the fact first stated. I am anxious that no injustice should be done to this or any other inventor.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Germany has five military airships of the rigid type of large size capable of being safely used at night and of carrying and of discharging quantities of high explosives on to our docks, ships, magazines, and stores; whether we have any airships of more than one-third of the size of the smallest of these five German airships; if he can say why the Government neglected to build large airships; and what steps he proposes to take to guard against the danger of our deficiency?

The reply to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, it is not considered desirable to make public the steps that have been and are being taken.

Is it not true that the Government have neglected to provide airships, that we are at an enormous disadvantage in comparison with Germany, and that there is danger in case of war that we might have our magazines, stores, and ships blasted with explosives from airships, as we have nothing to protect them?

There are 127 questions on the Paper, and if we are to have many supplementary questions we shall not be able to get through half of them.

The fact that we have not supplied a large number of airships does not imply neglect.

asked what increase has been made in the rates of pay of private soldiers since 1st January, 1906; the amount per man; and the total yearly increase involved thereby?

No general alteration in the rates of pay of private soldiers has been made during the period in question.

Was the late Ministerial Whip under a misapprehension when he stated recently that it had been done?

The Secretary of State cannot reply as to what the Whip said.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether an official pamphlet was issued by the War Office in the year 1901 stating that men belonging to the Royal Northern Reserve might qualify for a pension by re-enlisting for periods of two years at a time until the completion of fourteen years' colour service, and promising that if prevented from completing this period of colour service by reason of their attaining the age of forty-five years they should be transferred to a Special Reserve in order to complete twenty-one years of service from the date of their first enlisting, all previous periods of service being counted towards this; whether a subsequent Army Order made it necessary that in all cases fourteen years' colour service should be served in order to qualify for a pension, thus preventing certain soldiers from qualifying; and whether he can do anything to assist such men to obtain their pensions?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to a similar question put by him on 13th December last. I regret that I can add nothing to it.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government propose to take any steps to inquire into the administration of justice in Burma in connection with the sentence passed on Mr. Channing Arnold and the acquittal of Mr. Andrews by Mr. M'Cormick?

A petition for leave to appeal has now been lodged on behalf of Mr. Arnold with the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. Its hearing must, of course, be awaited. As regards the last words of the question, I may observe that Mr. Andrews was the acquitting magistrate and Mr. M'Cormick the accused.

May I ask my hon. Friend whether Mr. Arnold is finding the expenses for the appeal, or whether the Government are assisting him, and further whether Mr. Andrews is finding the expenses for his defence, or whether the Government are defending him?

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to give notice of that question.

asked whether the special Grant-in-Aid for medical benefit will be made in respect of insured persons who after the age of seventy still remain entitled to medical benefit; and, if not from what source will the extra cost of medical benefit in such cases be defrayed?

The special Grant-in-Aid will be paid in respect of all insured persons entitled to medical benefit irrespective of age.

asked whether any part of the special Grant - in - Aid for medical benefit under the National Insurance Act will be paid in respect of the first three months after 15th January, 1913, or whether the whole benefits in respect of that period will be provided out of funds under the National Insurance Act?

The Grants to insurance committees out of the special Grant-in-Aid will go into the same general account as the moneys available under the Act for expenditure on medical benefit after the Grants have been made. Therefore it will be impossible to say whether any particular payment has been made out of moneys available under the Act or cut of the special Grant.

Are not the Government departing from the answer given me by the Prime Minister on 9th January to the effect that none of this special Grant-in-Aid would be so applied?

It goes into a common fund. We cannot trace the individual sovereigns that come from the Grant-in-Aid of the National Insurance Fund. There is money to pay the full amount of the contract with the doctors in the insurance fund at present, and this money will be paid into that fund.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say how the Prime Minister gave me the answer that the special Grant would not be applied?

I am not sure that I can discuss this matter by question and answer. If you give a Grant-in-Aid to a certain fund when that Grant is paid the amounts are amalgamated and you cannot trace the difference between one and the other.

asked whether it will be possible to ascertain the diseases from which any insured person has suffered or is suffering by comparing the records in the hands of the Insurance Commissioners with those in the hands of the insurance committees; and, if so, how far will such records be kept secret; will privilege from production in any Court of Law be claimed; and has or will any information from such records be supplied to the Treasury or any other Government Department?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As I have stated in reply to previous questions, the arrangements for the keeping and furnishing of records secure that information which would connect the name of a patient with an entry as to a particular kind of disease could not be obtained by the Commissioners, the insurance committee, or the society. The particulars of illnesses and certain other particulars (but not anything by which the patient can be identified) will be used for statistical purposes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the half of the form, filled up by the doctors containing the disease is sent to the Insurance Commissioners, and the other half containing the name of the patient suffering from the disease is sent to the insurance committees, and that they can be identified together by the numbers which are on them? If I can prove to the right hon. Gentleman that that is the case, will he take steps to see that proper secrecy is preserved?

I am informed that the forms are so arranged that it is quite impossible to identify them even if they were kept together.

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this question on the Second Reading of the Appropriation Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a maidservant in North Shropshire who has filled in her card and chosen her panel doctor there has been taken ill in Ludlow, South Shropshire, and cannot get any doctor to attend her; and can he say how she is to get a doctor for her serious illness?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Gravesend on the 28th January.

If the servant is kept several days waiting before she can get a doctor to attend her, what is she to do?

Immediately any insured person moves from one area into another, he or she should give notice and a new doctor will be provided at once in the new district.

In this case she did give notice at once by applying for a doctor, and she could not get one.

Notice has to be given to the insurance committee. If that has been done, I shall certainly inquire into the matter.

asked why the panel in the Bridgnorth area of Shropshire was closed from 15th January and is still to be closed for a period of three years?

As the number of practitioners available for the panel system in the urban and rural areas of Bridgnorth was not adequate for treatment of insured persons, the Commissioners dispensed with the necessity for the adoption of the panel system for the period named, and authorised the insurance committee to make other arrangements under Section 15 (2) of the Act.

Did not the Prime Minister say that all the panels were to be kept open? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Members of this insurance committee which settled this question were never given notice when this question came on?

That is not the information at my disposal. This was done by the local insurance committee after a request had been made to the Insurance Commissioners to declare the panel system at an end.

asked the number of insured persons under treatment for tuberculosis in Lincolnshire on 31st January; and will he give the numbers for Lindsey, Kesteven, and Holland separately?

I have inquired of the insurance committees of the districts referred to and will inform the hon. Member of the result of those inquiries.

asked whether the Huddersfield and Bradford Insurance Committees have issued circulars refusing free choice of doctor outside the panels unconditionally and without exception?

I am communicating with the insurance committees concerned, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the difficulties which friendly societies are experiencing in supplying medical benefits out of their own funds to persons who are over sixty-five, and who are not insured under the National Insurance Act; whether such difficulties have arisen from the fact that in consequence of the passing of the Act the arrangements which the friendly societies have hitherto made for supplying medical benefits to their members have been disturbed, and that it is not now possible for the friendly societies to supply medical benefits to their members at the same cost as they did formerly, and that such cost has been increased by 3s. or 4s. a year; and whether he will state what steps the Government are prepared to take in order to enable friendly societies to provide medical benefits for their members who are over sixty-five and are not insured under the Act?

I am not in a position to say whether or to what extent societies have found it impossible to arrange with the doctors who are receiving a higher remuneration than hitherto for insured persons to continue to treat the small and diminishing number of their own aged and infirm patients who are not insured upon the same or approximately the same terms as before.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any regulations have yet been made by the Insurance Commissioners as to the application of contributions paid by employers in respect of employés entitled to exemption; and, if not, whether he will see that such regulations are made as soon as possible and that provision is made for the application of such contributions, so far as possible, in the interests of those in respect of whom they are paid?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative and to the last two parts in the affirmative.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give me any idea as to when this will be done?

I am afraid I cannot. There is no immediate urgency about it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the case of an insured person in Upper Holloway, who was taken ill with pneumonia on 2nd December, 1912, and has since suffered from pleurisy, and who sent a claim for sick benefit to the approved society of which he is a member and received 15s., being ten days' payment from 13th to 22nd January, inclusive, but nothing further; is he aware that, since making the first claim, he has sent in three weekly medical certificates and forms of continued sickness, dated, respectively, 20th January, 27th January, and 3rd February, and has received no additional payment or any communication from the society to whose secretary he wrote, and has been obliged to apply to the guardians for assistance; that his health has suffered from the worry, inconvenience, and delay; and can he take any steps to secure a better administration of the system so as to safeguard sick persons from hardships, anxiety, and the deprivation of necessaries conducive to the restoration of health and strength, and prevent the growth of a lack of confidence in the smooth working of the Act?

The question of the payment of sickness benefit to a member of an approved society is one between himself and the society, subject to appeal to the Commissioners. The Commissioners are forwarding the hon. Member's question to the society.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that by the time the case has been reached the man may be either dead or in the workhouse?

I should think that if this society is self-governing in character, and it is doing its work badly, no doubt. the members who have complete control over the society will see that the work is done well.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the remarks of the magistrate at Marlborough Street Police Court in regard to the prosecution of Gratze, Limited, engineers, for failing to pay the insurance contributions of certain workmen; if the Commissioners had declined to prosecute the workmen themselves, although they had refused to take the necessary action to comply with the National Insurance Act; if he is aware that the magistrate stated that the Commissioners had shown great partiality in the matter; that counsel representing the Commissioners had questioned the propriety of the magistrate's decision; and if steps will be taken in future to ensure that the Commissioners shall not victimise employers for the default of their servants?

My attention has been called to this case. It appeared in evidence that before proceedings were instituted Messrs. Gratze were given every opportunity of complying with the Act, but that their managing director, Mr. E. V. Gratze, informed the inspector that he had not the slightest intention of insuring his employés or of complying with the Act in any way. Mr. Gratze was himself a member of the council of a body calling itself the Insurance Tax Resisters' Defence Association, one of the declared objects of which is to "admit as members, employers who pledge themselves, not to work the Act," and to persuade others to do the same. In view of these facts the Commissioners felt that the responsibility for the non-payment of contributions in this case rested with the employers, and that in this case the employers must be held responsible for contributions not having been paid. I may add that it is the duty of an employer himself to obtain a card for the purposes of stamping where the employé omits to do so, and that neither Mr. Gratze nor any other person went into the witness box at the Police Court on behalf of the defendants.

Is not the statement made now the opposite to that of the magistrate? And would the right hon. Gentleman answer the last few lines of the question?

In the statement I have given the actual facts of the case. If an employer wishes to comply with the Act, and employés of that employer persistently resist, action will be taken by proceedings against the employés; but I am profoundly distrustful on some grounds of evidence, of statements made by employers who do not want to pay that it is because the employés do not want the benefits.

In what position. will the worker be in case the employer refuses to pay his contributions, and the man when he falls sick is in consequence in arrear? What protection will he get?

He can sue the employer for damages; for the amount of money that he would have received if the employer had paid.

Is it the duty of the Commissioners to prosecute in a case of the kind?

It is the duty of the Commissioners to prosecute to obtain the contributions from the employers, and because we have done it in this case we have been subjected to criticism.

In view of the fact that the Act places the responsibility on the employer, is it not impossible for the Commissioners to victimise the employers for the default of their servants?

The Commissioners have to proceed for a definite specific violation of the Act against those employers who have not stamped the cards, which they are obliged to do under the Act quite apart from anything which the employés do.

asked the number of claims for maternity benefits for the first three weeks of the operation of the National Insurance Act in the three administrative counties of Lindsey, Kesteven, and Holland?

It would be impossible to obtain Information as to the number of claims for maternity benefit in the three particular administrative counties referred to without calling for a return from each of all the societies operating in these counties; and this would entail a considerable amount of work for the societies, as they do not require to classify maternity claims under the counties in which the applicants happen to reside for any administrative purpose.

asked the number of persons insured under the National Insurance Act in Lincolnshire; and will he give the numbers separately for Lindsey, Kesteven, and Holland?

Information is not yet available as to the number of insured persons in the particular districts named by the hon. Member.

asked the number of insured contributors under Part I. and Part II. of the National Insur- ance Act, respectively, within the county of Lanark, exclusive of burghs, in the burghs within the county, and within the burgh of Motherwell, respectively?

The approximate numbers of persons insured under Part I. of the National Insurance Act in the county of Lanark exclusive of burghs, in the burgh of Motherwell, and in other burghs within the county are respectively 16,427, 13,750, and 51,823. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade that the numbers of persons insured under Part II. of the Act who have applied for books at the Labour Exchanges and local agencies in the county of Lanark exclusive of burghs, in the burgh of Motherwell, and in other burghs within the county are 1,086, 6,532, and 130,247.

asked whether, in the event of the destruction of insurance cards by the burning of the building in which they are kept, the Insurance Commissioners will be prepared to receive evidence of a reliable character showing the value of the stamps on such cards; and whether, in the event of such evidence being satisfactory, they will not require the fresh cards to be restamped?

Applications of the kind referred to must be dealt with on their merits. If my hon. Friend has any actual case in mind the Commissioners will give it sympathetic consideration.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn to the proposition statement of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (Board of Erin) Friendly Society, having some 130,000 members, in which a pledge is exacted and signed by any person wishing to join this society as an approved society for the purposes of the National Insurance Act, to the effect that he is prepared to use his influence on all occasions in opposition to the presentation of addresses of either welcome or loyalty to any English monarch or representatives of the English garrison until all religious disabilities shall be removed and the legislative independence of Ireland bestowed; and does he propose that a society exacting such a pledge from its members should continue to be an approved society under the National Insurance Act?

No, Sir. No such pledge is exacted in case of application for membership of any approved society or separate section conducting business under the National Insurance Act. The society named is not itself an approved society, and benefits, connection with its own objects and benefits, which are quite independent of those of the Act, it may have issued the "proposition statement" to which the hon. and gallant Member refers. A separate section has been formed in connection with this society and approved for conducting business under the Act; but its funds and objects and its proposal form does not require the applicant to take any such pledge as that referred to or to join the society itself.

Seeing that I sent to the Prime Minister copies in which these words were actually printed, and which each of these people joining the society under the Insurance Act is obliged to sign, does the right hon. Gentleman consider that these are proper words to employ?

What authority have you for putting in such a cowardly insinuation?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is mixing up two separate matters. I know nothing whatever about the proposal form in question, but that section of the association which becomes an approved society under the Insurance Act has nothing whatever to do with any such proposal.

Inasmuch as I am a member of the society, I can assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that no such declaration is ever written or spoken by any member. [HON. MEMBERS: "Order, order."]

The hon. Member is not entitled to put in a preamble.

I wish to ask, Sir, having regard to the fact that the hon. Member for West Belfast read the only declaration made in connection with this society, whether it is right that an insinuation of this kind should be put upon the Paper?

May I ask whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman is entitled to use his position as a Member of this House to make a false statement which has already been repudiated by the hon. Member for West Belfast?

It is not a false one. The hon. Member sent a copy of the proposition to the Prime Minister, and now it appears that it does not apply to that part of the Ancient Order of Hibernians which has applied to the Insurance Commissioners to become an approved society under the Insurance Act.

It does not apply to any part. The hon. and gallant Gentleman has made a false statement.

It is not a statement; it is an inquiry.

Is it not the fact that the portion of the Order which wishes to become an approved society has to send its rules previously to the Insurance Commissioners?

Certainly; that is so.

Is there any statement in the approved rules along the lines stated in the hon. and gallant Gentleman's question?

Nothing whatever, as I have already stated.

It is only that part of the association which seeks to become an approved society which is dealt with by the Insurance Commissioners.

That is exactly what I said. The rules of an approved society have to be approved by the Insurance Commissioners.

asked the number of applications for sanatorium benefit received by the county of Lanark Insurance Committee during the first six months of the operation of the National Insurance Act and the number of cases in which sanatorium benefit was granted?

Sixty-three applications were received by the Insurance Committee referred to by my hon. Friend. In fifty-three of these sanatorium benefit was granted; eight other cases are under consideration; the remaining two being refused as the disease was not diagnosed as consumption.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many sanatoria are being built for the purposes of the National Insurance Act; where such sanatoria are situated; what number of patients they will hold when complete; and what will be the cost of the buildings?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. My information goes to show that in England fresh provision is already being made for the reception of tubercular patients at Birmingham, Liverpool, Derby, Ford, Bolton, Sutton, Meathop, Wakefield, and Winsley. The number of patients to be provided for in this new accommodation is about 600. I cannot give the precise cost at the present time.

May I get an answer to my question, What sanatoria are being built, not new buildings?

The bulk of the new accommodation in the towns I have mentioned consists in substantial additions; and in one case, that of Birmingham, of new buildings.

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that a sanatorium is being built at Birmingham?

I suggest that a new pavilion, capable of holding from thirty to forty, is in process of building.

What will be the cost of those buildings?

I should be delighted to furnish the cost incurred and the cost per bed if the hon. Gentleman puts a question.

asked whether the supernumerary gas-lighters of the Gas Light and Coke Company are rightly deprived of 4d. a week, out of their wage of 5s. 6d. a week, for the purposes of National Insurance?

Correspondence is still proceeding with the company, and I will inform the hon. Member of the result.

Is it the fact that deductions are being made from the money of these people?

I think the correspondence largely concerns whether they are rightly insured under the Act, but I will let my hon. Friend know.

asked whether the Registrar reports to the Insurance Commissioners cases in which actuarial accounts are sent in to him improperly audited; whether such irregularities have occurred; and whether, seeing that such irregularities must lead eventually to the detriment of insured persons, withdrawal of approval of a society has been made in any such case?

I do not know of any actuarial accounts requiring auditing. If the hon. Member's question refers to annual returns of registered societies relating to their private side which have not been properly audited, such returns are not reported by the Registrar to the Insurance Commissioners. The Registrar takes steps to see that such returns, which are occasionally received, secure a proper audit. The Insurance Commissioners are not in any way concerned with the auditing of accounts of societies on their private side, and a deficiency on that side could not detrimentally affect the benefits under the Act, as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked whether two married women employed for two whole days every week and one married woman employed for three whole days every week at 1s. 3d. a day, and whose husbands are in regular work, are compulsorily insurable persons under the National Insurance Act; whether they may claim exemption; and, if exemption is granted, whether their employer must stamp exemption cards for a whole week's work, or for a part of a week, for each employed woman?

If the women in question are employed within the meaning of the Act they will be insured as employed contributors unless they apply for and obtain certificates of exemption. Such certificates may be claimed by any persons who possess a pension or income of the annual value of £26 not dependent upon their personal exertions, or who are ordinarily and mainly dependent for their livelihood upon some other person. The weekly contribution of 3d. ordinarily payable in respect of an exempt woman remains payable although the woman may be employed for only a part of the week.

asked whether, in the case of a person who at the commencement of the National Insurance Act is between sixty-five and seventy, and is employed, but who before attaining seventy retires from the service of his employer on a pension or otherwise, any contributions under Section 49 of the Act will have to be paid by him or his late employer after such retirement, and until he attains the age of seventy?

When a person to whom Section 49 applies ceases permanently to be employed, contributions at once cease to be payable by or in respect of him.

In that case, then, if the contributions ceased the benefits would cease too?

He gets full benefits for all contributions he has given.

asked if doctors on the insurance panels are permitted to employ assistants for the treatment of insured persons; if such assistants require to be approved by the insurance committees; and if the remuneration of the assistants is fixed by the committees or under regulations of the Insurance Commissioners?

A practitioner on the panel may depute an assistant to act on his behalf when he is precluded by urgency of other professional duties, absence from home, or other reasonable cause from giving personal attendance to an insured person under his care. It is the duty of the insurance committee to take any necessary steps to secure that the service provided by any assistants is satisfactory, but, subject to this, the remuneration of such assistants is a matter for their principals and themselves to determine.

Considering that assistant doctors are allowed to practice, will he consider the advisability of allowing chemists who have practised for thirty years—

The hon. Member should give notice of that question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the travelling and outdoor duties of the staff of health insurance officers expose them to hardships during wet and cold weather; and can he, in view of their small salaries, take steps to provide them with suitable boots, leggings, and overcoats to ensure their work being done under conditions of greater comfort?

I am satisfied that the normal duties of a health insurance officer are not of such a nature as to require the provision of special foot wear or overcoats at the public expense, or, indeed, of anything in the way of uniform.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that payments to some of those gentlemen only amounts to about thirty shillings per week?

I am not quite sure, but they are paid a similar amount to officers doing similar work in other branches of the Government service.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the position under the National Insurance Act of an unregistered druggist, duly apprenticed and in the trade for twenty-eight years, and in business for himself for fourteen years, during which time he has been dispensing prescriptions for customers in a colliery neighbourhood, where practically every customer comes under the National Insurance Act; and will he say how the pledge that no one who was qualified to dispense before the Act would be cut out by the Act applies in this case?

I cannot add anything to the answers which I have already given to similar questions, except that the Commissioners are this afternoon receiving a deputation from unqualified chemists.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of appointing a small Committee to inquire into the very numerous cases of hardship that have arisen in consequence of interpretations of the Act?

On first thought that seems to be quite a good idea, and I will consider it.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction that has been caused amongst sub-postmasters and others by the inadequate remuneration which they have received in respect of the extra work and responsibility involved in connection with the working of the National Insurance Act during the last six months; whether he is aware that in many cases the insurance stamps sold at a single office during that period have amounted to several thousand pounds in value; and whether he will consider applications that may be made to him in such cases with a view to a revision of the scale?

The correspondence on this matter with the Treasury is now concluded, and I am in a position to communicate to the Sub-Postmasters' Federation the terms of remuneration which have been arranged. This is being done at once. As regards officers other than sub-postmasters, I beg to refer the hon. Member to the replies given to similar questions on the 22nd of October and 16th January last.

Is it not the fact that some postmasters are only receiving 10s. for six months' work?

Those are merely payments on account until the matter is settled.

Have the sub-postmasters been allowed to present their case to the Postmaster-General?

Yes, but before coming to a final decision I am communicating it to the Sub-postmasters' Federation, and that is why I refrained from giving a definite reply to my hon. Friend.

Will the correspondence with the Sub-postmasters' Federation be published?

If there is any official correspondence they will be at liberty to publish it, certainly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the fact that the maintenance of national services of which the Government has undertaken to relieve the local authorities at present involves a rate of in the £ so far as regards London; and if he will state to what extent this charge will be increased by the decision to throw upon county councils the burden of caring for tuberculous persons?

I am not certain to what services the hon. Member refers in the first part of the question, but I understand the Exchequer Grants made to London considerably exceed the produce of a 1s. rate. With regard to the latter part of the question the hon. Member will be aware that expenditure by county councils on tuberculous persons is optional. I could not estimate the cost to the rates in the event of this option being exercised in London, as it would depend on the nature of the scheme adopted and other circumstances.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware of the fact that the Master Builders' Association of London has advanced the labourers' wages one halfpenny per hour; whether he is aware that the painters' labourers employed by contractors on Government buildings in London are not receiving the advance in wages; and can he explain why?

The First Commissioner is informed by the Master Builders' Association of London that painters' labourers are not included in the classes of labour benefiting by the advance.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that master builders themselves have advanced the wages of their employés, and that this is simply a quibble to try to get out of the obligation?

If the hon. Member makes it clear that it is the same class of labour in this agreement, then it will be seen that the Fair-Wages Clause is properly observed.

Do these master builders suggest that the painters' labourers have been excluded from the labourers in the building trade?

I have the correspondence, and their reply on the point is in the answer I have given.

Was this agreement before the labourers' council, to which these men are attached?

It only remains for the hon. Member to show that the labour is of the same class as that referred to, and the Fair-Wages Clause will be obeyed.

asked whether the hon. Gentleman will consider the possibility of adopting the design made by Inigo Jones for Whitehall for the new buildings to take the place of the present offices of the Board of Trade; and whether he will cause these designs to be exhibited in the Tea Room so that these designs might be seen and utilised for the proposed new buildings?

The First Commissioner proposes to invite competitive designs for the new buildings in question, but he will send for the plans referred to by my hon. Friend, though he cannot as at present informed expect to be able to make use of them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that no clerk in his Department is compelled either to forego the usual Saturday half-holiday or to sacrifice the pay for the first three hours of any overtime they may work, he will take the necessary steps to obtain the cancellation of a practice recently commenced in certain branches of his Department?

Owing to pressure of work, it is sometimes necessary for clerks to forego a half-holiday on Saturday, and in such cases they are not called upon to sacrifice the first three hours of overtime done on previous days of the week. I am not aware of any recent change of practice in the branches of the Board of Trade.

Might I supply the information?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state why objection has been made three times to the claim of Patrick Brady, Esker, county Longford, for an old age pension; if he is aware that this man's claim was admitted twice by the Ballinalee sub-pension committee, and the pension was enjoyed also for a term; and why, therefore, the present difficulty has arisen?

I am making inquiries in this matter, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will state the number of old age pensioners residing in workhouses in this country on 25th December last?

The latest complete information at present available on this subject relates to 1st January, 1912. Returns showed that there were on that date 2,191 old age pensioners in workhouses or other Poor Law establishments in England and Wales who were receiving relief which did not disqualify for an old age pension—i.e., medical or surgical assistance only. Similar Returns relating to 4th January, 1913, are at present being received.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the short period that will elapse between the opening of next Session and the close of the financial year, he will arrange that the Navy and Army Estimates be printed and circulated before the close of the present Session?

I regret that it will not be possible to comply with the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

asked when a complete account of the costs of the steamship "Titanic" Inquiry last year, with names and amounts of money paid to each person, can be given; and when this House will have an opportunity of considering the expenditure?

I have been requested to answer tins question. A detailed statement of the costs of the "Titanic" Inquiry, giving the name of each person and the amount paid in each case is being prepared, and a copy of it will be sent to my hon. Friend this week. Copies will be distributed as soon as they can be printed. I am unable to say what, if any, further opportunity there will be for considering this expenditure.

asked whether the Land Inquiry Committee have been asked to make a Report on the conditions existing in town and country relative to land tenure, or whether they have been asked to also make recommendations to remedy those conditions by legislation or otherwise?

I have no knowledge of the proceedings of the Committee or of the form in which their conclusions will be presented.

asked whether the land valuation is to be kept secret for all time; and will no amending legislation be passed by His Majesty's Government with a view to making the valuation accessible to the public on completion?

I am afraid that I cannot at present make any statement on these points.

Is it in consequence of statutory provisions that these valuations are kept secret, or is it merely a regulation?

That I am afraid I cannot answer. I cannot answer anything about future legislation.

When will the valutions be completed?

I must ask the hon. Member for notice.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of houses licensed for the sale of intoxicating liquors that have been closed under the Act of 1904?

This question should have been addressed to the Home Office, but my right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to it. I can at present only repeat the figures given to the hon. Member for North Fermanagh last December, namely, that in the seven years, 1905 to 1911, 7,318 licensed premises in England and Wales were closed with compensation. The figures for 1912 are now being compiled, but are not yet complete.

asked the Postmaster-General the result of the inquiry into the dismissal of Messenger Feeny at Longford?

I have made full inquiry into this case and am satisfied that Feeny has not been unfairly treated. He had no claim to a permanent appointment, and his services were dispensed with, because no further work was available for him. I will send to the hon. Member a full statement of the case.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will grant an extension of the telephone service from Limerick and Adare to Rathkeale and Newcastle West, the same as is given to other towns in the county?

I will have inquiry made and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, if the required guarantee of £5 per annum be given for the evening collection of letters at Kilmacow by the Kilfinny (county Limerick) Co-operative Dairy Society, Limited, and a profit be made by the post office there owing to the increased postal facilities, the society will be credited with any profits that may arise as a set-off against and in reduction of the amount of the guarantee?

If the local services become self-supporting, no payment would be asked from the guarantors, and if the local loss were less than £5 the guarantee would be reduced proportionately.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not demand this guarantee in advance, because I understood the £5 yearly was to be paid in advance, and we will accept the guarantee on the conditions he has laid down?

I will consider that.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can give the House any information in regard to the destruction of the aerial telegraph wires and the underground cables between London and Glasgow on the 8th February?

On the 7th instant the underground telegraph cable between London and Glasgow was blown up maliciously in the neighbourhood of Hamilton, but it was repaired by the 9th. On the 8th some damage occurred to the serial wires between London and Glasgow owing to stress of weather, but communication was at no time wholly interrupted. The maximum delay to messages was one hour and three-quarters.

Is there any reason to suppose that the persons who committed destruction were militant suffragettes?

It is suspected that is the case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the frequent suspension, through stress of weather, of telegraphic communication between England and Ireland, he is prepared to lay down underground wires throughout the whole telegraphic routes or, in the alternative, in that part of such route as experience has proved the most trying weather conditions prevail?

Telegraphic communication between England and Ireland has only once been suspended since 1875, namely, in February, 1903. There are eleven cables between Great Britain and Ireland connecting with the main telegraphic system at four different points on the coasts of Wales or Scotland, so that the risk of a simultaneous breakdown of the services is small. The cost of underground routes would be very heavy and quite disproportionate to that risk.

May I ask whether, in view of the fact that there are existing wires at present between London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Leeds and other centres, it would be possible, and perhaps he might give favourable consideration to the suggestion, to connect the Island of Anglesey with the nearest point in England at which there are underground wires?

It has been considered, but there are several alternative routes. In case the route viâ Anglesey was interrupted by storm the other routes would at once be brought into operation with very small delay.

Is it not the fact that the route viâ Anglesey is very frequently interrupted by stress of weather?

No. I think not very frequently.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his atten- tion has been called to the case of Mr. William Mitchell, the postmaster at the Clyffe Post Office, Tincleton, Dorsetshire, who is a retired Government official in receipt of a pension of 16s. a week, who was appointed to the position eleven years ago, and has since carried out his duties satisfactorily with the aid of his daughter; whether he is aware that they also conduct a small general shop which, with the post office appointment, constitutes their sole means of livelihood except for the said pension; whether he is aware that the post office is situate in a cottage belonging to a landlord who owns all the land and houses of the village, and who has given Mr. Mitchell notice to quit at the end of this week, and has refused either to withdraw the notice or provide another cottage or sell or lease land to enable another to be built; and whether, seeing that in consequence Mr. and Miss Mitchell have to leave the village and lose their livelihood, and that unpleasantness has been caused between the landlord's agent and Mr. Mitchell by reason of the latter refusing to open the mail-bags after being sealed to admit correspondence after posting hours from the former, and that a person to whom the cottage has been let, has been recommended to succeed Mr. Mitchell as postmaster is an employé of the landlord, and that a cottage is available at Pallington, one mile away, to which the post office could be moved, he will say what steps, under the circumstances, he proposes to take?

Mr. Mitchell has held the appointment of sub-postmaster at Clyffe for nearly nine years. I understand that he is a pensioned chief warder, but I have no information as to his private means. He has been given notice to quit his house on the 15th February, and is unable to secure other premises nearer than Pallington, one mile distant from Clyffe. I have made special inquiries, and have had two reports on the circumstances of this case. I am informed that Pallington, which is a hamlet with a population of only thirty persons, is not a suitable place for the post office, and that its removal there would be inconvenient to the district and would meet with local opposition. Sub-postmasters are required, as a condition of their appointment to provide suitable premises to carry on the business of the Department, and as Mr. Mitchell is no longer in a position to do so, I have no alternative but to transfer the appointment to some other applicant who is. I cannot enter into the reasons that may have caused the landlord's agent to give Mr. Mitchell notice to quit, beyond saying that I am informed that the reasons have nothing to do with any personal complaint on his part as to the manner in which Mr. Mitchell has conducted the post office.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the conduct of the post office by Mr. Mitchell was always satisfactory?

My officers have had no complaint to make of the way in which the post office was conducted; but some complaints have reached me indirectly from people in the village, not of anything done wrong by the postmaster, but as to the manner in which customers were treated.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any compulsory powers for the acquisition of premises under such circumstances?

No.