asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the view of his Department as to what constitutes misconduct sufficient to disqualify a workman in an insured trade from receiving State unemployment benefit; and whether he is aware that men are disqualified for not submitting to continue at work longer than the normal working hours or for alleged bad timekeeping when a man's total working time in the week has exceeded the fixed workshop hours?

The decision whether a workman is disqualified for receipt of unemployment benefit on the ground that he has lost employment through misconduct rests, in the first instance, with the insurance officer to whom the workman's claim is referred. The workman claiming direct from a local office has a right of appeal to a Court of Referees, and there may, in certain circumstances, be a further reference to the Umpire. Each case must be decided on its merits, and the Board of Trade are unable to express any general opinion as to the meaning of the term misconduct. Any question as to the meaning of this term in connection with refunds to an association under Section 105 of the Act will be settled between the Board of Trade and the association, and failing agreement by the Umpire. I have not had such cases as those mentioned in the second part of the question brought to my notice.

also asked whether it is permissible for a society to deduct from the State unemployment benefit any arrears which an insured workman may owe when he has cause to claim benefit, or whether such arrears can be claimed before any benefit is administered?

As was stated in reply to the hon. Member for Cork County (West) on the 3rd February, there is nothing in the terms of arrangements made with associations under Section 105 of the National Insurance Act, 1911, to diminish any right which an association may have under its own rules to deduct arrears of contributions from benefit paid to any member, provided, of course, that the association makes no claim to a refund out of the Unemployment Fund in respect of any sum so deducted. I may, however, point out that the right of every workman to obtain benefits from Part II. of the Act in full, without deduction, is effectively guaranteed by the fact that he can, if he chooses, claim unemployment benefit direct from a local office of the Unemployment Fund, instead of through an association.

further asked why workmen for whom no association has arranged to administer unemployment benefit, under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, can have disqualification cases speedily dealt with by the panel of Referees which contains workmen's representatives; why trade unionists, whose associations have arranged to administer the benefit, have to refer their disqualification cases to the Umpire; and whether equality in reference to appeals is assured by the terms of the Act and men referred to the same Court of Appeal in all cases where Labour Exchange officials declare that men are disqualified from benefit?

The arrangements for the settlement of disputed claims with regard to unemployment benefit claimed direct are determined by Section 88 of the Act, while the mode of settling disputes between the Board of Trade and associations as to claims for refunds is determined by Section 105. As my hon. Friend is aware, the two matters are on an entirely different footing, and I should doubt if associations would generally be willing to have these latter class of cases determined by Courts of Referees. The Board of Trade have recently submitted to the associations with which arrangements have been made proposals for expediting the discussion of individual cases between the Board of Trade and the association, and the replies received so far are generally favourable. I am sending a copy of this scheme to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a local insurance committee may fix an income limit without consulting the statutory medical committee?

In accordance with Section 62 of the Act, the Regulations provide that an insurance committee shall consult the local medical committee if one has been recognised in their area before fixing, varying or abolishing an income limit.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in the case of a doctor having joined a list or panel on the understanding that he contracts to attend only a limited number of insured persons, he may be required later on, as a condition of his remaining on the list or panel, to attend such additional number of insured persons as may be allotted to him as his share of the residue of persons to whom no doctor has been previously assigned?

The distribution of insured persons who have not been assigned to any doctor is, as the hon. Member is aware, to be carried out so far as practicable under arrangements made by the doctors on the panel. If such arrangements allow of a doctor attending only a limited number of patients, there is no reason why it should be made a condition of his remaining on the panel that he should attend an additional number of insured persons, so long as the arrangements are in force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in the case of a medical man who is not on the panel, but is called in to attend an insured person, the medical certificate given will enable such insured person to obtain sickness benefit and medicine?

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow and Aberdeen University on the 4th instant, and to several other recent answers to the same effect.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a man named Francis A. Thatcher, an insured person, living at Peabody Buildings, Southwark, who has been receiving treatment for consumption and on whose behalf an application was made for sanatorium treatment by the doctor to the Insurance Commissioners on 15th January, has received no reply; whether he is further aware that this man, who belongs to the Ancient Order of Druids, has received only one week's sick pay, as the society are afraid that they will not be reimbursed for the amount they expend; and whether he can call the attention of the Commissioners to this case?

In a letter dated the 19th January a medical practitioner informed the London Insurance Committee that this patient was in need of institutional treatment. The committee requested the medical officer of health for Southwark to report on the case, and on the 28th January informed the secretary of the lodge to which the man belongs that this was being done. The medical officer advised that the case was one for institutional treatment, and the committee have already taken steps to carry this into effect. The question of the payment of sickness benefit is one between the insured person and his society, subject to appeal to the Commissioners.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mr. A. E. Palmer, of 16, Brookdale Road, Walthamstow, was certified during December, 1912, to be suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis; that his name was sent in with the necessary certificate on the 3rd January, 1913, to the clerk of the local insurance committee; will he explain why no answer has been sent for over four weeks to this communication; and why Palmer has not yet been sent to a sanatorium?

I am informed by the Essex Insurance Committee that the applicant has been examined by the tuberculosis officer, and that the sanatorium benefit sub-committee has recommended the case for hospital treatment. The applicant has been informed of this. The case is a difficult one, and not suitable for treatment in an ordinary sanatorium, and the committee arc endeavouring to secure his removal to a hospital.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the inspectors under the National Insurance Act are ordinarily supposed to demand an inspection of the wages books of the firms in his district or whether the production of the cards duly stamped is a sufficient carrying out of the employers' duties?

The inspector is empowered by Section 112 of the Act to call for the production of all such registers, books, etc., as he may reasonably require, and in practice a comparison of the wages book with the stamped contribution card is a convenient method for the inspector to satisfy himself that the requirements of the Act are being complied with. Any information which may come into the possession of the inspector in this way would, of course, be treated as strictly confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in spite of Section 59, Sub-section (2), of the National Insurance Act, providing that a certain proportion of medical men shall sit on each local insurance committee, and that the names of such medical men have been submitted to the Commissioners as having been elected by the members of the medical profession as long ago as 22nd January, 1913, nevertheless at Portsmouth their names have not yet been approved by the Insurance Commissioners; whether he is aware that the local insurance committee is refusing to allow these elected medical members to sit and vote on any question, whether medical or otherwise, some such points being of vital importance to the medical profession, unless they are so approved by the Commissioners; whether the local insurance committee under such circumstances is properly constituted; and whether any decisions arrived at by such committee are valid?

The election of medical practitioners under Section 59 (2) (c) must be carried out under Regulations made by the Insurance Commissioners, and the election under these Regulations is now proceeding. The medical men referred to by the Noble Lord have not been duly elected in accordance with the requirement of the Act, and are therefore not entitled to sit as members of the insurance committee. The insurance committee is legally constituted by an Order made under Section 78 of the Act, and its proceedings are not invalidated by reason of any such appointments as those referred to by the Noble Lord not having been made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Lancashire Insurance Committee have refused to allow insured persons to choose their own doctors; and whether that committee is carrying out the wishes of the Government in this respect?

Every insured person has a right to choose any doctor on the panel in Lancashire as elsewhere, and I am not aware that the Lancashire Insurance Committee have taken any action which would deprive insured persons of this right. An insurance committee in allowing or refusing to allow an insured person to make his own arrangements for treatment by a doctor who is not on the panel must exercise its discretion in accordance with the Act and the Regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, in the event of medical men on the panel being obliged in the interest of the insured person for whom they are prescribing to direct the use of drugs of superior kind and at higher prices than those in the schedule or drugs not included in the schedule, any provision will be made to meet such extra cost beyond the scheduled sum of 1s. 6d. per insured person; if not, whether such extra cost necessary to procure better quality drugs than the cheap, inferior, and non-effective drugs in the schedule will be deducted from the extra 6d. per person which may be paid to the medical practitioner, or how otherwise is the extra cost for efficacious drugs to be met; and (2) whether the Insurance Commissioners have received any protests or complaints with reference to the ineffective and cheap character of the drugs contained in the sche- dules prescribed by them; and whether he is aware that the drugs so scheduled are very inferior to those in use at the principal hospitals and dispensaries of London?

There is no foundation whatever for the suggestion conveyed in these questions that a list of drugs of inferior quality is scheduled for supply to insured persons. No list of drugs at all is scheduled to the Regulations. Each insurance committee is required to draw up its own list of drugs, and the only relevant requirement of the Regulations is that "all drugs and appliances shall be of good quality." In addition to the list of drugs that may ordinarily be supplied, any doctor on the panel is empowered by the Regulations, when he thinks necessary, to prescribe other drugs not included in the list. So far as I am aware there is no ground for the allegation that drugs of inferior quality are being supplied by chemists to insured persons.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what considerations led to the departure from Regulations adhered to since 1896 in throwing open the examination for assistant clerks to candidates who have not served as boy clerks?

Owing to the large demands in the last eighteen months for assistant clerks, it has become necessary to hold a special examination for that class. As it appears that the number of candidates available from the usual sources will be insufficient to supply the probable requirements, it has been decided for the special examination to waive the usual rule restricting the examination to boy clerks or ex-boy clerks and to held an entirely open competition. This arrangement is only intended to meet a temporary emergency, and will not be applied to the usual assistant clerks' examination, which will be held under the usual conditions in the summer.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the rules of the Royal Irish Constabulary Force Fund provide for an occasional actuarial investigation of the assets and liabilities of that fund by the National Debt Commissioners by direction of the Treasury; whether any investigation of this character has been held since 1891; in what respect it differs from the annual audit by the Comptroller, and Auditor-General; what the assets consisted of in 1891 and on 31st December, 1912, respectively, with the face value and market value of each denomination at those respective dates; the amount of loss or gain to the fund in that time by sale or purchase of each particular security; how much, if any, loss the fund would sustain by realising the securities now held at present prices; and why these particulars are not set forth in the annual audit of the fund?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Treasury has not since 1891 thought it necessary to incur the considerable expense and trouble attaching to an actuarial valuation, the result of which would in no way affect the position of persons entitled to benefit from the benefit branch of the fund. An actuarial investigation would necessitate a valuation of the liabilities in respect of each contributor as compared with the assets represented by the securities held and the contributions receivable; the annual audit of the Comptroller and Auditor-General deals only with the actual receipts and payments of the fund. The following table shows the assets in 1891 and on 31st December, 1912, respectively, in the form asked for:—

		At 31st December, 1891.			At 31st December, 1912.
—		Nominal Amount of Security.	Price.	Value.	Nominal Amount of Security.	Price.	Value.
		£		£	£		£
Local Loans Stock	…	154,000	102½	157,850	154,000	86⅜	133,018
Consols	…	158,383	95¼	150,860	221,512	75 1/16	166,272
Cash Balance	…	—	—	—	2,539	—	2,539
				308,710			301,829

The benefit branch of the fund was transferred to the National Debt Commissioners in 1891, and consisted at that date of £154,000 Local Loans Stock and £150,000 voted by Parliament. No value was assigned to the Local Loans Stock, and it still remains intact. Consols have been bought in the period to the amount of £307,484, at a cost of £294,105, and sold to the amount of £85,972, at a cost of £77,319. The sales would show a loss of £4,913 when compared with the cost price. A valuation of the securities at present prices would necessarily show a considerable depreciation, but the full extent can-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the case of some property amounting to 90 acres near Lincoln known as Blyton Farm, and held by trustees under the name of Cooper's Charity, which was valued by the Government at £8,704, and 13 acres of which were recently assessed for Undeveloped Land Duty at £5 11s., when every effort to develop the land had been made by the trustees, but the Charity Commissioners had refused leave to do so; and what remedy he proposes?

My attention had not been called to the case referred toby the hon. Member, but I am making inquiries with regard to it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total quantity of tea upon which duty was paid at the Custom Houses in Ireland during each of the last three calendar (or financial) years; and what was the total quantity of tea, additional to the foregoing, imported into Ireland upon which the duty had previously been paid in the United Kingdom (if this be known or capable of estimation) during each of the same three years?

The quantities of tea on which duty was paid in Ireland during the last three financial years are as follows:—

Financial Years.	Lbs.
1909–10	14,531,230
1910–11	14,884,245
1911–12	15,602,147

The figures include tea removed from Ireland to Great Britain after payment of duty. The Board of Customs and Excise have no statistics as to the tea so removed, or as to tea similarly removed from Great Britain to Ireland. Figures are, however, published by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland in their annual "Report on the Trade in Imports and Exports at Irish Ports" (the latest is ed. 6397 of 1912), showing the total quantities of tea imported into Ireland, whether from Great Britain (under bond or duty paid) or from other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of officials now employed in the valuation of land under the provisions of Part I. of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; how many of them are qualified valuers; and what is the total of their salaries?

On the 31st January, 1913, the total number of officials in the Land Valuation Office (Great Britain) was 4,130, of whom 901 were qualified valuers, and the remainder were clerks and valuation assistants acting under qualified valuers responsible for their work. The total salaries amounted to £490,818 9s.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the local subcommittee at Sneem considered that Jeremiah Shea, Rossmore Island, Tahilla, Kenmare, was entitled to a pension of 5s. per week, and the pension officer held that he was entitled to a pension of 3s.; whether he is aware that this man was in receipt of a pension of 3s. before the Act of 1911 came into operation, and that he then became entitled to and received a pension of 5s. until the death of his wife; and can he state why the Local Government Board has now declined to grant him any pension?

Jeremiah Shea was not in receipt of any pension until the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, when on appeal his claim was allowed and a pension of 3s. a week awarded by the Local Government Board on the 17th November, 1911, half the total yearly means of the claimant and his wife being estimated at over £23 17s. 6d. but less than £26 5s. As his wife is now dead he must be regarded as the sole owner of means exceeding £31 10s. a year, and therefore he is not entitled to any pension.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made offers for the estates of Mr. Richard Gibbons, J.P., Mr. M. Carey, and Mr. Livingstone, near Westport, county Mayo, and, if so, with what results; and when the Board hope to complete the purchases?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet issued offers for the purchase of the estates referred to, but they hope to do so shortly.

asked what steps the Congested Districts Board have taken to acquire the congested estate of Mr. F. C. Garvey, of Murrisk Abbey, Westport, county Mayo, who has long since expressed his willingness to sell the estate through the Board?

The estate referred to has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, and a decision will be arrived at regarding purchase as soon as practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the M'Gillicuddy, when selling to his tenants, excluded from the sale several agricultural holdings; has this estate been recently inspected on behalf of the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, whether the Estates Commissioners will refuse to treat as an estate the holdings agreed to be sold unless the vendor agrees to sell to the tenants of the excluded holdings?

This estate has been inspected and the cases of any tenants on the estate who have not signed purchase agreements for the purchase of their holdings will be considered by the Estates Commissioners when they are dealing with the estate.

asked when the division of the untenanted lands of Clonfin, on the J. E. Thompson estate, North Longford, will take place?

These lands will be divided by the Estates Commissioners when acquired, but they are not at present in a position, having regard to the priority of other estates on the register, to advance the purchase money in this case and take over possession.

asked whether, seeing that Colonel Rice, of Bushmount, Causeway, has for the past two years refused to acknowledge or reply to the letters of the Congested Districts Board re the sale of his property at Bushmount, the Congested Districts Board will now take action to acquire the lands and relieve congestion in the district?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the question asked by the hon. Member on this subject on the 7th August last.

asked if any steps have yet been taken by the Congested Districts Board to purchase the Thomas Studdert estate, situate at Ballyouneen, Bully-bunion, for improvement and resale to the tenants?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his question on this subject on the 7th August last, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary if be can give a list of the estates in Mayo county which have been acquired by the Commissioners since the Land Act of 1909 was passed, and a list of the landlords of the county who have refused to sell their estates under the Act?

The Congested Districts Board have purchased or agreed to purchase the following estates in the county of Mayo since the date of the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1909: Christie and Fitzgerald, C. G. Orme, C. C. Ormsby, P. and L. Cuddy, F. F. Dundas, Miller and Ormsby, Lord Harlech, Ronald McDougall, Henrietta McDougal, Ant. O'Malley, W. Y. Batley, T. J. Kyne, A. Allen, Lord Lucan, Mark Blake, Lady de Clifford, Earl of Arran, Misses Logan, Sir R. Palmer, A. K. S. Robinson, Count Blake, M. A. T. O'Donel, Anna M. Griffin, Mrs. J. C. Wills, C. T. R.. Crampton, Representatives H. B. Brabazon, J. P. Begley, Sir C. Waller, H. Rose Gibbings, Patrick Doherty, Colonel M. C. J. Blake, Ant. Ormsby, Major R. R. Fair, Rev. G. E. Browne, A. J. McDermott, Michael McNulty, John McGloin, Thos. Flynn, John Lindsay, T. F. Ruttledge, Mrs. B. Cannon, John Garvey, W. C. H. C. Knox, Captain P. A. Clive, Moy Fishery Company, C. A. and A. E. Joynt, H. N. G. Bushby, Lloyd and Daunt, Joynt and Browne, Colonel H. W. Joynt, P. A. Malley, Colonel P. Crampton, Mrs. J. Kennedy, F. Chapman, G. H. Acton, W. E. Churcher, S. L. Kenny, Earl of Erne, E. B. P. Griffin, M. R. Kelly, Gibb and Martin, F. O. Bowen. The Estates Commissioners have purchased the following estates in the county during the same period, namely: J. Paget and others, the Earl of Arran, and Patrick Doherty. It is not considered desirable to give the names of the persons who have refused to sell their estates under the Act.

asked what reply the Congested Districts Board have received from Mr. P. D. Griffin, Cork, who holds about 100 acres of untenanted land at Laharden, Ballybunion; and whether, in view of the number of small holdings in the immediate vicinity, these lands will be acquired for the benefit of the local poor people?

The Congested Districts Board are still in communication with the owner in this matter.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet purchased the John P. Stack estate, at, Muckenaugh, Lixnaw, for enlargement of holdings and resale to the tenants?

The Congested Districts Board are not taking steps to purchase this estate as they understand that the landlord has arranged to sell to his tenants direct through the Land Commission.

asked how far the negotiations have progressed between the Congested Districts Board and Mr. Eyre Stack for the purchase of his tenanted and untenanted lands at Mweevoo and Ballyconry, near Ballybunion?

The Congested Districts Board are still endeavouring to negotiate for the purchase of Mr. E. M. Stack's estate near Ballybunion.

asked if the negotiations between the Congested Districts Board and Mr. Denny, of Tralee, receiver on the John Sandes estate, are yet complete for the purchase of the lands with a view to relieve congestion, enlarge the holdings, and resell to the tenants?

The estate referred to has been offered for sale to the Congested Districts Board, but they have not yet considered the question of making an offer for purchase.

asked when the untenanted lands acquired by the Estates Commissioners on the estate of John Vesey Vesey Fitzgerald, Newtowndillon, Listowel, be divided among the poor people of the immediate neighbourhood; and whether he can state what money the Estates Commissioners have kept out of the purchase money to protect the flooded lands of the tenants who have signed agreements on the Fitzgerald estate from continuous flooding of their holdings?

The owner has accepted the Estates Commissioners' proposal to purchase some 370 acres of untenanted land on this property, and the Commissioners hope to be in a position to distribute these lands at an early date. In connection with the sale of the tenanted portion of the property direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, the owner lodged £200 for repairs which were required to the embankments on the estate and, at the request of the Commissioners, is providing a sum of £400 out of the purchase money to provide a fund for the future maintenance of the embankments.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a full and complete inspection has taken place on the Ormathwaite estate in connection with the flooding of a large number of the holdings; what improvements have been carried out by the landlord since the purchase agreements were lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and whether he can say if the Estates Commissioners consider that the small amount of money reserved by them out of the purchase money is sufficient to protect the holdings subject to continuous flooding on the estate during the annuity period?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the vendor carried out such works in connection with the embankments and sluice gates on this estate as were considered necessary by the Commissioners to put them in a proper state of repair. The vendor has also arranged to provide at the request of the Commissioners a sum of £650 out of the purchase money to be paid to local trustees upon the trusts of a deed to which apparently all the purchasing tenants interested were parties, and in which these tenants bound themselves to assist the said trustees in the upkeep and mainteaance of the embankment works. With such assistance, the Commissioners consider that the said sum will be sufficient for the upkeep of the embankments.

asked the Chief Secretary what steps he proposes to take to remove the barrier which at present prevents payment being made in secondary schools for children under fourteen years of age; whether this rule will have the effect of postponing secondary education two years longer than is the case in other countries, to the injury of education; and whether it will have the effect of closing many schools that catered specially for the education of the poorer children?

I have introduced a Bill for the express purpose of removing the harrier to which the hon. Member refers. If it passes, the difficulties indicated in the latter part of the question will not arise.

asked if the Government have submitted to the United States any proposals for the registration of an Irish national trade mark in America; and, if so, whether the nature of any arrangement which has been come to and the date when it will come into force?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the result of their Lordships' consideration of the pensions awarded to chief officers of Coastguard on shore; and whether it is proposed to revise the scale by the adoption of that in force for officers of the Coastguard cruiser service or that formulated by the Admiral Commanding His Majesty's Coastguards and Reserves after consultation with the Admiralty in 1912?

It is not intended to make any alteration in the scale of pensions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the importance of the question of the abolition of the grog ration in the Navy, and to his undertaking to give it his most sympathetic consideration during the present year, he is now prepared to take action in the matter, with a view to abolishing the ration, and giving its equivalent in a money payment?

I am unable to make any statement at the present time. The question is engaging the attention of the Board of Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is intended to allow a percentage of the men in the Navy (those permitted to marry) to be borne upon the strength of the service, so that they will be placed on an equality with the men in the Army similarly situated; and whether rations and lodging allowance will be given at so much per head for wife and children?

It is not proposed to introduce a married establishment with separation allowances for the Navy similar to those in the Army. The conditions of service in the Army and Navy are dissimilar, and a comparison of the benefits received for services rendered cannot properly be made in respect of one item only.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he can give the number and capacity in cubic feet of the airships now possessed by the Governments of Germany and Great Britain; and whether he can give the same information as to privately owned airships in Germany and Great Britain?

I am informed that the number of airships owned by the German Government at the end of 1912 was as follows:—

1.	63,569	cubic feet.
1.	141,267	cubic feet.
2.	183,646	cubic feet.
1.	282,528	cubic feet.
1.	353,160	cubic feet.
1.	423,792	cubic feet.
1.	516,495	cubic feet.
2.	635,688	cubic feet.
1.	688,662	cubic feet.
1.	776,600	cubic feet.
1.	Dimensions unknown.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he will say how many names of members of the clerical staff of his Department were submitted to him for consideration when the three recent appointments to junior examiner-ships were made; how many of these officers were in receipt of salaries in excess of the minimum salary of a junior examiner; and whether no one of the hundreds of clerks in his Department in receipt of salaries less than £250 is considered capable of performing the duties of junior examiner?

On the occasion to which the hon. Member refers no special recommendations were made to me, but I considered the desirability of promoting a member of the clerical staff. I shall promote one member of the clerical staff when I can do so without inflicting on him a heavy loss of salary, and I am considering the promotion of another. There are 103 clerks whose salaries exceed the minimum salary of a junior examiner. I do not say that no one clerk, receiving a less salary than £250, may not be capable of performing the duties of a junior examiner. In the interests of the public service I shall continue to appoint the best men I can find, and I shall have regard not only to the immediate duties performed by junior examiners, but to the necessity of recruiting men who are most likely to become capable of doing still higher work.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can state the increase in the education rate in each rating area in Wales since 1901?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received a petition signed by the majority of the farmers of the Rhins of Wigtownshire with regard to the interference with harvest operations caused by the provisions of the Shops Act; and whether he can see his way to take any steps to remedy the matter?

I have received the petition referred to and I am considering it. I would, however, remind the Noble Lord of the provisions of Subsection (4) of Section 4 of the Shops Act, 1912, which enable the occupiers of any particular class of shops to obtain from the local authority an order exempting from the necessity of closing their shops for one half-day a week provided a majority so desire.

asked the Home Secretary whether, under the Shops Act, 1912, village clubs are required to grant their caretakers a half-holiday every week; and, if so, whether regulations dealing with the matter have been issued?

I cannot undertake to express an opinion as to the application of the Act in particular cases, but I am advised that a club in which goods pur- chased on behalf of the members are supplied to the members is not a shop within the meaning of the Act, and a person employed in such a club would not be entitled to claim a weekly half-holiday under the Act. I have no power to make regulations dealing with the matter.

asked whether the new rules for lead processes in the Potteries are now in force; and, if not, when they will be in force?

The regulations for the manufacture and decoration of pottery were made on 2nd January, and are now in force. The forms and instructions for carrying out the regulations are now in the printer's hands, and will be issued to occupiers as soon as possible.

asked the Home Secretary the total number of firemen and shot-firers' certificates issued in Scotland under the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, giving also the number of certificates issued by each of the approved examining bodies in Scotland and the fees exacted by them?

The total number of firemen and shot-firers' certificates issued in Scotland under the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, up to 10th February of this year, the number of certificates issued by each of the approved examining bodies in that division, and the amount of the fees which have been paid to these bodies, are as follows:—

Certificates Issued.
Heriot-Watt College			2,329
Royal Technical College, Glasgow			3,927
Total			6,256
Fees Paid.
Heriot-Watt College	£742	12	6
Royal Technical College	£1,353	15	0
Total	£2,096	7	6

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that a friend of Miss Louisa Gay, now serving a sentence of imprisonment in Holloway Gaol, received a visiting order which was followed two days afterwards by a telephone message stopping the order, the person sending the message refusing to give any reason for stopping the order; whether it is usual to stop visiting orders without reason assigned; and why the order was stopped in the present case?

The prisoner in question forfeited by misconduct the right to have a visit, and the person to whom the visiting order had been issued was in the usual course so informed.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in any legislation regarding the divorce laws which the Government may contemplate in view of the recent Report of the Royal Commission, he will give consideration to the case of the woman who has been entrapped into marriage by a procurer, and who would be unable to obtain divorce under the existing laws either for technical reasons or by reason of poverty alone?

If legislation on the subject of divorce should be undertaken the case mentioned in the question will certainly not be omitted from consideration.

asked the Under-Secretary for India if he will give the names of the firms to whom loans were made from the Indian balances from 1901 to 1904; and the amount of the loans in each case?

The names are as follows: Alexanders and Company, Allen, Hellings and Company, Baker, Duncombe and Company, Biedermann and Company, B. W. Blydenstein and Company, Brighthwen and Company, Bristowe and Head, Brunton, Bourke and Company, Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China, M. Corgialegno and Company, E. Corrie and Company, R. Cunliffe, Sons, and Company, Derenberg and Meyer, J. Elles, Gillett Brothers and Company, Haarbleicher and Schumann, W. Halford and Company, Hohler and Company, Hopkins and Giles, Joseph and Bergel, A. Keyser and Company, King and Foa, Laurie Milbank and Company, Lazard Brothers and Company, London, Paris, and American Bank, Lutyens and Ripley, Lyon and Tucker, Matthey Harrison and Company, Mercantile Bank of India, L. Messel and Com- pany, Mullens, Marshall and Company, National Bank of India, National Discount Company, Pember and Boyle, Price, Montague and Company, Price Brothers, Reeves, Whitburn and Company, Ryder, Mills and Company, Samuel Montagu and Company, Sheppards, Pellys and Company, Smith, St. Aubyn and Company, Union Discount Company, Vaile, Allen and Company, Waley and Wilbraham, Wedd, Jefferson and Company, W. A. and N. Wilkinson.The number of new loans granted in the period was 1,396, and there was a much larger number of renewals. It was not possible in the time allowed since notice of the question was given to classify the information regarding these transactions so as to enable the latter part of the question to be answered.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he is aware that continuous complaints have been made since the year 1894 as to the service, accommodation, and supply of wagons given by the Indian railways to meet the demands of traders and the development of coal mining and other Indian industries; whether a memorial addressed to the Marquess of Crewe, fully setting out the grounds of complaint and defects of the railway services was presented by Indian mining associations in November, 1912; will he state what, if anything, has been done as the result of that petition, and on what railway; and what steps he proposes to take to increase the efficiency of the Indian railways, the supply of wagons, and to improve the railway system on each of the railways mentioned in the memorial?

Complaints have been made from time to time, but no memorial from the associations mentioned has reached the Secretary of State. The capital expenditure on open line works and rolling stock provided by the Government or with a Government guarantee from 1909–10 to 1912–13 will have amounted to approximately £24,240,000, and provision is made for £10,596,000 in 1913–14. It is hoped that this large expenditure will greatly facilitate the working of the lines.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there has been any recent correspondence be- tween the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and the Foreign Office relating to the proposed loan by the six-Power group, and if such correspondence exists can it be published?

The correspondence respecting the loan negotiations is necessarily of a confidential character, and I am not in a position to publish it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, if the monopoly to the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank as regards Chinese finances is still in existence; and, if so, whether it is to remain indefinitely?

If the hon. Member refers to the exclusive support given by His Majesty's Government to the British group, of which the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank is a member, pending the negotiation and issue of the Chinese Reorganisation Loan, the answer is that their exclusive support is given for this only; and will not be continued when once the whole loan has been successfully negotiated and issued.

asked the President of the, Local Government Board (1) if he will give for the Bedford County Union the number of paupers over the age of seventy years, excluding lunatics in asylums, etc., on the 31st March, 1906, and the 1st of January, 1912; and (2) if he will give for the administrative county of Bedford the number of old age pensioners on the last Friday in March, 1911, and March, 1912; the number of such pensioners per thousand of the population of the age of seventy years and over; the amount produced by a penny rate; and the amount in the £ by which the local rates would have to be raised if such pensions were a local charge?

I am sending my hon. Friend a statement giving particulars as regards the points mentioned in the questions.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the number of small-pox cases and deaths that have been notified at Newhaven within the last six months and the condition as to vaccination and re-vaccination of each case; whether a medical inspector has visited the locality and presented a Report; and, if so, what was the sanitary condition of the locality in which the cases occurred?

In Newhaven Urban District eighteen cases of small - pox have been notified, all within the last four weeks (also two in the borough of Lewes and one in the borough of Rye). Total twenty-one. This outbreak has been inquired into by a medical inspector of the Board, in collaboration with the local medical officers of health. The condition as to vaccination of the patients was as follows:—

—	Total.	Stated to have been in Infancy.	Un-vaccinated.	Re-vaccinated.	Died.
Cases under 10 years of age …	5	0	5	0	3
Cases over 10 years of age …	16	15	1	2	1*

also asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the clerk to the East Sussex western small-pox hospital committee has been applied to under the provisions of Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1898, for particulars of the small-pox cases treated in that hospital, but has declined to furnish such information; and whether he will indicate to that official that it is part of his duty to supply the particulars asked for or denote the proper official to whom such application should be made?

I have received a communication making the statements contained in the question. In my opinion the clerk to the hospital committee is the proper person to furnish the particulars desired, and I have drawn his attention to the provisions of Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1898.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will grant a Return of the number of representations and the respective rural district councils to whom they were made under Sections 30 and 79 (2) of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, during the year 1911, and the number of copies of the above forwarded to the county medical officer of health in compliance with Section 69 (1) of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, and the names, if any, of the rural district councils where the above Section has not been observed; and whether any county council has in consequence instituted proceedings under Section 69 (4) of the Act?

Information as to the number of representations made to rural district councils will be found in the White Paper on Housing recently issued by me, and I should be happy to furnish the Noble Lord with information as to the number of such representations made to any particular rural district council. I doubt, however, whether any useful object would be gained by going to the trouble and expense of obtaining the particular Return suggested. If in any ease the county medical officer of health is not duly receiving copies of the representations to which he is entitled I should be glad if the case could be brought to my notice. As regards the last part of the question I have no information as to any cases of the kind referred to.

also asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will grant a Return showing the names of the local authorities who, prior to 31st December, 1912, have complied with the provisions of Article I. of the Housing (Inspection of District) Regulations, 1910, such Return to give the date of the meeting when the procedure under Article I. (1) was adopted, the nature of the proceeding then adopted, the provisions for inspection made under Article I. (2), and the name or names of the officer and his official status designated under Article I. (3), and the date of the meeting of the local authority when such officer was so designated?

I am afraid that the preparation of the Return suggested would involve a great deal of labour, and I do not think that it is necessary at the present time. I am satisfied from the reports of the medical officers of health that arrangements have been made in most districts for carrying out the inspection under the Regulations, and that considerable progress has been made with the inspection. In some districts, I am aware that proper arrangements has not been made, and as regards these I can assure the Noble Lord that I shall spare no effort to compel the execution by the authority of their duty in the matter.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, in reference to the districts mentioned in the 1911–12 Report of the medical officer to the Local Government Board as showing the highest incidence of enteric fever, whether he will give the number of Reports made by the Board's medical officers on the health of these districts which contain recommendations to the local authorities, and state what action the Local Government Board has taken to secure the adoption of these recommendations?

Reports have been made by my inspectors in respect of all but three of the districts to which the Noble Lord refers. It is the practice of the Local Government Board to request the local authority to take the inspector's report into consideration, and the matter is followed up by correspondence, or, where necessary, by a special visit of an inspector. I am not prepared to say that every suggestion and recommendation made by my Department is always promptly adopted, but I am satisfied that they are, as a rule, carefully considered by the local authority, and that improvements and advantage result from them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now take steps to have the Helmsdale (Sutherland) Harbour properly dredged for the safety and use of the fishermen and others?

The Board of Trade were informed in 1908 that the Duke of Sutherland, who is the responsible harbour authority, had directed some dredging to be done, but I am not aware whether the work was actually carried out, and I am making inquiry in the matter. The Board of Trade have no funds which could be devoted to such an object.

also asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Duke of Sutherland has handed over the Helmsdale (Sutherland) Harbour to a private company or firm; and whether, seeing that the harbour was constructed under an Act of Parliament and by the aid of public money, he has taken, or proposes to take, any action in the matter?

As I informed my hon. Friend on the 22nd October last the Duke of Sutherland in pursuance of his power under Section 32 of the Helmsdale Harbour Order, 1890, has leased the rates to Messrs. Couper and Company, but so far as I am aware he has no power to transfer the entire undertaking. I have no information to show that public money has been contributed to the construction of this harbour, and I see no reason at present to take any action in the matter beyond the inquiry as to dredging to which I have already referred.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if a final decision has yet been come to as to the minimum provision for life-saving to be made on all British registered boats, and if effect has been given to such requirements; and if any arrangements have been come to or are proposed to secure the adoption of a common practice in this matter as regards foreign vessels?

Revised rules relating to the life-saving appliances to be carried on British vessels were made on 17th January, and will come in force on 1st March. Negotiations are in progress which it is hoped may result in the adoption by foreign countries whose ships visit our ports, of rules which can be regarded as substantially equivalent to our own.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Boats and Davits Committee made any Report as to the use of a single-wire fall for lowering boats in the case of ships whose boat deck is a great height above the water; and, if so, why is there no regulation in the new Life-Saving Rules enforcing the use of single-wire falls in this class of ship, in view of the great difficulty of rounding up five or six hundred feet of rope fall in order to lower a second boat?

The Boats and Davits Committee have not yet reported in regard to davits and falls.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the percentage rates of increase or decrease in the wholesale prices of the following articles between the years 1905 and 1912:—Tea, coffee, currants, raisins, rice, tapioca, oatmeal, cornflour, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, lard, bread, flour, ham, bacon, beef, mutton, fish, salmon (tinned), coal, petroleum, and soap?

The information is given in the following table:—

Articles.	1950.	1912	Increase(+) or Decrease (-) in 1912 compared with 1905.
			Per cent.
Tea, Import value ex Duty, per lb	7.24d.	8.78d.	+ 21.3
Coffee Import value ex Duty, per cwt.	£2.58	£3.78	+ 46.5
Currants Import value ex Duty, per cwt.	17.29s.	25.46s.	+ 47.3
Raisins Import value ex Duty, per cwt.	26.92s.	38.84s.	+ 44.3
Rice Import value ex Duty, per cwt.	6.91a.	9.18s.	+ 32.9
Tapioca, Market price per cwt.	12.1s.	22.9s.	+ 89.3
Oatmeal	No wholesale	price available.
Cornflour
Milk, Contract price per gallon	8.14d.	9.52d.	+ 17.0
Eggs, Import value per dozen	8.69d.	10.56d.	+ 21.5
Butter Import value per cwt	104.09s.	121.61s.	+ 16.8
Cheese Import value per cwt.	£2.60	£3.21	+ 23.5
Lard Import value per cwt.	£1.83	£2.55	+ 39.3
Bread, Contract price per cwt.	8s. 10d.	9s. 8d.	+ 9.4
Flour, Import value per cwt	10.01s.	10.83s.	+8.2
Flour Market price of Town Households per sack of 280 lbs.	25s. 6d.	28s. 10d.	+ 13.1
Hams, Import value per cwt.	47.31s.	60.60s.	+ 28.1
Bacon Import value per cwt.	46.46s.	62.82s.	+ 35.2
Beef, Market price, Live Meat, Metropolitan Cattle Market, per 8 lbs. (sinking the offal)—
1st Class	4s. 7d.	5s. 6d.	+ 20.0
2nd Class	3s. 6d.	4s. 8d.	+ 33.3
Inferior	2s. 10d.	3s. 2d.	+ 11.8
Mutton, Market price, Live Meat, Metropolitan Cattle Market, per 8 lbs. (sinking the offal)—
1st Quality	5s. 11d.	6s. 4d.	+ 7.0
2nd Quality	5s. ld.	5s. 0d.	- 1.6
Inferior	3s. 11d.	3s. 9d.	- 4.3
Fish, Fresh, value per cwt. of Fish landed at Ports in United Kingdom	10.13s.	10.66s.	+ 4.2
Canned Salmon, Import value per cwt.	£2.63	£3.27	+ 24.3
Coal—
Export value per ton	10.47s.	12.57a.*	+ 20.1
Market Prices—
House (London Market Pool)	15s. 3d.	21s. 6d.*	+ 40.9
Steam (Cardiff)	12s. 11d.	20s. 8d.*	+ 60.0
Petroleum, Import value per gallon	4.34d.	4.27d.	- 1.6
Soap, Export value per cwt.	20.88s.	23.66s.	+ 13.3

asked the President of the Board of Trade with regard to the figures given on page 4 of the January, 1913, number of the "Labour Gazette," showing the percentage increase in retail prices in 1912 as compared with 1911, whether he can state the percentage increase in 1912 as compared with 1905 in the retail prices of each of the following articles: tapioca, oatmeal, marmalade, rice, sugar, cheese, bread, beef, flour, bacon, butter, mutton, eggs, raisins, pork, and potatoes?

The information is given in the following table:—

Article.		Retail Prices 1905.	Index Numbers 1912.	Percentage Increase in 1912 over 1905.
Tapioca	…	85.8	148.5	73.1
Oatmeal	…	101.3	123.4	21.8
Marmalade	…	114.3	128.6	12.5
Rice	…	92.9	111.2	19.7
Sugar	…	133.8	137.7	2.9
Cheese	…	93.5	117.3	25.5
Bread	…	109.0	113.8	4.4
Beef	…	99.2	113.6	14.5
Flour	…	108.5	118.5	9.2
Bacon	…	108.3	133.3	22.2
Butter	…	99.1	113.8	11.8
Mutton	…	103.1	103.5	0.4
Eggs	…	98.1	114.1	16.3
Raisins	…	79.6	119.5	50.1
Pork	…	98.3	103.3	5.1
Potatoes	…	80.3	95.9	19.4

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what were the value of the imports and exports for Great Britain and Ireland for the years 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912?

The following statement gives the information desired:—

Years.			Imports.		Exports.
			Total Imports.	Net Imports	Net Imports (Total Imports less Re-exports).	Of Foreign and Colonial Merchandise.	Total Exports.
			£	£	£	£	£
1906	…	…	607,888,500	522,786,020	375,575,338	85,102,480	460,677,818
1907	…	…	645,807,942	553,865,858	426,035,083	91,942,084	517,977,167
1908	…	…	592,953,487	513,329,790	377,103,824	79,623,697	456,727,521
1909	…	…	624,704,957	533,360,138	378,180,347	91,344,819	469,525,166
1910	…	…	678,257,024	574,495,979	430,384,772	103,761,045	534,145,817
1911	…	…	680,157,527	577,398,393	454,119,298	102,759,134	556,878,432
1912	…	…	744,896,514	633,058,609	487,434,002	111,837,905	599,271,907

NOTE.—The particulars for 1912 are provisional and subject to rectification on the final examination of the Returns.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the promotion of second division clerks to minor staff clerkships in the office of the Registrar General of shipping and seamen has been discontinued, seeing that the second division clerks who were created minor staff clerks have since been further pro-

The minor staff clerkships created in 1908 were personal to the clerks upon whom they were conferred and were created by the Treasury on condition that they should lapse when the holders became part of the normal establishment of nine staff clerks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the danger caused to shipping by the Middle Ridge, in the estuary of the Tor and Torridge, between Braunton and Appledore, North Devon; is he aware that there have been two wrecks recently on this bank; and will he cause a lighted buoy to be placed on the ridge to warn vessels of the danger?

The question of placing a lighted buoy on the Middle Ridge formed the subject of correspondence between the Board of Trade and the Trinity House, who are the general lighthouse authority for this part of the coast, in 1902 and 1910, when the Elder Brethren expressed the views that a lighted buoy could not be maintained in the position and that, even if it could, it would be a light of such a local character that it should not be established at the expense of the General Lighthouse Fund. The Elder Brethren, with whom I have again been in communication, adhere to the views then expressed, and are further of opinion that the Middle Ridge Sand is adequately guarded by the sectors shown from the light established at Braunton Burrows in 1908. Reports by the Receiver of Wreck in regard to two recent casualties, which are presumably those referred to by the hon. Member, indicate that in neither case was the casualty attributable to insufficient lights.

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?

The following statement contains the information desired so far as it can be given. Full details of the exports of individual articles to particular destinations in 1881 are not available, and a certain proportion of the exports to each destination cannot therefore be classified according as they did or did not fall into the category of "articles wholly or mainly manufactured." In view of this uncertainty it is only possible to give an approximate figure for the earlier year.

To.					Value of Exports of Articles wholly or mainly manufactured (domestic manufacture).
					1911.	1881† (approximate).
					Million £s.	Million £s.
Commonwealth of Australia	…	…	…	…	27.8	15.5
Union of South Africa*	…	…	…	…	17.8	6.4
Dominion of New Zealand	…	…	…	…	8.7	3.2
Dominion of Canada	…	…	…	…	16.7	7.3
* Cape of Good Hope and Natal in 1881.
†The figures in this column include the value of articles separately specified in the returns and identifiable as "wholly or mainly manufactured," and also the value of articles not so specified but probably falling in great part under the same category.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has sanctioned the order recently issued by the Controller of Stores that officers of the porter class employed on bag duties in the chief parcels

I was not aware that such an order had been issued; but I find on inquiry that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member. The instructions in question were given under a misapprehension, and will be rescinded at once.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to. the condition of the post office at Bolton; whether he is aware that for about an hour every morning seventy-four men are working in a very small place; that the electric fan has been out of order for a fortnight, and that several cases of tuberculosis have occurred through the unhealthy conditions; and whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken towards erecting the new post office promised three years ago, and if any date can be given when it will be completed?

I will have inquiry made, and inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked time Postmaster-General what is the special payment which the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Company insist upon before continuing their evening run to Tighnabruaich in the winter months; would he be prepared to pay part of it if the traders and others of the locality paid the balance; and would it be compatible with the rules of his Department that a steamer should do the journey only twice or thrice per week and yet get a share of the mail contract?

I will make inquiry into the circumstances and inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that female operators under seventeen years of age are employed at the Gerrard Telephone Exchange until 10 p.m., and in many cases after the completion of their duty are compelled to travel across London up to a late hour to reach their homes; and whether he will state the minimum age at which these young girls can be employed after 8 p.m. in the West End and other exchanges?

I regret to find that the facts are as stated in the question, and I am obliged to the hon. Member for drawing my attention to an administrative error made at this exchange. Instructions have been given that girls under the age of eighteen shall not be employed in the London telephone exchanges later than 8.15 p.m.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many acres of agricultural land the Commissioners of Woods and Forests have under their management; whether the whole of such land is let; how many holdings are above 500 acres; how many under 50 acres; how many between 50 and 100 acres; and whether he can state approximately the average rent per acre of the lands let?

The detailed information for which the right hon. Gentleman asks cannot be supplied in full without the expenditure of much time and labour, and I hope that the particulars given in the Report of the Commissioners of Woods (1912) at page 32 et seq. will be sufficient for his purpose. The whole of the agricultural land in charge of the Commissioners is let, except a farm at Osborne, in the Isle of Wight, which is managed and cultivated by the Department itself.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction felt in many rural districts in Scotland at the decline in the facilities for higher education which the present Regulations have brought about; and whether he can make any modification that would restore to both teachers and pupils the inducement to advanced studies that formerly prevailed?

The facilities for higher education have been increased, not diminished, but if there is any rural district where difficulties have arisen I shall be willing to consider any proposals for giving increased facilities which may be put forward by the responsible education authorities of the district, namely, the school board or the secondary education committee. For that purpose no modification of existing Regulations is required. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave on the 10th December last to the hon. Member for East Edinburgh.