asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that extra responsibility, time, and work is thrown upon the sub-postmasters in connection with the National Insurance Act; whether he is aware that the pay works out at less than one halfpenny for every:£1 worth of stamps sold; and whether he can see his way to increase the allowance paid for the sale of postage stamps?

I beg to refer the Noble Lord to the reply given to-day to a question on the same subject from the senior Member for Blackburn.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any regulations have been, or will be, published for the treatment of tuberculous patients under the National Insurance Act; and whether in any regulations the consent of the patient and also of the patient's doctor will be made obligatory before inoculation with tuberculin is resorted to?

No regulations have been published on the subject, but it is provided in Section 14 (2)(e) of the Act that no rule made by an insurance committee with regard to the administration of sanatorium benefit shall prescribe any penalty, nor shall any insured person be subject to any penalty, whether by suspension of benefit or otherwise, on account of the refusal by any such person to submit to inoculation of any kind.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any local insurance committees are now making payments to their members for fares and any other expenses; and, if so, what committees are making these payments, and to what sums do they amount?

The following estimates have been made by committees of the amounts which will each year be required for these repayments:—

				£	s.
1	…	Bedfordshire	…	50	0
2	…	Buckinghamshire	…	80	0
3	…	Cheshire	…	111	0
4	…	Cornwall	…	250	0
5	…	Cumberland	…	60	0
6	…	Derbyshire	…	250	0
7	…	Devonshire	…	155	0
8	…	Dorset	…	120	0
9	…	Essex	…	230	0
10	…	Gloucestershire	…	80	0
11	…	Hertfordshire	…	132	0
12	…	Isle of Ely	…	30	10
13	…	Isle of Wight	…	28	0
14	…	Kent	…	200	0
15	…	Lancashire	…	300	0
16	…	Leicestershire	…	66	0
17	…	Lincolnshire, Holland	…	54	0
18	…	Lincolnshire, Kesteven	…	50	0
19	…	Lincolnshire, Lindsey	…	100	0
20	…	Northamptonshire	…	120	0
21	…	Northumberland	…	105	0
22	…	Nottinghamshire	…	103	0
23	…	Rutland	…	22	0
24	…	Somerset	…	120	0
25	…	Southampton	…	100	0
26	…	Staffordshire	…	200	0
27	…	Suffolk, East	…	84	0
28	…	Sussex, East	…	130	0
29	…	Sussex, West	…	85	0
30	…	Warwickshire	…	52	0
31	…	Wiltshire	…	90	10
32	…	Worcestershire	…	103	0
33	…	Yorkshire, E. Riding	…	60	0
34	…	Yorkshire, N. Riding	…	132	0
35	…	Yorkshire, W. Riding	…	200	0

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether any scheme has yet been produced for the expenditure of the sum of 1d. per head to be granted under the National Insurance Act for purposes of research; and, if so, whether such scheme provides, or will provide, that no part of such moneys shall be used for experiments on living animals?

The Report of the Astor Committee which deals with this subject of research has only just been issued and presented to Parliament. I have not as yet had opportunity adequately to consider its recommendations.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether pension officers, in computing the means of applicants for old age pensions, have received any orders requesting them not to estimate the means of the applicant according to the items detailed in the schedule accompanying the application, but to make a general estimate which would include a valuation of applicant's circumstances in general as before applying, together with a valuation placed on present appearances of way of living; and is it the usual custom to make an estimate of each item shown as probable income as stated by the applicant in the application form or furnished to pension officers on subsequent investigation?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the practice of pension officers is governed by Section 2 (1) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911, which deals with the various factors which must be taken into account in calculating the means of a claimant.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government of Ireland received an application from the Newmarket sub-pensions committee requesting that an inspector might be sent to investigate the claims of two applicants for old age pensions; if so, whether the application was refused and for what reasons?

No application of the nature referred to has been received by the Local Government Board.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the additional million granted in 1911 for the purpose of financing the Labourers Acts is practically exhausted; that there are several improvement schemes awaiting inquiry which will at least absorb whatever balances may be at present unallocated; whether, in view of the urgency of continuing without intermission the work of giving cottages and allotments to rural labourers, further provision will be made this year, by a short amending Bill, for finding the necessary moneys for the purposes of the Labourers Acts on the same terms as hitherto; and will he explain how these Acts are to be financed in the future in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law?

The facts are as stated in the first two paragraphs of the question. With regard to the third paragraph, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to-day to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for North Wexford. There is nothing in the Government of Ireland Bill to prevent these Acts being financed as at present.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the farm and houses thereon of Richard Meyler, Rathmore, Naas, county Kildare, was sold by the Land Commissioners on the 18th ultimo for unpaid annuities; is he aware that the farm had been for years up to the date of sale in the possession of a mortgagee who paid the annuity as the same fell due until one year and a half ago, when he ceased to pay; is he aware that the Misses Meyler had the right of residence in the dwelling-house on the farm under their father's will; will he say why the Land Commissioners allowed the mortgagee in possession to run into arrears; will he explain, having regard to this negligence on their part, why they are allowed to benefit; and, if the sale aforesaid extinguished the rights of the Misses Meyler, will the Commissioners restore such rights as they existed before the sale?

The Land Commission inform me that Richard Meyler obtained an advance of £1,400 on the 28th November, 1888, to purchase his holding on the lands of Rathmore West, county Kildare, under the Land Purchase Acts. In 1908 the ownership of the holding became vested in the assignees in bankruptcy, who were duly registered as owners of the lands in accordance with the Local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, 1891. As the half-yearly instalment, due the 1st November, 1911, was allowed to go into arrear, and the Land Commissioners failed to recover the amount due, they had no alternative but to sell the holding for the purpose of realising the debt. The annuity has now been paid to date, and the ownership of the holding registered in the name of the new purchaser. The Commissioners were not concerned in any arrangement which may have existed between the parties interested with reference to the right of residence of any members of the Meyler family on the holding, and the Commissioners are not able to recognise them in any way. If Misses Meyler have any legal claim against the purchase money which was realised on the sale of the holding by the Commissioners, they can make such application as they may be advised on the distribution of the fund.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Return of local contributions to technical schemes in Ireland, of which notice appears on the Order Paper, will be granted? [Mr. Ginnell,—Local Contributions (Ireland),—Return of all moneys contributed out of the rates by the county council and other local bodies in each county in Ireland during the financial year 1912–13 for the purposes of schemes under the Agriculture and Technical Instruction (Ireland) Act, 1899.]

I will offer no objection to the granting of this Return.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Return of estates in the Land Judge's Court, of which notice appears on the Order Paper, will be granted? [Mr. Ginnell,—Estates in Land Judge's Court (Ireland),—Return, by counties, of all the estates now in the Land Judge's Court over which receivers have been appointed.]

A Return similar to that now moved for by the hon. Member dated 3rd August, 1912, was presented to Parliament in October last, I will, however, offer no objection to the granting of a Return in the terms moved for by the hon. Member down to August, 1913.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, under the new regulations, leading carpenters' crews can only be rated shipwrights under special circumstances; whether he is aware that many leading carpenters' crews have passed for the rating of shipwright over five years; and what is the highest rank that can be attained by the new joiner ratings?

The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. There is no promotion beyond joiner (petty officer rating) unless a man is transferred to shipwright.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of armourer ratings in the Navy; and how many they are at present short of complement?

The number borne on the 15th January was 970, which is about ninety short of the number required by the end of this financial year. It is hoped that a good part of the deficiency may be made good by the 31st March, and the subject is receiving special attention.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether a sergeant instructor who joined the permanent staff of a Territorial Force unit, Royal Garrison Artillery, before 1st September, 1910, cannot hope to obtain a staff-sergeant's pension within his twenty-one years' service; if so, will steps be taken to consider whether this disability can be righted; (2) whether sergeants posted to a Territorial Force unit prior to 1st September, 1910, are struck off the roll for promotion, and such sergeants have no further chance of promotion within their twenty-one years' service, whereas sergeants posted to the permanent staff after 1st September, 1910, are kept on the roll for promotion and would, if recommended, take their turn for promotion; if so, will he take steps to remedy this disability from which many able and deserving men are suffering; and (3) whether sergeants of the Regular units serving with their batteries are being promoted staff sergeants although junior in rank to those serving on the permanent staff of the Territorial Force unit, Royal Garrison Artillery; and whether, being thus posted to the permanent staff of a Territorial Force unit, they would, by virtue of being staff sergeants, become senior to those sergeant instructors who were very much their senior in the sergeants' rank?

Sergeant instructors appointed to the permanent staff of the Territorial Force cannot, under paragraph 353 King's Regulations, be promoted staff sergeants until they have completed twenty-one years' service, and cannot qualify for pension as such until they have completed that period of service. Sergeants of Regular units, who may be posted to the Territorial Force under the new arrangements, are promoted as vacancies occur. The new system of posting was adopted in order to secure better instructors for the Teritorial Force. Those sergeants appointed to the Territorial Force before 1st September, 1910, were fully aware of the conditions then existing and volunteered for the posts.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether his attention has been called to the statement made by Lord Herschell, on behalf of the Government, on 10th February, 1913, in another place, that in the process of training in gymnastics, physique, and discipline it might well be that the use of arms and simple military formations would add to the self-respect of the people; and whether he is prepared to sanction steps by local education authorities to add to the self-respect of the people by these means?

If the hon. Member refers to public elementary schools I may say at once that, I am not prepared to sanction the use of arms or the practice of military formations in them. I have received no proposals of the character suggested in respect of any schools controlled by local education authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what India balances were lent to approved borrowers in London on the 25th February?

The amount of loans from the India Office with approved borrowers on the 25th February, 1913, was £9,400,000, of which £8,400,000 was from Treasury balances, and £1,000,000 from the Gold Standard Reserve.

asked whether the Government has declined to lend money to bankers on Indian Government securities to relieve the strain on the money market owing to the lock-up of opium in Chinese warehouses; and, if so, will he say when this refusal was announced on behalf of the Government?

The Secretary of State has seen in the newspapers a statement that an announcement to the effect mentioned was made in the Governor- General's Legislative Council on the 25th ultimo. He has no further information on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state what considerations make a comparison of the German savings banks statistics as to deposits and depositors with British savings banks statistics misleading or inapplicable for purposes of reference?

Broadly speaking, the considerations which make a comparison between the statistics of British and German savings bank deposits misleading, except with very considerable qualifications, are:—

(1) That in the United Kingdom deposits are limited to £200, and the amount deposited to £50 in any one year. In Prussia and other German States the practice varies, but in the great majority of cases there is either a much higher limit than that which prevails in the United Kingdom or no limit at all. The detailed figures are at the disposal of the hon. Member, if he desires to consult them. The result is that German savings banks have also become deposit banks for the well-to-do classes.

(2) The attractiveness to depositors of the German savings banks is increased by the relatively high rate of interest allowed (namely, on an average about 3½ per cent. in Prussia), as compared with 2½ per cent. in the United Kingdom.

(3) The great joint stock banks have not attained so great a development in Germany as in the United Kingdom, and shares in joint stock companies must not be less than £50. Both these causes, combined with the high rate of interest on deposits in the savings banks, tend to deflect the deposits and investments of small capitalists to the savings banks.

For the above reasons the figures showing the total deposits in German savings banks do not possess the same significance as an index of the savings of the working classes as those relating to the deposits in savings banks in this country.

asked the Postmaster General if the Marconi Company are erecting a station in Wales for the purpose of Transatlantic wireless communication; if a licence has been given or promised for this station; and, if so, whether it is the policy of the Post Office to grant a licence for this purpose to any British wireless telegraph company giving adequate proof of financial standing and technical competence?

No licence has been given or promised to the Marconi Company in respect of a further station for Transatlantic communication; but the company have been informed that the question of granting a licence for such a station will be considered when a final Report has been received from the Select Committee on the contract for the Imperial Wireless Chain. It is understood that the company are proceeding with the erection of buildings intended for such a station on a site in North Wales, but they have been warned that their action is entirely at their own risk. Subject to any considerations which may arise out of the recommendations of the Select Committee, and subject to reasonable conditions as regards non-interference between the various stations, it would be the policy of the Post Office to grant a licence for this purpose to any British wireless telegraph company giving adequate proof of financial standing and technical competence.