asked the Secretary to the Treasury from what sources it will be possible for insurance committees to pay the travelling expenses of their members in cases where the amount available under the Act is inadequate; and if, in the case of the Highlands and Islands, it will be in the power of the Insurance Commissioners to pay such necessary expenses out of the annual Grant set apart for those districts?

I am informed that the Scottish Commissioners have asked the insurance committees to forward a return of the number of insured persons in their respective areas, and that immediately after these returns are received the Commissioners will be in a position to review the whole situation in regard to the matter referred to in the question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the question?

I am afraid I could not give any definite answer on that at present.

asked whether the Eastbourne Insurance Committee have made any arrangements, and, if so, what they are, for sanatorium treatment in the neighbourhood for those insured persons who were recommended by the medical adviser for treatment, but who have been unable to obtain it owing to the fact that they were unfit to travel to Colchester or other sanatoria at a distance?

I am informed by the Eastbourne Insurance Committee that insured persons who are unfit to travel either to Colchester or to St. Leonard's are provided with domiciliary treatment. The local authority have also provided dispensary facilities.

Am I to understand that there is no local sanatorium treatment?

I said there was domiciliary sanatorium treatment or dispensing facilities. There is no sanatorium within the borough of Eastbourne.

Then those who cannot travel cannot have sanatorium treatment at all?

They will receive such treatment as they can receive when they are not able to travel.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the delay in filling up the appointments recommended by the Trades Council of Limerick of three members to act on behalf of the workers under Part II. of the National Insurance Act; is he aware that the Trades Council of Limerick nominated three members of their body some months ago; and will he see that no further delay will take place in having those men appointed?

My hon. Friend appears to be under sonic misapprehension with regard to the constitution of Courts of Referees. It is provided by the Unemployment Insurance Regulations made by the Board of Trade under Part II. of the National Insurance Act that the members of panels of Courts of Referees to represent workmen in a trade or group of trades in a district shall be elected by those workmen, and that any candidate for election shall be nominated by twenty-five workmen. Consequently it would not be within the competence of a trades council as such to nominate representatives. It is further provided by the same Regulations that vacancies on a panel representing either employers or workmen may be filled by the Board of Trade. In view, however, of the small number of appeals which have been made to the Courts of Referees, it has not so far been found necessary to fill vacancies in this manner, but the question of filling these and other similar vacancies is now under consideration. I may point out, however, to my hon. Friend that there are already eleven workmen's representatives on the panel of the Limerick district.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of C. E. Smith, a boilermaker lately in the service of the Great Western Railway Company at Swindon, who on 16th November was elected by his fellow workmen a member of the Court of Referees under Part II of the National Insurance Act, and was discharged from the company's employment on the 29th November; whether he is aware that there is a feeling prevalent among his fellow workers that Smith was discharged in consequence of his political opinions and desire to administer the Act; and whether he will take steps to have a full inquiry into the circumstances of the case?

The Board of Trade have called the attention of the Great Western Railway Company to the allegation made that this man and others have been discharged from their employment on account of their political views. The Company have assured me that they have made most careful inquiry, but can find no foundation for such a suggestion, and that the men employed at Swindon are absolutely free to belong to any political party and to exercise their rights of citizenship without any interference whatever.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the discharge took place on account of an Act of Parliament, Part II. of the Insurance Act, and not on political grounds, but because this man was asked to represent his fellows under the Insurance Act?

Has the company stated the actual grounds of discharge?

Perhaps the hon. Member will give notice of that question.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state the grounds on which he refuses to make an impartial inquiry into the matter?

I have no power to make any such inquiry.

asked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer will give the House an opportunity of reading a Report of the proceedings before the Treasury Committee in reference to the extension of medical benefit under the National Insurance Act to Ireland?

The evidence taken by the Committee will be presented to Parliament in due course.

asked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer's attention has been called to the present rate of pay to sub-postmasters for the sale of national health stamps; and what steps he intends to take to improve their position under the Insurance Act?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question, and I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Central Edinburgh on the 13th instant.

Did the right hon. Gentleman give an answer satisfactory to them?

I did not give any definite answer. I only replied to their representations.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state when the answer will be given?

This question has been exercising the minds of the sub-postmasters for a long time, and will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to hasten his decision as to how best to meet this complaint?

I know that an early settlement is most desirable, and I very much regret the delay that has taken place before arriving at a settlement.

asked how many persons insured in approved societies have paid less than nineteen contributions and how many less than thirteen contributions in the first two quarters since the commencement of the National Insurance Act?

I have not available the information asked for, which would require a collation of all individual members' cards for the first and second quarters, which the Commissioners do not require to make for any administrative purpose, and which would therefore necessitate a special return from over 20,000 societies and branches.

Is it not the fact that the unemployment rate is now 2 per cent., and that therefore the number of unemployed must be very small?

I am not sure about that.

asked the number of persons insured in approved societies under Part I. of the National Insurance Act at the most recent date possible; how many of such persons are employed contributors aged under 21, between 21 and 50, between 50 and 60, between 60 and 65, and over 65, at the date of entry into insurance; how many are voluntary contributors under 45 and over 45, respectively; and, in each class, how many are male and female, respectively?

As I stated in answer to the hon. Member for Dulwich on the 29th January, the estimated number of members of approved societies is approximately 131 millions. The numbers shown in actual returns show 13,021,000, of whom 9,197,000 are men and 3,824,000 are women. But these figures are not complete, being based on the first quarter's cards only. The particulars necessary to ascertain the numbers at the various ages mentioned in the question have not yet been received from societies as this information is not immediately required for administrative purposes.

Can the right hon. Gentleman bring the figures up to date on the second quarter, and can he give an answer as to the number of voluntary contributors?

I am afraid that I have not got the necessary particulars, but perhaps the hon. Member will put the question down.

In view of the gross misrepresentations which continue to be made with regard to the National Insurance Act, can the right hon. Gentleman extend the period or in any way include a considerable number of persons who have been kept out of insurance by the action of hon. Members opposite?

The hon. Member is not entitled to take an opportunity of this kind to ask such a question. He must put it down.

asked the number of deposit contributors, male and female, respectively, under the National Insurance Act, and how many had less than 7s. standing to his or her credit at the beginning of the insurance financial year?

The numbers of men and women who have surrendered their cards at post offices (excluding those handed in in error) are 342,000 and 187,000, respectively. In very many cases contributors who surrendered their cards at post offices joined societies before 13th January, but these societies have not yet completed their claims for transfer. On the other hand, some cards for the first and second quarters are still being received. The total number which I have given is therefore liable to modification. From an examination of the cards received by the English Commission it appears that less than 10 per cent. of the contributors for whom accounts have been opened in the Post Office Fund, and second quarter's cards have been received had less than 7s. standing to their credit on 13th January.

Are the figures more or less than the figures estimated when the National Insurance Act was first instituted?

They are very much less than the estimated figures, and I think the figures as given are very much more than the actual number of deposit contributors.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the hon. Member for Colchester prophesied that the number would be two millions?

May I ask, arising out of that question, whether the hon. Member will wait and see?

asked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer intends to introduce an amending Insurance Bill this year; and, if so, whether the Bill will involve an increase in expenditure?

As stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, a Bill is now being prepared and will be introduced this year in order to bring within Insurance legislation the Grants-in-Aid voted by Parliament. Other minor changes or additions may be proposed, but I am unable at present to say whether any such proposals will involve an increase in expenditure.

asked a supplementary question which could not be heard.

If the hon. Gentleman can contribute any suggestion I shall be very glad to hear it.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why insured persons who make their own arrangements for treatment by doctors off the panel are not allowed to receive medicine free from chemists on the panel in the same way as other insured persons who are treated by doctors on the panel?

Section 15 (3) contemplates that when insured persons are allowed to make their own arrangements for medical attendance and treatment they shall also make their own arrangements for the supply of medicines and appliances. It would obviously be unfair to require chemists on the panel whose remuneration is based on a capitation system, and accordingly limited to the sums available, to supply medicines to an unlimited extent on the prescriptions of doctors who have not, like those on the panel, a collective responsibility with regard to the arrangements made for medical benefit in the area.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is not a fact that all insured persons pay through the contributions, of themselves, their employers, and the State, for benefits which include doctors and medicine; and if so is it not very unfair that a person, who pays in addition out of his private sources for the services of a doctor off the panel, should lose the benefit of free medicine to which he is otherwise entitled?

They receive a full equivalent for what they would obtain if they were attended by a doctor on the panel for drugs as well as for doctors.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he is aware of the various local inquiries held by the local education authority into the management and conduct of the Whitchurch Church of England School, Somerset; whether he has had information of the allegations made at one of these inquiries; and what steps are being taken to ensure that the children of this parish are receiving the benefits of properly administered education?

Through the courtesy of the chairman of the Somersetshire Education Committee I was enabled to see a report of an inquiry held by the local authority in June, 1911, with reference to complaints made in connection with the school named by the hon. Member. I understand that a further inquiry was held by the local education authority in January of this year, but I have no information with regard to it. The school was inspected in January of this year, and the Board are in communication with the authority with reference to certain irregularities in the conduct of the school, to which the Board have called attention.

Will the right hon. Gentleman press for the report of that inquiry held in January last, and accept my assurance that it is a very important matter?

I do not think I have any authority to call for the result of the inquiry by the local authority at that time, but I am making my own inquiries, and I shall get a report showing the result.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether any reply has yet been received from the Glasgow magistrates to his suggestion that they should make further inquiry into the case of Miss Jessie Brown; and what compensation it is now proposed to make to her?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The magistrates have made further inquiry, but adhere to their original decision.

May I ask whether Miss Brown was arrested for solicitation; whether it was not proved that she was virgo intacta; whether the two policemen who arrested her have been sent to prison for a similar offence; and whether anything is to be done to compensate Miss Brown for this offence?

The hon. Member must give notice of such a question.

May I ask whether the facts are as stated, namely, that this woman was wrongly arrested, and that the two policemen who arrested her have been sent to prison; and whether anything is to be done to compensate Miss Brown?

That is the same question over again.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been drawn to a speech delivered in the New Café, St. Andrew Square, Glasgow, on 28th January by the medical officer of the Duke Street prison, in which he stated that institutions were a fraud and an expensive one at that, and that the Borstal Institution was the latest patent humbug; and will he say what action he proposes to take in regard to this officer, who is a public salaried official, part of whose duties are to administer the Prevention of Crime Act, 1908, providing for the transference to Borstal institutions?

Yes, Sir, the matter has been inquired into by the Prison Commissioners. The medical officer denies that the report accurately represents the opinions he expressed. The meeting was in Edinburgh, not Glasgow.

May I ask if the medical officer will disavow the views which he is reported in the papers to have expressed, and which have never been publicly disavowed?

He denies the accuracy of the report as expressing his views.

May I ask whether institutions, including the Borstal Institution, are matters of party politics, whether they came within the scope of this officer's duties, and whether any expression of opinion by him on matters which are not party matters and which do not come within the scope of his duties are likely to prejudice him in the performance of his duties?

I do not think it is a party matter at all.

asked whether girls below the age of twenty-one in receipt of weekly wages can be forced to contribute to the support of their parents in an asylum or workhouse; and, if so, whether any account is taken, in making the order, of the amount of wage earned or of the age of the girl?

The enactment which renders children liable for the maintenance of their parents, if of sufficient ability, contains no limitations as to age or sex. It is, however, open to the justices to whom any application for an order is made to take into account all the circumstances of the particular case.

May I ask whether there were recently two girls at Kilburn of eighteen and fifteen years of age receiving altogether 15s. a week, who were charged for the support of their parents?

Notice should be given of the question. The hon. Gentleman cannot be expected to bear all these matters in mind.

asked whether the Return relating to Feeble-minded Persons under the Poor Law, ordered by this House on 2nd July, 1912, can now be presented?

The Returns from Poor Law authorities have now been received and tabulated, and the results are about to be sent to press. The complete Return will be presented as soon as practicable.

asked whether the authorities controlling institutions other than Poor Law institutions have been asked to furnish particulars as to mentally defective persons, other than certified as insane, supported thereby or therein; and, if so, whether the information thus obtained may be presented to the House at an early date?

For the purposes of the Return ordered by the House, boards of guardians were asked, inter alia, to state the number of mentally defective persons (other than certified as insane) relieved in institutions not under the control of a Poor Law authority. The Returns show the number of such persons in England and Wales to be 1,861.

asked when the proposed draft Order dealing with indoor relief will be issued; and whether the terms of any such Order will be published before receiving his sanction?

The Departmental Committee who are dealing with this matter have not yet made their Report, but I will bear in mind the suggestion of my hon. Friend when the proposals of the Committee are before me.

Do I understand that we shall have the publication of the terms of the Order before it receives sanction?

I am not in a position to give that undertaking.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the decision of the Board of Trade inquiry at Cardiff into the stranding of the ss. "Southlands," where not only was the certificate of the captain suspended for three months, but in addition he was ordered to pay £50 towards the costs of the inquiry; whether any official communication on this matter from the Imperial Merchant Service Guild has been brought to his notice; whether he is aware that all suspensions of certificates are recorded at Lloyd's; and whether he will now deem the suspension as adequate punishment and refund the sum named to the late captain of the "Southlands," who has a wife and family dependent upon him?

The Board of Trade have received the report of the inquiry to which the hon. Member refers, as well as a copy of a letter addressed to the Cardiff agents of the Board's solicitor by the Imperial Merchant Service Guild. The Court acted within their powers in ordering the master to contribute £50 to the cost of the inquiry, and I see no sufficient reason for refunding this sum, which has been paid in accordance with the order of the Court. I understand that the practice of Lloyd's is as stated in the question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the question of granting, through his Department, some form of reward for specially meritorious service in the Merchant Service in order to encourage the officering of British merchant ships by British subjects, and to give national recognition to the heroism and endurance so often displayed by officers in the Merchant Service?

Acts of personal heroism and gallantry performed by officers or other members of the Merchant Service are at present recognised by the award of the Albert Medal, or of the medal for gallantry in saving life at sea. Meritorious services rendered by British seamen to foreign ships or subjects at sea are frequently rewarded by the foreign governments concerned just as similar services rendered by foreign seamen to British ships or subjects are rewarded by the Board of Trade. It is not the general practice for the Board of Trade to make awards for meritorious services performed by members of the British Merchant Service, except in cases where there has been special gallantry or risk in saving life at sea, and while I yield to no one in my admiration of the splendid services performed in the ordinary course of their duty, and without expectation of special recognition, by a large number of officers and seamen on British ships, I have very grave doubt if it would be to the public interest for the State by a system of reward to attempt to assess the relative merits of these services.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that, in recognition of the services rendered by Commander A. H. Rostron, R.D., R.N.R., of the Cunard steamship "Carpathia," in rescuing the survivors of the "Titanic" disaster, Commander Rostron has now received at the hands of the President of the United States the gold Congress medal specially struck in his honour and inscribed that it is awarded with the thanks of the United States Congress; whether he is aware that Commander Rostron has also received the American cross of honour; and whether it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to supplement in some similar way the tribute of thanks paid to Commander Rostron by the Prime Minister in this House?

I am aware that Commander Rostron has received recognition in various forms of the valuable and meritorious services he rendered in rescuing the survivors of the "Titanic" disaster. As stated by the Prime Minister, the tribute paid to Commander Rostron by His Majesty's Government was the highest in their power, and I do not think it can be supplemented.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of seafaring men as compared with profiteers, professional men, and officials, he intends to appoint on the proposed committee to advise as to the instructions to be given to the British delegates to the forthcoming international conference on load-line and freeboard tables revised in 1906?

The constitution of this committee will be announced shortly, and I am not in a position to make a detailed statement on the subject at the present moment. As I have already stated, the questions and calculations involved in the determination of freeboard are of a highly technical character, and no advantage would be gained therefore by appointing a committee representing various interests. The committee will, however, be prepared to receive evidence from seafaring men or others.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special Orders have been issued to managers of Labour Exchanges to recruit cheap labour for work upon the Government works at Rosyth; and if he can state what are the promises as to rates of wages and working conditions which such managers are making as an inducement for men to migrate to the works in question?

The answer to the first part of my hon. Friend's question is in the negative. As regards the second part, navvies applying for employment upon the Government works at Rosyth are informed that the minimum wage is 5½d. per hour.

Would the hon. Gentleman ask that these figures should be posted in the offices of the Labour Exchanges, and is he aware that complaints have been made to the Navvies' Union that men have been taken from Labour Exchanges in the East End of London and promised 6d. and 6½d. an hour, and that they have been disappointed at not receiving the wage when they have got there?

Perhaps the hon. Gentlemen will send me details of the cases. I know nothing of them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the contractors for the Rosyth Dock have made any application to his Department for an extension of time, owing to the three weeks stoppage by the navvies' strike last autumn; and, if so, what decision his Department has come to as to the length of extension to be granted; and what effect such extension of time will have upon the weekly bonus offered for earlier completion?

The contractors for the Rosyth Docks have made application for an extension of time, owing to the navvies, coal, and transport strikes. This application is now being considered, but any such extension will have no effect on the weekly bonus offered for earlier completion.

Do I understand that even if the works are delayed twelve months beyond the contract time the contractor will still receive a bonus? It is well in keeping I know.

Owing to the navvies and transport strikes the application for an extension of time is now being considered.

asked whether any recent contracts, beyond the original contract for works at Rosyth, have been entered into by his Department with Messrs. Easton. Gibbs, Limited, and, if so, what is the amount of the new contract; how many firms were invited to tender; what was the amount of each tender in the case of the unsuccessful competing firms; and what is the nature of the Fair-Wage Clause in the new contract?

A supplemental contract has recently been entered into with Messrs. Easton Gibbs and Son for a third dock at Rosyth. The rates to be paid are, where applicable, the same as in the existing contract. The approximate cost of this further work is about £290,000. No other firms were invited to tender, as it would have been impracticable to have two contractors working on the site. The Fair-Wage Clause included in this supplemental contract is that passed by the House of Commons on 10th March, 1909.

May we take it that here is a case of a contract of nearly £250,000 without any notice, advertisement, or competition of any description?

No. This was foreseen when the contract was made, and the contractor entered into a certain definite scheme as to the terms on which he would execute the contract.

Are the terms of the execution of this work the same as for the old dock?

As I have said in my answer, the rates to be paid are where applicable the same as in the existing contract.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the obsolete warships moored off Ryde are a danger and hindrance to the navigation of the steamers plying between Portsmouth and Ryde in foggy weather; and whether he can see his way to have them removed to some more suitable anchorage?

No complaint has been received since the warships referred to have been moored on the Motherbank. It is not considered that they are a hindrance to navigation.

asked the Prime Minister whether the proposals with regard to national education referred to in His Majesty's Gracious Speech, and in the speech of the Lord Chancellor in Manchester in January last, are the result of inquiries by means of which definite conclusions have been reached, or whether the inquiries are still being carried on?

Definite conclusions have been reached, but further information is being sought with regard to certain points.

asked if the announcement in the King's Speech in reference to a national scheme of education means the introduction and passage through all its stages in this House during the present Session of a Government Education Bill, or whether it only means the presentment in outline this Session of a scheme of education to be embodied in legislation hereafter?

A Bill will be introduced, but I can give no pledge that it will be passed through all its stages this Session.

Will the Bill which it is proposed to introduce represent a national scheme of education in all its stages?

I do not know what the hon. Member means by "all its stages," but it will represent, at any rate, the first stage.

In all its grades?

Perhaps the hon. Member will wait to see when it is introduced.

Will the Bill be merely read a first time or shall we have an opportunity of debating it in this House?

Certainly.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of the House meeting early and rising correspondingly early on Thursday, 20th March, so as to permit Members who live at a long distance from London to spend the whole of Good Friday at home?

If there is a general desire in the House that the sitting on Thursday should be an early one, I will gladly give effect to it, and move an Amendment to the Resolution. But I can only agree to this if Thursday will be regarded as a whole allotted day.

asked whether any, and, if so, what instructions or directions have been given to the Bank of England with regard to the deduction of Income Tax from interest on Government securities on and after the 5th April, 1913?

asked whether it is proposed to deal with the decision in Bowles v. Bank of England in the Finance Bill of the year or in a separate Revenue Bill; and whether the Government will take such Bill at the earliest possible moment after the 31st March?

As stated by the Prime Minister on Thursday last, it is proposed to deal with the decision in a Revenue Bill which I hope to introduce at an early date.

The right hon. Gentleman has not answered the question with regard to directions to the Bank of England?

I think it would be better to deal with this when the Bill conies up for discussion. It is difficult to deal with a matter of this kind by question and answer.

Have any instructions or directions been given?

I think that I had rather not say. It would be to answer the question piecemeal. I would rather present the full case.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the only course open to the Bank of England will be to comply with what is now ascertained to be the law? I beg to give notice that I will raise this matter on the Motion for Adjournment.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Bill which he contemplates for the creation of a Second Chamber is to be introduced this year and will abolish the existing hereditary element altogether?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the last part I can add nothing at present to what I have already said on the subject.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether his attention has been called to the fact that steamships discharging cargo at Irish ports from Continental countries often have as dunnage or packing for their cargoes straw or other material of much the same kind, and that quantities of this straw are thrown ashore on the quays or wharves at Irish ports and are taken up to be used for manure; and whether, seeing that there may be danger of infection in the shape of animal diease from this practice, his Department will make a general Order to have all material of this kind either burned or otherwise destroyed in order to prevent the risk of infection from those causes?

Existing regulations already require the destruction on board vessels of dunnage straw brought from a foreign country. The Department will take steps to ascertain as to the observance of this procedure at the different ports, but, up to the present, no facts have come to light giving ground for supposing that the requirement is being infringed. A recent complaint that such material was being allowed to be scattered about the docks at Limerick was, on investigation, not substantiated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is in a position to state when the Committee on Reformatory and Industrial Schools will make its Report?

I understand that the Committee are now considering their Report, and hope to present it in a month or two.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware of the general desire amongst officers of certified reformatories and industrial schools that a complete scheme for superannuation allowances should be provided; and if he will consider the advisability of introducing legislation for them on similar lines to that of the Asylum Officers Superannuation Act, 1909?

This is one of the questions which were referred to the Departmental Committee on Reformatory and Industrial Schools; and I hope to receive their Report before long.

asked the number of police employed during the past three months in protecting militant suffragists, male and female, who have been publicly advocating and encouraging breaches of the law, and the amount of public money expended in so doing; and if there is any means whereby the money so spent can be recovered?

No police officers in the Metropolitan police district have been specially employed to protect militant suffragists; but where protection has at any time appeared to be needed—as for instance at some recent outdoor public meetings—the necessary steps have been taken by the police present in the ordinary discharge of their duty. It would be impossible to distinguish in this matter between suffragists who are "militants" and others, or to estimate the cost entailed on the public by attendance at suffragist meetings.

asked the Home Secretary by what authority he is enabled to direct the release of a prisoner under remand under conditions which permit of the prisoner being rearrested for the same offence?

In ordinary circumstances, only the magistrates who have power to grant bail or the High Court have any authority to release a prisoner under remand; but in exceptional circumstances, where life depends on immediate release and there is no time for snaking application to the magistrates, it may be the duty of the Home Secretary to authorise a prisoner's removal from prison to home or hospital.