asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps have been taken by the Government to prevent London or any of our big towns or naval dockyards from being bombarded at night from the air by the big airships of a foreign nation?

Although the Admiralty is taking an active interest in this question so far as the naval establishments are concerned, matters relating to passive defences are controlled by the War Office.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what amount of money is provided in the present Estimates for building large dirigibles equal in power and speed to the German "Zeppelin" type; and what amount of money is provided for the necessary sheds for housing them?

No money is provided in the present Estimates for building aircraft of the type referred to. Provision has been made in the Estimates for the building of sheds, which is the essential preliminary to the acquisition of such vessels, but it would not be in the public interest to name the amount.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that Germany has already got twelve big airships and is providing £900,000 for building more during the next twelve months?

The Admiralty is not unprovided with information on that subject.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that sheds only take a tithe of the time to build that airships take?

I should think that that observation is as inaccurate as several others I have heard the hon. Gentleman make on the subject.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the statement is not correct? He knows it is correct.

I shall be very glad to have a proposal for the construction of sheds in a tenth part of the time required to construct airships.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that Germany will have more ships of the "Dreadnought" type ready for immediate war in Home waters than we shall have next April, he can say how we are to be safeguarded against this peril to our security and freedom?

If the hon. Member will do me the honour of reading the speeches I have made on the Navy Estimates this year and last, he will see the absurdity of the hypothesis on which his question is based.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman himself tell us that we should only have twenty-five, that Germany would have twenty-one, and that as five of our ships are in the Mediterranean these would have to be taken off for our average moment, while none would have to be taken off for Germany's selected moment?

I said it was quite impossible to deal with these matters by question and answer. If the hon. Gentleman will read my speeches, he will see all I have to say on the subject. After that, he will form his own judgment.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that I did read his speeches, and, further, whether he learned arithmetic at school?

asked whether there is any officer aboard His Majesty's ships before whom statutory declarations under the Statutory Declarations Act of 1835 can be made; and, if so, what rank does such officer hold?

I am advised that so far as can be ascertained there is no officer ordinarily aboard His Majesty's ships who is authorised by law to take statutory declarations.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will undertake on behalf of the Government to provide the services of an actuary to consider any scheme for pensions drawn up by the hired workmen in His Majesty's dockyards free of charge to the men?

I received on Monday last a deputation of hired workmen from Chatham, Devonport, Portsmouth and Pembroke Yards in connection with a proposal which has been discussed by the hired men for some years past in favour of the establishment of some system of superannuation for these men, who, unlike the established men, are not eligible for pensions on retirement. The deputation placed before me various statements respecting the extent to which they thought that hired men would be able to contribute to such a scheme, which they realised must be self-supporting. I stated that I would consider whether, if the definite outlines of a scheme were submitted, the men could be assisted by an actuarial statement as to the feasibility of their proposal. That I will do. But as the provision of actuarial advice does not entirely rest with the Admiralty, I cannot at this juncture undertake to give a definite reply to the question of the hon. Gentleman.

asked what is the amount of the Government liability at the present time to hired workmen in His Majesty's dockyards in respect to gratuities?

The liability in respect of gratuities to hired workmen necessarily fluctuates from year to year according to the numbers of employés discharged. The estimated expenditure in the current financial year, 1913–14, is £13,500. I may add that during the ten years, 1902–3 to 1911–12, the sum of £169,864 was actually paid in gratuities.

asked what are the other Departments concerned in the question of the distribution of the prize money earned by the officers and men serving in His Majesty's ships in the operations for the prevention of gun-running in the Persian Gulf during the last few years, and when the correspondence is likely to be completed?

The other Departments concerned are the Treasury and India Office. It is hoped that a settlement of the amount of prize money to be given will be arrived at shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any settlement has yet been reached of the dispute with Portugal regarding the alleged unfairness of Customs charges on her wines as contrasted with the charges on French and Spanish wines when imported into this country; and, if not, will he urge some settlement, in view of the fact that British motor cars are being penalised on their export to Portugal?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The negotiations with Portugal are continuing, and His Majesty's Government are making every effort to bring them to a successful conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the United States of America was one of the Powers which agreed, at the time of the establishment of the present administration in China, to act in concert as to the recognition of the Republic there; if so, whether the United States of America has now withdrawn from that concert; whether it has formally recognised the Republic or proposes to do so shortly; and whether individual action will now be taken by this country in the way of recognition?

I can give no information as to the past or present intentions of the United States Government in regard to the recognition of the Chinese Republic, but as far as I am aware they have not yet recognised. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any contract price has been arranged for the dredging work at Lagos Harbour, Southern Nigeria; if so, what is that contract price; and will he say what official is responsible for the economical superintendence of that part of the work, has he any previous experience of similar undertakings, and is he at present on the spot looking after his duties?

The work is not done by contract, but is carried out by the Marine Department of the Colony. The superintendent of marine, who has considerable experience of dredging, superintends the operations generally, and acts in consultation with the resident engineer for the harbour works. Both these officers are at present in the Colony.

asked what number of past staff college officers would be available as staff officers for each division of the Territorial Force on mobilisation in the absence of the Expeditionary Force?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to my reply to a similar question put by him on 21st May last year.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the opinions of the General Staff on questions of policy, as announced by him, are the views of the chief of the Imperial General Staff himself or the considered views of the officers of the General Staff at the War Office, or of all such officers; and whether commanders and General Staff officers of divisions and brigades of the Territorial Force are invited to forward their views to the War Office on such of the important questions as are connected with that force?

It is in the discretion of the chief of the Imperial General Staff to avail himself of such advice as he thinks fit before tendering his opinion on any subject.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether that means that the chief of the Imperial General Staff can give his advice on his own initiative without consulting the officers of the General Staff at the War Office?

I have the fullest confidence in the chief of the Imperial General Staff, and I have no doubt that he always takes proper steps.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to answer the last part of my question as regards the officers of the Territorial Force?

I have said that the chief of the Imperial General Staff exercises his discretion, and I think he always exercises it wisely.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has a definite assurance from the Admiralty that the Navy could certainly prevent an enemy from landing a force of 70,000 men with some Artillery, but no mounted troops, within the space of thirty-six hours; and, if not, could he say whether the Territorials and the remaining men of the Regular Army and Special Reserve could drive these invaders into the sea within a week of their landing, if the Expeditionary Force was abroad?

I must ask the hon. Gentleman to refer to my reply to a question on this subject put by the hon. and gallant Member for the Andover Division on Monday last.

Since then has not the First Sea Lord told us that the Navy alone cannot prevent invasion, and that we must have well-trained troops as well?

Nothing that the First Sea Lord has said will alter the statement which I have made. I cannot enter into the question of invasion by question and answer. It is obviously a proper subject of debate.

Is not this a question of fact?

asked whether the Militia Ballot Act is still in existence; whether it could be made use of in an emergency; and, if so, to what branch of the Service could it be applied?

The Militia Ballot Acts are still unrepealed, but they could not be applied to any existing branch of the Service without further legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the proposal to establish a volunteer flying corps at Liverpool; and whether he will be prepared to recognise and encourage the new organisation so soon as private generosity has provided the necessary equipment?

A notification of the proposal has been received, and is now under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many effective aeroplanes ready to start for war at an hour's notice are now in the possession of the Royal Flying Corps; and how many have been delivered since the introduction of the Army Estimates for the current year; and (2)how many effective aeroplanes in the possession of Squadrons Nos. 2, 3 and 4 of the Royal Flying Corps, respectively, have been destroyed or seriously damaged by accident since the 1st of April; and what is the number of new machines of modern type taken over by those squadrons since the same date?

It is not considered to be in the interests of the public service to publish the required information.

Seeing that the right hon. Gentleman has allowed a Member of the other House of Parliament to inquire into this matter, will he permit a couple of Members on this side to go and see these machines?

I do not know whether there is any use in my giving further replies to the hon. Gentleman. I have repeatedly made statements, and he does not believe any of them. If he asks whether I can give the information which I gave to Lord Montagu to a couple of representative Gentlemen on the other side I should be only too happy to do so.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether I ever suggested that I did not believe him personally, or whether I have not assumed that he was acting on information wrongly supplied by his officers?

I think that that is even worse, as it implies that distinguished officers in the public service in giving me information deliberately concealed the truth from me. I resent that most strongly on their behalf.

asked what is the condition of the monoplanes which the Royal Flying Corps were forbidden to fly pending the Report of his Committee; whether any of those have yet been flown since the Committee reported; and whether any of the officers of the Royal Flying Corps are allowed to fly Nieuport monoplanes or if they are still considered unsafe?

I have nothing to add to the information which I gave the hon. Member in reply to questions put by him on this subject on 13th March.

Have these machines been flown since that date? It is now five weeks after.

I have said that I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 13th March.

asked whether the new Government-built biplane alleged to have flown at a speed of 91 miles per hour, was recently practically destroyed in an accident which was due to the natural instability of the machine and not an engine defect; and whether in that accident Second-lieutenant Geoffrey De Havilland was seriously injured, and is still in hospital?

The accident was not due to any inherent instability. I regret to say that Second-lieutenant De Havilland, who has rendered great service in flying different types of machines, was hurt. He is, however, expected to be out of hospital in a few days.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the War Office sanctioned some months ago the purchase of a site for a new drill hall at Stowmarket, but that the county association cannot proceed with the building as they are unable to obtain the consent of the War Office to the detailed plans which they have submitted; and whether he can state when such consent will be given?

The sketch, plans and estimate submitted for the new building of the Suffolk County Association were not sufficiently detailed and the association has been asked to work out their plans and specification in full with the assistance of the expert War Office adviser.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether His Majesty's troops were used to welcome and accompany Lord Roberts on his recent visit to Leeds; and whether, seeing that his visit was entirely non-official and undertaken to promote a political object of a controversial character and opposed to the declared policy of His Majesty's Government, he will say what are the precedents, if any, for such employment of the national forces?

I am informed that on the occasion in question the local Territorial Force applied for permission under paragraph 543, Territorial Force Regulations, to furnish a guard of honour to Lord Roberts on his visit to Leeds, and that such permission was granted by the general officer commanding-in-chief concerned.

Does the right hon. Gentleman allow that the visit was for a political object?

The circumstances were rather peculiar. It was very proper that a distinguished Field Marshal who was being welcomed by the Lord Mayor should receive such a courtesy. On the other hand, the meeting subsequently held, it is quite true, as indicated in the question, was in flat contradiction to the declared policy of His Majesty's Government.

When I go down to speak against conscription, shall I have a guard of honour?

If my hon. Friend can come within the category laid down, I am sure that he will be entitled to it. It is for the rank of Field Marshal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in inviting candidates to compete for clerk ships in the various Departments of the Civil Service, the Civil Service Commissioners use the word "clerkship" in the sense that the office of clerk calls for the performance of clerical duties only?

The use of the title "clerk" does not necessarily imply that the duties of an office are exclusively clerical, nor does it preclude heads of Departments from requiring officers designated as clerks to perform duties which are not strictly clerical, if the public interest necessitate it.

asked the date and text of the Board of Customs authority for employing Customs port clerks on outdoor duties prior to 1908?

The Customs Consolidation Act, 1876, Section 3.

asked what are the salaries of the fifteen senior Customs port clerks, second class, lower section, now included in the officer class; if they were eligible, prior to the amalgamation, for promotion to upper section clerkships in the office of the Accountant and Comptroller-General of the Customs; if the lower section clerks in the outports and those in the Accountant and Comptroller-General's Office were borne on the one common seniority list, and if it was the practice to fill upper section vacancies in this office from the common seniority list; what are the present salaries of the lower section clerks recently promoted in this office; what were their salaries before promotion; and what were their positions on the common seniority list?

The answer to the first part of the question is that one of these fifteen clerks who had been specially promoted to the class and had carried his salary with him is receiving £240, and the remaining fourteen of them are receiving £160; to the second, third and fourth parts, in the affirmative; to the fifth, £200; to the sixth, £150 or £140; and to the last part, that the clerks recently promoted to minor staff clerkships in the Accountant and Comptroller-General's Office (scale £200-£300) occupied positions junior to the fifteen men above-mentioned, but that in accepting this promotion they have sacrificed the right they previously possessed in common with other late port clerks, including the fifteen mentioned, to progress in default of promotion to a salary of £400.

asked, having regard to the former practice, as indicated by Mr. Gladstone, that if the likelihood of promotion were diminished the Government were bound to make some satisfaction (28th April, 1865), and by Mr. Goschen that officers should have no reason to complain that the terms on which they entered the service have been altered to their detriment (31st March, 1890), and also in the Goschen Minute of 24th March, 1891, what compensation has been given to the senior port clerks, second class lower section, outside the Accountant General's Office, for the reduction of their prospects of promotion due to amalgamation?

The general effect of amalgamation upon the conditions of service and prospects of promotion of these and other officials was carefully considered by the Customs and Excise Amalgamation Committee, and subsequently by myself, and I beg to refer the hon. Member to the provisions of paragraphs 155–157 of the Committee's Report (Command Paper 5830). To this I may add that on 3rd May last, in reply to a deputation, I agreed that these officers should be allowed a second try at the competitions for promotion in addition to a right, if efficient, to progress to £400 without examination.

asked the figures showing the increase in Great Britain in the year 1911–12 in the number of cottages and small houses under £20 annual value and of houses over £20 annual value, respectively, as compared with the previous year?

The increase in the year 1911–12 over the numbers of the preceding year was 80,165 in the case of cottages and small houses of under £20 annual value, and 12,370 in the case of private houses of £20 annual value or upwards.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that notwithstanding the abnormal decrease in building in 1910–11 after the passing of the People's Budget yet the figures he has just quoted show a serious decrease as compared with the average of previous years preceding the Budget?

I do not remember the figures at the present, moment, but I think that the hon. Gentleman is inaccurate.

Does the hon. Gentleman think that there is any prospect of the serious deficiency being removed so long as the People's Budget remains on the Statute Book?

That is a controversial statement made with the view of expressing an opinion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the reasons for the delay in the issue of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Imperial and Local Taxation; and whether, in view of his constantly expressed inability to consider the financial grievances of local authorities pending its publication, and the consequent widespread protest on the part of such bodies, he will request the chairman of the Committee to proceed with the drafting of some Report, interim if not final, without further delay?

I have no reason to believe that there has been or will be any undue delay on the part of the Committee, regard being had to the complicated nature of the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to pacify the county councils by indicating that it is desired that this Report should be published at an early date?

I would rather have a careful consideration of one or two very difficult problems which I indicated some time ago. For instance, what is to be done with the area problem? Up to the present they have not considered that fully.

Does the right hon. Gentleman still bear in mind that two years ago he assured the House that the Committee would take only a short time with their deliberations, and would publish a Report at an early date?

They have found the problem much bigger than they anticipated when they first commenced their sittings.

Meanwhile will the right hon. Gentleman receive a deputation from the Stoke Borough Council on this subject next week?

asked whether the Local Taxation Committee have refused to hear evidence from Irish witnesses until they have finished hearing English and Scottish evidence; and if so whether he has made representations to the Committee in reference to hearing Irish evidence immediately, and with what result?

I understand that the Local Taxation Committee have postponed the hearing of evidence in regard to Ireland, but I am not aware of their reasons for doing so. The order of their inquiry is for the Committee to decide, and I do not propose to interfere with their discretion in the matter.

Has any direction been given by the right hon. Gentleman to the committee?

I do not think it would be for me to issue directions to a Committee of that kind. Were I to do so, I should be subjected to the criticism of the hon. Member who sits behind the hon. Gentleman, and who certainly would not agree with him in any direction of this kind being given.

The right hon. Gentleman said he would do so.

I said I would write to the Committee, but that I would not express any opinion as to whether or not the Committee should take Irish evidence.

Have the Committee made any representations to the right hon. Gentleman?

I should not like to answer without notice. I have had no intimation of anything of the kind. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a question?

asked if the Chancellor of the Exchequer can give figures showing the sums advanced by the Public Works Loan Commissioners in the years 1909–10, 1910–11, and 1911–12, respectively, for the erection of dwelling-houses, and the number of houses erected in each of the three years named by means of such advances?

I will give the figures of the loans approved by the Commissioners and of the number of dwellings to be erected for the last four financial years:—

asked if the Chancellor of the Exchequer will give figures showing the estimated annual increase in the cost of the Valuation Department of the Estate Duty Office as reorganised in the spring of 1909, compared with the annual cost of such Department previously?

The Valuation Department of the Estate Duty Office, established in 1909, has been merged in the General Valuation Staff, and it is not possible to form an estimate of the proportion of the cost of that staff which is attributable to work in connection with valuation for Death Duty purposes.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he stated in the year 1909, in regard to this Department then set up, that it was efficient and responsible for the large increased yield in Estate Duty receipts?

I stated yesterday what the explanation was.

The right hon. Gentleman stated yesterday that it was the Valuation Department set up in 1910 that was responsible for the increase. The Department referred to was that set up in 1909 before the passing of the People's Budget.

Certainly; that is the Department which is doing the work.

asked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer's attention has been called to the Darngavil Coal Company case, in which deductions were claimed from Income Tax assessments in respect of payments made by that company to a wagon company under a hire and purchase agreement for a supply of wagons; whether, in terms of a circular recently issued by the Secretary to the Inland Revenue, surveyors of Income Tax were instructed to discontinue the practice of splitting these payments and allowing as deduction in charging the Income Tax such part as was thought fairly to represent hire; whether he is aware that, in deciding the case against the Inland Revenue, the Lord President of the Court of Session commented adversely on the practice of issuing such circulars without taking the advice of Law Officers; and whether he will see that in future needless expense is not thrown upon the public by the neglect of this precaution?

My attention has been called to the case referred to by the hon. Baronet. In May, 1909, when the circular referred to was issued, it was the general (but not universal) practice not to allow any deduction in respect of the payments referred to, and the circular issued to surveyors of taxes endeavoured to secure uniformity of treatment of assessments by the District Commissioners of Taxes on colliery proprietors and others. When issuing circular instructions to their surveyors, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue take legal advice where deemed necessary, but it would not be practicable to submit all such circulars to the Law Officers

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Lord President in his judgment said that any Law Officer who supported the contention of the circular would be supporting nonsense?

The hon. Gentleman is telling me something to which he has not called my attention.

asked whether the Chancellor of the Exchequer is aware that the First Garden City, Limited, are unable yet to pay a dividend, and that this is to a large extent due to the uncertainty as to their liability for Increment and Undeveloped Land Duties; that whatever liability there may be for these duties has been entirely created by their own enterprise in creating a model city on what was ten years ago agricultural land; and that during these ten years no interest has been paid on the capital contributed by the pioneers of the enterprise; and if he will introduce legislation to prevent this check on the development of garden cities?

I have heard from the chairman of the First Garden City, Limited, who states that it is ridiculous to suggest that the Land Duties are in any way responsible for their not having paid a dividend hitherto.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the last report and in the report of the year before it was stated that the company were not in a position to pay a dividend because they thought it wiser to wait until they saw the result of the Land Duties?

That is a very different thing. I have read the actual words written to me by the chairman himself.

asked if the Estimate of revenue for 1913–14 from Undeveloped Land Duty has been framed after the service in all cases of provisional notices on the owners of such land under Section 27 (1) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; and, if not, what steps will be taken to amend the Estimates to cover the contingency of appeal against the assessments being successful?

In framing the Estimates of revenue for the year mentioned, due regard was had to the contingencies referred to.

asked in which of the published public accounts, and in what item of such accounts, the disposal of the £1,500,000 diverted from the Old Sinking Fund of last year is shown?

The item forms part of the Exchequer Balances shown on the account of Public Income and Expenditure for 1912–13, which was presented on the 17th instant, and will very shortly be issued to the House.

May I ask whether the amount was not ear-marked for the purpose of the Navy and for the purpose of loans to the East African Protectorate and to Uganda; and was not notification given to the House in July, 1912, that it was for those purposes?

I explained very fully yesterday what it was for. It was simply added to the Exchequer Balances, and when added to the Exchequer Balances nothing is ear-marked.

May the £1,500,000 be used for the purpose of liquidating any deficit in the Budget of 1913–14?

Of course Exchequer Balances can be used for liquidating any debt.

May I ask—

The hon. Member is raising a debate. If he does not agree with the Chancellor of the Exchequer he had better raise it at the proper time.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state the grounds on which, after the Herefordshire small holdings committee had obtained leave from the county council to spend up to £22,000 on the purchase of certain land for small holdings which had been previously gone over and valued by three members of the committee, of whom two were expert land valuers, a telegram was sent from the Board of Agriculture declining to sanction bidding beyond 80 per cent. of the Committee's valuation; and if he is aware that this action is not only a check on the creation of small holdings, but discourages members of the committee from devoting their time and expert knowledge to inspecting and valuing land with a view to purchase?

The telegram to which the hon. and gallant Member refers was sent after careful consideration of a detailed report upon the property in question submitted to the Board by the Small Holdings Commissioner for the district. One hundred and seventy-six acres out of a total of 698 are woodland, the buildings are in a very bad state of repair, and generally it appeared to the Board that, as considerable expense would have to be incurred in adapting the property for small holdings—expense which would have to be made good by heavy annuity charges on the tenants—the Board would not be justified in authorising a purchase at the figure suggested by the county council. The Board are anxious to encourage the acquisition of land for small holdings, and to avoid any action which would be likely to discourage local authorities in providing them, but every proposal submitted to them must be considered on its merits, and it is the duty of the Board in all cases where it appears to them that failure would be likely to result to withhold their approval.

asked if the President of the Board of Agriculture will state what is the market price of good hay at Liverpool; whether he is aware that the lairage authorities there are charging Irish cattle traders at the rate of £10 per ton for inferior fodder; and, if he has power to remedy this, whether he will do so without delay?

I am informed that the average price of good hay at Liverpool is £5 per ton. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative; One case was brought to my notice in which hay of inferior quality was supplied, and immediate steps were taken to prevent any recurrence of this cause for complaint. If the hon. Member can give me particulars of any other case I will have it investigated.

asked what has been and what is the present charge for lairage of Irish cattle at Merklands, Glasgow?

I am informed that the charge levied for lairage of Irish cattle at Merklands was, until the 20th April, inclusive, 3s. per head for the first period of twenty-four hours, but that it has now been reduced to 2s. 3d. per head for the first twenty-four hours, and 6d. per head for each such subsequent period or part thereof.

Arising out of that answer, will the right hon. Gentleman say how he came to inform the House on 8th February, and again on 10th April, that only 2s. 6d. per head was being charged?

There is a later question (No. 52), the answer to which will give the hon. Gentleman the information he asks for.

asked what has been the total number of Irish cattle landed at Merklands, Glasgow, since the detention period has been insisted upon by the Department; and what has been the total sum collected by the local authority on these cattle for lairage charges during that time?

The number of Irish cattle landed at Merklands between the 8th July last and the 19th April was 175,448. The lairage charges at the rate of 3s. per head hitherto levied would amount to £26,317, but this is a conjectural computation, and I have not been able to ascertain the precise amount actually received.

asked what has been the total number of Irish cattle landed at the port of Ayr since the detention period has been insisted upon by the Department, and what has been the total sum collected by the local authority on these cattle for lairage charges during that time?

The number of Irish cattle landed at Ayr between 21st January last, when the port was first opened for this traffic, and 19th April was 39,702. The lairage charges at 2s. per head would amount to £3,970, but this is only a computation, and I have no official figures.

asked whether repeated complaints continue to reach the Department in reference to the charge imposed for the lairage of cattle at Merklands, Glasgow; whether this charge is disproportionate to the charge imposed at other ports where Irish cattle are landed; and is it still claimed that the present detention period is either a necessary precaution as regards the spreading of disease or is in any way beneficial to the cattle themselves?

The answer to all three parts of the question is in the affirmative. I may add that in view of the complaints received by the Board a public inquiry will be held at an early date in accordance with the procedure laid down in Section 32 (7) of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894.

May I ask whether the charge levied up to last Saturday and since the embargo was put in force, means that about £17,000 more has been collected from the owners of Irish cattle landed at Merklands than would have been collected on the same number of cattle if landed at Birkenhead?

I cannot make these calculations on the spur of the moment, and I do not think they arise out of the question.

Will this inquiry have any reference to the necessity for the continuance of this twelve hours' detention?

No; that is a matter which lies within the jurisdiction of the Board of Agriculture. The inquiry will be concerned with the charges made for lairage.

May I ask if this charge of 3s. includes the food supplied to the animals during their detention at this place?

Any question with regard to the 3s. that was charged up to 19th April I ought to have notice of, as I cannot give particulars off-hand.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say to what the money is devoted?

I presume it is devoted to the general purposes of the Glasgow Corporation, whose property the wharf is.

Does the charge include food?

I cannot answer questions on this subject without notice. I cannot carry particulars of every port in my head.

asked the right hon. Gentleman whether he is prepared to insist on a lesser charge for lairage at Merklands, Glasgow, for store than for fat cattle; whether the value of store cattle is on the average less than one-half; and whether this is acknowledged by the shipping and railway companies carrying them at greatly lower rates than are charged for finished animals?

I would refer the bon. Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question on 10th April. The value of store cattle is no doubt considerably less than that of fat cattle, and I understand that by some routes lower rates are offered for transport of the former from Ireland to places in this country, but that it is not the ordinary practice of the English railway companies to differentiate rates in their favour.

May I ask is it not the fact that the lairage at Merklands is superior to that of any other port, and therefore entitled to a superior price?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether owners are allowed to be present when their Irish lambs are being offered hay, bruised oats, and milk; and, if not, will he state the reason for excluding them?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The second part therefore does not arise.

Is there any danger in the opinion of the right hon. Gentleman's experts of colic resulting from this method of feeding young lambs?

No, there has been no sign up to the present of those young lambs suffering from any complaint.

asked the number of Irish lambs this year that par took of hay, bruised oats, and milk, respectively, during the hours of detention on this side; whether he can state the total quantity of each article of diet actually consumed apart from wastage; and what was the cost per head for the food?

I regret that I am unable to give all the particulars for which the hon. Member asks, but perhaps it will be sufficient for his purpose if I give the information which I have received from Birkenhead, where most of the lambs have been landed. Five hundred and ninety-eight lambs in all have been landed, and all have partaken of hay, though I cannot state the quantity; 400 received, in addition, half a pint of new milk each, and eighty-two were also fed with special lamb food. I understand that the cost of feeding amounts to about twopence per head.

Would the right hon. Gentleman say how the milk is administered to those lambs?

I have frequently given the information; it is a kind of feeding cup.

May I ask, has any responsible person ever witnessed those lambs partaking of hay and bruised oats? In my opinion you might as well give infants a month old bread and butter.

Would the right hon. Gentleman call this feeding of the lambs forcible feeding?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will state upon what authority he recently made the statement to a deputation from the National Federation of Meat Traders, when referring to the attitude of the Irish people towards repressive restrictions, that they came as near as possible to a revolt against their own department last summer and autumn; and whether that statement was made after consultation with the head of the Irish Department?

I have no recollection of the statement attributed to me in this question. But when the deputation waited on me I answered a suggestion that the Board of Agriculture should take over the administration of the Diseases of Animals Acts in Ireland, and I pointed out the impracticability of this suggestion by calling attention to the insistence of the Irish race upon the right to manage their own affairs.

If I send a newspaper report to the right hon. Gentleman giving the exact words I quoted, will he give an explanation of them?

I have given an explanation. The point is perfectly clear. I have no intention of taking over the administration of the Diseases of Animals Act for the reasons I have mentioned.

That is not the point. May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman addressing a deputation of Englishmen told them that the Irish people were in revolt against the action of the Irish Department with regard to the imposing of restrictions in Ireland?

I cannot say that I used those exact words. Everybody knows that there has been a good deal of feeling in Ireland expressed against restrictions imposed by the right hon. Gentleman, the Vice-President of the Department, as there was in some districts in England.

Is the Irish Department responsible for the policy which the right hon. Gentleman is pursuing, and if it has not been consulted, how is the right hon. Gentleman practising the principle of allowing the Irish people to conduct their own affairs?

I do not know that that arises. I have no control over the Irish Department, and my right hon. Friend has no control over the English Department.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the call for the establishment of the new school of oriental languages, he will now take the necessary steps for the immediate appointment of the governing body, etc., on the lines laid down in the Report of the Royal Commission on University Education in London, pages 62, 63, and 198?

No steps can be taken with regard to this question till the final report of Lord Cromer's Oriental Studies Committee is received.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state whether a new wheat has been discovered in Italy and grown in South Africa, called the rainless wheat, which can be grown without any rain falling on it between seed-time and harvest; and if he can give any particulars.

I am informed that certain of the Italian macaroni wheats have been grown in parts of South Africa where little or no rain falls between seedtime and harvest, but that there is no reason to suppose that these wheats are new varieties.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will now lay upon the Table of the House the correspondence which took place between the various officers of the British and Irish Departments relating to the animals shipped from Newry to Birkenhead and alleged to be diseased by the English officers at the latter place, but which subsequent examination proved to be incorrect; and whether he will also lay all correspondence between the two Departments relative to the Armagh cases, and also concerning the twelve hours detention of Irish animals on this side?

I am not prepared to take the unusual course suggested by the hon. Member.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman promise the correspondence which took place at the time?

Yes, that will be forthcoming in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the hardship inflicted on dealers and others who buy pigs passed as sound in the market by the Board's inspectors which, after they have been slaughtered, are condemned as unfit for human food; and whether he will consider the advisability of paying compensation in such cases?

It is no part of the duties of the Board's inspectors to pass as sound pigs exposed in markets, and I am not aware that they do so. The Board have no power to pay compensation for animals other than those slaughtered by their direction under the Diseases of Animals Acts.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that tuberculosis among swine is steadily on the increase; that pigs are frequently condemned after slaughter as tuberculous without previously having any obvious symptoms of the disease; and whether, in view of the condemnation of such animals and their carcases being in the interests of public health and taking into account the comparative poverty of many of their owners, he will make application to the Treasury for a sufficient sum to pay compensation to the owners, as in the analogous case of cattle, of a due proportion of their market value?

I am aware that there has been an increase in the number of carcases of swine condemned on account of tuberculosis, but I am not prepared to say whether this is due to an increase in the prevalence of the disease or to more systematic inspection of meat. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The last part of the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board.

Is there any distinction in principle as regards compensation between pigs and cattle?

I do not think there is any distinction in principle between them, but the circumstances certainly differ.

had given notice of the following question: To ask the President of the Board of Education if he will state whether the Butlocks school dispute is now settled; and, if so, on what conditions; and whether the normal amount of children now attend the school?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a memorial by the stewards of His Majesty's Prison Department (Scotland), submitting an application to His Majesty's Prison Commissioners for Scotland, desiring to be placed on the same scale of pay and allowances as storekeepers or stewards in the English prison service holding the same rank; and whether, seeing that there are only four Scottish prison stewards in question and that the total amount asked for does not exceed £40 per annum, while the cost of living is not appreciably lower in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Peterhead, than in England, he will recommend that the application should be granted?

I am aware of the petition referred to by my hon. Friend, but I find that these officers' scales of salary were substantially increased in 1910. I am not satisfied that a further increase is necessary, having regard to the higher average figures of prison population in England as compared with Scotland.

Would the right hon. Gentleman kindly explain what the higher prison population has got to do with the cost of living in Scotland as compared with England?

I do not think it has anything to do with the cost of living, but it has some relation to the work done.

asked the total amount of the roads Grant allocated to Ireland, and the total amount distributed in Grants to date; if the operations of the Road Board in Ireland are hampered by the division of responsibility for the maintenance of main roads between the county and the rural district councils; and if any steps are under consideration to make the county councils the sole authority over the main roads of the country?

Grants to an aggregate amount of £144,236 have been indicated by the Road Board to highway authorities in Ireland, and the Board are now engaged in selecting and obtaining particulars of other works of improvement, towards which they are prepared to contribute a further sum of about £100,000. The amount actually paid up to 31st March, 1913, in respect of work carried out under Grants was £43,113. In addition, advances by way of loan to an aggregate amount of £9,376 have been indicated and accepted. The answer to the second and third parts of the question is in the affirmative.

asked on what statutory provision or legal opinion the Comptroller and Auditor-General relies in allowing the Local Government Board for Ireland to alter and restrict by circular the administration of the loan of £1,000,000 issued in 1911 for the purposes of the Labourers (Ireland) Acts, thus preventing the operation of schemes conforming in every respect to those Acts; and whether the Board will be required, in the allocation of the forthcoming loan, to disregard their circular, observe the Acts, and enable the suspended schemes to be carried out?

The functions of the Comptroller and Auditor-General would not extend beyond seeing that the Grants made were duly authorised by the authority appointed to authorise them under the Acts, and that the total authorised by the Acts was not exceeded.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many of the 80,000 male and 320,000 female employed contributors insured under Part I. of the National Insurance Act, and receiving less than 2s. per day, are in Ireland, and how many are in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively?

The claims for the State contribution on the basis of which the figures as to insured persons in receipt of low wages were given in answer to the hon. Member for Colchester on the 21st April were, for the four countries:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) if his attention has been called to the case of Miss Jeannie G. Grey, of Cavenham, Suffolk, F29/16,136, who, although she has paid her full contributions under the National Insurance Act, has been unable to obtain sick benefit, to which she became entitled on 24th January; and will he explain why it is being withheld; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the case of John Kerry, No. 4 in Registered Society No. 123, who, although he has paid twenty-six weeks' contributions, has not been able to obtain any sick benefit under the National Insurance Act; and whether he can state why it is being withheld?

No communications have been received by the Insurance Commissioners with reference to these cases. The particulars contained in the questions are not sufficient to enable the insured persons to be identified, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with their addresses and the names of the societies and branches of which they are members, I will cause inquiries to be made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been drawn to the report of an investigation conducted by the research committee of the Christian Social Union into the trades of fruit preserving, pickle making, confectionery, tea packing, coffee and cocoa packing, and biscuit making in the East End of London, and to the statement made in that report that the practice is becoming increasingly prevalent in those trades of dismissing girls of sixteen and replacing them by girls of fourteen; and that where the check system is in vogue the girls work at pressure; and, in view of this evil, whether the Government will introduce in the National Insurance Act such amendments as will prevent this exploitation of juvenile labour?

I have read with great interest a copy which the Noble Lord has been good enough to send me of the report referred to in his question. I have no evidence that such replacement of older by younger girls, as is suggested, is taking place to any considerable extent. The question of the further regulation of the employment of girls of fourteen in factories is one which might be met by legislation, but I do not think it could be dealt with by an Amendment of the Insurance Act.

asked whether, in the case of an insured person without dependants having to pay 5s. a week for her maintenance in the Nelson Hospital during a time when she is otherwise qualified for sick benefit, the fact that she is in a hospital prevents her society paying her sick benefit, although the society has made no arrangement for any payment to the hospital?

Under Section 12 of the National Insurance Act, the sickness benefit is not payable directly to the insured person in the circumstances referred to in the question, but the sum which would ordinarily have been payable may be applied by the society in the provision of surgical appliances or otherwise for the benefit of the insured person.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that un established postmen of twenty-one years' service have been worsened, as regards sick pay, by the passing of the National Insurance Act, namely, from two-thirds pay for six months and half-pay thereafter to two-thirds pay for three months only; and can he rearrange conditions so as to restore the unestablished pay to the position it had occupied?

The question of the modification of the sick pay privileges of existing long service unestablished officers as the result of the National Insurance Act is under consideration. I will communicate with the hon. Member when a decision has been reached.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that employers at Hepworth, Diss, have been put to inconvenience owing to the fact that they have been unable to obtain insurance stamps at the post office; and whether he will see that in future a sufficient supply of stamps is kept in stock?

My attention has not been called to any complaint on this subject, but I will have inquiry made in the matter and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the unemployment book belonging to William George Woolley, registered at the Colchester Labour Exchange, has yet been found; if he is aware that when Woolley reported the loss of his book and claimed benefit on 10th March last he was charged 1s. in connection with the lost book, but received no benefit, and that he has called every day since but has been refused benefit pending advice from London; and whether steps will be taken to pay the arrears immediately?

The book was lost by the workman, and not by the Labour Exchange, and it was necessary to make inquiries of employers for whom he had worked (three in number) in order to ascertain how many contributions had been paid on his behalf, with a view to calculating the amount of benefit due to him. As a result, benefit was disallowed on the 27th March on the ground that the workman had not satisfied the first statutory condition of proving that he had been employed in each of twenty-six separate weeks in an insured trade. I regret that by an oversight this decision was not communicated to the workman at the time, but it has since been communicated to him, and a new book has been issued to him in place of that lost.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the circular issued in 1908 to old age pension officers for their guidance, embodying a scale of the value of maintenance in urban and rural districts in Great Britain and Ireland, respectively, has been withdrawn; what scale is now operative for the guidance of those officers on this point in Great Britain and in Ireland, respectively; and, in view, of the different treatment of similar cases in the two countries and the denial of Irish officers that they have any such guidance, whether copies of the instruction on which the present practice in Great Britain is based will be sent to all Irish old age pension officers?

No scale is in force for general application by pension officers in framing their estimates of the value of maintenance under either the instructions issued to pension officers in 1908 on the passing of the Act or any subsequent amending instructions. The general rule laid down for the guidance of officers in this matter is the same for Ireland as it is for Great Britain, namely, that such value must be estimated by reference to all the facts bearing on the standard of living of the person with whom the claimant resides. I see no need for the issue of any further instructions. All pension officers throughout the United Kingdom have full instructions as to their duties under the Old Age Pensions Acts; and I cannot believe that any officer in Ireland or elsewhere would allege that he is without guidance as to the lines he ought to follow n estimating the value of maintenance. Certainly no instance of such a denial has come to my notice.

Is it not a fact that in 1908 a circular of instructions was issued embodying a scale of the value of maintenance, that this circular was never circulated among the officers in Ireland, and that consequently the practice is different there? Will this be remedied?

As far as I know, the practice is exactly the same. Each case is considered on its merits. Pension officers have the same instructions in Ireland as in England.

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table of the House a copy of the instructions?

I am not sure that I can promise that. They are confidential instructions between the Treasury and its officers.