asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received any complaints from Selby showing that a free choice of doctors is not enjoyed by insured persons there; and whether Selby is included under the term obscure village?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part does not arise. There has been no suspension of the panel system in the area referred to. I am informed by the Yorkshire (West Riding) Insurance Committee that of eight doctors in the district five have accepted service under the Act, and insured persons have free choice among these five.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if his attention has been drawn to a recent case in which the Wheelwrights and Coachmakers Operatives Union took proceedings on behalf of two members against the firm of Messrs. Lawton and Company, Cricklewood, for contravening the National Insurance Act, the magistrate inflicting a fine of 20s., with 40s. costs; and if he will state why the Commissioners did not initiate the proceedings instead of leaving it to the men's union to take action and to bear the consequent expenses?

This case has been brought to my notice. I am informed that the insurance Commissioners had no knowledge of the matter until proceedings had been instituted. If invited to do so they would certainly have been prepared to give the complainants all the assistance that could properly be afforded seven if they did not feel justified in taking proceedings themselves.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is aware that the English Insurance Commissioners have exempted the Cornish share fishermen working at Penzance and St. Ives under similar conditions to the Scottish share fishermen, without having recourse to proceedings in the Law Courts; and whether means could be adopted whereby a similar course could be followed in Scotland so as to avoid the delay and expense of legal proceedings?

I am aware that an order exempting the fishermen at Penzance and St. Ives has been pronounced, but I am not aware that the conditions of their employment are similar to those of the Scottish share fishermen. The question to be submitted to the Court is whether the employment in question is employment within the meaning of the Act, and unless and until that question is answered in the affirmative an exemption order would be incompetent.

asked whether, if legal proceedings must be taken against Scottish share fishermen in connection with the National Insurance Act test cases, care will he taken to secure that the fishermen will not have to bear any part of the expense?

The Insurance Commissioners do not propose to take proceedings against the fishermen, but to ask the Court, under Section 66 (1) (3) of the Act, to decide whether their employment is employment within the meaning of the Act. This procedure need involve no expense to the persons mentioned.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will specify the case or cases in which the question of including tenant right in the valuation of agricultural land is sub judice?

This question arises on the appeals of Mr. G. M. Hunter in respect of Chells Farm, Stevenage, and of Dame Emily F. Smyth in respect of the Model Farm, Norton Malreward, both of which are about to be heard by Referees.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the head of the Inland Revenue Department has communicated information as to the figures of the returns from individual collieries to anyone making application to the head of the Department; and, if so, whether this action was taken by his direction?

The answer is in the negative. Individual returns would in all cases be treated as confidential.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual value of the property and profits assessed to Income Tax in the year ending 5th April, 1902, and 5th April, 1912, in England, Scotland, and Wales (including Monmouthshire), respectively, showing separately the amounts under each of the five schedules?

presented the following figures:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what amount of money was paid by the Road Board in the years 1911 and 1912, respectively, for road improvement in Scotland, and how much by way of Grant and how much by way of loan; whether the counties so benefited had to pay a certain percentage of the cost of these improvements, and, if so, what percentage; and whether the Road Beard proposes to relax this system in the case of poor counties in Scotland with a widespread area and subject to exceptionally severe floods?

The actual sums paid in Grants to highway authorities in Scotland in the financial years ending the 31st March, 1912, and 31st March, 1913, were £40,931 and £45,987, respectively. In the financial year ending the 31st March, 1913, the sum of £5,713 was advanced by way of loan. I understand that the practice of the Road Board is to contribute a varying percentage towards the cost of proposed improvements, after consideration of all the circumstances of the particular case and with regard to the funds available, and it would not be possible, in fairness to other applicants, to contribute the whole cost in certain cases.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in certain of the Government offices notices of compulsory retirement have been conveyed to several clerks who will shortly attain the age of sixty, and that in several of these cases the men concerned are receiving small salaries, and are unable to retire upon the full pension consequent upon a portion of their unestablished service not counting towards superannuation, with the result that the amounts on which they will be compelled to retire are small; whether he is aware that the men referred to entered the Government service under the practice which then prevailed of remaining till the age of sixty-five, and what is the authority in virtue of which notices of retirement have been sent to them, especially in view of the statement in the Treasury Minute of July, 1900, which makes provision for men on small salaries to remain until they have reached the age of sixty-five; and whether, in view of these circumstances, he will take steps to avert the hardship which will be inflicted on a number of persons in receipt of small salaries?

Under Clause 15 of the Order in Council the head of any Department may call upon any established officer in his Department to retire at any time after reaching the age of sixty on such pension as by length of his service he is qualified to receive. This provision, which is of long standing, is well known to Civil servants, and I have no power to intervene in the exercise by heads of Departments of their discretion in the matter. The Treasury Minute to which the hon. Member refers does not provide for retention until the age of sixty-five, and, as stated by one of my predecessors in this House on the 11th July, 1904, the paragraph referring to Civil servants on small salaries was not intended to be of general application, but to meet a limited class of cases which arose immediately on the passing of the Order in Council of 29th November, 1898.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the population of England and Ireland, respectively, in the year 1841; and what relation does the present number of old age pensions given in each country bear to their respective populations in 1841?

The population of England (excluding Wales) in 1841 was in round figures 14,955,500 and that of Ireland 8,175,000. The number of old age pensions payable on the 31st March last was, England, 626,753; Ireland, 203,036.

asked the Chief Secretary what capital may a claimant for an old age pension have before he is disentitled to receive a pension?

I would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Section 2 of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Local Government Board in estimating the means of applicants for old age pensions do not base their calculations on the cost of the food, clothing, and other benefits enjoyed by the applicant, but on an entirely novel basis of the standard of comfort in the house in which the applicant is maintained; and whether he will explain why, in view of the provisions of the Act, this calculation is based, not on what the applicant himself has or is legally entitled to as provided in the legal assignment, but on what his son or daughter may have?

The Local Government Board's calculations of means are made in accordance with the terms of Section 2 of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1911. As I have frequently pointed out, it devolves on the Board to take into consideration not only the actual reservations specified in the deeds of assignment, but, also all the other benefits and privileges enjoyed by a claimant by virture of his residence on the farm which he had assigned.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that it was the common custom of Irish farmers, long before the passing of the Old Age Pensions Act, to assign their farms to their children on approaching the age of seventy, reserving very slight benefits for themselves; whether the Local Government Board now refuse to grant pensions in any such cases except the applicant was, on transferring his farm, bedridden or suffering from some mental or physical infirmity; whether, as stated by them, Section 4 (3) of the Old Age Pensions Act compels them to take this course; and whether the Local Government Board holds that men over seventy are fit to carry out properly all the difficult work connected with the management of a farm and should not allow their sons to marry till they themselves die?

I am aware that it has been the custom for a long time past for the eldest sons to assume nominal ownership of the farms either on marriage or when the heads of the families are advanced in years. If marriages are arranged and farms transferred with the object of securing pensions for the owners, the Old Age Pensions Act expressly precludes the old people from securing any advantage by the transfers. No fixed rule can be laid down as to the ability of men over seventy years of age to work on their farms, and each case has to be treated on its merits.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a statement from the Kerry County Council protesting against the methods adopted by the Local Government Board in awarding old age pensions; and whether, seeing the dissatisfaction that prevails, both as to estimating means and as to bonâ-fide assignments of land, he will order a sworn inquiry by a competent officer into the whole matter?

I have received the statement referred to. As I have already informed the hon. Member, there does not appear to be any necessity for a public inquiry into this matter.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Mr. Patrick M'Dermott, of Carrivekeeny, near Newry, was granted an old age pension of 5s. per week by the local pension committee and that this allowance was reduced to 1s. per week at the instance of the pension officer of the district; and if he can say why this reduction was made?

Patrick M'Dermott was allowed an old age pension of 4s. a week by the pension committee in November, 1911, but on appeal by the pension officer to the Local Government Board it was reduced to 1s. a week on the ground that his means exceeded £28 17s. 6d. a year. He holds a farm of over twelve acres, five and a half acres of which are under cultivation, and which also carries three head of cattle, a horse, and fowl.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the additional junior clerk unanimously recommended by the committee appointed in July, 1909, by the late Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which included the Treasury representative for Ireland, has not been appointed in the Consolidated Taxing Office of the Supreme Court, Ireland; whether the late Lord Chancellor concurred in the recommendation; whether the Incorporated Law Society has made any representations on the subject, and, if so, the nature of such representations; whether the Treasury has at any time since the recommendation been approached by the Lord Chancellor in respect of the recommendation; and whether the messenger in the taxing office discharges duties that should be discharged by a junior clerk?

The Treasury have received no recommendation from the Lord Chancellor on this subject, nor have any representations been made to the Treasury by the Incorporated Law Society. I have no information as regards the last part of the hon. Member's question, as the Taxing Office is not a Department under the control of the Treasury.

asked the Chief Secretary who are the parties responsible for the delay in making the Grant of £40,000 towards secondary education in Ireland; and, seeing that this money was promised more than twelve months ago, will he state whether he hopes to make it available for the year ended June, 1913?

As I stated in reply to a question on the same subject yesterday, the difficulties with regard to this matter are, I believe, now nearly at an end. But even if the conditions attaching to the Grant were settled now, no money could be distributed until they had been complied with.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners' inspector who inspected the Dundrum estate of the Marquess of Downshire, E. C. No. 3,796, made any report as to the future upkeep of the drain and culvert constructed and heretofore maintained at considerable expense by the vendor, the maintenance of which is necessary to the holdings of Patrick M'Clinton, or M'Clymont, and other tenants, lands of Aughlisnafin, county Down; and if the prices the inspector reported as fair and equitable assumed the future maintenance of these works by the purchasing tenants?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that the drain and culvert referred to were examined by the inspector who visited this estate, and in estimating the sums which might be advanced under the Land Purchase Acts he had regard to the fact that when the lands are vested in the occupiers they will as owners be liable for the upkeep and maintenance of the drain and culvert.

asked the Chief Secretary what price the Estates Commissioners' inspector reported as fair and equitable to be paid by the following tenants on the estate of the Marquess of Downshire, county Down, E. C. No. 3,796, who had refused to purchase at 4s. in the £ or 20 per cent. reduction, and what reduction in the £ or percentage of reduction the inspector's price would give these tenants if they now executed purchase agreements thereat: Peter M'Cann, Magherasaul, judicial rent £23 6s. 6d.; Ellen Byrne, Waterwek, judicial rent £11 18s.; William M'Mullan, senior, Moneycarragh, judicial rent £18 1s.; and James Dumigan, representative of Hugh Dumigan, Moneylane, judicial rent £13 2s. 6d.?

The tenants referred to, namely, Peter M'Cann, Ellen Byrne, William M'Mullan, and the representatives of Hugh Dumigan, did not sign agreements at the prices offered by the vendor, which prices would have been at 3¼ per cent. annuities under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and the Estates Commissioners at his request after inspection fixed the prices in these cases as follows:—£574, £293, £450, and £323. In fixing these prices regard was had to the fact that the annuities would now be at 3½ per cent. under the Trish Land Act, 1909, and the percentage of reduction represented by such annuities as approximately 14 per cent. in the cases of Peter M'Cann, Ellen Byrne, and the representatives of Hugh Dumigan, and 13 per cent. in the case of William M'Mullan, and the purchase money will be payable in Guaranteed Three per Cent. Stock and not in cash, as would have been the case had agreements been lodged under the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary what action has been taken in reference to the application of Thomas Stack, a blacksmith at present living in Ballybunion, who is an evicted tenant on the Miss Browne property at Cahirciveen, Listowel; whether his case has been inquired into; and, if so, with what result?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Stack's application was not received within the period limited by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and could not be dealt with under that Act. It will be inquired into when the estate, on which his former holding is situate, is the subject of proceedings for sale under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary when the agreements signed by the tenants in the townlands of Clashmealcon, Ardoughter, and Clahane, on the Charles Day property, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners; whether this property has yet been inspected; and, in view of the tenants paying 4 per cent. on the purchase money, if an early completion of the sale will take place so as to reduce the present interest paid by the tenants to the landlord?

This estate is the subject of proceedings for sale direct by the vendor to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. The purchase agreements were lodged in August, 1908, and the tenants contracted in their agreements to pay interest in lieu of rent at the rate of 3¾ per cent. on the advance applied for until date of vesting. The estate will be dealt with in order of priority on the principal register of direct sales, but, having regard to the claims of other estates, the Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached. The Commissioners have no power to deal with the estate until it is so reached.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, on the Captain Henry estate, county Galway, divided by the Estates Commissioners in 1905, the Commissioners intend to finish the road that they marked out from Pollacapul to Kilmore, on the estate; and whether, if this road is not finished, the only means of access for over thirty small holders to the turf they require is by trespassing on other property?

The Estates Commissioners sanctioned an expenditure of some £240 in connection with the roads on this estate and they cannot sanction any further amount. All the money granted by the Commissioners for improvements on this estate, including roads, has been spent, and the holdings were vested in the purchasing tenants five years ago.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether His Majesty's ship "Hussar" has been employed recently in conveying a delegate to a religious conference at Malta; if so, whether this is contrary to precedent; and what was the cost of this voyage to the British tax-payer?

If the hon. Member will be good enough to refer to the answers that have already been given on this subject, he will find the information he desires, with the exception of the actual cost of coal expended, which cannot be separated from the annual expenditure provided for the upkeep of the Commander-in-Chief's yacht.

asked the Secretary of State for War how much the Government gave for the Clément-Bayard airship; and did their technical advisers report favourably upon it?

The War Office paid £12,500 for this airship. The Parliamentary Aerial Defence Committee urged the advisability of purchasing the airship, but there is no record of the advice tendered to the Army Council by any technical experts in the Government service.

asked the Secretary for War what provision there is for officers of His Majesty's forces stationed in Ireland who may wish to learn to fly?

No difference has hitherto been made between officers stationed in various parts of the Kingdom who desire to join the Royal Flying Corps. If it is found that there are special difficulties in the case of any command the matter shall be rectified.

also asked what accommodation, if any, is being provided in Ireland for the housing of Government aeroplanes?

The question of establishing a station for a unit of the Flying Corps in Ireland is now under consideration.

further asked (1) the Secretary for War, in view of the exceptional opportunities for flying afforded by India and South Africa, if he will state what provision is being made for the training in airmanship of His Majesty's forces in those countries; (2) in view of the importance of securing rapid transmission of information to Government headquarters in case of native risings, if he will state what provisions is being made for the supply of aeroplanes and for securing facilities for training in airmanship for His Majesty's forces stationed in British East Africa, Nigeria, and other Crown Colonies; and (3) if he will state how many aeroplanes in the posession of the Imperial military authorities there are at present in India, South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Egypt, the Soudan, Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Aden, and the West Indies, respectively; how many garages; and what staff for construction or repairs?

The Royal Flying Corps has been in existence for only one year, and it has not been found possible, even supposing it to be desirable, to extend it to the places named in these questions.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he can now give any information as to whether questions arising out of Army contracts are at the present time under consideration?

I have nothing at present to add to the information given in reply to a question put by the hon. Gentleman on this subject on the 8th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many dogs were subjected to vivisectional experiments in England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, during each year from 1900 to 1912, distinguishing between cutting experiments and experiments of other kinds?

I am sorry that the figures which my hon. Friend asks for cannot be given from the information available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in what manner, and by whom, conveyances of real property and other documents to which the Home Office as a Government department is a party are executed?

The Home Office as a Government department is not a body corporate having power to convey land. Real property over which the Secretary of State for the Home Department may exercise control is conveyed and vested in the names of the Prison Commisioners and other bodies having statutory powers to that effect.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies if he will lay upon the Table of the House the form of lease or leases granting certain rights to Messrs. Apol in the Gold Coast Colony in respect of which he has informed them that he will not raise any obstacle to the validation of the leases; and can he say to what extent of territory they relate?

I will lay the Paper to which the hon. Member refers at an early date. The applications of Messrs. Apol and their nominees covered a considerable area, but I anticipated that under the existing law not more than 40 square miles would be validated by the Court, and I have just learnt that the total area which has been validated is 39⅓ square miles.

asked what are the mineral rights referred to in Section 43 of the Northern Rhodesia Order in Council, 1911; how these rights have been acquired by the company and from whom they were acquired; and whether His Majesty's Government were satisfied as to the validity of the company's title to such rights before authorising their retention?

The right of searching and mining for and disposing of all minerals in Northern Rhodesia is vested in the British South Africa Company. These rights rest ultimately on concessions granted by native chiefs and approved by His Majesty's Government, and are regulated by a Proclamtaion of the High Commissioner passed in 1911. Certain territory occupied by the Barotse is specially reserved from prospecting, reference to which is made in Section 40 of the Order in Council.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, a few days since, twelve cattle were allowed to pass through Holyhead without being detained; and, if so, will he explain the partial enforcement of the detention Order?

asked whether Lord Coventry was allowed to travel animals purchased in the Royal Dublin Society's Show at Balls Bridge right through to his stud farm without any detention; and whether an exception was made in this case?

In consideration of the special arrangements made for the veterinary inspection and transit of animals shown at the Royal Dublin Society's Show, the Board have sanctioned by licence the removal of such animals direct to their destination in Great Britain without detention at the landing places. A licence was issued in respect of three cattle landed at Holyhead which I am informed are the property of Lord Coventry, and no other cattle have been landed at that port except under the conditions prescribed by the Animals (Landing from Ireland) Order, 1913.

asked the Prime Minister whether all the appointments to positions in the Public Trustee Office are made by the head of the department without previous open competitive examination by the Civil Service Commissioners; and, if so, whether it is proposed to continue this system of appointments in the future, or to include all those positions in the list of Civil Service appointments for which a previous examination by the Civil Service Commissioners is necessary?

Appointments in the Public Trustee's Office are made by the Public Trustee with the approval of the Lord Chancellor in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 (2) of the Public Trustee Act, 1906. No previous competitive examination is held, but I may point out that the status of the staff is not that of established Civil servants. The present method of appointment, which has formed the subject of evidence given before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, will receive careful consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in order to meet the convenience of tradesmen carrying on business within the area of an urban district council, and to spare them the delay and expense involved in sending their weights and scales to some distant town for adjustment to satisfy the inspector's requirements, he will consider the advisability of authorising some qualified person within the area of such urban district council to make the necessary adjustments?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Where in any district there is any person competent and willing to adjust weights or measures, it is open to him to do so in the ordinary course of his business without any authorisation. It is only in the case of an inspector of weights and measures that authorisation to adjust weights or measures is necessary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the annual Report for the year 1912 of the medical officer of health for the port of Newport, Monmouth, who states that, in respect to Board of Trade supervision over accommodation and sanitation in the case of the officers and crews of merchant ships, it is evident that the work is more than the staff of the Board of Trade can adequately supervise, and the fact that a considerable proportion of vessels, new and old, contravene the Board of Trade Regulations points to the conclusion that the number of marine surveyors is inadequate to deal with the work entrusted to them; and, if so, whether he will take into consideration the necessity of increasing the number of nautical surveyors in order that this supervision shall be exercised with proper efficiency?

I have not been favoured with a copy of the Report to which the hon. Member refers, and I am therefore not in a position to deal with any statements made in it. The whole question has been carefully considered, and revised instructions with regard to accommodation and sanitation, etc., are now in course of preparation by the Board of Trade. A considerable increase has recently been made in the staff of the Board's surveyors.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now prepared to approve of the extension of the telephone system to Durrow, Queen's County, seeing that the guarantees forthcoming are equal to, if not in excess of, those given by other neighbouring towns?

The support thus far promised for the extension of the telephone system to Durrow is not sufficient to justify the establishment of an exchange, but efforts will be made to obtain further support. The amount of support required in the case of an extension of the telephone service to any town is governed by the estimated expenses of the extension and therefore varies with the local conditions.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of an application on the part of Mr. Binns, of Oulton Cross, Stone, Staffordshire, for the installation of a telephone at his house; whether he is aware that the application was accepted by the telephone authorities on 3rd January, and that up to 18th April the applicant had been unable to get any satisfactory replies as to his inquiries regarding the installation of the telephone; and whether he will state the cause of these delays and the actual date on which the applicant may expect the installation to be made?

I am aware of the facts referred to in the hon. Member's question, but, as I have already stated on the 16th of last month, in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Hanley, the delay in completing telephone orders in the Potteries district has been due to unusual pressure of work. It is hoped, however, to provide Mr. Binns with a telephone service during the course of this week.

asked the Postmaster-General why persons who require a telephone service to be laid on in the South and West Kensington districts are still officially referred to a district office without a number in Trevanion Road, when that office has been closed for the last six weeks with no intimation on the door of it to show whence it has been removed; and will he inform the public where it is now situate?

I regret that, owing to an oversight on the part of a clerk temporarily employed in the Controller's Office of the London Telephone Service, some persons were referred to the office in question after it had been closed. Suitable notice was taken of the error, which was corrected by the issue of revised instructions last month.