asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to take any steps to ensure that the sickness benefit of insured persons resident as patients in voluntary hospitals, and who have no dependants requiring such benefit, shall be paid to such hospitals as the contribution towards the cost of the maintenance provided?

A circular, of which I will send the hon. Member a copy, is being prepared for issue to all societies, explaining that they are able to make payments to hospitals in respect of the treatment of their members if agreements have been concluded for the purpose.

asked the secretary to the Treasury whether an insured person who is now ill and in receipt of sickness benefit is entitled to keep on stamping his card himself, even though his illness lasts for more than twelve months, in order to complete 104 contributions, and so to qualify for disablement benefit?

Yes, such a person may, if he chooses, pay the full weekly contribution, i.e., his own and his employer's, even though his illness lasts for more than twelve months, in order to qualify for disablement benefit?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the Insurance Commissioners have refused to supply a walking instrument, ordered by the National Orthopædic Hospital, to Albert White, of 12, Wymond Street, Putney, who applied to the Commissioners as an insured person for such instrument under Section 15 (5) of the National Insurance Act?

Walking instruments are not included in the list of prescribed appliances which is scheduled to the Regulations, and consequently the insurance committee have no power to supply them.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether it is proposed to amend the National Insurance Act in such manner that, while preserving separate national funds, members belonging to a society shall not be placed on a lower scale of benefits than their fellow members merely because of their place of residence within the Kingdom?

I fear that I cannot make any statement as to the provisions of the Amending Bill prior to its introduction, which I hone will take place shortly.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the present salary of the First Lord of the Admiralty and what emoluments are attached to that office; and what salary and emoluments have been received during the last four years, respectively, by the First Lord of the Admiralty?

The First Lord is at present in receipt of a salary of £4,500, together with a furnished house. The only variation in the foregoing emoluments during the last four years was that the present First Lord received a house allowance of £500 a year in lieu of the furnished house for the period from the 24th October, 1911, to the 8th April, 1913, inclusive. This was in accordance with precedent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owners of land or houses have, during the last financial year, applied for repayment of Income Tax in respect of maintenance, repairs, insurance, and management under Section 69 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; what was the aggregate amount so repaid; what were the like figures for the two preceding financial years; and what is the total amount repaid by the Treasury under this Section since the above Act came into operation?

Exact figures in regard to repayment claims under Section 69 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, are not available for the reason that repayments in respect of repairs under Section 35 of the Finance Act, 1894, are included under the same heading in the published statistics. The approximate figures, however, are as follows:—

	Number of Claims.	Amount Repaid.	Total Amount Repaid.
		£	£
1910–11	250	4,800	118,300
1911–12	2,250	48,500
1912–13	1,800	65,000

The apparent diminution in the number of claims for the year 1912–13 is due to a change in the system of classification. Formerly a single claim embracing both land and houses was treated as being a separate claim for each class of property. The amount repaid for 1912–13 is evidence that the number of claims for that year, if calculated according to the old system, would prove to be considerably higher than the number for 1911–12.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, having regard to the complicated matters involved in the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, Part I., and the ignorance, common to nearly all classes, of the procedure under the Act, and the hardships caused thereby, he will extend the period of three months during which applications for substituted site value under Section 2 (3) of the Act may be made?

I hope to intro-due legislation with this object in view.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer upon what grounds a claim for Undeveloped Land Duty has been served on Mrs. M. T. Lovell, of Wingate House, Ainsdale, Southport, in respect of that property?

In the case referred to by the lion, and gallant Member the charge is limited to the duty applicable to the period prior to the development of the land, and, so limited, is recoverable from the owner of the land for the time being under Section 19 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any sums have been granted from the Imperial Exchequer for the encouragement of tobacco growing in England during the past five years; and, if not, what steps are being taken to encourage the growth of tobacco in this country?

Tobacco growing in England was legalised in 1910 by the Finance Act of that year, since when a rebate has been allowed equal to one-third of the duty paid on tobacco grown by approved experimenters. This rebate is payable in respect of all such tobacco grown during the years 1911 to 1913, inclusive. The Treasury have also, on the recommendation of the Development Commission, agreed to a Grant not exceeding £7,500 from the Development Fund to the British Tobacco Growers' Society, Limited.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are men who are qualified surveyors now working in the Land Valuation Department who are paid 30s. a week; if these men have to pay their travelling expenses, which are not repaid often for several weeks; if he has considered whether it is reasonable that men paid only 30s. a week should have to disburse sums often amounting to £2 a month; and whether some arrangement will be made by which an advance can be made to these men for prospective travelling expenses?

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's question is in the affirmative in the sense that there are some valuation assistants who have qualified by passing the intermediate examination of the Surveyors' Institution or Auctioneers' Institute in receipt of the salary he mentions. They are employed under responsible valuers, and are gaining their practical experience while in the temporary service of the Department. I find that under the existing arrangements the travelling expenses incurred by these officers are in some cases not refunded for several weeks, but the Commissioners of Inland Revenue are making arrangements to obviate this inconvenience.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the amount paid annually in salaries to the judges who are qualified to sit on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; what is the number of such judges; and (2) the amount paid annually in pensions to judges who have held high judicial positions such as qualify them to sit on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; and what is the number of such ex-judges?

Leaving out of account Members of the House of Lords, there are at present twenty-one judges qualified to sit on the Judicial Committee. Of this number ten are in receipt of salaries to the aggregate amount of £41,212 18s. 8d., and six draw pensions amounting in all to £21,000. The remaining five receive no payments from British funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that surveyors of taxes are in the habit of putting inquisitorial questions to employers concerning their employés, to which the employés themselves might be unwilling to give an answer; whether surveyors are entitled to demand from employers a reply to such questions as to whether an employé is married or single and similar questions not within the employer's knowledge; and, if not, whether he will issue instructions that the practice be discontinued?

I am not aware of any such practice as that referred to by the hon. Member. If he will furnish me with particulars of any case which has come to his knowledge it shall be suitably dealt with. There would appear to be no need for the issue of general instructions in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of under-graded teachers in the service of the Commissioners of National Education, and the number of these teachers whose present annual incomes are smaller than they would have been had the results system continued; how has this latter number been arrived at; and what amount is being annually withheld from these teachers owing to the inequitable financial arrangements of the grading system?

The Commissioners of National Education could not say without an exhaustive examination of their records (which would take a considerable time) how many national school teachers are in grades that are numerically lower than their classes under the system of classification recognised prior to 1900. With regard to the latter part of the question, the Commissioners have no means of furnishing the information asked for, but do not admit that the new financial arrangements made in 1900 were inequitable.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that the Commissioners of National Education, in their rules published prior to 1900, guaranteed to all classed teachers in their service at that date certain emoluments known as class salary, results fees, and, in the case of principal teachers, residual capitation grant, and that official assurances were given in 1900 that no teacher would be made to suffer financial loss by the change of system; if so, why is it that certain highly-classed teachers are still receiving less than the estimated equivalent of the total emoluments obtainable under the old system; and is it the intention of the Commissioners to pay these teachers the equivalent of the incomes they should be receiving according to the rules under which they were first appointed, or do the Commissioners seek to repudiate the obligation imposed on them by these rules in this respect?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that prior to 1900 the Commissioners granted aid to national schools (under certain conditions) by way of class salaries or capitation salaries to the teachers, results fees, and shares of the annual school grant. In March, 1900, all national school managers were informed that every teacher in the service on the 1st of April, 1900, would be awarded as an actual income such an amount of salary, or of salary and continued good service salary combined, as would be at least equal to the average income of the teacher from State sources for the last three years, and the promise was fulfilled. The Commissioners can express no opinion as to the cases of the highly-classed teachers referred to unless they are furnished with the names and other particulars. The Commissioners have no intention of repudiating any of their obligations.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that a large number of undergraded teachers are unable to qualify for promotion owing to the rule of the National Board requiring a larger average attendance than was necessary under the old system; and will he suggest to the Board the propriety of so far respecting the vested rights of these teachers as to allow them the opportunity of qualifying for promotion under conditions not more onerous than prevailed prior to 1900?

The Commissioners of National Education have no information as to the number of teachers referred to in the first paragraph of the question. The present system of gradation is essentially different from the old system of classification in many important respects, and therefore an equitable comparison between them cannot be drawn within the limits of a reply to a Parliamentary question. The present "grade" salaries are much higher than the salaries of the corresponding "classes" under the old system. Nevertheless the averages required for payment of third "grade" and second "grade" salaries are not higher than for the old third or second class salaries; but for the first grade salaries, which are very much in excess of the old first class salaries, and represent what would have been the emoluments of teachers of comparatively large schools under the old system, the averages required are necessarily higher.

asked the Chief Secretary with reference to the inspection of the Dundrum (county Down) estate of the Marquess of Downshire, whether he is aware that if Peter M'Cann, Ellen Byrne, William M'Mullan, and the representatives of Hugh Dumigan had purchased under the Irish Land Act, 1903, at the inspector's prices they would have received 4s. in the reduction, but under the Act of 1909 would only receive approximately 2s. 10d. reduction; if regard was had to the altered rate of annuity under the later Act, whether the Estates Commissioners can state what would have been the price if the annuity had been 3¼ per cent. instead of, as now, 3½ per cent.; what regard was had to the altered rate; whether, as the purchase money will be payable in Guaranteed Three Per Cent. Stock and not in cash, they will state if this difference affected the consideration of the prices reported on the holdings, and if the payment in stock instead of cash had any effect on the Estates Commissioners' inspector in fixing prices; whether, if the Estates Commissioners' inspector, in the case of Patrick M'Clinton, or M'Clymont, had regard to the fact that when the lands were vested in the occupier, Welymont, as owner, would be liable for the 110keen and maintenance of the drain or culvert-, the Commissioners will state what price the inspector reported as fair and equitable for the holdings of Patrick M'Clymont liable to this maintenance; what would be the consequent reduction in the £; and what allowance, if any, in price was made the said Patrick M'Clymont in respect of the future maintenance of said drain and culvert or how regard was shown to the shifting of the onus of maintenance?

Purchase agreements were not signed by the tenants referred to by the date (15th September, 1909) mentioned in Section 13(a) of the Act of 1909, and the question of the purchase by these tenants under the provisions of the Act of 1903 does not therefore arise, as agreements signed and lodged with the Land Commission subsequent to that date are subject to the 3½ per cent. annuity rate prescribed by the Act of 1909. In fixing the prices in these cases, the Estates Commissioners had regard to the fact that the annuities would be at this 3½ per cent. rate, and the fact that the vendor would be paid in stock under the Act of 1909 and not in cash did not affect the prices fixed by the Commissioners. Agreements signed by McCann, Byrne, McMullan, and Dumigan for the purchase of their holdings at prices agreed upon between the parties have been lodged with the Commissioners, and as such prices do not exceed those estimated by the Commissioners the sums so agreed on will be advanced and the holdings vested in the purchasers in due course. As regards the latter part of the question, the Commissioners' estimated the price of McLymont's holding at £551, which would give him a reduction of about 3s. 4d. in the £. As the hon. Member has already been informed in reply to his question of 6th May, the drain and culvert referred to were examined by the inspector who visited the lands, 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 whether the Congested Districts Board have yet issued an offer for purchase of the congested estate of H. Blake-Knox, in the parishes of Kildacomogue and Straid, county Mayo; and, if so, with what result?

The Congested Districts Board have issued an offer for the purchase of this property which has not, so far, been accepted.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet issued offers for the purchases of the Phibbs Irwin estate (in lunacy), Parke, Turlough, and the Hunter estate, Turlough, county Mayo; and when the Board hope to acquire those congested estates?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet issued offers for the purchase of either of the estates referred to, and they cannot say when they are likely to acquire them.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the purchase of the D'Arcy estate, in Turlough and Breaffy, county Mayo; and, if so, with what result?

The Congested Districts Board hope to make an offer for the purchase of this property at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that, owing to the delay of the Commissioners in undertaking the inspection of holdings on the O'Donoghue estate, near Glenbeigh, Michael Clifford, now residing at Droum, Glenbeigh, did not sign a purchase agreement; that he approached the agent twelve months before he sold his holding and was advised by the agent to wait until the holding was inspected; and, in view of the fact that he has now been processed for the payment of arrears previous to 1908, and that he paid the old rent in full for the years 1910, 1911, and 1912, previous to selling his holding, what steps, if any, will be taken to secure that he is not compelled to pay these arrears?

Neither the Estates Commissioners nor myself understand this question, but if the hon. Member will explain what this man's position is at present I will have further inquiry made.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet come to terms with Mr. D. G. FitzGerald, Turlough, county Mayo, as to the grazing farms or untenanted lands to be included in the sale of his congested estate; whether an offer for the purchase of the estate has been issued by the Board; and, if not, when approximately such offer will be issued?

The Congested Districts Board are at present in negotiation with Mr. D. G. FitzGerald as to the untenanted lands to be included in the sale of his estate to the Board. Pending the conclusion of these negotiations, an offer cannot be issued.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the trustees of the Achill Mission estate, county Mayo, have yet either consented or refused definitely to sell the estate through the Congested Districts Board; is he aware that owing to the congested state of the islanders, their poverty, and the insanitary condition of many of their houses, these people have the strongest possible claim for relief under the Land Act of 1909; and can he explain why no such relief has yet been extended to them although the Act has been four years in operation?

I am not at present in a position to add anything to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member's question on this subject on the 17th April.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the tenants of uneconomic holdings in Rockfield and Dooncastle, county Mayo, on the Lucan estate, purchased by the Congested Districts Board about ten years ago, are still living in the dilapidated houses and on the rundale patches of land which they occupied at the time of the sale; that a majority of the tenants deny that they were offered additions to their holdings; is he aware that some of the tenants offered to migrate if economic holdings were provided for them elsewhere; and can he state, approximately, when the relief intended for such poor people by the Land Acts of 1903 and 1909 will be extended to them?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the holdings in Rockfield have not been altered since purchased by the Board as there was no untenanted land available to enlarge any of the holdings, and none of the tenants would migrate. A scheme of rearrangement of holdings in Dooncastle, which included the addition of a small holding from which a tenant migrated, was twice proposed to the tenants and refused by them. As it was not found possible to carry out any rearrangement of holdings no improvement works were executed, except the construction of a main drain. Some adjacent grass lands on the Palmer estate have been recently purchased by the Board but are not yet vested in them. When the Board are legal owners they will distribute these grass lands, but they will be obliged to give the benefit to tenants of congested holdings on the Palmer estate. A small portion, however, will be allotted to a few of the small tenants on the Lucan estates, whose holdings adjoin it.

asked the Chief Secretary whether Mr. John Durcan, Turlough, has offered his congested estate at Cloontubrid, Turlough, county Mayo, for sale to the Congested Districts Board; and, if so, whether the grazing farm of 100 acres in Mr. Durcan's possession is included in the offer, or how the Board propose to relieve the congestion on the tenanted portion of the estate where the valuations of holdings range from £2 to £3?

The estate referred to has not been offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board.

asked the Chief Secretary on what grounds Thomas O'Shea, of Glensharold, county of Limerick, has been denied an old age pension; whether, in the absence of his age record, which is not available at the Census Office, he furnished convincing proof to the pension authorities that he has reached the statutory age; whether six influential laymen, who are his seniors and who have known him intimately since childhood, together with his parish clergy, testified to this effect; and, seeing that many deserving applicants for old age pensions in Ireland have their claims accepted on similar testimony regarding age to that adduced by O'Shea, he will hold out any hope that this man, who has lived honestly and industriously by labour, will now be provided with the old age pension to which he is entitled?

Thomas O'Shea's claim for an old age pension was disallowed for want of satisfactory evidence of age. There was no trace of his name in the Census Returns of 1841 or 1851. The claimant stated that he furnished to the pension committee the "proof" referred to in the question, but these being merely uncorroborated expressions of opinion on the part of his neighbours, could not be regarded as sufficiently conclusive.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) what foreign commissions have been buying horses, suitable for Army purposes, in Ireland this year; and if he can say how many have been bought and the average price paid for them?

According to the Returns furnished to this Department, the number of horses exported from Ireland on behalf of foreign Governments between the 29th December last and the 24th May was 1,809—namely, to Belgium, 461; the Netherlands, 263; Italy, 685; and Switzerland, 400. It is assumed that these exports were intended for army purposes. The Department have no official knowledge of any commissions such as are referred to in the question, nor do they possess information as to the average prices paid for the animals.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland> whether he has received a resolution from the County Donegal Committee of Agriculture protesting against the present restrictions on the Irish lamb trade; has he made investigations as to the results of feeding lambs on artificial foods, and, if so, with what result; has he investigated the results of feeding young unweaned lambs in particular, and, if so, how many cases were investigated, and were there detrimental results in any of the cases investigated?

The resolution referred to has been received. Investigations of the nature mentioned in the latter part of the question have not been carried out by the Department. Two Departmental inspectors, who, at the request of the Department, were afforded opportunities recently of observing the arrangements for accommodation and feeding of lambs during detention at Birkenhead and Glasgow, considered that the methods obtaining at these two ports were satisfactory.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Lettermore Island has been acquired by the Congested Districts Board; if so, whether immediate steps will be taken to erect cottages for the islanders and assist in obtaining a supply of pure water; whether he is aware that the recurrent outbreaks of fever in this district is due to the poverty of the people and to the defective water supply; and whether, in view of these facts, he will urge upon the Congested Districts Board and the Local Government Board to dispense with their usual red-tape procedure and carry out the necessary reforms without delay?

Lettermore Island has not yet been acquired by the Congested Districts Board, but they have decided to make an offer for the estate of which it forms part. When they acquire it they will at once begin to help the tenants to improve their dwellings and out-offices and to get rid of the insanitary surroundings, which are one of the causes of the enteric fever which breaks out from time to time in the district. The Board are also considering the establishment of a cottage hospital. A suitable and convenient water supply for the scattered people of this extensive and rocky district is of the first importance if their health is to be secured, but it is a matter of very great difficulty, quite apart from the poverty of the ratepayers. It is practically impossible to provide water within a convenient distance of every house, and in the absence of such a supply it is very hard to prevent people using water from doubtful sources. Both the Congested Districts Board and the Local Government Board are fully alive to the facts of the case and will do all they can within their legal powers for these poor people, and any suggestions the hon. Member may wish to make will receive my most careful consideration.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Grants which are under consideration by the. Estates Commissioners in the case of certain evicted tenants on the Delap estate, county Donegal, have yet been issued; and, if not, can he state the cause of the delay?

The Estates Commissioners have issued directions to one of their inspectors in connection with the expenditure of the Grants sanctioned in the cases of the reinstated evicted tenants referred to, and the expenditure will be carried out with as little delay as possible.

asked the Chief Secretary (1) whether the difficulties which have arisen in connection with the Grant of £40,000 per annum, promised last July, for Irish intermediate education, have yet been settled; if so, whether he will lay upon the Table a copy of the scheme for its distribution; and (2) if the scheme for the distribution of the £40,000 per annum promised last July for Irish intermediate education is settled before the end of June, 1913, can the whole or any portion of the Grant be made payable along with the other intermediate Grants in December, 1913?

The scheme for the distribution of the Grant is not yet finally settled, but I hope that it soon will be. In the meantime I am not in a position to say when the first payments out of the Grant can be made.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will instruct the Con- gested Districts Board to withhold the pending ejectment of Robert Bell, of Knocklaur, Bodyke, county Clare, in view of the facts that he has committed no wrong, that he was a most trustworthy, respectable man with a family of small children, that he has faithfully served the O'Callaghan-Westropp estate for fifteen years, that he is the victim of spite by one man, named Patrick Wall, of Knockbrack, adjoining Knocklaur, secretary of an unaffiliated branch of the United Irish League, who has been convicted of offences in connection with turbary rights and brought to justice by Robert Bell; that the bogus offer of Crotty's farm, near Blackweir, West Clare, by the Congested Districts Board could not possibly be accepted by Robert Bell as an alternative, as the former tenant lost his whole life's savings, accumulated in Australia, in endeavouring to work it; that the better class Nationalists in the district are ashamed of the treatment meted by the Board to this man, whose only fault in the eyes of the Board, influenced by Wall, is that he happens to be a loyalist; and whether he will personally call for a special Report on the whole circumstances of the case?

Robert Bell's case has already been specially considered by the Congested Districts Board and they see no reason for delaying the proceedings for taking possession of the house and land which he occupied as herd on the O'Callaghan-Westropp estate. There is no imputation against Bell's character, nor is there any foundation whatever for the allegation that he has been unjustly dealt with owing to improper influences. The untenanted land which the Board acquired on this estate is needed for the relief of congestion, but the Board recognised Bell's claim and offered him a farm elsewhere in the county. They do not at all agree with the description of the farm given in the question and consider that they have dealt quite fairly with Bell.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the intention of the Board of Admiralty to raise the pay of officers serving in the Royal Marine Forces?

No such proposals are now before the Board of Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is the custom of the Service and whether it is intended that the naval bandsmen who join as musicians shall, in addition to their duties as musicians and, of course, their duties of keeping their own messes clean, be detailed for such duties as coal ship, i.e. actual work at coaling, hauling coal, etc., scrubbing and keeping flats (between decks) clean, scrubbing deck cloths, and other evolutions which entail heavy manual labour and can hardly be considered the average duties of musicians?

All men entered for service in ships' bands are enlisted as Marines and trained as such in addition to their musical training. When embarked they are liable to perform any duties suitable for Marines which the commanding officer of the ship may think fit to assign to them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is now in a position to inform the House when the scale of pensions to chief officers of His Majesty's Coastguard will be revised?

I can add nothing to the replies which I gave the Noble Lord on 19th March and 12th February last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, whether, as at present increases of pay for ships' stewards are made quadrennially, shins' stewards,eligible under Clause 2 of Admiralty Circular Letter No. 54, of 1910, may be made applicable after sixteen years' service?

It is not proposed to make any further change in the scale of pay of ships' stewards.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the wages of painters in His Majesty's dockyards are to be increased; and, if so, whether he will state to the House by how much they will be increased?

I cannot hold out any prospect of any modification of the scale for painters.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty the annual amount spent on warrants issued to officers and men of the Navy travelling on duty in the United Kingdom and in the Empire, respectively?

Assuming that the question refers to railway and local steamboat conveyance, the amounts spent during the last three financial years on warrants issued to officers and men of the Royal Navy travelling on duty in the United Kingdom are as follows:—

	£
1910–11	95,800
1911–12	94,700
1912–13	106,700

The amounts similarly spent in other parts of the Empire are not separately recorded. They are, however, inconsiderable. I may point out that warrants are not used in the case of steamship passages, oversea.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the period of extension as to time for the completion of the Rosyth contract granted to the contractor as a result of the three weeks' strike amongst the navvies for a minimum of 6d. per hour?

An extension of one month for the completion of the Rosyth contract was granted as a result of the strike amongst the navvies for a minimum of 6d. per hour.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty on what date the first contract for the Rosyth works was signed by Messrs. Easton, Gibbs; what was the date the navvies' strike began last year; and on what date the construction of the temporary huts for housing the men and their families began?

The original contract was signed on 1st March, 1909. The navvies' strike commenced on Sunday night, 22nd September, 1912. The date the erection of temporary huts for housing the men and their families was commenced was 14th January last.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his Department are contemplating letting other extensive constructional works at Rosyth; and, if so, is it proposed to submit the work to public tender, or is it proposed to privately invite tenders from the small ring of contractors on the Government list?

At the present time it is not contemplated letting any other extensive constructional work at Rosyth. Later it will be necessary to obtain tenders for equipping the yard, and tenders will be invited in accordance with the usual Admiralty procedure, that is, from a sufficiently large number of representative and competent firms on the Admiralty list to secure the fullest competition.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the staff at the Portsmouth dockyard branch office is now drawn from the postal side; whether this decision was in consequence of a request for regulation meal reliefs from the telegraphists who formerly staffed this office; whether there is almost continuous overtime performed on the postal side, as against a negligible amount on the telegraph side; and whether, in view of the fact that a large number of telegrams almost exclusively of a naval character, pass through this office, he will again consider the advisability of employing a staff of telegraph men at this important branch office?

A protest from the sorting clerks and telegraphists as to meal reliefs gave rise to inquiry as to the arrangements for staffing the office in question, and on grounds of administrative convenience, it is found desirable to man it from the postal side. The postal work is, moreover, of greater importance than the telegraph work, which is decreasing. I cannot reverse my decision. The overtime on the postal side at the head office has been abnormal mainly in consequence of the existence of a number of vacancies.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that blacksmiths, coopers, plumbers, and painters are still the only continued-service ratings in the Navy who cannot reach the rank of chief petty officer; whether he is aware that these ratings not only lose in pay and progressive pay, but also in their pensions; whether he is aware that these ratings must pass a test job at their various trades before they can enter the Navy, in the same way as other artisan ratings whose rates of pay are about the same in civil life; and whether the Board of Admiralty can now see their way to grant the chief petty officer rate and a further increase of pay to these ratings?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; these ratings have progressive rates of pay and shared in the general increase last year, the rise varying from about 2d. in the junior rates to about 6d. or 8d. in the senior. In the case of the coopers this increase was rather less. Ratings which have chief petty officer rank can earn a larger pension in individual cases than those who have not. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. It is not proposed to introduce further changes in the conditions of service of the ratings mentioned which were carefully considered at the recent revision.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether regulations can be framed under which compensation could be paid to an officer or man of the Territorial Force who might be injured when proceeding to the place of rendezvous for a field day, as happened to Lieutenant-Colonel Wesley, 4th East Lancashire Regiment, who still feels the effects of an accident sustained in such a manner?

This point was very carefully considered when the revised regulation giving medical expenses in such cases was recently adopted. I am not prepared to go further.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the War Office is kept informed of the resistance shown by the population of New Zealand to the Compulsory Service Law; whether he is aware that out of the population of the Dominion boys are being prosecuted at the rate of 200 a week for breaches of the Conscription Law; and whether, having regard to the movement for a similar law in this country, some official figures and suitable statement of the working of the law in our Dominions can be issued to the House?

No reports on this matter have been forwarded to the War Office.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that during the period September, 1912, to February, 1913, there was not sufficient 303 small arm ammunition available in England to meet practice requirements abroad, and consequently one Colony, at least (Sierra Leone), had to draw upon its local reserve (set apart for use on service only) or fail to carry out annual musketry; that during the latter part of 1911 and the beginning of 1912, owing to the withdrawal of rifles suitable for mark VII. ammunition, had war broken out part of the Expeditionary Force would have been armed with a weapon unsuitable for the ammunition provided for the new rifle and issued to a portion only of that force; whether the Territorial Force, being armed with rifles to fire mark VI. ammunition, is expected to reinforce the Regulars armed with the new rifles suitable for mark VII.; does he apprehend grave confusion where some troops would be using mark VI. and the others mark VII.; and what steps he proposes to take?

The amount of 303 small arm ammunition in England during the period mentioned was more than sufficient to meet the practice requirements abroad. The situation in Sierra Leone referred to in the question was purely temporary. There was a surplus of ammunition in the Colony for the greater part of the year. As regards the rest of the question, adequate arrangements were made so as to ensure there being no confusion during the change from mark VI. to mark VII. ammunition.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Headquarters Office propose to avert 50 per cent, of the proposed per capita Grant of 10s. and 5s., respectively, to Classes No. 1 and No. 2 of the National Reserve; and if it is intended that such 1, large, or indeed any, proportion of the Grant should go for such purposes?

The War Office provides county associations with 1ls., 6s., and 1s. per head for Classes 1, 2, and 3 of the National Reserve, respectively. When the Grants for the numbers registered have been handed over to the associations, the responsibility for the distribution of the moneys rests with the associations.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the minimum wage of the unskilled labourer employed at His Majesty's Gunwharf, Devonport, is 22s. a week, and that the minimum wage of the labourer in the adjoining dockyard will, on the 1st June, be 23s.; and will he consider the advisability of levelling up so that the minimum wage my be the same in both cases?

Yes, Sir. The necessary action is being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received any report as to the Montrose aviation fatality?

I am informed that the probable reason for the accident was that the rear of the right upper wing tip broke upwards during a right-hand spiral, causing the aeroplane to swing to the right. The breaking up of the rear edge of the tip probably caused the neighbouring ribs to break, and force the front part of the plane to twist downwards. The resulting air pressure would then wrench the two outer plane struts out of their sockets, and the damage would spread along the wing. The wood of the rear of the wing tip, which was covered by the fabric where the damage probably started, had been repaired at some time, but it has not yet been possible to discover when and where this repair was carried out. The machine was carefully examined before the flight on 27th May, and reported all correct.

asked the President of the Board of Education if the managers of the Towyn Church school, acting on his suggestion, have applied for the recognition of their school as a new school; if he is aware that the average attendance of that school is now 51.9; and what steps the Board of Education are taking in the matter?

The managers of the Towyn Church school have applied for the recognition of their school as a new public elementary school, and have informed the Board that the average attendance of children at the school for the last three months has been 51.9. The Board only received from the managers on the 28th May the necessary evidence that the formalities as to the publication of notices have been complied with, and the proposal, together with the appeals which have been made against it by the local education authority and others, is now under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has received any complaints that newly-appointed inspectors of elementary schools are unduly severe on the teachers and do not supplement fault-finding with advice and encouragement, as was previously the case with former inspectors?

No complaints of the nature indicated by the hon. Member have reached me. I am glad to say that all the evidence at my disposal goes to prove that the relations between the inspectors of the Board of Education and the teachers have never been more harmonious than at present.

asked the President of the Board of Education, whether he has yet received any reply from the education committee of the Cumberland County Council with reference to the deficiency of school accommodation in the parish of Legburthwaite, in the district of Thirlmere; whether there are twenty-three children in the parish for whom no educational provision has been made since last Christmas; and whether, pending a definite settlement, some temporary provision could be made for the education of these children, or whether their Christmas holidays, which have now lasted five months, are to be prolonged indefinitely?

I have not yet received any reply from the local education authority, and I am pressing them to deal with this case without delay. I should be prepared to consider any reasonable proposals made to me for the supply of temporary school accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether a decision has been reached with regard to the filling up of the vacant Governorship of Ceylon; and whether he will inform the House of the name of the person to be nominated to the post?

No submission has yet been made.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, if he is aware that the officer commanding the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, now stationed at Mhow, India, has relegated to Class 2 service pay, under paragraph 686 of the King's Regulations, as being ineligible for active service, six privates, solely on the ground of their refusal to be inoculated against enteric fever; whether inoculation against this disease is compulsory on objecting soldiers; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to ensure them against arbitrary penalties for exercising their right to refuse compliance with such orders in future?

Inoculation against enteric fever is not compulsory, but in view of the fact that it is highly desirable in the interests of the soldiers themselves to preserve them from dangerous illness, every effort is made to persuade and convince soldiers that they should be inoculated voluntarily. The allegation which the hon. Member makes is quite untrue, and if he would look at the regulation he quotes he would see that it is obviously impossible.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when he expects to receive the Report of the recent inquiry into the scale of charges levied on Irish cattle at Merklands, Glasgow?

The inquiry occupied three days, and there is a great mass of evidence and argument, to consider, but I understand that the Report will probably be in my hands this week.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he has any power to assist the inhabitants of Chigwell Row and Lambourne in the conditions created by the running of constant motor omnibuses at the rate of about 100 per day, not only ruining the roads, but rendering houses uninhabitable by reason of the dust?

The powers of the Local Government Board with regard to the use of motor cars on particular highways are practically confined to the Regulations which may be made under Sections 8 and 9 of the Motor Car Act, 1903, with a view to the public safety.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is prepared to follow a precedent set up by his predecessor, as described in this House on 8th April, 1902, by ordering all vaccine or virus now in stock to be destroyed and take steps to enforce the use of cow-pox virus only, as contemplated by the Vaccination Acts, seeing that the vaccine which failed to protect the members of the crew of His Majesty's ship "Conqueror" was derived from a secret unidentified strain of virus obtained from Cologne, and that there appears to be no means of ascertaining whether such original foreign virus was free from variolous taint, in accordance with the provisions of Section 8 of the Vaccination Act, 1867?

In the case referred to as a precedent, the lymph destroyed was not lymph prepared or issued by the vaccine establishment of the Local Government Board. The lymph obtained from Cologne was a sample of the current lymph of the vaccine institute of that town. During the six years since it was received a large series of calves has been vaccinated with lymph derived from this source, and the lymph from them has been used for a very large number of successful vaccinations. I see no reason for adopting the course proposed by my hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister whether anything has been done to carry out the recommendation of the Royal Commission on Public Records, as to the revision of the institutions to which gratis copies of the historical publications of the Record Office are sent, and especially as to the inclusion in such list of the more important public libraries; and whether, if no steps have yet been taken in the matter, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to act upon the recommendation?

The list of institutions to which the historical publications of the Record Office are sent gratis as issued has not been revised since the issue of the first Report of the Royal Commission on Public Records; but the matter will be carefully considered with the other recommendations of the Royal Commission.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an officer has recently been promoted to the rank of overseer in the Central Telegraph Office and that at least twenty-one men, nearly all of whom are fully qualified, have been passed over in consequence; whether an undertaking has been given by his department that officers must have proved qualifications and experience in the practical branches of the work before being promoted; whether this man has been a confidential clerk to the Assistant Controller (Metropolitan) and has for many years had no experience in the galleries; and whether, in view of the discontent which this promotion has provoked, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the system of selection for promotion which is adopted in that office?

The officer in question was promoted because I was satisfied from the reports of the supervising officers in the Central Telegraph Office that he was the best qualified officer for promotion. He has, I may state a high degree of technical knowledge. I am not aware of the undertaking to which the hon. Member refers; but after full inquiry I am satisfied that the system of selection for promotion in force at the Central Telegraph Office is such as to ensure the promotion of the best qualified officers, and I see no reason for further inquiry.