asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will state the amount of money received, including the Government contribution, up to 1st May under the National Insurance Act in England, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, and how much of those sums was spent up to the same date on printing in each country?

The amount received under the National Insurance Act up to 1st May and the amounts spent on printing, etc., up to that date are as follows:—

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state under what circumstances the County Clare National Insurance Benefit Society disallowed sickness benefit under the National Insurance Act to Thomas M'Mahon, of Skantrad Cottage, Killaloe, county Clare, who was in the employment of the Clare County Council during last autumn?

I am making inquiry into this case, and I will inform the hen. Member of the result as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that on the 19th March, 1913, a bailiff was sent to 15, Hawley Road, Kentish Town, London, N.W., for the purpose of collecting £1 18s. 10d. due for Income Tax, under Schedule A, and 10s. House Duty from Mr. W. Wright, a working-man householder; that the bailiff was told Mr.

The earlier facts of the case are that demands were issued on the 10th December, the 30th January, and the 1st March, the latter two being served personally by the collector and the last,threatening distraint, at the end of the seven days, a period subsequently extended till the 19th March. The further facts are generally as stated in the question, the somewhat later dates at which payments in previous years had been made having been due to delay in collection. The charges made were properly leviable under the rules applicable to distress and I do not propose that they should be refunded.

asked (1) the Chancellor of the Exchequer bite amount of public money paid annually in salaries to the Members of the House of. Lords who are qualified to sit at the hearing of appeals either in the House of Lords or the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; what is the number of such Lords; and (2) what is the amount of public money paid annually in pensions to Members of the House of Lords who are qualified to sit at hearing of appeals either in the House of Lords or the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council; and what is the number of such Lords?

There are sixteen Members of the House of Lords who are qualified to sit at the hearing of appeals in the House of Lords, and fourteen who can sit on the Judicial Committee. Ten of these receive salaries to the aggregate amount of £60,600, and five draw pensions amounting in all to £21,000. One receives no payment from British funds.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will have inquiry made into the reasons why the claims to old age pensions have not been granted in the following cases, all in the parish of Glenbeigh: Mrs. Shea (née Connor), Tirnanagh, who is shown by the parish register to have been married fifty-one years; Mrs. Mary Moriarty (née Connor), whose baptismal certificate shows she was born in Glencar on 27th December, 1836; Mrs. Catherine M'Mahon (née Shea), Cool-roe Upper; Mrs. Mary Diggin, Mountain Stage; Mrs. Ellen Bourke, Upper Droum; Mrs. Mary Moriarty, Bunglash, Glencar; Mrs. Simon Harris, Reenanalagane; Andrew O'Sullivan, Glenbeigh; Batt Sullivan, Droun; and Mrs. Julia Riordan (née Golden), Coolnoharrigle, who has been married forty-three years?

The claim of Mrs. Shea for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board, as she was unable to prove that she had reached the statutory age. No information was produced as to the date of her marriage when her case was being investigated. Mary Moriarty's pension was discontinued in May, 1911, her age at that time being 69 years, according to the Census Returns. Her case has not since come before the Board. Ellen Bourke's claim was disallowed in May, 1913. She alleged that she was born prior to 1844, but was unable to furnish any evidence in support of her statement. The Board investigated her case through one of their inspectors, but he was unable to obtain satisfactory evidence of age. Julia Reardon's claim was disallowed by the pensions committee in December, 1909, and the decision was confirmed by the Board in April, 1910. No evidence was submitted as to the date of her marriage. In the remaining cases referred to by the hon. Member the claims were disallowed by the Board as there was no evidence to show that the claimants had reached the statutory age.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Shuldham, owner of the Ballymulby farm, immediately adjoining the town of Ballymahon, county Longford, is selling his farm, and has offered a portion of it to the Estates Commissioners for the purpose of supplying the labourers and poor of the town and district with milk, as it was always from this farm the people secured their milk; and, seeing that if this is cut off it will be injurious to the health of old and young alike and will be the certain propagator of disease, and eventually lead to intemperance, will he say what action the Estates Commissioners will take in this matter to prevent this opportunity being lost?

The Estates Commissioners understand that the owner is prepared to consider the reservation of portion of the lands referred to for the use of the Ballymahon town tenants, and I have suggested to them the desirability of having a preliminary inspection made of these lands at an early date.

asked whether Mr. Patrick O'Dowd, J.P., has yet lodged with the Congested Districts Board maps and papers relating to his estate at Fallduff, county Mayo, with a view to a sale thereof through the Board; and what time has elapsed since Mr. O'Dowd first promised to have the documents lodged?

In December last Mr. O'Dowd's solicitor lodged with the Congested Districts Board the maps and certain documents necessary for a preliminary inspection to be made of this estate, but some further information asked for by the Board is awaited. In July, 1910, Mr. O'Dowd informed the Board that he was willing to negotiate for a sale of his property under the Land Act of 1903.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have issued an offer for purchase of the estate of Mrs. A. Campbell Wright, situate in Kilmeena, Westport, county Mayo, or when they hope to do so?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet issued an offer for purchase of this estate, but they have decided to do so, and they hope to issue it at an early date.

asked what time has elapsed since Mr. Francis C. Garvey offered to sell through the Congested Districts Board his estate at Murrisk, Westport, county Mayo; has the estate been inspected on behalf of the Board; has an offer been issued; and, if so, with what result; and what has delayed the completion of the purchase, which was desired by all parties interested in the estate?

The estate referred to was offered for sale through the Congested Districts Board in July, 1912. The property has been inspected but an offer for purchase has not yet been issued. The Board hope to consider the question of making an offer at an early date. There has been no avoidable delay in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, when he expects to complete the arrangements necessary to make the Grant for secondary education in Ireland available; will he state who have been responsible for the delay and the financial loss which Ireland has suffered; and whether, seeing that this money was originally intended to be available for last year, and further that Ireland would, on the basis of English and Scotch Grants for secondary education, be entitled to over £150,000 per annum, he will consider the justice of increasing the Grant and making it available for paying teachers for the year ending June, 1913?

I still expect to arrive shortly at a satisfactory arrangement with regard to the distribution of this Grant, but I cannot hold out hopes that it will be increased or that it can be made available for payments in respect of the school year ending in the present month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, when considering the pay of the engine-room artificers, the Board of Admiralty will also consider the pay of naval electricians?

The position of these ratings was carefully considered at the recent revision of naval pay, and they were granted paid badges instead of honorary; it is not proposed to make further changes in their pay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty why, if it is always necessary with vessels of the "Burma" class in certain conditions to place ballast in their tanks, the ballast was not specified for to be included in the contract; whether, by letter of the Admiralty dated 23rd April, 1909, Captain A. R. Wonham, at that time a surveyor on the special service list of the Salvage Association, was appointed to superintend or otherwise undertake duties in connection with the construction of the oil-tank steamer "Burma," with a view to ensuring that the vessel when built would be in all respects convenient and effective for the-purpose intended; whether the vessel was built on commercial lines and whether, when launched, the vessel was in all respects convenient and effective for the purpose intended without the addition of ballast; when Captain Wonham took up his duties, whether the vessel at that time was nearly ready for launching; whether, after Captain Wonham's arrival, fittings for manoeuvring hoses for bow and stern previously fitted were removed and a new method adopted at an extra cost of £336 outside the contract; had such new fittings, other than the nine-inch roller, been previously recommended by Captain Wonham in 1909, and then rejected by the Admiralty; whether a claim from Captain Wonham for remuneration in respect of his services and expenses, pursuant to the letter of the 23rd April, 1909, has been received; and, if so, why the claim has not been settled?

It is not always necessary to fit permanent ballast as was decided to be desirable for the "Burma," otherwise such ballast would have been specified to be included in the contract Captain Wonham was not appointed to superintend the construction of the "Burma," his duties on the Clyde corresponding with those of other officers on the staff of the Admiral Superintendent. The vessel was built on commercial lines. The addition of ballast was approved for the purpose of making the vessel more convenient for her intended service than she would otherwise have been. The vessel was nearly ready for launching when Captain Wonham took up his duties. The handling of hoses was, and continues to be, a tentative and experimental matter. Improved methods were adopted in the "Burma" as the result of trials carried out with the Royal Fleet Auxiliary "Petroleum" The arrangements proposed by Captain Wonham in 1909 were fully considered, but not approved. They were not identical with those actually fitted. A claim has been received from Captain Wonham and adjusted in accordance with the terms of The Admiralty letter referred to by the Noble Lord. A cheque for the balance due to him, which was forwarded on 22nd November last, has, however, been refused.

asked the Secretary for War, what was the shortage of the active strength in regiments at Home owing to conversion of Army service to Reserve service during the months of April, May, June, July, August, and September, 1912; and whether he will give the figures separately for Cavalry and Infantry on the Home establishment?

The numbers of conversions to Reserve service to which the hon. and gallant Gentleman refers amounted during the months in question to 314 in the Cavalry, and 2,468 in the Infantry at home. On the 1st October, 1912, the Cavalry at home were. 142 over establishment, and the Infantry 3,211 below establishment.

asked the Secretary for War when he intends to issue a new edition of the Royal Warrant for Pay and Promotion; and whether he is aware of the difficulties caused by the large number of amendments inserted since the last edition issued in 1909 to officers preparing for examination and others concerned?

The Royal Warrant for Pay, etc., is in proof and it is hoped to send it to press next month.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. J. Mocock, who, after twenty-three years' service with the Colours and twelve and a half years at the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, was discharged in or about December of last year, without gratuity, at the age of fifty-five years; whether Mr. Mocock forwarded to the authorities of the factory a report of a specialist, stating that he was still fully capable of lighter employment; whether such certificate was taken into consideration by the medical board that examined Mocock on 4th March, 1913; what was the finding of the board; why it was not communicated to Mocock himself; and whether, in view of this man's long public service, employment can be found in order to allow him to retire at sixty years with the prescribed gratuity?

My attention has been called to this case. The specialist's report forwarded by Mr. Mocock contained no suggestion of capability for light employment. The finding of the board, held on the 4th March, was not considered sufficiently conclusive, and a second board, held on 18th March, reported Mr. Mocock unfit for any employment involving strain, mental or physical. After receipt of this board's proceedings, he was informed that he could be given no further employment. I regret that, in view of Mr. Mocock's state of health, it is not possible to alter this decision.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the numerous protests and resolutions of associations representing the animal industry in Ireland, he will favourably consider the expediency of immediately reducing the detention period in Great Britain?

After carefully considering all the circumstances, I have decided to reduce the period of detention to ten hours as from Saturday next.

asked the President of the' Local Government Board whether he is aware that, in consequence of Mr. W. D. Elsam, the vaccination officer to the Kingston union, having recently had to, take proceedings against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts, the National Anti-Vaccination League has held nine open-air public protest meeting in various parts of the Kingston union, and that at such meetings the lecturer for the league has represented that the officer has not the power to take such proceedings without first obtaining the sanction of his board of guardians to do so; if so, whether the Local Government Board are still of the opinion that the power and the duty of taking proceedings against defaulters under the Vaccination Acts are vested in the vaccination officer under the Vaccination Acts passed prior to the Act of 1898 without any order of the Local Government Board or direction from the guardians; and whether he will issue a circular to boards of guardians and vaccination officers advising them of their duties under the Vaccination Acts?

I have received a communication with reference to the meetings referred to. In the opinion of the Local Government Board the power and the duty of taking proceedings are vested in the vaccination officer under the Vaccination Acts without any direction from the guardians. This opinion was expressed in a general circular issued to boards of guardians in 1898, and I do not consider it necessary to issue a further circular on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will lay upon the Table of the House a copy of any communications which have passed between the Governments of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand and the Home Government bearing on the question of a State-owned cable since the last Imperial Conference?

I am not aware of what correspondence may have passed between the Governments of the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of New Zealand on this subject. I wrote to the Governor-General of the Commonwealth last February sending further information on the question and asking whether in the light of that information the Commonwealth Government still desired that a conference should be called. I do not propose to publish the correspondence, at any rate, until the reply of the Commonwealth Government to that dispatch is received.