asked the Secretary to the Treasury why it is proposed to increase the number of members of the Gloucestershire Insurance Committee from fifty to sixty; and from what body or bodies of persons will the additional ten be drawn?

The total membership of the Gloucester Insurance Committee is being increased from fifty to sixty in order to give the medical profession a representation of 1–10th without altering the composition of the committee as prescribed by Section 59 of the National Insurance Act. The additional members will be appointed in accordance with the provisions of that Section.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether members of friendly societies who, owing to the possession of a pension, have obtained exemption from contribution under the National Insurance Act now have to pay more for medical attendance than they paid before the Act came into operation; and whether it is proposed to utilise a portion of the contributions of their employers to reduce the amount so payable for medical attendance?

There is nothing in the National Insurance Act to compel any person to apply for exemption, although he may be qualified to obtain it. In the case of those members of friendly societies who may have obtained exemption on any ground, I know of no reason why the fact that doctors are receiving an additional Grant in respect of insured members should make them demand an increase in the rates they have hitherto been receiving for those of their friendly society patients who are not insured. The question of applying the employers' contributions in respect of exempt persons is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that chemists are suffering hardships from the delay of the Commissioners of the National Insurance Act in settling the claims sent in to them for each three months' supply of drugs and medicines prescribed by medical men under the Act; and will he state at what dates the chemists may expect payment and thus be enabled to make promise of settlement to their wholesale houses, who are bringing pressure to bear upon those unable to pay for goods supplied?

The Regulations which are incorporated in the agreements entered into by the chemists provide for periodical advances, although a final settle- ment can only be made at the end of the medical year. Advances are now being made, and I am not aware of any case in which no payment has been made to chemists, but if the hon. Gentleman will furnish me with particulars I will make inquiry.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to the recent appointments and promotions to the grade of divisional inspector under the National Health Commission (England), how many of those appointed or promoted were, previous to their entry, in the service of the Commission and how many were employed in the service of the Board of Customs and Excise; how many were possessed of qualifications in friendly society work, trade union work, public health work, and social work, respectively; whether before promotion any inquiry was made to ascertain whether insurance committees had received any and, if so, what assistance from those whom it was proposed to promote; and whether the ability to render assistance to insurance committees or approved societies or the possession of qualifications in trade union, friendly society, or public health work is regarded as constituting a claim for promotion or appointment on the outdoor staff of the Commission?

Nine of the ten divisional inspectors were in the service of the Insurance Commission (two of them in a temporary capacity) before appointment to that rank. Four were formerly in the service of the Board of Customs and Excise. Three had previous experience of friendly society work, one of trades union work, one of public health work, and eight of social work. Such qualifications were sought in the original recruitment of the staff, but it is clear that the selection of individual inspectors to be made divisional inspectors must depend both upon proved efficiency in the work of the inspectorate and the possession of those special characteristics needed in a divisional officer responsible for a considerable area and staff. This work includes giving to insurance committees and approved societies any assistance that they may require.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount of profits assessable to Income Tax accruing from coal mines situate within the counties of Glamorgan, Carmarthen, Pembroke, and Brecon, commonly styled the South Wales coalfield, for the five financial years commencing 1908–9 and ending 31st March, 1913?

The gross assessments made in each year are as follows:—

Year.	Amount.
1908–09	£2,834,503
1909–10	3,566,126
1910–11	3,596,822
1911–12	3,931,558

The figure for 1912–13 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the average annual salary payable to a clerk of the second division, promoted in the year 1902 from the rank of assistant clerk, in respect of his first twenty-three years of established service (six and a half years as assistant clerk and sixteen and a half years as second division clerk) is £112; and, in view of the fact that the average annual salary of an assistant clerk, who enters the service at the initial salary of £55, in respect of the same period is £114, will he consider the desirability of securing that a clerk promoted to the second division on the ground of special merit and ability shall be more adequately rewarded for his services as a second division clerk?

The figures in the question do not appear to be quite accurate, and in any case the comparison made in the question is between an assistant clerk appointed in 1896, and promoted in 1902 to the second division, and an assistant clerk appointed on the rates of pay now current. I am satisfied that the improvement of pay and prospects gained by an assistant clerk on promotion to be a second division clerk is substantial.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, under what circumstances were fifty appointments made to the third class clerk (supplementary) establishment during 1909–10; were any above the age of twenty-six years; and were they superior to the candidates who sat for the competitive examination in March, 1909, and took places ranging from eleven to sixty?

The circumstances of the case referred to were quite exceptional. A large body of unestablished clerks were employed in the early days of the London Telephone Service, as it was uncertain on what lines the development of that service would proceed. When the organisation assumed a settled form, these clerks were appointed to the establishment, and as they had proved their fitness for the duties of third class clerks by the performance of those duties for several years, the ordinary age limit of twenty-six was waived in their case. They were considered to have a stronger claim than the candidates from other branches of the Post Office who sat for the competitive examination in March, 1909.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether a member of the Civil Service who considers himself aggrieved by the decision of the permanent head of his department has any appeal except to the Parliamentary chief of the department, who may have little or no present knowledge of the character and ability of individual members of the office staff?

I am not aware of any appeal from the decision of the responsible Minister in such a case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, under what authority the Superannuation Act, 1887, has been used to pension compulsorily with out compensation a Civil servant, Mr. H. W. Cardew, of the General Post Office, appointed before the passing of that Act, and subject him to the indignity of being certified to Parliament as unable to do his duty, in view of Section 10 of the Act, which provides that nothing in the Act shall be so construed so as in any way to interfere with the rights existing at the passing of this Act of any Civil servant then holding office, and that the Secretary to the Treasury stated in the House of Commons on the 9th September, 1887, that the Government accepted the addition of this clause to the Bill with the object of securing to existing Civil servants the rights which they at present possess, and remarked that the clause was simply intended to carry out an undertaking which the Government considered themselves bound to give?

Mr. Cardew has been removed from his office by the Postmaster-General on the ground of his inability to discharge efficiently the duties thereof. Section 2 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, has no bearing upon the power of the head of a department to remove an officer, but merely confers upon the Treasury the power to grant a pension to a Civil servant who has been removed from his office. But for that Section, no pension could have been granted to Mr. Cardew.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the respective sums paid in local taxation in Berlin and Kensington, London, respectively, by persons with unearned incomes of £5,000 a year, assuming that in each case the house occupied is of a rental value of £400 a year?

I am afraid I am not in a position to make any real comparison of the kind suggested. I understand that a person having £5,000 per annum income (unearned) and residing in a house worth £400 per annum in Berlin would pay the following local taxes, on the latest figures available, namely, those for the year 1909–10:—

Local Income Tax	£195	0	0
House and Buildings Tax	24	0	0
	£219	0	0

The local rates payable for the year 1912–13 in respect of a house in Kensington borough of a gross rental of £400 would be approximately £125, on the assumption that the occupier is liable for repairs. I cannot estimate what further contributions to local taxation would be made in either case by way, e.g., of Dog Tax, or Beer Tax (in Berlin) or of local taxation licences or duties (in England).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what services are included under the head of other services under Classes I., IV., and VII. set out on page 6 of the memorandum on Financial Provisions, 1913 (Government of Ireland Bill); and how much money is allotted to each service under each of the three above-named classes?

supplied the following figures:—

Class I.—Under Vote for Public	£
Buildings (Great Britain) (Irish Office in London)	1,000

	£
Class IV.—Scientific Investigation, etc.	2,500
Endowed School Commissioners	1,000
National Gallery (Ireland)	3,000
Class VII.—Temporary Commissions	1,000
Miscellaneous Expenses	2,500
Repayment to Civil Contingencies Fund	1,000
Expenses under Unemployed Workmen Act, 1905	5,000

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the sale of the estate of Mr. D. G. Conyers, at Castleton Conyers, county Limerick, is yet completed; if not, whether the Estates Commissioners will have included in it one tenant named Patrick Murphy, of Castleton Conyers, who refused to sign the agreement to purchase with the other tenants, as he wanted to have the gate re-erected on the passage going through his land, but who is now willing to do so, having regard to the fact that the Estates Commissioners say they have not the power to compel this to be done?

The hon. Member presumably refers to the holding of Honora Murphy on the Conyers estate, county Limerick, which estate was subject of proceedings for sale direct by the owner to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. It is understood that Murphy's representatives refused to sign unless allowed to erect a gate at a certain right-of-way, which gate had been removed by order of the County Court judge, and as no purchase agreement was lodged in their case the holdings could not be included in the sale which so far as the proceedings before the Commissioners are concerned is closed. If the parties are now prepared to enter into an agreement to purchase the holding they should communicate with the owner on the subject.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the total amount deducted from the Local Taxation Account for each county in Ireland during each of the years 1911, 1912, and 1913 under each of the four following heads, namely, medical and educational expenditure in unions, salaries paid to sanitary officers in rural and urban districts, Estate Duty grants in respect of land purchase liability, and railway and harbour charges, under Section 58 of the Local Government Act, 1898; what is the total of these four heads for each county for the three years named; what is the total for all Ireland for the same period; and what steps it is proposed to take to recoup the local authorities for these losses?

The preparation of the Tables containing the information asked for by the hon. Member would involve considerable time and trouble, and it would be necessary to detach a portion of the staff of the Local Government Board during the busiest period of the year. The hon. Member will find in the Annual Reports of the Local Government Board Tables showing the deductions from and additions to the shares of each county in the Estate or Death Duty Grant in respect of land purchase liability. I would also refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question of the hon. Member for North Westmeath on 14th January last, which gives the total amounts deducted under the various headings referred to by the hon. Member during the seven financial years ending 31st March, 1912.

asked how many evicted tenants have been reinstated or supplied with new holdings in county Cavan to the latest date available; and will he state the number of acres now occupied by the tenants above referred to?

One hundred and three county Cavan evicted tenants or their representatives have been reinstated or provided with new holdings. The Estates Commissioners are not in a position to give the particulars asked for in the concluding portion of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Commissioners of National Education have in existence a rule whereby they are empowered to dismiss female assistants, on the average daily attendance reaching fifty, in order to make way for literary assistants; and whether, having regard to the discouraging effect on education and the harsh treatment to assistants under such a rule, provision will be made to retain them or compensate them for their services?

I am aware that such a rule exists, but certain modifications have recently been made in the rule in the interests of the teachers, and I will be happy to furnish the hon. Member with a copy of the modifications. I am not in a position to hold out hopes of compensation or reinstatement to junior assistant teachers who lose their position owing to the operation of the rule in question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Michael Biggane, of Ballyauliffe, Ballyagran, Charleville, was an applicant for an old age pension, and that having regard to the fact that his age cannot be traced in the parish register or in the Census Returns of 1841 and 1851, the Local Government Board on appeal, No. M.A. 2493, Limerick county, Bruree P. S. C., refused him the pension although statements from old age pensioners and others were made certifying that he was over seventy years of age; and whether, considering the above facts and that in no other way can Michael Biggane prove his age, he will direct the local pension officer to make further local inquiries into his case with the view to giving him the pension?

The facts generally are as stated in the question, but before determining this case the Local Government Board instituted inquiries as to Michael Biggane's age through one of their inspectors, but he was unable to obtain any satisfactory evidence. The Board have no authority to direct a pension officer to make inquiries, as suggested, into a case which has already been decided.

asked the First. Lord of the Admiralty whether all merchant vessels carrying guns keep continually on board 100 rounds of ammunition; and, if not, how many rounds of ammunition do they always have on board during their voyages?

I am advised that it would be injurious to the interests of the naval service to give the information asked for.

asked the Secretary for War if he will state how many saddlers and how many sailmakers there are employed at His Majesty's Gun-wharf, Portsmouth, and what their rate of pay is?

There are employed in the Army Ordnance Department at Portsmouth: One saddler, at 24s. 6d. per week; two tentmenders, one at 25s. 6d. per week and one at 25s. per week; one sailmaker at 24s. 6d. per week; two skilled labourers (tent repairers), at 24s. 6d. per week.

asked the President of the Board of Education the age, the qualifications, the schools and colleges at which educated, and the previous experience, if any, of Mr. R. J. M'Alpine, recently appointed without undergoing a competitive examination to the post of junior examiner in the Board of Education at a commencing salary of £250 a year; whether before making this appointment he carefully considered the question of promoting one of the 700 clerks in his Department to the vacancy; and, if not, whether it is to be understood that no one either of the 595 clerks in receipt of £250 a year or less or of the 105 in receipt of more than £250 a year is capable of performing the duties of a junior examiner?

Mr. R. J. McAlpine is thirty years of age. He was educated at Granby Street Board School and Brae Street Organised Science School, Liverpool. In 1897 he became pupil teacher in the Ashfield Street Council School, Liverpool. During his five years of pupil-teachership he continued his education at the Clarence Street Pupil Teachers' College, Liverpool. In 1902 he entered the Day Training College at Liverpool and after completing the two years' course obtained the Board's Certificate. In 1905 he graduated with First Class Honours in History at Liverpool University. He was afterwards given a Research Fellowship and a University Fellowship at Liverpool. In 1907 he was appointed Assistant Inspector of Elementary Schools under the Liverpool Education Authority, a post which he held until his appointment to the Board in 1913. In regard to the second and third parts of the question, I must refer the hon. Member to replies which I gave to similar questions on the 3rd and 12th February last, copies of which I am sending him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that several gentlemen who have recently been appointed as justices of the peace for the county of Salop have refrained from taking the oath on appointment as a protest against the fee of £2 2s. charged on appointment as a justice of the peace in that county; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to the clerks of the county authorities recommending the abolition, or reduction to a nominal sum, of all such fees?

I am issuing a circular to local authorities on the subject, and will send a copy to my hon. Friend when it is issued.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if an official of the Board of Agriculture informed Mr. Powell, of Epping, when he asked for the services of an inspector to investigate the sudden mortality amongst his lambs, that they were understaffed and could not send an inspector down; whether there has been an inquiry made into this abnormal mortality after lamb docking at Epping; and, if so, what was the result of that inquiry?

On 28th April the Board received a letter from Mr. Powell, stating that there had been serious mortality among his lambs and asking for an immediate investigation by an officer of the Board. The Board replied immediately by telegram, suggesting that he should submit to them a report from a local veterinary surgeon and also send the carcase of one of the dead lambs to the Board's laboratory. Mr. Powell did what was suggested, and subsequently, on 6th May, he called at the offices of the Board and had an interview with Sir Stewart Stockman, the chief veterinary officer, who told him that as a result of his examination and inquiries he was satisfied that the lambs had died from quarter-ill, probably contracted through their being placed immediately after docking in an infected stable. Sir Stewart Stockman advised him as to the steps which he should take to prevent further loss from the same cause, and also explained to him that the Board had not a sufficient veterinary staff to enable them to send a man at a moment's notice to investigate on the spot any case of disease reported to them by stock owners. If it were otherwise, I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will agree with me that the local veterinary practitioners would have serious cause for complaint. On 29th May another case of the disease occurred, and to relieve the anxiety of farmers in the district the Board sent one of their veterinary officers to investigate it and his report proves conclusively that Sir Stewart Stockman's opinion, both as to the nature of the disease and its causes, was correct.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when he expects to be able to intimate his decision as regards the charges for cattle lairage at Merklands, Glasgow?

If the hon. Gentleman will put down a question for Thursday day, I hope to be in a position then to make an announcement on this subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether, in view of the request by the inhabitants at Machrie Bay, Arran, for a Grant towards the construction of a pier there and considering that the Fishery Board, twenty years ago, offered to pay three-fourths of the cost if the people raised one-fourth, he will now approve of a Grant being made?

The question of a Grant is one for the Development Commissioners and the Treasury, and I understand that no competent application under the Development Act is at present before these Departments.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make the proposed additions to the staff of the Board of Agriculture with a view of expediting the operations of the Small Landholders Act?

I have as yet nothing to add to the answer which I gave on this subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Kincardineshire on 27th May.

asked the Prime Minister whether Sub-section (23) of Section 22 of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1894, for prohibiting the conveyance of animals by any specified vessel to or from any port in the United Kingdom for such time as the Board may consider expedient, the Sub-section upon which the English Board of Agriculture relied for its authority last year to place an embargo on Irish cattle, is taken word for word from Section 4 of the Act of 1884, and should be read in conjunction with that Act, which applied to foreign countries only, except in so far as it related to the fitness of vessels engaged in the domestic trade to carry animals; and whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Minister in charge of it in the House of Commons that it applied to foreign countries only?

I am informed by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries that none of the Orders issued by his Department last year in respect of the landing of Irish cattle in Great Britain was based upon Sub-section (23) of Section 22 of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the numbers of motor cars and motor cycles, respectively, now licensed in the United Kingdom?

The latest information of the kind of which I am aware is that published in the "Car" on the 11th December last. The figures there given are:—

Motor Cars.	Motor Cycles.	Heavy Motor Vehicles.	Total.
175,247	132,245	12,627	320,119

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the wording of the form of guarantee used by members of Lloyd's Underwriters' Association when guaranteeing the due fulfilment of the fire and accident insurance contracts of other members of the association?

I am sending to my hon. Friend forms of the guarantees referred to.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state for the last year for which the Returns are available the actual or estimated value and quantity of milk, preserved milk, butter, and cheese, respectively, consumed in the United Kingdom; and also for the same period the value and quantity of milk, preserved milk, butter, and cheese, respectively, imported from abroad?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I regret that I am unable to give statistics of the quantity and value of the dairy produce consumed in the United Kingdom, but perhaps the record of production during the year 1907–8, given on page 14 of the Board's Report in connection with the Census of Production Act, 1906 (Cd. 6277), will be sufficient for the hon. Member's purpose so far as Great Britain is concerned. With regard to Ireland, I must refer him to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Irish Department. The imports and exports of milk, butter, and cheese during the year 1908 are shown in the following table:—

—	Imports into United Kingdom.		Exports of Foreign and Colonial Produce.		Exports of United Kingdom Produce.		Net Imports.*
	Cwts.	£	Cwts.	£	Cwts.	£	Cwts.	£
Milk, fresh	953	437	—	—	—	—	953	437
Milk cream	6,862	26,556	704	3,223	—	—	6,158	23,333
Milk condensed	920,210	1,606,509	37,802	82,863	355,922	756,568	526,486	767,078
Milk preserved (other kinds)	8,206	6,446	590	1,010	—	—	7,616	5,436
Butter	4,210,821	24,080,912	55,078	305,729	10,045	59,324	4,145,698	23,715,859
Cheese	2,306,086	6,684,203	56,902	183,334	8,797	37,534	2,240,387	6,463,335
* Imports less total exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the following insurance companies: Aldwych, 82, Cheapside, Anchor Fire, 7, Longcauseway, Peterborough, British Commercial, 16, Bedford Chambers, Covent Garden, W.C., British Fire, 46, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., British Citizens, 43, London Wall, E.C., Criterion, Glasgow, Imperial Crown, 270, Corporation Street, Birmingham, Lanarkshire, 29, Waterloo Street, Glasgow, Lancashire and General, 38, Church Street, Liverpool, Regal, 59, Chancery Lane, W.C., Southwark, Cheapside, E.C., and South-East Lancashire, 20, Clegg Street, Oldham, have complied with the requirements of Section 7 of the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, as regards the depositing of an annual statement showing the business transacted; if the statements have been deposited, why are they not included in Part B of the annual Return; and, if the statements have not been deposited, will he see that they are sent in during the current year?

The Assurance Companies Act, 1909, does not apply to the Aldwych or to the Southwark Insurance Companies, which only carry on reinsurance business. The Imperial Crown Insurance Company, Limited, has deposited the statements required by Section 7 of the Act for the years 1911 and 1912, but the Board of Trade are still in communication with that company with reference to the statement for the year 1910. My hon. Friend is mistaken in thinking that the statements of the Anchor Insurance and Investment Corporation, the British Commercial Fire Insurance Company, Limited, the Criterion Assurance Corporation, Limited, and the Lanarkshire InsuranceCompany, Limited, have not been published in Part B of the Annual Return for 1912. The statements of the other companies referred to in the question were not published because they were not deposited, and with one exception were not due, before the end of the year 1912. They have all been deposited now.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the increase of railway rates in Ireland has been submitted to the Railway Department of the Board of Trade; whether such increase has been sanctioned by that Department; whether he is aware that all classes of commercialists in Ireland are protesting against it; and whether he can suggest any remedy?

The increases in question do not require the sanction of the Board of Trade. In the case of the Great Southern and Western Railway Company, however, the sanction of the Railway and Canal Commission is required by the company's special Acts. As regards the latter part of my hon. Friend's question, I would refer him to the answer given to-day to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Belfast.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give a list of the societies which at present have a Royal charter; and what steps a society or association is required to take when it is desirous of obtaining such a charter?

I am informed that the Privy Council Office keeps a list of the societies, companies, and institutions—119 in number—which have been granted charters since 1867, and that, if necessary, Particulars as to the grant of charters, under the Great Seal, prior to that date, can be furnished by that Department. The mode of procedure in applying for the grant of a charter is by Petition to the King-in-Council. If my hon. Friend desires further information on the subject perhaps he would place himself in communication with the Privy Council Office.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, during two consecutive months of the past twelve, telephone subscribers in the York district were deprived of a telephone service owing to a breakdown in the system; and whether he can see his way to make any allowance during the current year to those flat-rate subscribers who were so deprived?

I shall be obliged if the telephone subscribers referred to, whose service was interrupted for long periods owing to severe snow-storms, will communicate with the local telephone manager, in order that the circumstances of each case may be investigated and an allowance made where justified.