asked the Secretary to the Treasury if, the instructions being insufficiently definite, insured persons have been prevented, under Section 15 (6) (3) of the National Insurance Act, from making those arrangements with other than panel doctors to which they are entitled; and will the Commissioners issue a separate form enabling insured persons to obtain what is called herbal treatment if they desire it?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Dulwich on Thursday last.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the injustice done to old and disabled members of friendly societies who are ineligible to become insured persons under the National Insurance Act, 1911, and who by reason of the passing of that Act are precluded from obtaining medical benefit except at an increased cost; and whether he will consider the advisability of an Exchequer grant towards the cost of providing such benefit?

I have nothing to add at present to the previous answers which I have given to similar questions.

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether he has received a resolution, recently carried unanimously by the Darlington Friendly Societies Medical Association, detailing various grievances of the local friendly societies; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Yes, Sir. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, received a deputation on behalf of such institutions as the association on the 4th instant, and the representations then made to him are engaging the careful consideration of the Insurance Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary when, and by whom, was Rossclare, county Fermanagh, selected on behalf of the Women's National Health Association as a suitable site for a sanatorium; what medical advice, if any, was taken; was Dr. E. Thompson, of Omagh, consulted, and was he ever at the place except once, some time ago, when Rossclare was an hotel; did Dr. Brendan McCarthy report on it, and has he ever had any practical experience of sanatorium work, and at whose instance did he report; was Rossclare ever reported on by any of the medical committee of supervision of the Women's National Health Association; and, if so, by whom, and on what date or dates?

An application for the approval of Rossclare as a sanatorium under Section 161(a) of the National Insurance Act was made by the Women's National Health Association to the Local Government Board. The place had previously been visited by Sir William Thompson, the treasurer of the association, and a favourable report had been obtained from an architect, whose suggestions as to improvements have been carried out. By the direction of the Board one of its medical inspectors, Dr. Brendan McCarthy, visited Rossclare, and, after personal inspection, recommended the approval of the sanatorium temporarily for a specified number of patients. Dr. McCarthy is a medical inspector of great experience and is fully qualified to report on the points referred to him in connection with Rossclare Sanatorium. The application for the Board's sanction was made on the responsibility of the Women's National Health Association, which had satisfied itself that the site was suitable for a sanatorium from a medical point of view. I am not aware that Dr. Thompson of Omagh, was professionally consulted by the association, and, as he had not visited the place for years, see no reason why he should have been consulted.

asked at whose instance was Rossclare, county Fermanagh, approved as a site for a sanatorium by the Local Government Board; was the attention of the Local Government Board called to the fact that it is a very cold, exposed place, destitute of shelter, and situate on a heavy clay soil, and that the place had been a failure as a sanatorium before; were the Board put in communication with several medical men who had been connected with the former sanatorium, and was there any reason for its being now sanctioned as a sanatorium, except that Lady Aberdeen, on one hurried visit to the place on a fine summer day, admired the view and urged its selection as a sanatorium; and is the nearest available doctor resident some eight miles away?

As stated in answer to the previous question, the Local Govern- ment Board in sanctioning Rossclare temporarily as a sanatorium proceeded on an application made on behalf of the Women's National Health Association and on a report from the Board's inspector, whose duty it was to investigate the suitability of the site. The Board was aware that the place had not been a financial success when run as a private sanatorium, but had no knowledge of the reasons for this failure I understand that the demands for admittance to the institution are now in excess of the accommodation, and that a number of the patients have greatly improved. The medical officer of the sanatorium resides at Enniskillen, about eight miles away, but he is in telephonic communication with Rossclare and has a motor car.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what are the increases of pay recently granted to civil clerks or writers in the Army Ordnance Department in Ireland; have those increases been accompanied by a stoppage of the advantages of free medical attendance, medicines, etc., heretofore afforded to those employés; is he aware that one such employé whose weekly pay was 33s. a week got, under the increased scale, 34s. 6d. a week, or £3 18s. per annum, while being deprived of the free medical attendance, etc., for himself, his wife, and family while in Ireland, where there are no medical benefits under the National Insurance Act, leaving him worse off under the new scale than under the old, having to pay more than the increase for medical attendance; and whether he will consider the desirability of giving these employés a real and not an illusory increase of pay?

The minimum has been raised from 22s. to 23s., the rate of increment from 2s. and then 3s. triennially to 1s. 6d. annually; the maximum from 35s. to 36s. These increases have been accompanied by the stoppage of free medical attendance, medicines, etc. The employé will be eligible for a further rise to 36s. from 1st January next. The absence of medical benefit in Ireland is attended by a reduced rate of contribution under the Insurance Act, and the future arrangements in that country are, as the hon. Member knows, under consideration. I cannot accept the suggestion that the increase given to this class of employé is illusory.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the new scheme of classification for Customs chief preventive officers will be completed, and when it will be carried into effect?

The date of completion of the scheme cannot be stated, but the matter is receiving consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why the Customs waterguard officers at the port of Liverpool are now treated differently from the officers of the landing department at the same port in regard to station minutes; whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists among the waterguard staff at Liverpool on account of officers being sent to stations at considerable distances from their homes; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to the reinstitution of the practice whereby waterguard officers were stationed at the docks most convenient to their homes?

I am informed that this matter has been engaging the attention of the Board of Customs and Excise, and that a new scheme has been drawn up with the object of meeting the convenience of the waterguard officers so far as is compatible with the requirements of the service.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue Commissioners have demanded the sum of £35 1s. 8d. from Oliver Lyme's Charity, Prescot, in respect of Undeveloped Land Duty; whether he is aware that the governors of the charity have made every effort to develop the land to the utmost possible extent during the past few years; and whether he is aware that this tax is being levied out of the pensions paid to the aged poor of Prescot and Whiston?

The land with regard to which duty has been claimed is undeveloped land of high value, and I understand that it is not occupied and used by the charity and accordingly does not fall within the scope of the exemption conferred by Section 37 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. No representations have been addressed to me on the matters referred to in the second and third parts of the question, which, however, do not affect the subject of liability.

asked why King's College, Cambridge, has been called upon to pay a tax of £28 11s. Undeveloped Land Duty in respect of land rented to the Prescot Urban District Council as a public playground for boys and girls, in view of the fact that public playgrounds are exempt from Undeveloped Land Duty?

A claim for exemption from the Undeveloped Land Duty in question has been preferred under the provisions of Section 17 (3) (b) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. The Commissioners are now satisfied that the requisite conditions are fulfilled, and they have accordingly admitted the claim.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give a reference to the statutory authority, if any, for diverting from the Irish Constabulary Force Fund into the reward branch the accumulated revenue from fines and penalties which had previously belonged by Statute to the general benefit fund under its old name; what was the amount so transferred; and whether he will lay upon the Table, or make available, a copy of the Report of the actuarial inquiry of 1891?

I understand that when the reward branch of the Constabulary Force Fund was established in 1891 all accumulated funds up to that date were set aside for the benefit branch. Consequently no transfer of funds to the reward branch as suggested by the question took place then or since. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. The Report was a purely departmental one on the approximate actuarial position in 1891, and would not be of any interest now.

asked the Chief Secretary in view of the urgency of regularising the Irish Constabulary Force Fund, and of the fact that the investigation of an account always under Treasury control should not occupy many weeks, if he will say what has delayed the Report in this case for several months; and when the Report will be available?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. The actuarial inquiry involves the investigation of particulars not shown in the annual accounts, such as a valuation of the liabilities of the fund depending on examination of some 18,000 individual accounts. It is not possible to say at present when the Report will be completed.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the amount paid into the Irish Constabulary Force Fund in the year ending 31st March, 1913, as deductions from pay and pension and as interest on capital, respectively, and the amount of payments made in the same year from that fund to widows and orphans of sub-scribers; if this latter was unusual, and, if so, to what extent and what the cause was; why the securities saleable only at greatest loss were selected for sale when it became necessary to realise; and who it was that gave that particular order for sale?

The first two parts of the question should have been addressed to my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary for Ireland, but I understand that in the year to 31st March, 1913, the amount received in the form of deductions from pay and pensions, was £4,424 0s. 10d., and in the form of interest on investments £10,177 16s. 1d. The payments made to widows and orphans of subscribers were £18,284 19s. 6d., and there was nothing unusual about the latter figure. The amount drawn from the National Debt Commissioners was £14,000, being £10,000 interest, and £4,000 sale of stock. A sale of securities would be made under the directions of the National Debt Commissioners and up to the present time such sales have been effected in Consols, as being the most readily marketable security and as standing at a relatively higher price than Local Loans Stock, the ony other security held. There is no justification for saying that the security showing the greatest loss was selected.

asked the total amount of money paid out of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund as rewards for exceptional police services between 18th August, 1866, and 18th June, 1883; under what Act and Section those payments were made; and, the services being to the State and not to the subscribers to this fund, whether the State will recoup the fund the amount so paid?

Under the Statute of 6 William IV., Cap. 13, Section 49, creating the Reward (now Constabulary Force) Fund, such rewards, gratuities, bounties, pensions, or other allowances may be paid to members of the force as the Lord Lieutenant may from time to time award or direct to be paid. The Act 29 and 30 Vic., Cap. 103, Section 9, enacts that the Reward Fund shall be available for the reward of meritorious members of the constabulary force, as well as for the relief of the widows and children of such members. Under the Regulations approved by His Excellency from time to time, rewards have therefore been paid for good police service of various degrees, for absence of unfavourable records, or as bounties on retirement. The accounts of the fund are not available so far back as 1866, and it is, therefore, not possible to state the total amount of money so paid between 1866 and 1883, but all those payments were made in accordance with Statute, and the question of recoupment does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state, from the auditor's annual reports of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund, the amount added to that fund as interest on investments every year since 1866, and the total so added in the period to the date of the latest audit?

The interest on investments received since the fund was placed under the control of the National Debt Commissioners has been:—

also asked how the amount of the accrued surplus of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund under 10 and 11 Vic., c. 100, s. 7, between the passing of that Act and August, 1866, was ascertained; what the amount was; and in what manner it was; transferred to the Superannuation Fund?

The Inspector-General is unable to say how the surplus on the Reward Fund (otherwise Constabulary Force Fund), was ascertained each year between 1847 and 1866, but, presumably, the surplus consisted of the balance of the receipts from deductions on pay and pensions which remained on hand after payment of rewards and gratuities. The accounts of the fund were not at this period kept in the Inspector-General's office, but in the Receiver's office, and the method of transfer cannot be described. Treasury Minute of 20th February, 1891, stated that, from 1847 to 1856, £42,809 11s. 6d. was in all transferred from the Reward Fund to the Superannuation Fund, but that after 1856 the surplus of income over expenditure ceased, owing to the admission to benefit in that year of families of pensioners.

further asked how much of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund was spent on witnesses and evidence in connection with the Parnell Commission; to what persons the money paid; under what authority the payments were made; and whether the Treasury will recoup the fund to that amount?

There are no grounds for suggesting that expenses of witnesses attending the Parnell Commission were paid from the Constabulary Force Fund. No such payments were made from the fund or could be so made.

next asked the total amount of the contributions of all ranks from salaries and pensions to the Irish Constabulary Force Fund from 10th August, 1866, to the present time?

The information asked for is not available.

asked whether the actual effect of the rules under which the Irish Constabulary Force Fund is administered is that if a subscriber leaves a widow she may claim 10s. for every 20s. contributed to the fund by her husband, the rest with interest being lost; if a subscriber's wife predeceases him, and he leaves children under eighteen, each of these gets only one-eighth as much as their father contributed while on pension, all the rest of his contributions with interest being lost; if he leaves unmarried daughters over eighteen, they get only one-sixth among them of what their father contributed to the fund, the other five-sixths with interest being lost; and if the subscriber leaves neither children under eighteen nor unmarried daughters, the entire amount of his contributions with interest is lost?

Under the rules of the benefit branch of the Constabulary Force Fund the widow of a subscriber is entitled as her own share to a gratuity calculated at the rate of 5 per cent. on all the pay received by her husband, and, in addition, if he has died while on pension, at the rate of 10s. in the £100 on the amount of pension he has drawn. The rates of subscription are 1½ per cent. on pay and 1 per cent. on pension. The widow receives, in addition, for each child in benefit, who is under eighteen years, one-fourth of her own share. If there is no widow, but only children under eighteen years in benefit, each child receives one-fourth of what would have been paid to the widow; had the deceased left one, equivalent (for each such child) to 1¼ per cent. on the pay and ⅛ per cent. on the pension. The ordinary limit of age is not applied in the case of an unmarried daughter left without a mother, and she (or if there are more than one over eighteen, they collectively) receives one-third of what would have been paid to the widow, equivalent to 1⅔ per cent. on the pay and ⅙ per cent. on the pension. If a subscriber leaves no widow, or children under eighteen, or unmarried daughters without a mother, no gratuity is payable. The subscriptions which lapse in this way enable the fund to pay benefit in excess of the subscriptions in other cases as above-mentioned. Every pensioner is at liberty to cease subscribing to the fund.

asked the total number of men of all ranks who joined the Royal Irish Constabulary from 20th May, 1836, to 18th June, 1883?

The number of men recorded as having been appointed to the Royal Irish Constabulary from the establishment of the force in 1836, up to the 18th June, 1883, is 50,990.

asked how many head constables on their promotion to district inspectorships, from 10th August, 1866, to the present time, have been given grants from the Irish Constabulary Force Fund; the aggregate amount of such grants; the Act and Section under which they were made; and whether the Treasury will recoup the fund for all such payments as have no legal sanction?

It is not practicable to furnish the information asked for. It could not be procured owing to the remoteness of the period covered without an immense expenditure of time and labour out of all proportion to its value. The payments were made in accordance with the rules of the fund approved by the Lord Lieutenant under Section 9 of the Constabulary Force (Ireland) Act, 1866, and no question of recoupment can therefore arise.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, before a pension is given to a member of the Irish Constabulary Force, his superior officer is asked to certify that he has served with diligence and fidelity; and if he will state under what statutory authority the Inspector-General subsequently discriminates between men so certified or their families in like circumstances, making a special grant from the Constabulary Force Fund in one case and little or none in the other?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The special grants referred to in the second paragraph are presumably payments from the reward branch of the fund, which, as I have repeatedly stated, is entirely distinct from the benefit branch. These payments are based upon the amount of salary at date of retirement, and are also dependent upon the length of service of the retiring member and his freedom from unfavourable records for certain periods previous to retirement.

asked under what statutory authority contributions to the Irish Constabulary Force Fund are not returned with interest to a subscriber on his retirement from the force in accordance with the Act 6 Will. IV., c. 13, s. 49?

Subscriptions to the Constabulary Force Fund (Benefit Branch) could not be returned to the subscribers on their retirement from the force, because the Statutes governing the fund do not provide for such repayments.

asked how many subscribers to the Irish Constabulary Force Fund are now in receipt of pensions of £30 Or under, from £30 to £45, from £45 to £60, and over £60 a year, respectively?

These particulars could only be obtained at an expenditure of time and trouble out of proportion to the value of the result. The constabulary authorities have been busy procuring the information required for the actual investigation of the position of the fund, and I cannot impose on them the duty of preparing further Returns on the subject.

asked the maximum and minimum amounts of gratuity paid out of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund (Benefit Branch) in the three years ended 31st March, 1913, to widows and children of officers and of men, respectively, and to unmarried daughters (left without a mother) of officers and men, respectively?

The maximum grants paid from the fund in the period mentioned to the widows and children of officers and of men were £1,068 0s. 4d. and £379 8s. 10d., respectively, the minimum grants being £160 0s. 3d. and £24 18s. 5d., respectively. The maximum payments to the unmarried daughters (left without a mother) of officers and of men were £271 15s. 9d. and £34 3s. 5d., respectively, while the minimum payments in such cases were £123 8s. 11d. and £7 2s., respectively.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether a distinction is made as regards the capitation Grant given by His Majesty's Treasury between children committed to industrial schools under different Sections of the Children Act by Courts of Summary Jurisdiction in Ireland; whether the Treasury contribution on account of children committed under Section 133 is less than that paid for children committed under Section 58 of the Act; if so, will he state why such differentiation is made; and whether the same distinction is drawn between children committed on the application of an English education authority for failing to comply with provisions of the English Education Acts and children committed on other grounds?

The answer to the first and last parts of the question is in the affirmative. It is the case that the Treasury contribution in respect of children committed to industrial schools under Section 133 (20) of the Children Act is less than the ordinary Grant Under the proviso to Section 73 of the Act the Treasury contribution for children detained in an industrial school on the application of their parents or guardians is limited to 2s. a week, and the Grant in respect of children committed under Section 133 (20) follows the above statutory limitation.

asked under what circumstances some 8 acres of untenanted land on the estate of George Higginbotham and others, record No. E.C. 6299, county Tipperary, adjoining the village of Borrisokane, was given by the Estates Commissioners to Father Vaughan, C.C., Borrisokane, as Father Vaughan does not appear to qualify in this case for an advance under the Land Purchase Acts?

The Estates Commissioners have acquired over 800 acres of untenanted land on this estate, and, in the exercise of the discretion vested in them and of their powers under Section 17(1)(d) of the Irish Land Act, 1909, proposed to give a parcel of land containing 5½ acres to trustees to be used as a site for a curate's residence. One of the proposed trustees, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe, has not up to the present signed the undertaking to purchase this parcel, and the matter is at present under consideration by the Commissioners.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the inspection ordered by the Estates Commissioners in reference to the Massy estate, near Macroom, has been completed; whether he can state the nature, purpose, and result of it; whether the untenanted land comprised in the demesne lands around Mount Massy House will be acquired by the Commissioners for the purposes of division amongst evicted tenants, deserving labourers, and uneconomic holders in the distict; and what action is it now proposed to take in reference to the holdings in the town of Macroom which form portion of this estate?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As I have already informed the hon. Member, the mansion house and surround- ing demesne are not included in the lands of which particulars have been furnished to the Estates Commissioners by the Land Judge in this matter. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to make any statement with regard to the other matters referred to in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland why the Estates Commissioners in their investigation into the position of the estate of Mr. O'Grady Delmege, at Glensharrold, Ardagh, in the county Limerick, did not declare it to be a congested estate; whether the valuation of each tenant as set out in query form, was correct, and whether the valuation of £416 on the holdings of the sixty tenants, after deducting £80, the valuation of the landlord's part of the estate, from £496, its total valuation, brought it within the definition of a congested estate as defined by the Irish Land Act, 1909?

This estate is not the subject of voluntary proceedings by the owner for sale under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Estates Commissioners have decided not to institute proceedings with a view to its compulsory acquisition under the Act of 1909.

asked when the senior inspector's special report in 1912, on Oilgate national school, in County Wexford, was received; and when the inspection, on which that report was based, took place?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the special report of the senior inspector on the school referred to was received on the 15th July, 1912. The senior inspector visited the school on 5th July, 1912.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in the contracts for the supply of meat to the Army, it is stipulated that the meat supplied should be home produce; and, in case there is no such stipulation, will he state approximately the value of the foreign meat supplied and that of the home meat?

Speaking generally, Army meat contracts are free from restrictions as to place of origin of supplies, but fresh meat must be home killed. There are no statistics as to the compara- tive values of meat supplied from foreign sources and from British Dominions.

asked the Secretary of State for War what are the approximate numbers of cadets recognised by the County Territorial Force Associations of the City of London, and the counties of London, Middlesex, Surrey, Kent, and Essex, respectively, up to 30th September last, or up to the latest date for which the information is available?

The figures for the 30th September last are as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary for India the total amount paid by the Government of India or the India Office for educational purposes in the United Kingdom in order to pay for the education in this country of public servants in India?

It is presumed that the question refers only to expenditure on the training of recruits selected for the Civil Services and Departments in India. The total amount is a little under £16,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the figures given in the second column of the Return, No. 114, of Session 1913, in reference to Indentured Labourers (Crown Colonies), are the number arriving during the years to which the Return relates, or whether they are the numbers of labourers resident in the Colonies during those years?

The figures referred to represent the average number of indentured labourers serving in the Colonies in question during the year covered by the Return.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the British Bee-keepers' Association has received a Grant from the Development Commissioners; if so, what is the amount; whether he is aware that the secretary of the association is also proprietor of a trade paper called the "Bee Journal," and is also employed as an expert by the Commission; and whether the Development Commissioners have considered the question of assisting local or county bodies or councils interested in this industry?

On the recommendation of the Development Commissioners a Grant of a sum not exceeding £850 was made to the British Bee-keepers' Association in 1911, £350 for an experimental apiary, and a sum equal to the income of the association for the year but not exceeding £500 for general organisation, including among other things the promotion of county associations. A further Grant of a sum not exceeding £150 for the experimental apiary has recently been made. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative. The secretary has never been employed as an expert by the Development Commission. The Grant made from the Development Fund to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries for Farm Institutes is available for assistance to local authorities for instruction in bee-keeping among other subjects.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether a settlement has been arrived at with regard to the disputed claim as to the Crown rights, which are in charge of the Office of Woods and Forests, in respect of the foreshore of the River Usk; and, if not settled, whether, in view of the loss and inconvenience occasioned by the delay, the Commissioner of Woods and Forests and Land Revenues will endeavour to arrive at a settlement of the question?

A settlement has not yet been arrived at with regard to the Crown's rights, in charge of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests, in the foreshore of the River Usk. A scheme of settlement was suggested by the Commissioners, but was not accepted, and the matter is now receiving further consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been directed to the cruelty still existing in the export of worn-out horses from this country to Holland, and whether he will take all necessary steps to minimise the brutality with which some of the animals are treated?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to a similar question addressed to me to-day by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for the Strand Division.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the reasons which have caused the school at Brubster, Reay, Caithness, to be closed; and whether he has any information to the effect that the decline in the population of this district is due to the extension of deer forests or the difficulty of securing land for small holdings or otherwise?

According to the most recent information which I have received from the school board, the school in question is still open.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he has received complaints or representations as to religious instruction in higher grade schools being interfered with or limited by increased attention being devoted to other subjects; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take to remove the cause of such complaints?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the negative, and the second therefore does not arise.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in a recent case of applications for the enlargement of holdings the applicants were informed by the Board of Agriculture that, the land so applied for being situated upon another estate to that on which they were at the time tenants, the application was inadmissible under the terms of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act; and whether he can see his way to introduce legislation to remedy this defect in the Act?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sutherlandshire on the 22nd April. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland will take an early opportunity of bringing a case to test the point before the Land Court.

asked the Secretary for Scotland the number of applications received for small holdings in Scotland in each month from 1st April, 1912, to 31st May, 1913; and whether he can state the total number of applications received during that period from the crofting and the non-crofting counties, respectively?

The tables are made out for quarterly periods, and the following are the figures of the total number of applications for new holdings and enlargements up to, and including the 31st May, 1913, for each quarter, and for the period from 31st March to 31st May:—

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the particulars clause of the Factory Acts applies to factories where the linen branch of the textile trade is carried on at Dunfermline; and, if not, will his Department undertake to introduce legislation to place that district under the particulars law applying to cotton operatives?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The particulars provisions of the Act already apply to the linen trade. They are applied by the Act itself to all textile factories, and they have been extended by Home Office Orders to the bleaching and dyeing and the making-up trades.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether there is any age at which the servants of his Department must retire; if so, what is that age; and how many during the last three years have retired on attaining it?

An officer of the Local Government Board may be called upon to retire at any time after reaching the age of sixty years and retirement is compulsory for every officer on attaining the age of sixty-five, subject to the power of the Treasury in special cases to extend an officer's employment for a further period not exceeding five years. The number of officers of the Department who have retired at the age of sixty or upwards during the last three years is twelve.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whetherArmando Normand has been arrested in Bolivia and is to be tried at Iquitos on charges connected with atrocities committed in the Putumayo district; whether he can state when the trial will take place; and whether he will instruct His Majesty' Minister at Lima to furnish him with a full report of the trial for the information of this House?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative and to the second in the negative. As regards the last part, I understand that there is no trial in open Court in Peru. His Majesty's Consul at Iquitos has, however, been instructed to obtain what information he can from the documents of the case, which I am informed are open to public inspection, and will furnish a Report upon them.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his Department has recently decided to grant full civil pay for the training periods of the Post Office Territorials attached to the Special Reserve section of the Royal Engineers; whether he has knowledge of the fact that the Government has circularised several large employers of labour urging the necessity for granting adequate leave and civil pay for Territorials in their employment; and whether he is now prepared to advise a general application of the decision to grant full pay to the Special Service section and other Territorials in the Post Office?

Under Regulations laid down by the Treasury for the whole of the Civil Service, Territorials in the Post Office who attend camp for a fortnight receive full pay for half the period. If, however, they are willing that the second week at camp should be recorded as part of their annual holidays, they receive full civil pay for the whole period. The officers of the Post Office to whom the hon. Member presumably refers in the first portion of the question are Special Reservists (category B), who are specially enlisted for the Postal and Telegraph services of the Expeditionary Force of the Army. In their case no deduction is made from pay or annual leave during the period of training.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Secretary of State for War and the Postmaster-General have recommended that ex-Royal Engineer telegraphists, serving in the Post Office, shall be entitled to count for civil pension purposes the time served by them in the Post Office as Royal Engineers; and whether he has stated that he is unable to comply with such recommendation; and, if so, whether the matter can be reconsidered?

The answer to the first two questions is in the affirmative. I fear that I can hold out no hope of re- versing the decision at which I arrived after very careful consideration of the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the steamer "Mount Temple" has recently had an addition made to the number of lifeboats carried; whether he is aware that this vessel now carries thirty-two collapsible lifeboats, four rafts, and three Henderson boats; if he is aware that the deck crew of the "Mount Temple" consists of only twelve able seamen, four quartermasters, and a boatswain; whether he is aware that this vessel carries over 1,600 emigrants from Antwerp to Canada; and if he will give instructions that a sufficient number of efficient deck hands will be carried with a view of manning the lifeboats in case of emergency?

When this vessel last left London there were eighteen lifeboats or boats of other descriptions on board, these being sufficient for the number of persons the vessel was certified by her passenger steamer certificate to carry. I am in communication with the owners of the "Mount Temple" in regard to the matter, and the question is receiving careful consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether a retiral age for servants is fixed in his Department; and how many in the last three years have given up work on attaining that age?

The retiring age in the Board of Trade and its sub-departments is governed by the Order in Council of 10th January, 1910, whereby any officer can be called upon to retire at any time after reaching sixty. Except in very special cases, it is compulsory for every officer to retire on attaining sixty-five. In the last three years nineteen have retired at sixty-five, one at sixty-three, one at sixty-two, one at sixty-one, and two at sixty years of age.