asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the fact that in some cases insured persons who are ill under circumstances entitling them to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Acts are charged with contributions under the National Insurance Act during such illness; whether contributions are properly chargeable during such period; and, if not, whether he will take steps to prevent this being done in future?

Contributions would only be payable in cases where the employé was receiving remuneration in addition to compensation. There is no evidence of any general misapprehension on this point, but if my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any cases which have come to his knowledge, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of persons engaged in the building trade have lodged their cards because of unemployment with the Labour Exchanges during March; how such proportion compares with that which obtains in respect of other occupations; whether the Board of Trade Returns give 5.8 per cent. of builders unemployed in January, while the statistics of the Insurance Commissioners return 8.8 per cent. as having lodged their cards, and whether he can explain this discrepancy; and whether the more favourable figure of the Board of Trade shows the building trade to be in a worse way in respect of unemployment than other insured trades, e.g., shipbuilding 3.3, engineering 2.1, vehicle construction 2.2, and others 1.5?

The number of unemployment books of workmen in the building trades remaining lodged at the end of March was 5.2 per cent. of the unemployment books issued in these trades, as compared with 2.3 per cent. in the other insured trades. The difference between the percentage of books of workmen in the building trades lodged at the end of January and the Trade Union Return to the Board of Trade cited by the hon. Member is accounted for by the fact that the trade union figure is based mainly on returns relating to carpenters and plumbers, whereas the figures with regard to unemployment books lodged relate to the whole of the building trades, including unskilled labourers. The greater amount of unemployment in the building trades as compared with other insured trades in January was largely owing to the usual winter depression in the building trade at that time. Since January the difference has decreased, and at the end of May the proportion of books lodged was 3.4 per cent. in the building trades, while in the other insured trades it was 2.2 per cent.

asked the Chief Secretary when he proposes to lay upon the Table the rules and programme of the Intermediate Board for next year?

The rules have been approved, and it is expected that copies will be laid on the Table of the House within a week.

asked the Chief Secretary when he intends to introduce the Bill, which he promised a year ago, to make the necessary alterations in the intermediate examinations?

I brought in a Bill at the end of last Session for the purpose of enabling the Board of Intermediate Education to alter the present system of public examinations, hut as the proposals of that Bill were not received with any great cordiality I did not feel justified in asking the House to read the Bill a second time. In the present Session also I have introduced a Bill to amend the Intermediate Education Acts, but unless I can ascertain that there is a general agreement as to how the existing system is to be altered there is no possibility of proceeding with the Bill this Session.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many Grants have been made from the Irish Constabulary Force Fund to men who joined the force since 18th June, 1883; what the aggregate amount of such Grants was; under what statutory authority this money of subscribers was paid to non-subscribers; and whether the Treasury will recoup the fund for the amount so paid?

The information asked for in the first two paragraphs of the question is not available and could not be obtained without an examination of the office files dealing with each individual Grant during the past thirty years. All members of the Royal Irish Constabulary, both those in the force before 1883 and those who joined since, are eligible for rewards for good police duty under Section 49 of 6 William IV., cap. 13. Since 1891, when the fund was divided into two branches, such rewards have been paid solely from the reward branch, the income of which is entirely derived from fines and penalties. Any rewards which may have been paid between 1883 and 1891 to members of the force who joined during that period were more than covered by the receipts from fines and penalties. These payments were made under Statute, and the question of recoupment does not therefore arise.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will lay upon the Table of the House a Return showing, for each year since 1886, the Acts of Parliament relating solely to Ireland under which public money has been provided by way of Grant and Loan, respectively; and the amount expended under the provisions of each such Act up to 31st March, 1913?

The preparation of the information asked for will take some time, but if the hon. Member will formally move for the Return I will offer no objection to its being granted.

asked how many applications were received by the principal of St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra, from prospective King's scholars for the training session 1912–13; how many of these applicants subsequently passed the Easter examination; and how many of those successful have been called to training?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that 166 applicants for entrance to St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra, Dublin, were proposed by the college authorities for examination at Easter, 1912, on the King's Scholarship programme, with a view to being admitted to the session 1912–13. Of this number ninety-nine qualified at the examination for admission and eighty-four were admitted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if in the contracts for the supply of meat to the Navy 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?

The great bulk of the fresh meat supplied to His Majesty's ships in Home waters is killed at the naval victualling establishments at Chatham, Portland, Portsmouth, and Devonport, the animals being delivered alive, and therefore, under present circumstances, necessarily raised in this country. The balance of the fresh meat obtained by the Fleet at other Home ports is all killed in this country, and a considerable proportion is known to be the produce of home-raised animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the total amount paid from the Home Office Votes for educational purposes in this country, indicating, in addition to the total amount, the sums paid in respect, of reformatory and industrial schools, prison education, and all other educational purposes?

The total sum paid towards the cost of Reformatory and Industrial Schools in England and Wales in 1912–13 was £220,826. It is not possible to say how much of this sum was for maintenance, and how much for education. The pay and allowances of the officers employed in prisons and Borstal institutions in teaching prisoners, including trade instructors, amount to £14,500 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the officer administering the government of British Guiana has reported with respect to the alleged riots in Plantation Rose Hall, in the county of Berbice, on 13th March last; whether the person representing the Immigration Agent-General was Mr. D. M. Hutson; whether the latter is proprietor or in any way connected with the ownership of a sugar plantation employing indentured immigrants; and whether he will lay a copy of the Report upon the Table?

The Governor has furnished me with an account of these disturbances, the substance of which I have already communicated to the House in my reply of the 15th April. I have not yet received the Report of the coroners inquisition, and pending its receipt, my hon. Friend will realise that it is undesirable that I should make any further statement. I understand that, in accordance with the procedure adopted in 1896, and on the advice of the Attorney-General, Mr. D. M. Hutson, K.C., who has been a member of the Executive Council since 5th November, 1896, has been appointed to watch the inquiry on behalf of the Immigration Department, but I do not know whether or not Mr. Hutson is connected with the sugar industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies who were the officers in charge of the police in the following disturbances in British Guiana: Plantation Non-Pareil about 1896, the 1st December riots in 1905, Plantation Lusignan on or about 18th September, 1912, Plantation Kinderen in February, and Plantation Rose Hall, 1913; what were the numbers of killed and wounded in each case; in which of the cases deaths and woundings were the result of the police firings; and whether bullets were used on all or any of these occasions?

During the riots at Plantation Non-Pareil in 1896 Inspector de Rinzy was in charge of the police, five coolies were killed and fifty-nine wounded. In the riots of December, 1905, Colonel Lushington and Major de Rinzy were in charge, eight persons were killed, and thirteen wounded, besides one policeman killed and about fifty-eight policemen injured. No police were present at the disturbances at Plantation Lusignan in September last. One man was killed. I have not heard of a disturbance at Plantation Kinderen. At the Rose Hall riots Colonel de Rinzy was in charge of the police, one policeman and fifteen other persons were killed, and about forty seriously wounded, including two policemen. Buckshot was used at Non-Pareil, and bullets in the other cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, in view of the unsettled social conditions in British Guiana, which is evidenced by the late disturbances on certain plantations employing indentured immigrants, accompanied by loss of life and serious injury, he will appoint a commission or other inquiry by persons non-resident in British Guiana, or other places where indentured labour is employed, with a view to obtaining a reliable report on the conditions under which such labour is employed?

Commissioners were lately deputed by the Government of India to make such an inquiry as my hon. Friend contemplates, and these officers have just visited British Guiana.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been directed to the fact that as Mr. Reed, of Stansted, Essex, could not write, his wife signed the form of declaration of conscientious objection to vaccination under the Vaccination Act, 1907; that the father has now been prosecuted and ordered to have the child vaccinated and to pay 7s. costs; and whether, under the circumstances, he can see his way to express the opinion to the vaccination officer that in this case further proceedings need not be taken?

My attention has been drawn to the matter referred to, but I cannot intervene in a case which has been adjudicated upon in a Court of Law.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Chiswick vaccination officer has been sending out Form Q on a postcard with a reply postcard attached, which is not in accordance with the forms prescribed by the Vaccination Order; and whether he will see that in future this vaccination officer complies with the Regulations laid down by the Board?

My attention has been drawn to this matter, and I am in communication with the guardians on the subject.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in the proposed improvement scheme for the pier district of Dover sufficient accommodation will not be provided for the people displaced; and whether he will refuse to sanction the scheme unless adequate accommodation is to be provided?

The Corporation of Dover have been authorised by Parliament to carry out certain works in the pier district of the borough, and they propose to proceed with these works. The works involve the demolition of a considerable number of houses, and the corporation have submitted to the Local Government Board, under the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1903, proposals for the provision of accommodation for part of the working-class population to be displaced. Having regard to the works to be carried out in the area, to the fact that part of the land is to be transferred to the railway company, and to the nature and size of the sites which will then remain available for the erection of houses for the working classes, it would not be practicable to provide in a satisfactory manner for the housing in the area in question of the total number of persons to be displaced. The Board have intimated that they will accept a scheme for housing 450 persons in this area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state how many officers of the mercantile marine who had previously passed the Board of Trade tests have failed in the tests of colour vision introduced on 1st April; and how many men have passed the wool test and failed with the lantern test, and vice versa?

The following are the statistics desired as to failures of certificated officers to pass the new colour vision tests during the two completed months—April and May—that they have been in operation. The total number of officers in possession of certificates of competency who were examined in the above tests during the period 1st April-31st May is 409. Failed in lantern test only: Six certificated officers failed in both local and special examinations; two failed in local examinations, but special examinations have not yet been held. Failed in wool test only: None. Failed in both lantern and wool tests: Three certificated officers failed in both local and special examinations; one has failed in the local examination, but has not yet been specially examined. Thus nine certificated officers have failed to pass the new tests; and three having failed at local examinations are awaiting special examinations before a final decision is given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade the total value in the last available year of the manufactured articles imported into Germany from the United Kingdom, the United States, and France, respectively; into the United States from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, respectively; and into France from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, respectively?

The following statement has been compiled from the particulars available in the published official Trade Returns for 1911 of the countries named. Owing to differences in the systems of classifying imports as "manufactured" or otherwise in the several countries, the results given are not strictly comparable. As regards imports into Germany, the calculation is based on the system of classification in force in that country prior to 1908 as being more nearly comparable with those in use in the other countries than that at present adopted in the German official returns.

Imports of Manufactured Goods in 1911.
(1) Into Germany:—	£
From United Kingdom	22,600,000
From France	11,400,000
From United States	11,900,000
(2) Into the United States:—
From United Kingdom	35,000,000
From Germany	24,900,000
From France	17,000,000
(3) Into France:—
From United Kingdom	15,500,000
From Germany	22,400,000
From United States	3,600,000

Note.—The figures with regard to Germany and France relate to "special imports"; those with regard to United States of America to "total imports."

asked the Postmaster-General whether the Post Office pays the fees of any Post Office servants who attend classes with the view of qualifying for higher grades in the Post Office service; and, if so, what is the total amount of fees thus paid in the last financial year?

Under certain conditions the fees payable by Post Office servants in connection with their attendance at educational and technical classes are reimbursed by the Department. The total amount expended in this connection during the last financial year was about £1,100.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that second-class engineers in the Post Office service of twenty-five years acknowledged good service have been informed that they are redundant and have no hope of further advancement except in regard to a limited number; whether new men have been admitted to the service above such officers of long standing and approved service; and whether he has finally decided to give them no redress for the grievances they have on many occasions represented?

Under a revision of the Engineering Department in July, 1911, the second-class of engineers became redundant; but the majority of the members of that class have been placed upon the new class of assistant engineers, for which higher qualifications are required, and which is to be recruited normally by competition. It is not anticipated that more than a limited number of the remaining second-class engineers will prove qualified for advancement to the class of assistant engineers; but the claims of eligible officers will be reviewed as suitable vacancies occur. I am, however, convinced that it would be most undesirable to refrain from filling a certain proportion of the vacancies by competition.