asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in South Wales, medical aid societies are being formed into which insured persons are brought and medical men imported, who join the panel as whole-time servants of such societies on a fixed salary, the local insurance committees encouraging insured persons to make their own arrangements, under Section 15, Sub-section (3), with such medical aid societies, and to provide for their dependants by deductions from wages; whether such medical aid societies are paid by the insurance committees the sum due for medical attendance to insured persons, such payments being then pooled, and medical men being required to attend insured persons and their dependants for 6s. 6d. per head; and whether the Act contemplates, and the Government approves of, such a scheme?

Two insurance committees have in a few instances allowed bodies of insured persons to make their own arrangements with medical aid societies attached to certain works in South Wales. Under these circumstances the insurance committees propose to make a contribution to the cost of providing medical attendance for the insured in conformity with Section 15, Sub-section (3) of the Insurance Act and Section 49 of the Regulations with respect to the administration of medical benefit. The sum contributed by the insurance committee will in no case be greater than the amount for which the medical society undertakes the treatment of the insured person. The payment made in respect of dependants is not within the purview of the insurance committee.

Was South Wales the first to get the benefit of this under the Insurance Act in this way?

I am not sure whether medical aid societies are being dealt with in other parts. I think there are some in the north of England. Of course the members of the committees are now at liberty to make their own arrangements.

Is the House to understand that South Wales is to get this extra benefit?

I would not call that an extra privilege. I do not know whether South Wales is the only place where these arrangements were made.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury, whether the Insurance Commissioners have any settled principle upon which they decide how many hours' work a day constitutes part-time employment; and whether a clerk working six hours a day is considered to be employed part-time or full-time for the purpose of ascertaining whether his rate of remuneration exceeds or is less than :160 a year?

The question whether any particular employment is whole-time or not depends upon the number of hours normally worked in that class of employment. Each case must be considered on its merits, and no general rule can be laid down as to the shortest hours which could be regarded as full-time employment in clerical or secretarial work. A clerk whose net working day exclusive of meal times was six hours could not be regarded as employed part-time in the absence of evidence that his hours were in fact less than those customary in the locality for that particular class of work.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Commissioners have any settled principle in the matter?

I would ask the hon. Gentleman to wait until the full Report of the Commissioners is out, and in which this point is very fully dealt with.

asked whether the Insurance Commissioners have agreed with certain resisters to the National Insurance Act that past contributions shall remain in abeyance unless and until any of their employee fall sick, when the cards of that particular man shall be stamped so that he may be in benefit?

The answer is in the negative.

Are we to assume that the statement which appeared in the "Daily News" is incorrect?

I can hardly answer that until I have seen the statement in the "Daily News." The Commissioners have not only not done this, but they have no power to do so.

asked how many prosecutions for non-compliance with the National Insurance Act have up to the present time been instituted in Lincolnshire?

The number of cases in the area referred to in which proceedings have been instituted up to the present time is ten.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that labourers employed in the Great Central Railway Company's fitting shop at Grimsby had unemployment insurance books issued to them when the National Insurance Act came into operation, which were subsequently withdrawn, and that the books have now been reissued, and the company intend to stop all back contributions in one sum from the workmen's wages; and whether the action of the company has the sanction of the Treasury? The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Robertson): I will make inquiries into the case to which my hon. Friend refers, and will communicate the result to him in due course.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has yet had an opportunity of testing the adequacy of the amount allowed per head under the National Insurance Act for the treatment of consumptives as compared with the actual cost to the Post Office Society, in which members are only admitted after satisfactorily passing a medical examination; and, if so, whether it is shown that the cost to that society, even with selected lives, has been substantially in excess of the figure (1s. 3d.) fixed under the National Insurance Act?

As I stated in reply to the hon. Member on the 4th June, the experience of the authorities of sanatoria existing before the passing of the National Insurance Act was too limited to be of much practical value in estimating the amount required for the treatment of cases of tuberculosis under the Act; and in the case of the particular society referred to, the higher cost of administration due to the society being only concerned with the administration of a single benefit, vitiates any comparison between the cost to the society and the cost to an insurance committee under the scheme of the Act.

Is not the actual experience under the Act that ls. 3d. is wholly inadequate?

No, I do not think so. It would be much too early, after only the experience we have had, to make any general statement of that sort.

Would the right hon. Gentleman consult the hon. Member for Walworth (Mr. Dawes), the chairman of the London Insurance Committee, on that?

I am in close consultation with all the authorities concerned with tuberculosis treatment.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has yet had an opportunity of testing the complaints of the secretary of the Sheffield district of the Ancient Order of Foresters and of a court secretary as to the action of a State auditor in disallowing and objecting to items in the accounts representing sums paid to officers of branches under resolutions of members for work performed in administering the National Insurance Act?

The hon. Member has sent me an extract from a letter addressed by a secretary of the Sheffield district of the society named to the "Foresters Miscellany," and a copy of a further letter appearing in the same magazine over the anonymous signature "Court Secretary." The purport of the former is not to complain of the action of the auditors, but to criticise the effect of certain provisions of the rules of the society. This is evident from a part of the letter, omitted from the extract forwarded by the hon. Member, in which the writers advises an amendment of the rules. With regard to the latter letter, I can only remark that, while some of its Statements are obviously inaccurate, I am unable to examine in detail complaints made anonymously.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to accept further correspondence on the subject?

I am always delighted to have fresh information on all topics.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if the Pembrokeshire Insurance Committee has been paying :14 a week a patient to the Welsh National Memorial Association for the treatment of insured persons for tuberculosis; what is the total number of insured tuberculosis patients in the county; and what is the estimated income of the committee for this class of benefit during the present year?

The committee referred to has not entered into an agreement for the payment of :14 or any other sum per patient per week to the Welsh National Memorial Association, but, like all other insurance committees in Wales, is contributing for the present at the rate of 9d. per insured person per annum towards a comprehensive scheme for the institutional treatment of all classes of tuberculous patients. The number of insured tuberculosis patients in the county at present is twenty, and the estimated annual income of the committee in respect of sanatorium benefit is :1,195.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is true that :14 per patient per week has been paid, and, if not, I think it is advisable that the statement should be contradicted?

I have given the answer to the hon. Gentleman that the committee has not entered into an agreement for the payment of :14 or any other sum. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to put further questions I should respectfully submit. to him to put them down.

If the statement were true may I ask whether the person would have any ground of complaint that he has not received ninepence for fourpence?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what arrangements, if any, have been made to enable an insured person who is compelled at a few hours' notice to leave the area in which his usual place of residence is situated in order to go into some other area in connection with his work, and who is taken ill upon his arrival in that area, to secure the medical attention for which he has paid?

Arrangements have been made whereby in the exceptional circumstances referred to the insured person can be furnished with a voucher entitling him to medical attendance from a doctor on the panel in the place in which he is taken ill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it would take probably two days to secure that voucher and how there-fore he is to have the benefit when as the question states he has to leave at a few hours' notice?

I do not think there is any suggestion that it would take two days to provide the voucher.

Is the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the insured person has to write to the insurance committee and has to receive a letter enclosing an answer and how can that be done in the few hours mentioned?

That can be done in less than two days. I have no doubt the insured person would get the voucher if he went to the insurance committee's office immediately.

How is an insured person living in a remote part of the county of Essex to make a journey to the insurance committee's office in London to obtain a voucher when he has to leave his work at three or four hours' notice?

How are the insurance committee to supply a man with a voucher if they do not know that he wants one?

That is not an answer. Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question?

There is a difficulty—I have never denied it—if a man has suddenly to take a journey and is taken ill while on that journey. That difficulty must always exist under any system of insurance. But if a man knows that he is going on a journey he can without difficulty obtain a voucher on which he can obtain medical attendance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take steps to meet the difficulty which he now acknowledges?

I should be delighted to have any suggestion from the hon. Gentleman or otherwise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can modify the regulations so as to permit the certificate of a secretary of an approved society to be accepted as sufficient evidence that an alien who has been resident in the United Kingdom for at least five years was in fact so resident and a member of a society on the 4th May, 1911, and entitled to full benefit under the National Insurance Act, without troubling the secretary to also obtain the declaration of the alien on Form A. S. 74?

It is necessary that the auditors should have sufficient evidence that insured persons claiming to be regarded, for the purposes of the Insurance Act, as British subjects, and therefore to receive the advantages of the State Grant, satisfy the conditions of the Statute. No Regulations have been issued, or are required, on the subject, but Form A. S. 74 was issued to societies as indicating what will in most cases be the simplest method of satisfying the auditors' requirements. It is obvious that mere membership of a society during a period of five years is not sufficient proof of continuous residence, as the member might, in fact, have resided abroad during the greater part of that time. If, however, in a particular case, the records of the society give conclusive proof of continuous residence (apart from holidays and other short periods of temporary absence), a certificate from the secretary to that effect may be given instead of the form of declaration indicated in A. S. 74.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether the Government have consulted the National Conference of Friendly Societies and the Joint Committee of Approved Societies as to the allocation of time for the National Insurance Act Amending Bill; and (2) whether, in view of the importance to the friendly society world that there should' be full and unrestricted opportunity for full discussion by hon. Members of the National Insurance Act Amending Bill and the Amendments thereto desired by the friendly societies, he will reconsider his decision to withdraw that Bill from the Whole House and to send it to a Committee upstairs?

asked whether, in the event of the National Insurance Amending Bill being sent to a Standing Committee, the Government will support an increase in the numbers of the Committee?

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received any representations from the approved societies in support of referring the proposed Bill to amend the National Insurance Act to a Committee of the Whole House, in view of its extreme importance to all insured persons?

asked whether the National Insurance Act Amendment Bill promised by the Government will be so drafted as to enable private Members to propose by Amendments alterations to any part of the National Insurance Act?

Representations have been received from certain societies and will be duly considered. I can answer no further questions in regard to this Bill until it has been introduced.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of having a full report of the proceedings of this Committee taken, as he did in the case of the Unemployment Part of the Insurance Act?

Until the Bill has been introduced, I propose to make no statement.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman even say it will cover the whole ground of the Insurance Act?

No, Sir, certainly not: I cannot say anything whatever about it.

asked whether the Government proposes to abolish the compulsory levy of the insurance tax, in view of its general unpopularity and of the fact that of 2,120,000 persons in a position to pay or abstain from paying at their own discretion only 20,500, or less than 1 per cent., have elected to pay?

The answer is in the negative. The compulsory levy of contributions (except upon persons exempted on the ground of poverty) was accepted as necessary and desirable by the Opposition as well as by the Government when the Insurance Bill was passed, and I have no evidence that either party has changed its mind in the matter, or that the bulk of insured persons object to contributing to their own insurance.

Is it a fact, as indicated by the question, that 20,500 persons are voluntarily paying 7d. and 6d. for benefits that a compulsorily insured person only pays 4d. and 3d. for respectively?

Yes, I think that is so.

asked whether, in view of the fact that married women out-workers were declared subject to insurance tax by the Commissioners and not by Parliament, the Amendment Bill will provide for their exclusion, which, after experience, they desire?

The Order to which the hon. Member refers was made by the Commissioners under the powers vested in them by the proviso to Section 1 (2) of the National Insurance Act, and it was made on the recommendation of Sir Ernest Hatch's Committee, which inquiried fully into the position of married women out-workers. Objection having been taken to the Provisional Order, Mr. Pope was appointed to hold an inquiry, and he reported strongly against excluding married women outworkers from insurance. It is not intended to provide for their exclusion in the Amending Bill.

Does not a perusal of Mr. Pope's report show that the desire of the married outworkers was not to be included?

I should have thought the evidence was overwhelming the other way. In fact, everyone representing the outworkers asked to have them included.

Did they not declare that it would lead to their losing their work?

That may be, but there is not the slightest doubt they wanted to be included.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether malingering is proving to be a grave menace to the stability of the national insurance scheme and to the solvency of approved societies; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave him on Thursday last. As I then stated, such evidence as is at present available for the country as a whole does not point to any general excess of sickness claims over the actuarial expectations, but the whole question is now receiving the most careful attention of the Commissioners.

Is it not a fact that approved societies generally give instructions to their visitors to search out such people?

Well, I hope so. Approved societies lose by any malingering that takes place among their members.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether insured workers under the National Insurance Act who are deprived of their work through a lock-out, although they have had nothing to do, directly or indirectly, with the cause of the lock-out, are deprived of the unemployed benefit for which they have been compelled to pay?

The grant of benefit in times of trade dispute is governed by Section 87 (1) of the Act, which is as follows:—

"A workman who has lost employment by reason of a stoppage of work which was due to a trade dispute at the factory, workshop, or other premises at which he was employed, shall be disqualified for unemployment benefit so long as the stoppage of work continues, except in a case where he has, during the stoppage of work, become bond fide employed elsewhere in an insured trade.

"Where separate branches of work which are commonly carried on as separate businesses in separate premises are in any case carried on in separate departments on the same premises, each of those departments shall, for the purposes of this provision, be deemed to be a separate factory or workshop or separate premises, as the case may be"

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of established Civil servants to whom during the year ending 31st March, 1913, fresh certificates of qualifications were issued on promotion; the grade or class of such officers and the grade or class to which they were promoted; the number of candidates for promotion required to pass an examination in scholastic subjects before the issue of such certificates; and the grade or class of such candidates?

The answer to the first part of the question is 287, and to the third part fifty-three. The promotions affected a large number of grades, and perhaps the hon. Member will not think it necessary for a list of the various posts to which they were made to be circulated. I will circulate particulars of grades from which promotions were made, showing whether with or without scholastic examination. [See Written Answers this date.]

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that packing cases consigned to addresses in Ireland, and described as containing electrical machinery, were recently detained and opened by Belfast Customs authorities, on the suspicion that their contents had been misdescribed; and whether a Customs authority would be equally entitled to seize and open a keg consigned to a private address and described as containing butter on the suspicion that the contents were in fact margarine?

The Customs authorities have statutory power to examine any goods landed from any ship at any place in the United Kingdom. I cannot express an opinion whether liability to forfeiture would be incurred in a hypothetical case.

These goods were sent to Belfast from an address in the United Kingdom.

That is not an interrogatory statement.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that a case of firearms consigned to Mr. Benjamin Houghton, an ironmonger in the city of Cork, has been recently detained by the local Inland Revenue authorities; and whether he will state the reason for their detention?

I will make inquiry in this matter if the hon. Member will furnish me with such particulars as will enable me to identify the case in question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury (1) whether the eleven additional members proposed to be added to the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society mentioned in the Treasury letter of 1st April, 1913, have been selected; and, if so, will he give their names to the House; and (2) whether he will lay upon the Table copy of the correspondence which has passed between the Lords of the Treasury, the Development Commissioners, and the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society on the subject of the proposed Grant; whether the money has been paid over, and, if so, when; whether the three gentlemen to represent the various interests concerned mentioned in the Treasury letter of 1st April, 1913, have been selected; and, if so, can he give their names to the House as well as the names of the gentlemen who were asked, but who refused to act?

For legal and other reasons, the Irish Agricultural Organisation Society have asked that one of the conditions set out in the Treasury letter of the 1st April, 1913, should be modified; and this request is now under consideration. No Grant has, therefore, been made to the society, and no action has been taken to select gentlemen to represent on the society's governing body the various interests concerned. When the correspondence is complete, I will consider whether any useful purpose would be served by publication.

asked the Postmaster General if the postal telegraph messenger boys of 13 years of age are compelled to use bicycles weighing 37 pounds with a pedal, in many cases, 1 inch longer than the reach of their legs when the saddle is at its lowest point; if the danger to the health of those boys by such practice 'has been continuously brought under the notice of the authorities in London by one of the medical officers for some months past; if such representation has resulted in a pointblank refusal to supply a more suitable machine; and if this decision has been come to with the approval of the senior and second medical officers to the General Post Office?

The question of the weight and build of the cycles used by telegraph boy messengers in the Post Office has received very full consideration; and I am advised that the present type of machine is suitable in all respects, and is as light as is compatible with safety and durability. I am not aware that injury to the health of boy messengers has resulted from the use of this type of cycle. There are standing instructions that the saddles are to be carefully adjusted before the cycles are used. It is true that representations were made by one Post Office medical officer concerning the weight and build of a cycle used by boy messengers in his district; but the chief and second medical officers to the Post Office, who have seen the medical officer's representations and the reports on the local inquiry which was held in the matter, are satisfied that the cycles are of a suitable build and weight.

asked the Postmaster-General if his attention has been called to certain local telephone directories published as a private enterprise, but stated to be officially sanctioned by the Postmaster-General, wherein there appears, besides a complete alphabetical list of subscribers, a trades directory, under which heading the names only of those tradesmen who advertise in the directory appear; and whether, in order to prevent this being used for the coercion of tradesmen to advertise, he will consider the advisability of withdrawing his official sanction?

The publishers of the Eastbourne local telephone directory, to which the hon. Member probably refers, inform me that they are prepared to include in the classified trades list appended to the general list of subscribers on application, free of charge, the name of any local tradesman, whether he is an advertiser or not.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what travelling facilities are at present afforded to seamen in the Navy to visit their homes when on leave; and if it is proposed to make special arrangements with the railway companies or to make travelling allowances to the men in order to assist them in reaching their homes when on shore?

With regard to the first part of the question, all the principal railway and steamship companies allow naval ratings to travel at a single fare for the double journey when proceeding on leave. As regards the second part of the question, the general arrangements connected with the travelling of men proceeding on leave are under consideration.

Does the right hon. Gentleman expect to report to the House in the near future with regard to the proposed alterations?

Then was the statement that the right hon. Gentleman made when introducing the Estimates really not intended to be carried out?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the inquiry into the alleged violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by the British Portland Cement Company and the Associated Portland Cement Company has yet been completed; and, if so, will he state the result?

The inquiry is not complete. I will communicate with my hon. Friend at the earliest possible moment.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it is three months since this question was put down? Surely the Board ought to be in a position to make a Report in three months. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these long delays are very annoying, and sometimes cause nasty things to be said about people?

This inquiry raises a very large question, and I want to get complete information before I give an answer. I will give the answer without. any unnecessary delay.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if steps will be taken to strengthen our naval strength in the West Indies in the event of the Admiralty entering into contracts to purchase South American and Mexican oil?

I shall be in a position to make a statement upon the subject of the increased naval force to be maintained in the West Indies when Vote 8 is under discussion.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what steps, if any, are being taken by his Department to prospect for oil within the British Empire; if he is aware of the many millions of acres of land in British North America, British Africa, and Australia entirely unprospected; and if he will decide upon some systematic policy of search for oil in British territory before entering into binding contracts extending over several years with firms obtaining their oil outside the Empire?

Active and comprehensive efforts have for some time past been made by the Admiralty and the Colonial Office in the direction of securing or developing the oil supplies of the British Empire, and this most important object will be steadily pursued. But the Noble Lord will appreciate the fact that the immediate task before the Admiralty is to provide definite quantities of oil certainly available at particular dates during the next few years. If desired by the House, I will enter broadly upon this difficult and important subject when Vote 8 is set down for discussion. It is difficult to do justice to its complexities by question and answer.

Will the right hon. bon. Gentleman, before the expenditure of public money in this direction, bear in mind the large amount of land speculation that is going on in this part of the world by hon. Members opposite—[Interruption]—and so safeguard himself against bribery and corruption?

I have not seen any suggestion put forward which would justify that statement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many women are employed respectively in the colour loft and in the ropery at His Majesty's dockyards; how many vacancies have occurred in these departments respectively during the last twelve months; how many names of widows and orphans are now down on the waiting lists; and will he say, apart from death, what proportion of persons whose names appear on the waiting list may reasonably expect to obtain employment in either of these departments within the next twelve months?

One hundred and forty-six women are employed in the colour lofts of the home yards, and in the roperies, 190. Thirteen vacancies have occurred in the colour lofts in the last twelve months, and fifteen in the roperies. Five hundred and one names of widows and orphans are now on the waiting lists of these departments. I should say, judging by service requirements, that very few indeed of these applicants will secure work. We do our best to meet these poor people, hut it must be obvious to the hon. Member that we cannot find work for them if work does not exist.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman consider the question of awarding some extra compensation or pension to these poor people instead of holding out the possibility of work which now it appears will never be given?

If they are widows of dockyard men who at death came under our workmen's compensation scheme, they may have had compensation. If they are the widows and orphans of sailors who met their death in the service of the Crown, they may have received allowances. We do our best to find them work, of course, if there is no work we cannot give it to them.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many ex-naval and ex-dockyard men, injured in the service of the Crown, are now employed in the dockyards under the Regulation which permits these men being given light work in the yards; how many vacancies occurred in this class of employment during the twelve months ended 31st March last; will he give the number of names. now on the waiting list in the various yards; and whether, in view of the disappointment so often incurred, will he take into consideration the advisability of refraining from holding out to injured men hopes of employment which, however well intended, cannot, in existing circumstances, be expected to be realised?

Detailed inquiry at the yards is required to answer this question, and I shall be glad if the hon. Member will put it down again a week hence.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the vaccination officer for the Holborn Union has issued notices of default under the Vaccination Acts to parents in which the words at the Bow Street Police Court are included; and whether he proposes to instruct the officer to adhere strictly to the wording of the notices as set out in the Board's Order and prescribed forms?

I am aware of the circumstances of this case and have given the necessary instructions to the vaccination officer.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will request the Poor Law inspector, Mr. G. Harvey, to supplement the statistics relating to the relief of the poor which he recently sent round to the unions of the eastern district by giving either the cost of the items of indoor relief not included in indoor maintenance, or the total cost of poor relief; whether other inspectors have from time to time given statistics similar to those of Mr. Harvey whether he will give the hon. Member, or send to the Library of the House of Commons, copies of the statistical returns issued by the inspectors at the public expense during the last three years; and whether the object and effect of omitting complete statistics as to the cost of indoor relief is to conceal the cost of the workhouse and other indoor relief with a view of discouraging out-relief, or, if not, what is the object of giving statistics which are incomplete, instead of giving complete ones?

Many of the inspectors of the Local Government Board have been accustomed to circulate from time to time amongst the guardians of unions in their districts statements of various kinds enabling comparisons to be made between union and union. These statements have, I understand, been much appreciated by guardians. I need hardly say that the issue of these statements has had no such object as is suggested in the question. The figures which Mr. Hervey supplied were derived from the half-yearly returns of cost of in-maintenance and out-relief. As the hon. Member will see from the answer I am circulating to his general question, I am proposing to expand the next of these periodical returns in a way which will, I hope, meet his views.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that county councils are inclined to resent the system, under which Local Government Board inspectors visit various sanitary districts within their county areas for the purpose of holding public or other inquiries in relation to housing, sewerage, and other like schemes without any notice being given to the county councils; and whether, in view of the desirability of friendly co-operation between such councils and the Local Government Board and of the fact that county councils are default authorities under the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, and other Statutes, he will, as a matter both of courtesy and expediency, see that intimation of such visits is in future given to such authorities?

It is the practice of the Local Government Board in the case of every public inquiry in respect of housing, sewerage, and, where the county council desire it, water supply, to notify the county council concerned of the time and place of the inquiry. It has not, however, been the practice to give the county council notice of a purely informal visit of inspection, and I am not aware of any inclination on the part of any county council to resent the fact that in certain cases inspections of this character are made without notice. Where arrangements are made for the formal inspection of a district in an administrative county instructions have been given that the inspector shall, whenever practicable, inform the county council concerned.

Is there any objection in all cases where the county council is the default authority to giving formal notice to the county council of local inquiries being held under Local Government Acts

There may be cases in which the county council itself is in default. I will consider the question of the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a memorial signed by the inhabitants of Cloonacool, Tubbercurry, county Sligo, praying for a Sunday delivery in that village; and, if so, whether he will accede to the wishes of the people in respect to such delivery?

I have received the memorial, but I regret that in view of the deficit on the existing postal service in the district, a Sunday delivery is not warranted.

Is it not a fact that in all the surrounding villages there is a Sunday delivery carried on at very little cost? Could not the same be extended to Cloonacool?

I am afraid it would involve a very considerable increase of cost.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is prepared to provide rural party-line telephones in all districts where three or four farmers consent to subscribe :3 per annum for their use, or whether such telephones will only be provided in cases where a telephone exchange already exists in the immediate locality or where the revenue likely to result from the establishment of a new exchange is sufficient to meet the outlay of the General Post Office in respect of it?

Rural party lines can be introduced in any rural district where there is already an exchange, and where there are three or four farmers or other residents Who are willing to pay :3 per annum, provided that the other necessary conditions are met. These cheap party lines can only be provided in districts in the vicinity of existing telephone exchanges or where there is enough telephone business to justify the establishment of new exchanges and their connection with the general telephone system of the country, irrespective of rural party lines.

In view of the fact that over the greater part of the rural areas of the country exchanges at present do not exist, does not that involve that the greater number of the village farmers cannot get the benefit of which the right hon. Gentleman has spoken?

It is perfectly true that they cannot get the benefit of the telephone exchange if there is no exchange. We are extending as rapidly as may be, so far as financial considerations warrant, the provision of exchanges in the villages throughout the country, but we cannot establish a telephone exchange in every village irrespective of the loss to the taxpayer of so doing.

Is it not the policy of the right hon. Gentleman to instal no new exchange in a village unless a certain commerical profit is anticipated?

No. Exchanges may be established in villages even though there may be some loss initially, but certainly exchanges are not established if it is inticipated that there will be a continuous permanent loss.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that, under the existing law, persons residing in British Colonies are precluded from investing in limited companies in this country unless they are able to furnish an address in the United Kingdom or Ireland; and, if so, whether, in order to encourage the investment of Colonial capital in English securities, he will consider as to an amendment of the present law in this respect?

I am not aware of any such provision in the existing law relating to companies registered in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of the Gweedore (county Donegal) Quarry Company, Limited, versus Livesey and others, which came before Mr. Justice Warrington on the 5th and 6th instant; whether he is aware that the Gweedore Quarry Company is no more or no less than a man named Louis W.' Carder, late managing director of the Irish Industrial Mineral Company, of Westport and Achill Island, county Mayo; that Louis Winfred Carder was ordered to pay to Mr. Livesey on or before the 16th instant the sum of :1,500, money invested by Mr. Livesey in the Gweedore Quarry Company; and that -Carder had to admit on oath that he was an undischarged bankrupt since 1908; whether he disclosed this fact to Mr. Livesey before the latter put his :1,500 in the Gweedore Quarry Company; and was the Board of Trade informed of the fact at the time of the registration of the company?

My attention has not previously been called to this case, and the only newspaper report which I have seen states that the parties have come to terms, which, however, are not given. The only information with regard to the Gweedore Quarry Company, Limited, at the disposal of the Board of 'Trade is contained in the documents filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, and from these documents it appears that the company was registered on the 16th December, 1912. By an agreement dated 17th December, 1912, it agreed to purchase from one Laurence Wilfrid Carder the undertaking, assets and goodwill of a business carried on by him under the name of the Beleek Felspar Mining Company, and to appoint him managing Erector for life. A Laurence Wilfrid Carder was also managing director of the Irish Industrial Minerals, Limited. D. D. Livesey and J. M. Livesey were appointed with Carder directors of the Gweedore Quarry Company, Limited, but there is no evidence on the file that :1,500 has been put into the company by either of these individuals, who, according to the return of allotments made 17th December, 1912, held 126 shares each. The Registrar was not informed of the fact that Carder was an undischarged bankrupt at the time of the registration of the company. I have no means of ascertaining the correctness of the other matters referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he was aware that, on the basis of 'an average crop of potatoes amounting to eight tons per acre and of the present average rate for their conveyance by rail being 10s. per ton, the proposed uniform increase in railway rates of 4 per cent. as from the 1st. July will represent an increased tax upon agricultural land used for this purpose of 3s. 4d. per acre; and whether, having regard to the burden that would thereby be placed upon agriculture and the production of an article of food of general consumption, he will take steps to secure some modification of the proposed increase or the entire exemption there from of agricultural and market garden produce of this or alike description?

I should doubt whether the average haul in the case of potatoes is as long as the hon. Member's question suggests, and I do not know why he assumes that the increase of rates would be wholly borne by the producer. As the hon. Member is aware, any trader or responsible body of traders can complain of an increase of rate, and if necessary require the railway company to justify it before the Railway and Canal Commission. The Board of Trade have no power in the matter, and in the circumstances I do not see that there are any steps which they can usefully take.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether it is proposed to continue the acting teachers' examination; and, if so, whether, until its abolition, a strict equality of treatment will be accorded to teachers obtaining their certificates out of college as compared with college-trained teachers?

There is no intention of discontinuing the examination at present. As regards the second Hart of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the answers given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for North Islington on 6th May and 11th June.

asked the Prime Minister when it is proposed to lay before this House and the country the Government's proposals for establishing a national scheme of education, as promised in the King's Speech; and whether any opportunity will, prior to the close of the Session, be afforded to this House of discussing such proposals?

I cannot yet name any date or indicate the time which may be afforded this Session for discussing the proposals which we intend to place before the House.

Have the Government yet decided what the national scheme of education consists of?

The proper time to ask that question is when the Bill is introduced. It would be a novel practice to make known the details of a Bill before its introduction.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a committee to examine the books of Messrs. Montmorency and Company, in view of the published statements that investments of party funds have been made in shares of the Mexican Eagle Oil Company in the name of Lord Murray, which appears in the books of Messrs. Montmorency and Company, and in view of the fact that the Mexican Eagle Oil Company has had, and is now in, contractual relations with His Majesty's Government?

The answer is in the negative. The suggestion made in the question as to the investment of party funds is without any foundation. In regard to the latter part of the question, I must refer to arid repeat the answer given by the First. Lord of the Admiralty on 12th June. There has not been, and is not now, any contract between the Government and the Mexican Eagle Oil Company.

Is it not a fact that this company had a trial order for a million tons of oil in 1911, as stated in a financial paper, the "Investors' Chronicle" in September of last year?

I have nothing to add to the answer I have already given.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the denials made by the Postmaster-General and the Attorney-General, on behalf of their colleagues, of having had any dealings in English Marconi shares were explicity confined to Cabinet Ministers, and in view of the fact that several Government Departments were concerned in the negotiation of the Marconi Agreement, can he now state whether he has received any information from Ministers other than Cabinet Ministers as to transactions in Marconi shares either in the English company or its associated companies?

The answer is in the negative.

Arising out of that answer—which, of course, is strictly accurate—may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any mental reservations on this matter?

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether the Government of Ceylon has unconditionally withdrawn the recently issued order prohibiting Government officials from belonging to temperance societies?

Yes, Sir, I am informed by the acting Governor that the order has been withdrawn.

asked whether under the terms of the Government of Ireland Bill, with the exception of certain pension Grants and a Grant to Belfast University, there are any charges specifically charged up against the Transferred Sum; and, if so, will he state their nature and amount?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to page 3 of Cd. Paper 6844, where a list is given of specific prior charges on the Transferred Sum and of the estimated amount of each such charge had the provisions of the Bill been in operation in 1912–13. In addition, there are other prior charges of a hypothetical or contingent character, as to which I must refer the hon. Member to Clauses 17, 20, 22, and 42 of the Bill. Owing to the nature of these charges it is not possible to estimate what deduction (if any) would be made from the Transferred Sum in respect of them. I may add, with reference to the terms of the hon. Member's question that there is no specific charge on the Transferred Sum in respect of Belfast University except in the event of default on the part of the Irish Parliament to pay the sum of :18,000 referred to in Clause 42 (b) of the Bill.

asked the Prime Minister whether the agreement made in 1906 between the India Office and the Bank of England, under which the former undertook to purchase silver through the latter for seven years, and which expired on 1st April, has been renewed?

The agreement between the India Office and the Bank of England, which expired on the 31st March, 1913, has not been renewed.

Will the Under-Secretary give some undertaking to the House that at any rate in future purchases will not be made secretly through relations of Ministers.

I can only convey to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State the remarks of the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is yet able to state the extra sum that the Treasury is prepared to grant in respect of the current financial year to the relief of the educational rate in necessitous school areas?

I can add nothing to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave on the 8th May last to my hon. Friend the Member for Merthyr Tydvil. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of a letter which my right hon. Friend addressed on the 11th instant to the hon. Member for the Romford Division.

Will there be any relief given this year?

I am not quite sure what are the terms of the letter, but I am sending a copy.

asked whether certain officers of Customs and Excise who entered the service as assistants of Excise prior to the amalgamation of the services with a definite prospect of receiving a salary of :115 on appointment to a station, have as a result of the amalgamation been appointed to stations at salaries of from :102 10s. to :110; and whether he is aware that the late Secretary to the Treasury gave a definite pledge that no class of officer should suffer as a result of the amalgamation of the services of Customs and Excise?

The point raised in this question is a consequence of the adop- tion of a continuous service scale, which was very strongly advocated by the officers themselves. I am satisfied that their interests have not suffered from the new scale, taken as a whole.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are certain officers who have suffered and are at present receiving salaries very much inferior to those they had a right to expect when entering?

I went very fully into the whole matter in debate.

asked whether there is any practical farmer, other than Mr. H. Jones Davies, at present on the Development Commission; and, if so, who is he?

Mr. Jones Davies is, I believe, the only member of the Development Commission whose business is farming. The Chairman of the Commission and Mr. Hall have considerable practical knowledge of agriculture.

Does the right hon. Gentleman suggest that the distinguished scientist he has just mentioned is in any sense a practical farmer?

I just said he was not.

asked whether Sir Sainthill Eardley-Wilmot retired from the office of a Development Commissioner on the 12th May last in order to take up the position of forestry adviser to the Commission; if so, whether and when it is proposed to fill the vacancy on the Commission; and, in that event, whether he will, in deference to English agricultural opinion, appoint as his successor a man having large and practical experience of extensive agriculture in England?

Sir Sainthill Eardley-Wilmot completed on the 11th May last his term of office as a Development Commissioner under the provisions of the Act of 1910 and the Royal Warrant appointing the Commission, and on his retirement was appointed forestry adviser to the Commission. It is proposed to fill the vacancy on the Commission at an early date, and, as my right hon. Friend stated in reply to the hon. Member on the 11th instant, the suggestion contained in the last part of the question shall be carefully considered.

asked whether Undeveloped Land Duty, with retrospective effect for four years, is being demanded from allotment holders in Nottingham, who are protesting in vain against this action; and what steps he proposes to take to abate this grievance Mr. MASTERMAN: Duty has been assessed where a liability primâ facie existed, but all claims for any exemption or allowance granted by law will be carefully investigated. In some instances, to which I apprehend that the hon. Member may allude, requests for payment were inadvertently issued after such a claim had been received, but, on attention being called to the matter, they were at once withdrawn.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the name of the pension officer who appealed against the old age pension of 5s. a week voted by the Delvin sub-committee to Widow Mary Muldoon, No. 934 on the officer's register, holder of a farm stocked only with one ass and one goat and yielding only :5 for sale of produce last year; if he will state the details of which the officer made up an income to disqualify this woman; whether the officer's experience includes making a living by land of this class; and whether the Local Government Board will have his valuation in this case tested by an inspector, any local valuer, or a valuer from the Estates Commissioners?

Pension officers are not under the control of the Local Government Board, and they cannot, therefore, state the name of the officer referred to; nor have they any information as to his experience in the matter of estimating the value of farms; but, in any case, they form their own estimate independently on the facts as reported to them. The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension as to the stock on the claimant's farm, which, in addition to pigs and fowl belonging to the claimant, consisted of seven head of cattle belonging to neighbours, who paid about :15 a year for the grazing. Claimant also receives about 4210 a year for hay, and has one acre of land under potatoes, one acre under oats, and one rood of turnips. As the case has been decided, the Board have no authority to make the further inquiries suggested.

If a fresh claim is made will the case be reconsidered and this woman's property valued by a competent man?

Certainly, if a fresh claim is made we will go into the matter all over again.

asked whether there are some temporary clerks of considerable service in the General Register Office, Dublin; was the position of these men considered by the Registrar-General before applying for additional clerks of the abstractor class; were their claims to promotion laid before the Treasury before sanction was given to the additions to the staff; and will he represent to the Registrar-General the advisability of amalgamating temporary clerks in the permanent staff where the opportunity of doing so occurs without thereby injuring the prospects of the existing permanent staff?

The Registrar-General informs me that he has fully considered the position of the temporary clerks, both male and female, and has endeavoured where possible to take advantage of any opportunity of improving the positions of those meriting such treatment.

How is it that these men have remained temporary clerks for several years? And is he aware that this is the first favourable opportunity of amalgamating them to the permanent staff?

We are doing the best we can. There are a great number of clerks in Ireland whose position is merely temporary, and whenever they can be put upon the permanent staff I agree they should be.

asked whether the effect of the late judgment of the Master of the Rolls is to defeat the proceedings of the Congested Districts Board to purchase the estate of the Marquess of Clanricarde under the compulsory powers of the Bill of 1909; and, whether, in view of the disappointment among the tenants after twenty-five years' waiting, be will consider the suggestion of the Vice-President of the Irish Department of Agriculture and introduce a short Bill for the compulsory expropriation of Lord Clanricarde as a measure likely to be passed by general consent?