asked the Secretary to the Treasury what are the rums actually received by the Road Board since its formation; what amount has actually been paid out of salaries, Grants, and Loans, respectively; what sums have been definitely promised; and what balance remains in hand at the bank and invested?

The receipts actually paid into the Road Improvement Fund from the constitution of the Road Board up to the 31st May, 1913, were as follows:—

	£	s.	d.
Motor Spirit Duties	2,011,718	19	11
Carriage Licences	1,349,124	17	5
Interest on Investments	95,739	10	7
Interest on Loans	438	2	7
	£3,457,021	10	6

The amount actually paid out in salaries during the same period was £19,407 16s. 7d. Grants to an aggregate amount of £2,461,045 and Loans to an aggregate amount of £800,067 have been definitely promised, and the amounts actually paid out have been £696,849 under Grants and £128,239 10s. under Loans. The balance at the Bank of England on May 31st, 1913, was £14,624 18s. 10d., and the investments at cost amounted to £2,602,527 5s. 3d.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury under what statutory authority, and for what reason, the Treasury discriminates between the reward branch and the benefit branch of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund, requiring an annual statement to be issued to the force of the income and expenditure of one and not of the other; whether the benefit branch will in future be subjected to similar treatment; and, if not, will he say why?

As regards the first part of the question I fear I can add nothing to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 10th June. I will consider with the Irish Government the question of the issue of an annual statement in regard to the benefit branch.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the statutory authority, if any, for making grants out of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund, benefit branch, to head constables on promotion?

The Inspector-General informs me that no such grants were ever paid out of the benefit branch of the fund.

asked if any money was paid out of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund as rewards for good conduct, bounties, or otherwise, between 18th June, 1883 and 1st April, 1891, to non-contributors who joined the force after the former date, will he say how much and the authority under which it was paid?

The Inspector-General informs me that as far as can be ascertained about £30 was paid as rewards for good police service in the period named in the question to men who joined the force after 18th June, 1883. Rewards, gratuities, and bounties continue to be payable under the Act of 1836 to men who joined the force prior to 18th June, 1883. Men who joined since that date are excluded by Section 11 of the Act of 1883 from gratuities and bounties, but not from rewards.

asked whether the Irish Constabulary Force Fund had, prior to 1891, three statutory sources of revenue, namely, deductions from pay, deductions from pensions, and fines and penalties; and whether he will state the statutory authority, if any, for depriving it of this third source of revenue and for paying this money in rewards for good conduct to head constables on promotion and in bounties on retirement to non-contributors who joined the force after 18th June, 1883, and who are expressly declared not entitled by the Statute of that year?

The Constabulary Force Fund derives its income from the three sources mentioned in the question. In 1891 it was divided into two branches, the benefit branch and the reward branch, by separating deductions from pay and pensions from income derived from fines and penalties. The fund, as a whole, has rot been deprived of any source of income. As regards the second paragraph of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have just given to the similar question of the hon. Member (No. 71).

asked in how many of the cases in which deductions are now being made from pay and pension and called contributions to the Irish Constabulary Force Fund are the contributors and their families completely debarred by the rules from ever deriving any benefit from that fund, as Constable Ronaghan and his family are; can he refer to the authority for making the deductions from persons so debarred; if the loss is imposed only by rules never sanctioned by this House, why the authority which has made rules of that effect does not amend them; and whether money so obtained from poor families will be refunded to them?

The Inspector-General informs me that as far as can be ascertained there are only two other cases similar to that of Constable Ronaghan. The deductions for the fund must be made as provided by Section 12 of 37 and 38 Viet., cap. 80. As these deductions must under Statute be added to and form part of the fund, there is no power to repay contributions to the subscribers or their families. The rule as to marriages without permission has been in force for fifty-three years, and at this stage in the history of the fund I see no reason for its alteration, at all events, at present.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, by the will of the Earl of Cork, which is dated 1642, he provided for the completion and endowment of six almshouses at Lismore for old and decayed soldiers, and that the Lismore Board of Guardians, in August, 1907, by resolution asked the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests in Ireland to hold an inquiry into the administration of this charity as, in the opinion of the board of guardians, though no definition was made in his will by the Earl of Cork as to the religious persuasion as to those entitled to the benefits, they have been exclusively given to Protestants; whether he is aware that on the 24th January, 1908, the Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests informed the Lismore Board of Guardians that they had no power to hold such an inquiry; whether he will ascertain from the Commissioners what their powers are in the matter; and whether the Commissioners will be represented by counsel before Mr. Justice Barton when the case now listed with regard to a scheme for the administration of this charity comes before him in the Chancery Division at an early date?

The Commissioners of Charitable Donations and Bequests inform me that they have not a copy of the will referred to, but they understand that the six almshouses for men provided for under the will at Lismore are not confined to old and decayed soldiers, but that the benefits have been given to Protestants. The Commissioners informed the Lismore Board of Guardians that they had no power to hold the inquiry asked for. It is in the power of the Commissioners to intervene in the settlement, of the scheme for the administration of this charity, but they understand that the Attorney-General will be represented by counsel in the interests of the charity. In these circumstances, the Commissioners do not consider that they would be justified in incurring the additional cost of being separately represented, unless there is some special reason for their doing so.

asked the Chief Secretary the cause of delay in acquiring the Fuge estate at Templemary, county Cork; whether he is aware that the estate was voluntarily offered for sale to the Irish Land Commissioners in the year 1908; and whether he is aware that a portion of the estate was allotted to evicted tenants over two years ago?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that this estate has not yet been reached in order of priority, and the Commissioners have no power to deal with it until it is so reached. The lands referred to in the last portion of the question were acquired under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and have been distributed.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state if the Congested Districts Board has acquired the whole of the Goodall estate, in the parish of Kilbride, county Roscommon; and, if so, why the portion held by Messrs. Connor and Brennan, comprising about 200 Irish acres, has not yet been taken possession of; and when the Board will enter into possession of the same?

The Congested Districts Board have purchased portion of the Goodall estate, comprising about 530 acres. The Board understand that another portion of the estate was sold direct to the tenants under the Act of 1903, and included the holdings sold to Thomas P. Brennan and Michael J. O'Connor.

asked the cause of the delay in the Commissioners of National Education furnishing a Report on the claims of paper-promoted teachers in Ireland?

I have received and am considering the observations of the Commissioners of National Education on the figures which were submitted to me on behalf of the teachers. Having regard to the importance and difficulty of the questions involved I see no reason for thinking that there has been any unnecessary delay on the part of the Commissioners.

asked the President of the Board of Education if the Board refuses to admit any proof of the age of a school child except a birth certificate or a statutory declaration by a parent?

The responsibility for obtaining satisfactory evidence of the ages of scholars attending public elementary schools rests, in the first instance, with the local education authority. For the purposes of their own administration, in cases where it is impossible to obtain a birth certificate or a statutory declaration by a parent, the Board are prepared to accept such evidence of the probable age of a child as is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is able to communicate to the House any information as to the progress of the work of dredging St. George's Channel, Bermuda, with the view of improving the waterway for ships of deep draught and of rendering the channel capable of accommodating His Majesty's ships as well as those of the mercantile marine?

Considerable progress has been made in the work of dredging St. George's Channel, Bermuda, but I am not fully informed of the precise position of affairs at the moment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the Governor of the Straits Settlements contemplates the restriction of the export of opium from Singapore to Sarawak; whether any direct and proven charge of smuggling has been made against the Government of Sarawak or its nominees; and whether any interference with the trade in opium, which has been uninterrupted for the last sixty years, is proposed, in view of the terms of the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Rajah of Sarawak?

I have received from the Rajah of Sarawak a copy of correspondence with the Governor of the Straits Settlements, from which it appears that, in view of the probability of smuggling opium into Brunei from Sarawak owing to the considerable difference in price obtaining in the two countries, the Governor of the Straits Settlements proposes to allow export of opium from Singapore to Sarawak only on production of a certificate that it is required for the use of the Sarawak farmer, and to limit the amount exported to eighteen chests a month. I have no information as to the second part of the question. The action of the Governor is intended solely to protect the revenue of the Colony and is not at variance with the agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Rajah.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many Scottish local authorities, rural and urban, made provision for the treatment of persons afflicted with tuberculosis, either by the erection of separate hospitals or by setting apart accommodation in already existing hospitals, between the date of the issue of the Local Government Board Circular (1908) regarding the notification of tuberculosis as an infectious disease under the Acts relating to public health and the date of the enactment of the National Insurance Act; and whether he can state the names of the local authorities that took such action and the amounts of money expended from rates for the purpose?

Between the date of issue of the Board's circular and the coming into force of the National Insurance Act (1) sanatoria were provided by the following combinations of local authorities:—Argyllshire Sanatorium (near Oban).— Ardnamurcha-n District, Cowal District, Kintyre District, Lorn District, Mid Argyll District, Mull District, Oban. Burgh.Glenafton Sanatorium (Ayrshire).—Ayr District, Carrick District, Kilmarnock District, Northern District, Cumnock Burgh, Galston Burgh, Irvine Burgh, Kilmarnock Burgh, Kilwinning Burgh, Newmilns Burgh, Saltcoats Burgh, Stewarton Burgh, Troon Burgh.Anderson Sanatorium.—Hawick Burgh and Parish.(2) The following local authorities either singly or in combination, made provision for the treatment of persons affected with tuberculosis, either by erection of separate

hospitals or by setting apart. accommodation in already existing hospitals, namely:

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, since stone-pounding was declared by a London magistrate to be an illegal task in a casual ward, it has been made legal by the Local Government Board in some unions; and what are those unions and why have they been selected?

The Regulations applicable to casual wards prescribe certain tasks of work, of which stone-pounding is not one, but they provide that the tasks may be varied from time time by a resolution of the guardians, approved by the Local Government Board. In pursuance of these Regulations tasks of stone-pounding have been sanctioned for casual paupers in a large number of unions on the application of the guardians concerned.

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) what are the names of the Poor Law inspectors in whose districts old age pensioners died of starvation in 1912 or in the first quarter of 1913; and what steps, if any, such inspectors had taken to prevent deaths from starvation, especially of old age pensioners; and (2) whether his inspectors are taking any and, if so, what steps to reduce the number of deaths found by a coroner's jury to be clue to starvation or accelerated by privation; will he state definitely that in future in all cases he will send down inspectors to see the relieving officers and the guardians and thoroughly to investigate such cases and endeavour to find remedies; and whether, if he is unable to send down inspectors with a legal training, he will make arrangements with the Home Office to send down Home Office inspectors?

In the great majority of these unfortunate cases the verdicts of the juries indicate that the deaths are due to disease consequent upon or accelerated by want or exposure, or both, or to self-neglect. Anxious though everyone must be to see these cases prevented, it must be recognised that there will always be a certain number of persons who, through independence or for other reasons, prefer to keep their distresses to themselves, and will not make them public. In eighty-two out of the one hundred cases in the Return for 1911 no application had been made for poor relief, or application was only made when the unfortunate person was in a dying condition. In these cases the authorities have no opportunity of acquiring information of the circumstances until it is too late. Of the five eases of which information has reached me of the deaths of old age pensioners in 1912 and 1913, three occurred in London, one in Poole, and one in Cheltenham. If there is any suspicion of laxity on the part of Poor Law authorities in any instance my inspectors will take appropriate action, and if any further measures can be taken by my Department I shall be glad to see that they are adopted.

also asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, seeing that destitute persons appear to prefer to starve rather than to apply for relief, he will issue a new Order for casual wards, so that the treatment of persons there should not be worse either as to task or food than that of a criminal condemned to imprisonment with hard labour in the lowest division?

I am not at present contemplating the issue of a new Order to regulate the relief of casuals and I must not be understood to admit that there are sufficient grounds for either of the suggestions conveyed by the question.

further asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, prior to the publication of the last annual Report of the medical officer of the Board, he received any Report from the scientific staff of the Board's laboratory, beyond the meagre details given in the medical officer's Report; and, if so, why full details of the scientific work and experiments carried on in such laboratory, which are of great public interest, cannot be included in the annual Report of the medical officer?

Many matters of scientific interest are investigated on behalf of the Local Government Board. The question of the publication of the details of any investigation must largely depend on the relative importance of its subject matter or results.

asked the Postmaster-General what position the unestablished officers of the engineering department of the Post Office in Ireland will occupy in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming law; whether the rights which they enjoy at present will still exist; whether the passing of the measure referred to will make any difference in the employment of Royal Engineers on engineering work in Ireland; and whether the control of the Royal Engineers employed in Ireland will be in the hands of the proposed Irish Government or of the Imperial Government?

under Clause 33 of the Bill unestablished officers of the Post Office will continue to hold their offices by the same tenure and upon the same terms and conditions as previously. No decision has yet been arrived at with regard to the employment of Royal Engineers on engineering work in Ireland. This is a question which it would be premature to settle before the Bill has passed.

asked the hon. Member for the Stroud Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, when they propose to hold an inquiry into the affairs of St. Mary Magdalen Hospital, Winchester, and why no reply had been given to the letters on the subject written by the town clerk on the 3rd December, 1912, and the 17th January and 26th May, 1913?

The inquiry into St. Mary Magdalen Hospital, Winchester, has for some time been in progress, and is being conducted by an assistant commissioner. The documents in the case are numerous and involved, and the assistant commissioner has not yet been in a position to make a report or formulate definite proposals for the future administration of the charity. As soon as the report has been received and considered, a further communication will be addressed to the town clerk, and, as stated in the commissioners' letter of 4th April, 1912, full opportunity will be given to the town council of expressing their views in regard to the future administration of the charity before any action is taken.