asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will say what action, if any, has been taken on the proceedings of the Sub-Committee of the Defence Committee which dealt with the defence of India in 1907, and the requirements in this behalf of reinforcements and drafts?

The necessary action has been taken.

asked the Secretary for War if he will state what action the Government proposes to take to attract recruits to the Territorial Force; and what numbers trained, in what manner, and to what extent, the War Office, on the advice of the General Staff, considers necessary for Home defence, in the absence of the Expeditionary Army?

The matter is receiving the most careful consideration, but it is one which I cannot undertake to deal with within the limits of an answer to a question.

In view of the fact that an inquiry by a Departmental Committee has been held into the working of the Territorial Associations, will the right hon. Gentleman consider having a further inquiry as to other steps that may be necessary in order to bring this Territorial Force up to its establishment?

I shall be very glad to receive any suggestions which my right hon. Friend, or those associated with him, can make, in order to derive advantage from the inquiry to which he has referred.

asked the Secretary for War whether he can state the total number of horses that would have been required for the London Territorial divisions and mounted brigade for the review on 5th July on Wimbledon Common; whether the completed arrangements included horses available for Regular troops or for other Territorial troops on mobilisation; and, if so, how many?

About 4,000 horses would have been required. The arrangements for their supply did not include horses in the possession of Regular units.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the latter part of the question as to the number of horses available for Territorial units?

That would involve a very careful and detailed inquiry. If the question is asked as to the number of horses available, I shall be glad to furnish the hon. and gallant Gentleman with the figures.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the proposal to increase the allowance to Territorial officers on joining from £20 to £40, he will consider the possibility that a Grant of a similar nature should be made to officers who have served ten years and upwards towards the expenses of renewing uniform and such replacement of the same as is necessitated by the continual changes which have been made?

It is not practicable to reopen the question of the outfit Grant at the present time, but the hon. Gentleman's suggestion shall be carefully borne in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the Reserve mentioned in paragraph 2 of the guide for the use of candidates for commissions in the Territorial Force, 1913, which will, according to that paragraph, support the Territorial Force to the extent of 33 per cent. of its establishment, will be formed from retired Territorials, or from the National Reserve, or from what source; and what are the present numbers of officers and men of this Reserve?

The Reserve mentioned is the Territorial Force Reserve, which is composed of officers and men who have served in the Territorial Force. The 33 per cent. establishment was fixed to limit the numbers which might ultimately join this Reserve. At present there are only 415 officers and 969 other ranks, but these figures show a gradual increase of numbers.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us any idea when this 33 per cent. will be reached?

No, I am afraid that is a matter of speculation.

Might not some amelioration be made in the conditions for men joining the Territorial Reserve, so as to enable larger numbers to be taken and which otherwise will be lost altogether?

I think steps should be taken to increase the Reserve and steps will be taken to that end.

asked if the Secretary for War will state whether his inquiries in regard to the cancellation in the Southern Command of the privilege of wearing plain clothes are completed; and whether it is proposed to reconsider the question?

The matter has now been inquired into, and it has been decided to remove the restrictions referred to in this question.

asked the Secretary for War whether his proposals for increasing the pay of officers have yet been settled in detail; and, if so, whether he will at once inform the India Office, so that the question of extending these increases to the Army in India may be considered?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Nottingham, East, on the 25th ultimo, to which I have nothing at present to add.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has arrived at any decision as to making a grant to rifle clubs of ammunition or money to purchase ammunition for the purpose of practising rifle shooting; and, if so, whether he will state the result of his decision?

This question forms part of the much wider question as to the whole future position of rifle clubs and associations in relation to the Army, and it is not at present possible to announce a definite decision.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether he will be able soon to see his way to announce a definite decision?

I cannot say; but certainly before very long.

asked how many troops are at present stationed at Londonderry, Omagh, Enniskillen, and Belfast, respectively; how many are at other places in Ulster; and what is the total number of troops in Ireland?

It is not usual to publish the present strength of individual garrisons. The total number of troops in Ireland amounts to about 25,000 officers and men.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether it is contemplated to hold military manœuvres in Ulster next year; and, if so, can he state the month when they are likely to be held, the places where they are likely to be held, and approximately the number and classes of troops which will take part in them?

There is no intention of holding any military manœuvres in Ulster next year, other than the ordinary annual training of the units stationed in that part of Ireland.

ask the Secretary for War if he is aware that the police have been recently making inquiries from farmers in county Tyrone and elsewhere in Ulster as to whether they will supply or lend horses to the military authorities next year for manœuvres in Ulster; on whose instructions are the police acting; and what is the nature of the instructions?

Nothing is known at the War Office of the inquiries referred to.

asked if the Secretary of State for War whether he has now seen the Report of the public safety and accidents investigation committee of the Royal Aero Club relative to the deaths of Lieutenants Arthur and England; whether the Report concerning the death of the former is that the joint between the new and the old piece of the main spar of the aeroplane had been made in a most improper and unsafe manner, and that the Royal Flying Corps and Royal Aircraft Factory contained no entry of this repair; whether the latter should have had such an entry; whether he still attaches no blame to anybody for the deaths of these officers; and whether, if there is blame, to whom it should be attributed?

I have seen the report in question. The strictest instructions are laid down for recording repairs effected to Army aeroplanes, but as regards the accident to Lieutenant Arthur, in spite of most careful inquiry, it has been impossible to ascertain by whom the repair was carried out. Blame is undoubtedly attributable to some person unknown; the repair appears to have been made without authority and wilfully concealed by replacing the fabric. Mr. England was not an officer of the Royal Flying Corps and the aeroplane in which he met his death did not belong to the Government.

In view of the very grave facts stated by the War Minister, is the right hon. Gentleman making further inquiries as to whether there was bad material and bad workmanship in this machine, and can he find out?

There is nothing new in what I have said, and I only repeated what I had told the House before. There is no question of bad material or bad workmanship in the original machine, but some accident occurred which was secretly repaired by an unauthorised person, who has not been discovered. It is possible that such an accident will not occur again, though of course one cannot be sure, but after most careful inquiry I do not think such an accident is likely to occur again.

Does the right hon. Gentleman think that the accident occurred after the machine came into the hands of the military authorities or before?

We cannot tell how the accident occurred, though the most careful inquiry has been made; nor do I believe it is possible to find out when this injury was sustained. The guilty party who made the repair has not been discovered, but I do not think that this kind of accident is ever likely to occur again.

Was the machine a new one or a second-hand one?

Speaking from recollection, it was a new machine when bought, and a very good one, too. It is impossible to detect their little defects, or it appears to be impossible, when they are repaired and carefully concealed by some guilty person.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware that Mr. D. M'Donald, Blackhills, Aldearn, Nairn, applied for a small holding 15 months ago; that a Sub-Commissioner called on him in January; that land suitable for a holding was pointed out to him; and that the applicant has heard nothing snore of it; whether the applicant was able to prove his financial suitability for undertaking a holding; whether he is aware that the applicant now threatens, owing to the delay of the Board, to join his sons, who are all prosperously engaged in agricultural pursuits in the Colonies; and whether he will take steps to prevent this applicant from carrying out his threat?

The reply to the first three parts of the question is in the affirmative; the applicant was informed on the 12th June that inquiries were proceeding on his behalf, and recently a letter was addressed to the proprietrix, inquiring whether she was prepared to make the land available. The Board of Agriculture are satisfied as to the financial qualifications of the applicant. They understand that he is considering the possibility of joining a son in Canada, if his application fails.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that Mr James Paterson, Glen Dyce, Strachan, Banchory, applied for a small holding over a year ago; that this applicant duly filled up the schedule supplied by the Scottish Board of Agriculture and has received no communication from the Board regarding his application; and will he say what steps he proposes to take to meet the wishes of the applicant and what is the specific reason for delay in this case?

I am aware of the facts of this case. The Board of Agriculture for Scotland hope shortly to send a Sub-Commissioner to the North-East of Scotland.

asked the Prime Minister what steps His Majesty's Government is taking to prevent the control of the meat supply from Argentina to this country becoming the monopoly of two or three American firms?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. As the hon. Member for North Shropshire was informed on 11th June, the matter appears to His Majesty's Government to be primarily one for the consideration of the Government of Argentina. It is not altogether apparent that anything in the nature of a monopoly is contemplated by the American firms in question, and in any case I doubt whether independent action could usefully be taken on this side at the present moment.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that representatives of these firms giving evidence before a Departmental Committee appointed by this House made statements which proved not only to be misleading, but in many respects false, and those statements have been under investigation by the City Corporation?

If the hon. Gentleman will give me notice I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has information to the effect that the American firms which control the Argentine meat trade are preparing to include Australia in their operations; and, if so, what steps His Majesty's Government proposes to take to prevent the control of the Colonial supply of meat to this country falling into the hands of a foreign monopoly?

I have no information as to the intentions of the firms to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can give the House any further information regarding the epidemic of influenza in St. Kilda and what is being done to cope with it; and whether he san say when some kind of permanent communication between the island and the mainland is likely to be established?

The Medical Officer of the Local Government Board for Scotland, who went to St. Kilda, reports that the epidemic of influenza there is practically over, and that before he left the island he satisfied himself that all the patients were convalescent. As regards the last part of the question, I have no information beyond what I have already given to my hon. Friend, and for further information I would refer him to my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the need for and the non-contentious character of the Education (Scotland) (Glasgow Electoral Divisions) Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow; and whether he will give facilities for its passing into law during the present Session?

I am giving consideration to the Bill to which my hon. Friend refers and hope to be able to facilitate its passage.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the provisions contained in the draft of the Dunfermline District Water Order, 1913, as passed recently in Edinburgh by a Parliamentary Committee, and in particular to the facts that, while the total estimated water supply obtainable under the Order by the district committee of the county council is 5,250,000 gallons per diem, of this total the district committee has come under obligations to sell or offer to other communities and private persons 4,570,000 gallons, leaving only an expected balance of 680,000 gallons for the certain supply of a district in which it is well known that an early and substantial increase of population is certain; whether he has sanctioned the precedent thus to be established, whereby a water supply provided by Parliament for a particular community may be sold in advance for the preferable use of outside communities or persons, with all the risks attendant on such a venture; and whether he proposes to take any steps in the matter?

I have had under consideration the provisions of this draft Order. The figures quoted by the hon. Member are erroneous in respect that the expected balance available for the supply of the district of the promoters should be 1,405,000 gallons per diem instead of 680,000 gallons, as stated in the question, or more than double. The Order was inquired into by Commissioners in accordance with the provisions of the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act, 1899, and after full consideration of the details of the scheme and hearing all parties interested the Commissioners recommended me to issue the Order, with certain modifications, which I propose to do without delay. I would remind my hon. Friend that Section 9 of the Procedure Act contains provisions affording parties who may be dissatisfied with Commissioners' ruling a further opportunity of raising the matter in Parliament, before whom the Order will be laid in a Confirming Bill in due course.

Assuming the corrected figures which the right hon. Gentleman has quoted, is it not the case that the Scottish Office has the right and exercises the right of revising these draft Orders if it sees fit, and does the right hon. Gentleman propose to do so in this instance?

As this has been a matter of inquiry by Commissioners, I do not feel justified in revising it.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that John Buchanan has been evicted by sheriff officers and the Oban police from the farm of Baugh, Tiree, which has been taken by the Board of Agriculture (Scotland); what are the reasons for his eviction; and whether he will state the circumstances in which Mrs. Buchanan, the widow of the late tenant of Baugh, was refused continuance of the tenancy?

The Board of Agriculture has no responsibility for the eviction. I am informed that the house, which has been the residence of the doctor in the past, was required by the estate as the residence of the new doctor, the lease having expired.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether officers now in receipt of pensions for service in the Federated Malay States are entitled to have their pensions paid to them at the rate of 4s., or its equivalent in local currency to the dollar, while living in the United Kingdom or in any country, other than the Netherlands, India, of which the currency is based on a gold standard; whether the Federated Malay States is not now a country in which the currency is based on a gold standard; whether consequently there is now any sufficient reason for paying such pensioners at a reduced rate of about 2s. 4d. a dollar in cases where they decide to hold their pensions in the Malay States; whether an officer who has served in the medical department of the States has made application for the full payment of his pension at the rate of 4s. a dollar, to which he is entitled; and whether that application has been refused by the local Government?

Certain officers who were in receipt of a dollar salary in the Federated Malay States and whose pension was accordingly calculated in dollars are entitled to have their pensions converted into sterling at 4s. to the dollar when residing in gold standard countries. With regard to the second and third parts of the question, pensioners residing in the Federated Malay States naturally receive their dollar pensions in dollars, and no question of exchange arises. The officer has claimed to be paid pension at 4s. to the dollar in the Federated Malay States as well as in the United Kingdom, and this application has been refused. His pension, when paid to him in this country, is converted at the full rate of 4s.

Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the part of the question which refers to the fact that the Federated Malay States have now a gold standard?

It is a question whether the salary should be calculated by dollars or exchange.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to consider whether, having regard to the fact that prices have risen considerably in the Federated Malay States, and in consequence of the adoption of a gold standard, some injustice has not been done to this distinguished medical officer by being paid in dollars

I will consider that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he will publish in a White Paper or circulate with the Votes the text of the judgment of the Chief Justice of the High Court of British East Africa, in which the decision is given that the Court has no power to try the action brought by certain Masai chiefs to contest the legality of their transfer from the Northern Reserve; and whether he can state if an appeal has yet been lodged against the judgment?

Yes, Sir, when I have received the text of the judgment. So far as I am aware, no appeal has been lodged against the judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if during the current year any Government of the Dominions Overseas has made representations to the Imperial Government suggesting any alteration in the fiscal policy of the United Kingdom?

No, Sir.

Can the right hon. Gentleman explain why a number of official representatives of the Overseas Dominions attended a demonstration on 24th May, at the Queen's Hall, organised by the Imperial Mission, well known to be an adjunct of the Tariff Reform League?

I do not know anything about the Imperial Mission. I am quite sure representatives of the Oversea Dominions would resent very much being drawn into anything in the nature of a political demonstration.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Imperial Mission has nothing whatever to do with the Tariff Reform League?

I do not know what the Imperial Mission has to do with.

The hon. Member should give notice. This has nothing whatever to do with the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that on the 4th June the acting chief inspector of reformatory and industrial school had never heard of a boy whose education on his admission to a reformatory was sufficiently advanced to admit of his being placed in Standard VII., he is aware that in 1912, out of about fifty boys entering the Kingswood, Bristol, reformatory, nine were placed in Standard VII. and three in Standard VI.; and whether he will consider the desirability, by administrative or legislative means, of seeing that higher education than is provided by these standards should be given to such boys?

I find on inquiry that in 1912 nine boys were placed in Standard VII. on admission to the Kings-wood Reformatory School, but in seven of these cases it was afterwards found that the boys were unfit for that standard. The whole question of educational provisions in these schools is now under consideration in connection with the Report of the Departmental Committee.

Will there be any opportunity given to the House to discuss the Report?

The hon. Member had better ask that when the Report appears.

Can the hon. Gentleman say when the Report will be presented?

Is it, not the fact that the Report came out two or three weeks ago?

asked the Home Secretary whether a religious census has recently been taken of the inmates of His Majesty's prisons; and, if so, whether he will grant a Return of this census on the lines of the White Paper issued in 1906?

If my hon. Friend will put down an unstarred question, I shall be glad to give the results of a recent census.

Can we have that information before the Third Reading of the Established Church (Wales) Bill?

asked the Home Secretary the result of his communication to the Royal College of Surgeons as to the charges made by Sir Victor Horsley with reference to the treatment of Miss Lilian Lenton while in prison; and if he will submit the terms of his communication and reply thereto, in order to afford the House an opportunity of drawing its conclusions with regard to the serious allegations made and the grounds on which he addressed his complaint to the College of Surgeons?

If the hon. Member will move for the correspondence, I shall be glad to lay it on the Table of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he can give the present number of persons of either sex who, as a protest against terms of imprisonment to which they have been sentenced for offences other than those in connection with the demand for the enfranchisement of the female sex, have refused and are refusing to take nourishment; and whether, in the case of such persons, accurate observation is being taken of the result to their bodily health of such abstinence, and any loss of weight or other physical symptoms recorded for the future guidance of the prison medical authorities?

I mentioned three such cases in my reply on the 24th of June to the question of the hon. Member for the Dulwich Division. These are the only cases that have been brought to the notice of the Prison Commissioners, and it is believed that there are no others; but it is not possible to say so definitely without circularising all the prisons. Careful observation is kept and recorded by the medical officers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, although the Hull sorting staff has been increased several times for week-day work, the increase has not been made to apply to the sorting staff for the Sunday night mail; and whether, seeing that the duties of the Sunday sorters have grown considerably heavier since their numbers were last decided upon, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The question of increasing the staff on duty in the Hull sorting office on Sunday evenings has been considered, but the inspections of the duty which have been made by the responsible officers indicate that there is no necessity for such increase.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will give particulars of the wireless station to be erected in the Orkney Islands; who is erecting the buildings and supplying the plant; and what will be the power and nature of the wireless equipment?

I have been asked to reply to this question. Neither the Admiralty nor the Post Office are erecting a wireless station in the Orkneys. The misconception probably arises from the fact that the Admiralty are erecting a new visual signal station in these islands.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will explain why all progress in the Imperial chain of wireless stations has been prevented by the non-ratification of the agreement between the Post Office and Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company; whether he is aware that Commissions have selected the sites and secured options upon the land, in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee; whether he has any official reports showing that this country has been deprived of advantages in wave-length and priority; and, if so, will he say what country has secured the advantages we are alleged to have lost; will he explain why no step which will be now taken can nut us back into the position which has been lost; and what was the nature of the advantageous position which this country cannot recover?

My hon. Friend is, I presume, criticising the reference I made, when introducing the Navy Estimates, to the grave loss suffered by Admiralty interests owing to the delay in ratifying the Marconi Agreement. It is, I believe, true that the Post Office and the Indian and South African Governments have taken whatever steps are necessary to secure the sites provisionally, so as to be ready for work to commence as soon as the scheme is definitely approved, but it would be idle to argue that no time has been lost. The advantage of being first in the field in a scheme of world-wide communication is, I think, sufficiently obvious, even apart from the special consideration that an already existing organisation of wireless wavelengths would be recognised as having a right to be free from interference by subsequent organisation. It is a matter of common knowledge that several foreign countries are projecting extensive schemes. I do not think it would be in the public interest to discuss the precise stage which each has reached and the exact nature of the effect each might have on the British scheme. I must emphatically repeat that the Admiralty, on naval grounds, and with no sort of regard for private interests of any kind, is earnestly desirous that some efficient system of world-wide wireless communication under British control should be established as soon as possible; and, with all deference to the interest shown by the House in other aspects of the question, I am afraid that this national aspect has been somewhat overlooked.

Am I to infer from what the right hon. Gentleman has said that advantages may be lost in the future rather than that they have been lost up to the present?

I have said that I do not think it would be in the public interest to discuss the precise stage which the schemes of foreign countries have reached and the exact nature of the effect each might have on the British system. Therefore, I cannot deal profitably at the present time with the question raised by my hon. Friend as to the possible irrevocable character of the injury. But injury has certainly been done; the question is in what way it can best be repaired.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the agreement itself it is laid down that these installations are not to be installed until twelve months after the date upon which the Postmaster-General shall notify the company that the buildings have been erected? Can the right hon. Gentleman say why the buildings have not been erected?

The hon. and gallant Gentleman is under a complete misapprehension. The twelve months is not the minimum but the maximum time.

Is it not laid down in paragraph 4 of the agreement?

That the stations shall be completed within twelve months.

After the date.

This seems to be more suitable for the Committee.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now prepared to accede to the request of the inhabitants of Durrow, Queen's County, to have the telephone system extended to that town, seeing that the requisite guarantees are forthcoming?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension, as the support hitherto obtained is not sufficient to warrant the extension of the telephone system to Durrow. I will write to the hon. Member stating the precise conditions on which the scheme can be proceeded with.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that an application was made in March last for the installation of a telephone at 13, Grosvenor Place; that on 28th April an agreement for an exchange line and internal extension was accepted on behalf of the Postmaster-General, and will he explain why no instrument has yet been installed; and why, on the applicant calling at the General Post Office, it was stated that no promise can be given that an instrument will be installed this year or within any specified time?

The first application was received on the 5th of April, but the agreement was not signed until the 20th of April, in consequence of the subscriber's absence abroad. The reason for the delay in providing the service was a temporary shortage of wires in existing cables and of exchange accommodation. A new cable has been laid, and the service was provided from the Regent Exchange, on the 28th June. I have been unable to verify any statement made at the Post Office to the effect that no promise could be given to instal the instrument this year. But having regard to possible wayleave and other difficulties in installing a telephone service, it is frequently necessary to inform subscribers that no definite date can be given for the completion of an installation.

In view of the constant complaints of delay in setting up telephones after the agreements have been signed, will the right hon. Gentleman inquire why there was a shortage of cables?

I am afraid there has been a shortage of cable and also of exchange accommodation in a large number of districts taken over from the National Telephone Company.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider it a satisfactory state of affairs that it should take two months to install a telephone?

No; I should like to see the period very much diminished. As a matter of fact, telephones are now being installed in a comparatively short time as a rule. There are exceptional cases, especially where wayleave difficulties arise.

The worst telephone system in the world!

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is competent for commanders to issue damaged certificates to petty officers and seamen on leaving; whether the men have any appeal to a higher authority against such action; and if any inquiry is provided for under the Regulations before such certificates are issued?

I do not understand what is meant by "damaged certificates." If the phrase has reference to the practice of cutting off the corner of the certificate in cases in which a man is discharged with a bad character or with disgrace, this is authorised by Article 818, clause 11, of the King's Regulations. If the phrase has reference to the possibility of endorsements becoming illegible, the Regulations provide for an annual inspection of the certificates of all men serving on board His Majesty's ships, and if in the course of this examination any entries are found to be illegible, steps are taken to have the particulars verified and reinserted, while damaged certificates are replaced by copies.

In regard to the certificates which are cut off to a certain extent, will the right hon. Gentleman reply to the last part of the question?

In Article 817, clause 9, it is provided that after each annual assessment, the characters recorded are to be read to the men at general muster. This would afford an opportunity to any man who felt himself aggrieved to lodge complaint. Article 8 (a) provides for an appeal.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has decided, in view of impending developments at Cromarty, to establish a naval canteen there; and, if 30, whether he will state the conditions under which it is proposed to conduct the canteen, and the object to which its profits will be applied?

It is the intention to establish a canteen at Cromarty for the benefit of men of the Home Fleets visiting Cromarty Firth, generally on the lines of that established at Lamlash. With regard to the points referred to by my hon Friend in the latter part of the question, the whole matter is still in the early stages of consideration, and it would be premature at present to make any definite statement.

Will the Admiralty use their influence to extend to the people of Scotland the scheme of disinterested management which apparently they wish for the sailors?

That is outside the province of the Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that both Cromarty Hill, South Sutor, and Nigg Hill, North Sutor, on which operations are being conducted under the auspices of the Admiralty, are of great interest to antiquarians; whether he will give instructions that any objects of antiquarian interest which may be found in the course of the projected operations will be carefully preserved; whether he is aware that in Inverness there are skilled archaeologists and a society termed the Inverness Scientific Society and Field Club; and whether he can arrange for notifying the club of any discovery of the kind indicated, with a view to the preservation intact of any antiquarian objects of interest which may be found?

I was not aware that the sites acquired by the Admiralty at Cromarty were of great interest to antiquarians. Should any discoveries be made action shall be taken to preserve records. I will consider the question of notifying the society referred to should occasion arise.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say since when and why these operations have been taken away from the Army and are being carried out by the Admiralty?

That does not arise out of the question, but the point was raised on the Navy Estimates and a satisfactory answer given.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman answer the plain question of fact—why the matter is being carried out by the Admiralty now?

When the Vote concerned comes up for discussion I shall probably have to make a statement on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the rates of pay of junior officers in the Royal Marines are to be raised in order to bring them into conformity with the increases announced for Army and Navy officers?

The matter will receive consideration in due course when the details of the Army scheme have been settled.

asked the Prime Minister whether Vote 8 for the Navy may be taken at an early date, in order that the First Lord of the Admiralty may make his promised statement upon the provision of future supplies of oil fuel for the Navy?

I will bear the Noble Lord's suggestion in mind, and I hope to be able to meet his wishes.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider whether he would not give us this week either that or the main Vote of the Army?

Not this week.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if members of approved societies have any, and, if so, what remedy when sickness benefit is withheld from them; if a society accepts an insured person on receiving evidence that he is duly employed, is it justified in withholding sickness or other benefit after he has made the requisite number of contributions and to expel him from the society; and, if so, whether the man is entitled to the return of his contributions in order that he may become a Post Office contributor?

Section 67 of the Act provides that any member of an approved society who is dissatisfied with a decision of the society terminating his membership has a right to appeal, first to the tribunal appointed under the rules of the society for the settlement of disputes, and then, subject to the regulations made under the Act, to the Commissioners. I am not sure whether the hon. Member has a particular case in mind. If he has, I shall be glad to make inquiry if he so desires

May I ask whether in the case referred to in this question the insured person is entitled to have a refund of his contributions, or, on the other hand, whether he will he accepted as a Post Office contributor; and further I may add I have a special case for the right hon. Gentleman to deal with?

After investigation the man will receive all that he is entitled to.

Supposing, for instance, the man made an application to be admitted as a member of a society would he have his contributions refunded?

He can always leave the society at transfer value, and either join another society when that transfer value will be placed to his credit, or become a deposit contributor.

Would the right hon. Gentleman——

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will have an interview with the Minister in the Lobby.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury when the Bill dealing with the special Highlands and Islands medical service Grant (£42,000 per annum) will be introduced; and whether he is aware that the Scottish Members are anxious that he should adhere to the promise made when the deputation of Scottish Members waited upon him some weeks back as to the authority to administer the Grant?

I hope that it will be possible to introduce the Bill at a very early date. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affimative. The proposals contained in the Bill will be framed on that basis.

In order to obtain facilities for the passage of this Bill, will the right hon. Gentleman represent to the Government the necessity of throwing overboard the Appellate Jurisdiction Bill?

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether by the directions of the Board a lantern test has recently been substituted for a wool test in respect to colour-blindness; whether nearly 50 per cent. of cases of colour-blindness detected by the lantern test passed the wool test; whether the defects of the wool test were pointed out nearly twenty-five years ago by Dr. Edridge Green; and why the Board of Trade have so long preferred the advice of those who, advocated the wool test?

On 1st April last a lantern test was introduced and certain modifications were made in the wool test previously used for examining candidates. Of the failures in the first two months in which the new tests have been in force about 50 per cent. passed the modified wool test, but deficiency was detected by the lantern. The Holmgren wool test has been adversely criticised by Dr. Edridge Green for many years. In adopting the test in 1894 the Board of Trade acted on the advice of a very strong committee of the Royal Society, presided over by Lord Rayleigh. The lantern test was adopted on the recommendation of a Committee which I appointed in l910 to consider whether any alterations in the sight tests were required.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to an inquest held at Stratford on the body of a stevedore who was working on board the steamship "Corsican" at the Victoria Dock, and in consequence of a defective hatch was fatally injured by a fall down the ship's hold; if he is aware that the coroner agreed that, on the evidence presented, several hatches were short; that the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death owing to a defective hatch"; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

The Home Secretary has received a report on this case, and the facts are as stated by my hon. Friend in the question. There is no provision in the Act or Regulations which makes the use of defective hatch covers an offence, and, as new covers have now been provided, there is no further action to be taken as regards the present case. The Home Secretary is causing inquiries to be made in regard to the other vessels of the line.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether lie is now in a position to state when the bibliography of Irish Language and Literature will be published, and at what price it will be sold to the public?

Owing to an unforeseen delay as regards a special paper for this work, the printing-off has been retarded. It is hoped, however, that the book will be issued about the end of August next. The Department are informed that His Majesty's Statonery Office have not yet fixed the price at which the work will be sold.

Is the delay due to the difficulty in providing Irish-made paper; if so, what was the reason for delay?

I am not able to give any further information.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether, as a matter of fact, Irish-made paper is going to be used in this book?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention has been called to the recently published evidence before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service by Mr. Commissioner Bailey, of the Irish Land Commission, in which he stated that there are a number of temporary or non-established clerks now employed in that office doing good work, and who have been employed in the service of the State for many years, but have no pension rights, and that the Treasury have no more than one occasion when applied to by the Commissioners refused to sanction pensions to these officials; and what steps the Government is prepared to take to remove the grievance of these officials?

My attention has been called to Mr. Commissioner Bailey's evidence. The question of the position of the various classes of officers in the un-established Civil Service is a large one, and any recommendations which the Royal Commission may make on the subject will require very careful consideration. The case of the Land Commission can hardly be dealt with apart from the rest of the Civil Service.