asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether representations have been made to him with regard to the inadequacy of pensions awarded to chief officers of His Majesty's coastguard who have attained to that grade late in life; and whether he can see his way to revising the scale of these pensions?

Representations have been made in the sense indicated by the hon. Gentleman. I am afraid I can hold out no hope of revision.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state how many bales of cotton were produced in the Anglo-Egyptian Soudan in the years 1908 and 1912, respectively?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. No recent Returns are available with regard to the cotton crop in the Anglo-Egyptian Soudan, but the exports of cotton from the Soudan amounted to 70,034 cwts. in 1908 and 105,603 cwts. in 1912.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has received any representations from the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce with regard to the pipe-line agreement?

I have seen a copy of letters which have passed between the Trinidad Chamber of Commerce and the Colonial Government on the subject, but have not received any representations from the Chamber in regard to the agreement.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies, whether he is aware that, at a meeting of the Legislative Council of Trinidad, held on 29th May, the Governor refused to allow discussion on an amendment protesting against the pipe-line agreement, and supported by all the unofficial members, on the ground that the matter had already been decided by the Secretary of State; and, if so, what steps, if any, he took to make himself acquainted with local opinion in Trinidad before concluding the agreement?

At a meeting of the Legislative Council, on 21st of May, an unofficial member gave notice to move a resolution for the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the agreement in question. I understand that it was the intention of the Governor to oppose the Motion on the ground that the Government could not agree to inquiry by a Select Committee into an agreement Which has been entered into by the Government, with my approval, under powers delegated to it by Statute, and that the constitutional method for the member to take was to move specifically and on due notice that a particular part of the agreement was objectionable. As regards the second part of the question, the Governor and the Director of Public Works were consulted in the course of the negotiations in which the technical adviser of the Colonial Government took part, and the whole agreement was made subject to the approval of the Governor, which has been signified.

Will the non-official opinion be ascertained before the agreement is finally decided?

I will consider that.

Has the right hon. Gentleman any reason to believe that there is any body of public opinion strongly in favour of this agreement?

reply was inaudible.

asked the Secretary of State for War when he will be in a position to state the extent of the Dreghorn Estate to be purchased by the War Office; and the price to be paid?

I am afraid that at the present moment I am not in a position to give my hon. Friend the information he desires.

When will it be given?

I am afraid I cannot fix the date.

asked if the Secretary of State for War can give the approximate expenditure in France and in Germany, respectively, for each of the five years 1908–9, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, and 1912–13 on aircraft and other expenses incidental thereto, and distinguishing where possible between expenditure in connection with aeroplanes and dirigibles, and capital and recurrent expenditure?

I find it impossible to give the figures for which the hon. Member asks, as in the case of Germany the money devoted to this service is not separately voted in the Budgets; and as regards France the information available does not distinguish between capital and recurrent expenditure, nor, except in 1913, between dirigibles and aeroplanes.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what is the total expenditure, if he cannot distinguish between the items?

I cannot state the figures at this moment, but they may be available.

asked what has been the total expenditure out of public moneys for each of the five years 1908–9, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–2, 1912–13, on aircraft and all other expenses incidental thereto, distinguishing, so far as possible, capital and recurrent expenditure and giving separately each main class of expenditure, and, in particular, Royal Aircraft Factory, land other than for the factory, aeroplanes, dirigibles, sheds, repairing outfit, material for repairs, pay for staff, headquarters staff, other supervisory staff, flying staff, mechanical staff at factory, and mechanical staff engaged on repairs and similar work other than at the factory?

The accounts do not give the information asked for, and the labour required to produce it would be so great that I cannot undertake to grant the hon. Member's request.

asked whether any, and, if so, how many permanent officials have been appointed in the Royal Flying Corps, in accordance with Clause 51 of the Monoplane Report, for the purpose of inspecting and reporting on the aeroplanes at regular intervals?

It is considered that the appointment of officers with the sole duty of inspecting aeroplanes might lead to a divided responsibility and, therefore, to less efficient inspection. The officers commanding Squadrons and Flights are held responsible for the fitness of the machines under their charge, and careful and minute inspections are constantly carried out by them.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether a minute and complete cross-examination was made by the officer in charge of the aeroplane which was wrecked at Montrose with the loss of two lives?

I believe that is so.

Why was not the defect discovered?

asked the Secretary for War whether he has yet appointed an inspector of engines in the Royal Flying Corps in accordance with Clause 52 of the Monoplane Report; and, if so, what is his name, rank, and salary?

The reply is in the negative.

asked what were the official numbers of the aeroplanes which flew from Farnborough to Montrose; and how many days did they, respectively, take in such flight?

I will furnish the hon. Gentleman with the numbers of the aeroplanes, but I cannot undertake to furnish him with the rest of the detailed information he requires.

May I ask how many of those aeroplanes arrived at their destination?

It is not considered desirable to give that information.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his statement that the 353,473 cases awaiting occasional valuations would be disposed of by April, 1915, he is aware that until an assessment has been made in respect of each of these cases the liability for duty remains, affects the disposal of the purchase money, and leaves both parties to the transaction in a state of uncertainty as to their position; and, if so, what action he proposes to take to remedy this grievance?

The majority of the cases referred to consist either of sales, in which the purchase money would normally remain in the hands of the vendor and its disposal would be little affected by the exact amount of the duty, or of leases, where no purchase money would be paid. The transferee or lessee is not affected, as the duty, if any, is in no circumstances payable by him. In all cases it is sought to intimate the amount of duty payable as early as possible, due regard being had to cases of special urgency.

Will not a purchaser be affected when he desires to resell?

Is the right hon Gentleman not aware that there is very general complaint from professional men and others as regards the present state of affairs?

It cannot be expected that a great valuation of this kind can be made without there being some complaints.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that his estimated receipts from Land Value Duties for the current year, after deducting arrears of Undeveloped Land Duty, are only £205,000, of which sum £100,000, or nearly one-half, represents Reversion Duty, which is collected and assessed without reference to the site or other values now being ascertained under the national land valuation, he will consider the advisability of not incurring further an annual expenditure of £680,000 on the national land valuation to collect £105,000?

The capital sum expended on a national valuation cannot be regarded as an annual expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the dictum of Lord Atkinson in the recent case of Commissioners of Inland Revenue v. Herbert and others that fanciful estimates have to be made to fix in conformity with the provisions of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, original site value, he will consider the propriety of repealing at an early date a system of valuation and taxation set up on such a basis?

If the dictum alluded to be read in its context, it will be seen that Lord Atkinson pointed out that whether the two values by reference to which increment value is calculated be fictitious or actual is wholly immaterial, provided that a comparison between them can be made and that this comparison will supply a true measure of the amount of any increment. The existing law is designed to obtain that true measure of the increment, and the dictum therefore affords no argument for repealing the system.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Commissioners of Inland Revenue will, in view of the confusion now prevailing on the subject, issue an official statement as to whether machinery fixed or attached to the land is included in the gross value, as ascertained under Section 25 (1) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; and, if so, if he will direct that such statement shall set out the nature of the machinery to be included, so as to enable owners and valuers to check valuations served on them?

The practice of the Commissioners is to include in gross value all such plant and machinery as would pass, in the absence of any reservation to the contrary, on the sale of the fee simple. Owing to the variety of conditions under which machinery is used, it is not feasible to prepare a statement specifying the nature of all machinery to be included. So far as I am aware, no serious difficulty has hitherto arisen in cases of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the intention of the Government to introduce and pass through the House of Commons during the present Session a Bill amending the Increment Duties imposed by the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?

It is the intention of the Government, as already announced, to deal with certain amendments of the Increment Duty in their Revenue Bill.

Is it the fact that the Government propose to pass an Amending Bill through the House of Commons in the present Session; and is the right hon. Gentleman aware that an announcement that the Government would do that was made at the recent by-election at Leicester by the Liberal candidate?

Any announcements I made were made to the House of Commons.

May I ask whether the Liberal candidate had any authority to make that statement?

I really do not know what statement was made by the Liberal candidate at Leicester. I am only responsible for statements made in the House.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Resolution on which the Revenue Bill is founded was under discussion he gave no indication there would be any amendment of this kind?

If the hon. and learned Gentleman says that he has been refreshing his memory I am prepared to accept his statement, but my recollection is that I did indicate it would be amended but I did not go into details.

Not in this particular.

In view of the great anxiety for legislation of this kind by the other side, will the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to pass it as unopposed?

When may we hope to see the Revenue Bill in print and introduced?

I should hope to be able to introduce it perhaps next week.

asked whether it is the practice of the Board of Inland Revenue to refuse repayment of Income Tax to the holders of debentures which stipulate for the payment of interest free of Income Tax, although the holder is entitled to exemption from Income Tax?

The answer to the question is in the affirmative. The Income Tax Acts only authorise repayment to an exempt person of tax which he has paid or has actually suffered by deduction from rent or interest.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the annual amount released by the postponement of the redemption of the reserve values from 18¼ to 20 years; (2) what amount it is estimated it will cost in the first and subsequent years to adopt the Amendment proposed in Clause 6 of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill relating to discontinuous periods of sickness; how much thereof it is expected will fall on the funds of the approved societies, and how much on moneys provided by Parliament; (3) what it is estimated it will cost in the first and subsequent years to extend the grant of 2s. 6d. per member per annum for medical benefit to insured persons over 65 and to uninsured members of friendly societies over 65, respectively; (4) what amount it is estimated it will cost in the first and subsequent years to extend the benefits under Clause 2 of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill relating to persons over 50 years of age; how much thereof will fall upon the funds of the approved societies; how much on moneys provided by Parliament; and (5) what amount it is estimated it will cost in the first and subsequent years to excuse part of the arrears of contributions as provided by Clause 3 of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill; and how much thereof it is expected will fall on the funds of the approved societies, on the reserve values, redemption fund, and on moneys provided by Parliament, respectively?

The subject matters of these questions will be found to be fully dealt with in the Actuarial Report on the proposals of the Bill, which I hope will be in the hands of hon. Members to-morrow morning.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether in the Actuarial Report it will be made clear how much of the additional cost is to be borne by the funds of the approved societies, and how much out of moneys provided by Parliament? In the ordinary case the Actuaries' Report would only state the total cost without apportioning it?

I think none of the cost will be borne by the approved societies, but it is to be borne either by moneys provided by Parliament or through the extension of the sinking fund. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Report will contain the fullest actuarial information.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see Clause 6, and that there are three funds out of which the expenses can be borne?

The hon. Member will find a full explanation in the Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the sum which it is estimated will have to be provided in the year 1913–14, and subsequent years, out of moneys provided by Parliament, by reason of Section 4 of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill; and what is it proposed to do with contributions paid in respect of exempted persons who have died since the commencement of the National Insurance Act, 1911, without having any scheme of benefits provided for them?

It is shown by the Actuarial Report on the financial proposals of the Bill that the estimated annual charge on moneys provided by Parliament in order to support the benefits to be granted to exempted persons is £19,000. The proportion which will come in course of payment in the financial year 1913–14 will depend upon the date at which the amending provision comes into operation. As regards the second part of the question, the contributions referred to will be dealt with in the manner provided by the principal Act.

May I ask whether money Grants provided by Parliament will also be made to those persons who are exempted?

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would wait and see the Memorandum.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that persons are exempt who have independent means?

Will the right hon. Gentleman say how the principal Act does deal with the contributions exacted from exempt persons?

That will be provided by a scheme to be propounded by the Commissioners for the benefit of the exempt persons.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether any such scheme has been propounded?

The hon. Gentleman knows as well as I do that the available experience is under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet had time to consider the suggestion that the Department responsible for the administration of the National Insurance Act should not be the Treasury?

The matter is receiving careful consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint lecturers to go about the country explaining the provisions of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill; if so, how many; and what salary will they be paid?

So far as I am aware, there is no such intention.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the Insurance Commissioners, on being satisfied that a card which has been lost has been fully stamped, will credit that number of stamps to the insured person; whether a sworn statement by the employer that he has stamped the card and by the employed person that the 4d. has been deducted from his wage will be accepted as satisfactory evidence that the card has been stamped; and, if not, what further evidence will be required?

The action which the Commissioners are in a position to take in any case of a lost card must depend on the circumstances in which and by whom, it was lost. The evidence suggested by the hon. Member is not in itself sufficient, since, as I explained in answer to the hon. Member for Gorton on the 3rd April, it is necessary to guard against the risk that the card may be used improperly by another contributor into whose hands it has come, to support a claim on the National Health Insurance Fund.

What further evidence would be regarded as satisfactory?

I do not quite understand what the hon. Member means by "further evidence." Such evidence must be given as will satisfy the Commissioners.

What further evidence will be required in addition to that already received and mentioned in my question as, having been produced in this case?

I think the employed person will have to give some evidence of the lost card.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state where a charwoman works for Mrs. A. every Monday and for Mrs. B. every Tuesday, and Mrs. B. refuses to pay any portion of the insurance for the charwoman, whether Mrs. A. is in that case compelled to pay the full insurance every Monday, thus allowing Mrs. B. to escape all payment?

In the absence of any agreement between the various employers to pay contributions in rotation, the first employer is liable. In a large number of cases where single workers are employed, I am informed that though employers do not find it necessary to enter into formal agreements informal arrangements are made among two or more employers to stamp the worker's card in such rotation as may be fair and convenient. The first employer still remains legally liable, but provided the card is properly stamped, his liability is nominal only and no difficulties arise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state what was the amount paid for literature printed and circulated by the Commissioners of the National Insurance Act during the year 1912–13; and what is the amount of the Estimate for printing in connection with the Act for the year 1913–14?

The aproximate amount of the expenditure referred to in connection with Part I. of the Act was £127,000 for 1912–13; the amount of the Estimate for 1913–14 is £90,000.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the names of the panel doctors and the date of their joining the panel who have agreed to medically treat insured persons in Princetown, Post Bridge, Huccuby and district, Devon; and will he take steps to provide that medicine can be obtained by such patients at Princetown?

Ten doctors, whose names I will send to the hon. Member, are available for the treatment of insured persons in the district referred to. All joined the panel on the 12th January last. It always has been, and is still, the custom for the doctors themselves to supply the medicine required by their patients in the places named.

Have those doctors agreed to attend to insured patients in the districts mentioned?

So I understand.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the portion of the carriage and motor-car licences, collected by county councils, which is handed over to the Road Board is used by that body in road improvements which, however desirable in themselves, have not been hitherto required at the hands of county councils, and that before the funds of the Road Board are expended in this work county councils are required to find half the cost out of the county rates; and, seeing that the establishment of the Road Board has thereby much increased the demands on the ratepayers in addition to the increased direct expense entailed on county councils for the repair of damage done to the roads by motor traffic, will he embrace an early opportunity of securing to county councils the whole revenue arising from carriage and motor-car licences?

I do not agree that the establishment of the Road Board has much increased the demands on ratepayers. On the contrary it has enabled them to meet demands for the improvement of roads necessitated by the altered conditions of traffic, which would otherwise have had to be met from rates.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any powers for the inspection of roads; whether at his office he has any staff allocated to road administration; and whether any Grants other than those made by the Road Board are made from the Exchequer to the local road authorities?

The Local Government Board sanction loans for the making, widening, and improvement of roads, the total sum so sanctioned last year exceeding 1½ million pounds, and, in connection with applications for such sanction and with town planning schemes, the Board's inspectors are frequently making inspections of roads and the sites of new roads in all parts of England and Wales. The Board have not thought it desirable to allocate any staff exclusively to road administration, and I could easily show to the hon. Member that it would neither be desirable nor economical to do so. The Main Road Grant which existed prior to the Local Government Act, 1888, was discontinued, and at the present time the Grants made by the Road Board are the only specific Grants made to local road authorities from Imperial sources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increased rentals obtained by the Crown through the recently completed extensions of the leases of five premises in Regent's Park, the Treasury will take steps to cancel the agreement by which the Toxophilite Society hold six and a half acres of the park on an annual tenancy of £200 a year and open this area to the public for much-needed playing fields; and whether it will decline to sanction, before 1st January, 1916, and extension of the leases of St. John's and St. Katherine's Lodges, which do not expire till July, 1916, and October, 1929, respectively, in order that means may be devised, if possible, for securing these large areas (eleven and six acres) for the use of the public?

I am asked by my right hon. Friend to reply to this question and to say that he regrets that he does not feel justified in giving up without compensation the revenue that would be lost by determining the tenancy of the Toxophilite Society. There is under consideration at the present time a scheme involving no loss of revenue for adding to the open park a small area, part of the society's holding. In reply to the latter part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply that I gave him on the 24th ultimo.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether Mr. Hanbury promised in 1900 that no lease of the South Villa enclosure in Regent's Park would be granted without the knowledge and sanction of Parliament; and, if so, whether effect has been given to this promise?

No such promise was given; but with regard to the houses and grounds in Regent's Park generally, Mr. Hanbury said that it was for the interest of the public that revenue should be derived from the lands, and, when they had the opportunity, it would be for the Commissioners to see how far, without detriment to the revenue of the Crown, the public could have more access to certain portions of the park. Mr. Hanbury's view has since been acted on, and, as the hon. Member is aware, several additional areas previously in private occupation have been thrown into the open park in recent years.

Can the right hon. Gentleman give us a promise that no fresh leases will be entered into without the consent of Parliament?

The only leases which are under negotiation have already been notified to Parliament. As I stated, I suspended them for a few days in order that the local authorities might have time to reconsider their decision.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will ascertain the total number of members of the Royal Toxophilite Society to which 6½ acres of valuable public land in Regent's Park have been let for £200 a year; and whether he will publish a list of the names of all the members of the society?

I am not in possession of information enabling me to supply the particulars desired, and have no better facilities for obtaining it than my hon. Friend or any other member of the public.

Will the right hon. Gentleman not take advantage of those facilities and publish this list. Is it not desirable that we should have a list of the seventy individuals who are enjoying the use of this land at so much less than its real value?

All I could publish would be the names of the persons to whom the lease is made. I am afraid I cannot ask the names of the members of the society any more than my hon. Friend can.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, with reference to the deputation from the protest meeting in Regent's Park which waited upon Mr. Leveson-Gower, what were the special reasons referred to by Mr. Leveson-Gower for the granting to Bedford College of a lease at a rental of £950 a year of the South Villa enclosure, which had been valued by him at £4,000 a year and by Lord Eversley at £8,000 a year?

No such statement was made by Mr. Leveson-Gower, who merely referred to the fact that Bedford College occupied a somewhat special position as a very prominent educational institution. This consideration, however, had reference only to the question of allowing more building on the land than would have been permitted in the case of a private occupier and in no way affected the question of the rent charged. The South Villa enclosure was never valued by Mr. Leveson-Gower at £4,000 a year, and I have no knowledge of the valuation attributed to Lord Eversley, but I am convinced that the values referred to, if obtained at all, could only have been obtained by appropriating the whole site for building purposes, a course which was never contemplated by any one connected with the Office of Woods.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen Lord Eversley's letter in to-day's "Times"? Is it part of the functions of the President of the Board of Agriculture to continue the functions of educational aid which he performed at the Board of Education?

I have read Lord Eversley's letter with a great deal of interest, but I do not propose to reply to it So far as the hon. Gentleman's second question is concerned, I am acting as one of the Commissioners of Woods, and I am replying to this question on behalf of my colleague the other Commissioner.

Does this consideration of educational qualifications in any way concern the Board of Agriculture?

It certainly would not have concerned me, as the lease was made before I went to the Board of Agriculture.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state what is the extent of the meadow enclosed to the Baptist College in Regent's Park, adjoining the boundary wall; for what purpose it was let to the college; what rent is received from the college for it; what rental does the college receive for the horses and cattle which graze upon it; and whether, in view of the present conditions in which this meadow is kept, he can see his way to throw it open to the public?

The original lease of the premises, now known as the Baptist College, comprised about five acres of land. About six and a half acres of meadow land had previously been held on a yearly tenancy by the lessee of the premises since 1841 (when the adjacent part of the park was thrown open to the public), and it was part of the arrangement of 1883 that on the giving up by the lessee of about two and a quarter acres., the remainder, about four acres, one rood, eight poles, should be added to the lease from 10th October, 1883, and the rent was raised by £30 3s. 9d. I have no knowledge of the revenue, if any, derived by the college from the meadow land, and I have no present power to deal with it. The question whether and, and, if any, what part of the land can be given up without loss of revenue will be considered when the renewal of the lease (which does not expire until April, 1932) is suggested.

With what object in view was this land let to the college?

I am afraid that at this interval of time I could not say. When the lease comes up for consideration again the large amount of meadow land now in the lease will, of course, be reconsidered with a view to the public requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the British Beekeepers' Association had made to him any report of the work done by that body and the manner in which the Grant made from the National Development Fund has been distributed among the local associations?

The Board have received no detailed report of the work done by the British Beekeepers' Association, and I am not aware to what extent local associations have benefited from the Grant out of the Development Fund.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many small holdings existed in England and Wales at 31st December, 1907, and 31st December, 1912, respectively?

The Board's Returns are collected in June, and I cannot therefore give exactly the information for which the hon. Member asks. The number of holdings above one acre and not exceeding fifty acres as returned on the 4th June, 1907, was 289,093, and on the 4th June, 1912, 292,720.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can state the total acreage of the 10,192 small holdings established up to the 31st December, 1912, in England and Wales?

One hundred and thirty-two thousand six hundred and one acres.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether the Norfolk County Council and the Isle of Ely County Council were permitted by the Board of Agriculture to bid against each other for five lots of property at a sale at Wisbech on Saturday, 21st June; why the Norfolk County Council were allowed to give a higher price than that sanctioned by the Board for the Isle of Ely for land situated in the latter county, the result being that Norfolk purchased all and the Isle of Ely none; whether the result of permitting two counties to come into competition was that the land fetched over £80 per acre, thus making the rent for prospective small holders almost prohibitive; and whether steps will be taken to see that such proceedings are not sanctioned in the future?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The Norfolk County Council purchased the land in question on their own responsibility without consulting the Board. I am informed that the competition of the two county councils in the case under notice did not materially, if at all, enhance the price, but such competition is to be deprecated, and the Board will do everything in their power to prevent it in future?

Is it not either the Law or a Regulation having the effect of Law that no county council should buy any land without prior sanction of the Board as to the amount?

I could not give offhand an interpretation of the law, but I can state approximately what I think the hon. Gentleman wishes to know. No county council can get the benefit of the Small Holdings Act for the purchase or financing of land without the consent of the Board of Agriculture.

Was this consent obtained by the Norfolk County Council in this case?

In this case they acted entirely on their own responsibility without consulting the Board of Agriculture.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the local Commissioner was verbally informed by the Norfolk County Council——

The right hon. Gentleman cannot be expected to deal with details of that sort without notice.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is now able to state if, under the Tuberculosis (Animals) Order, any further Grant will be made to those districts where the population is poor and scattered and where, in consequence, the expenses of administration are very heavy and throw a heavy burden on poor and already heavily rated districts?

The Board will keep themselves informed of the cost incurred in the administration of the Tuberculosis Order in districts such as those described by my hon. Friend, but it is too soon yet to judge whether the additional cost to the ratepayers will justify the making of special Grants in such cases.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he intends to introduce the Bill dealing with Fiars Courts during the present Parliamentary Session?

I am sorry that I cannot give any undertaking on this subject, in view of the advanced state of the Session.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that on the night of 4th June, near Wick, a trawler ran across the nets of the motor boat BY. 430, doing damage to the extent of £40, and that the skipper has been unable to obtain any redress; and what steps does he propose to take to protect the drift-net fishermen from the depredations of trawlers in inshore waters?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the case of the boat "Mafeking," whose nets were destroyed by a trawler on the night of the 4th June off Wick; whether the skipper and agents called both upon the local fishery officer and the Customs authorities with the view of their transmitting information regarding the incident to the Fishery Board; whether these officials refused to entertain or transmit the complaint so made; and what action he proposes to take in the matter?

The skipper of the boat "Mafeking," B.F. 430, reported the loss of his nets to the fishery officer at Wick and attributed the damage to a foreign trawler. Unfortunately he was unable to identify the trawler, and consequently no redress can be obtained. His Majesty's Ship "Ringdove" and the fishery cruisers "Norna" and "Brenda" are now paying frequent visits to the Moray Firth, and the only trawlers now working there are the four or five Grimsby-Norwegian vessels.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has observed that the first of the two days promised for the discussion of the Scottish Estimates was interfered with by a Private Bill being put down at 8.15, and the discussion of the second Vote, dealing with the Land Court, rendered abortive by the fact that the Report of the same was not generally available at the Vote Office; and whether, in those circumstances, he proposes to give more than one other day to Scottish Estimates?

I understand that the Private Bill only occupied half an hour, and that the Report of the Land Court was available on the day before the Vote was discussed. We have promised to give another day for Scottish Estimates.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the other day will be given?

I cannot at present.

Will it include the salary for the Secretary for Scotland, so that we can cover the whole ground?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the public interest and in order that the general want of knowledge of hon. Members may not become too apparent, he will consider the desirability of a curtailment of the considerable amount of time at present devoted to questions in this House?

I should be very unwilling to curtail the time devoted to questioning Ministers unless it is the universal desire of the House.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now say when the proposed Education Bill will be introduced; and whether time will be given for the discussion of the proposals on the First or Second Reading of the Bill?

I cannot say more to-day than that at an early date the President of the Board of Education will make a full statement of the intentions and policy of the Government in regard to education.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Report of the Committee which is considering the question of loans to fishermen is now complete; what is the cause of the delay in issuing the Report; and can he hold out any hope that it will be in the hands of Members before the end of the present Session?

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answers which I gave on this subject to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Wick Burghs on 10th June, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Sutherland on 17th June.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that Scottish fishermen are put in the same position as Irish fishermen?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will consider the advisability of securing pensions on retirement for the officers and men serving on board the fishery cruisers, in consideration of the nature of their service?

The matter has been under consideration, but I am advised that legislation and an additional Grant would both be necessary.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received any information as to the burning of Leuchars Junction Railway Station; and whether it was the result of an accident?

I have made inquiry, but have not received any information on the subject beyond what has appeared in the Press.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received satisfactory reports of the health of the inhabitants of St. Kilda; what is the date of the latest report; and what steps have been taken to secure communication with this island?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for East Edinburgh.

What steps have been taken to secure communication with the island?

I answered that question yesterday and stated that if any further information was wanted the questions should be addressed to the Postmaster-General.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the practice in his Department to recognise seniority combined with merit in the promotion of officers to superior positions in the London postal service?

It is the practice in cases of promotion in all departments of the Post Office to consider the claims of the eligible officers in order of seniority, with a view to the selection of the officer who is best qualified to discharge the duties of the vacant post. Where the merits of two candidates approximate to equality seniority would be the deciding factor.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any protest has been received by him or by the Controller of the London postal service from senior officers in the returned letter section against having been passed over through the recent appointment of a junior officer to a higher appointment in that section; and, if so, whether this was through any incapacity on their part or any dissatisfaction with their past service, or whether there is any other reason for ignoring seniority in making this appointment?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The senior officers referred to were passed over because they were not considered to be so well qualified for promotion as the officer selected.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is aware that the London Institution building in Finsbury Circus is in need of repairs to walls and staircase in order to ensure the safety of the fabric, stay settling, and remedy the effects of foundation digging in neighbouring buildings and of the railway running under the immediately adjacent Circus Gardens; if so, what steps are to be taken; when they are to be taken; and whether the Government is practically abandoning the project of using this building for the School of Oriental Languages?

The First Commissioner is advised that the building is not structurally unsafe; but some repairs will be carried out in connection with the alterations required to fit the building for occupation by the proposed School of Oriental Languages. The First Commissioner is not aware that it is contemplated to abandon the projected school.

asked the President of the Local Government Board in view of the fact that 95 to 97 per cent. of the population of this country are housed by individual enterprise and that recent legislation to encourage the erection of cottages and working-class dwellings by municipal and local authorities has resulted in the erection of a few thousand of such cottages and dwellings only, he will, in view of the urgency of the housing problem, introduce legislation to extend to individual owners and societies the same facilities for borrowing public moneys as are enjoyed by municipal and local authorities?

As the hon. Member is aware. there are facilities under the existing law for lending money for housing purposes to individual owners and societies. In an answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury on the 25th March last, it was explained that loans amounting to nearly 1¼ millions had been granted by the Public Works Loan Commissioners during the preceding two years for housing purposes, of which more than half was granted to societies, companies, and individuals. It must be remembered that while local authorities are able to offer the rates of their districts as security for a loan, private borrowers are not in that position. This fact in itself prevents the latter from being put on the same footing as local authorities in the matter of financial facilities.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the present system of giving preferential treatment to local authorities discourages private enterprise?

That view is held by some, and it is not held by others. If the hon. Gentleman shares that view I shall be pleased to transmit a communication on any suggestion he may make to the Treasury or the Public Works Loan Commissioners.

asked the President of the Local Government Board when he proposes to issue a new election Order, under which an election of parish councillors may take place, when necessary and desired, by ballot automatically?

The practicability of dealing with this matter by an Order is under consideration. If my hon. Friend has any suggestions to make I shall be happy to receive them.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to the sale in Scotland of packets of sweetmeats containing cards, a series of which entitles the purchaser to a prize; whether he is aware that this kind of trading in what is known as lucky goods has been effectually stamped out in England as a result of several prosecutions; and whether he is prepared to take steps so that the law may be the same in Scotland as in England?

My attention has not been called to the matters referred to by my hon. Friend. If he will submit particulars of actual cases to me, I will consider whether proceedings should be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it has come to his knowledge that the agreement arrived at on the 14th March between the Master Bakers' Protection Society and the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers has broken down by reason of the fact that the great majority of master bakers have refused to conform to the terms thereof; and whether he will consent to receive a deputation of the representativs of the union that they may submit to him statements with a view to satisfying the Board of Trade that the rate of wages prevailing in the trade is exceptionally low as compared with that in other employments, and that the other circumstances of the trade are such as to render the application of the Trade Boards Act, 1909, to the trade expedient?

I have been in communication with the Amalgamated Union of Operative Bakers and Confectioners respecting the agreement referred to in the hon. Member's question. As the Trade Boards Act Provisional Orders Bill has received its Second Reading in the House of Commons, and has been referred to a Select Committee, it is not possible during the present Session to make any addition to the trades enumerated in it. I would suggest to the hon. Member that it would be desirable to await the Report of the Industrial Council, which is expected shortly, on the question of the enforcement of industrial agreements, before considering the application of the Trade Boards Act to the baking trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if it is intended to restore the Plimsoll load line on British ships; and will he say why it has been raised, thus increasing the risks to the lives of seamen?

The alteration of the Load-line Regulations made in 1906 was due in the main to the improvements in ship construction which had taken place since the time when the original load line was fixed. Section 438 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, empowers the Board of Trade to modify the tables of freeboard, but in approving any modifications the Board of Trade must have regard to any representations made to them by any corporation or association for the survey and registry of shipping appointed by them to approve and certify the position of the load line The authorities so appointed are Lloyd's Register of British and Foreign Shipping, Bureau Veritas, and the British Corporation for the Survey and Registry of Shipping. An inquiry was instituted in 1905, and several conferences were held between the experts of the Board of Trade and the experts of these classification societies, and, finally, on the 9th February, 1906, these experts submitted the revised tables of freeboard to the Board of Trade. The tables were then placed before the societies named by the Board of Trade, and on the advice of these societies, and of their own officers, the Board of Trade adopted them in a Minute dated 1st March, 1906. I have lately appointed a Committee which is investigating the whole question of the load line. The Committee would be very glad to receive evidence, which, if necessary, could be treated as confidential, from any persons who have any information as to the effect of the alteration of the load line on the seaworthiness of ships, etc. I have noticed allegations made by various persons in regard to this matter which I presume are founded on information in their possession, and I trust that they will bring the information to the knowledge of the Committee, so that these matters can be fully investigated.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when it is likely the Committee will report on that matter, which is urgent?

I am afraid I cannot say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a fatal accident that occurred on Friday last at the level crossing on the Midland Railway line at Bulwell, Notts, where two boys, aged fourteen, were instantly killed by an express train; if he can state the number of fatal and other accidents that have occurred at the same level crossing; and whether he intends taking any action in the matter?

I have received a notice of this accident, and am awaiting further particulars. The records of the Board of Trade for the last thirty years do not show that there has been any other accident at this crossing within that period.

Have the Board considered the desirability of doing away altogether with level crossings in certain parts of the country?

That raises a rather big question. But I am glad to say that in this particular case this is the first accident that has occurred for thirty years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the police refused to allow a collection to be taken up in connection with the procession through St. Pancras on Sunday, 22nd June, for the benefit of the Royal Free Hospital?

My hon. Friend has been misinformed. It is not the case that the police refused to allow this collection, but it became necessary to intervene in respect of certain collectors who, notwithstanding the instructions given them by the organisers of the procession, were not complying with the regulations under which street collections are permitted. These regulations are invariably explained to the organisers of all such collections, and are generally well observed.

asked the hon. Member for the Stroud Division as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether he is aware that the Dobinson Charity, Willington, Durham, was originally left to the poor, without respect to creed or denomination; whether he is aware that the income is now being used solely for the benefit of the scholars who attend the Church of England schools to the absolute exclusion from such benefit of children attending any other elementary school in the ancient parish of Brancepeth; and, having regard to the intentions of the donor to provide education for children of all denominations, whether he will consider the advisability of placing the charity under the jurisdiction of the Charity Commissioners?

As already stated by me, in answer to a question by the hon. Member on 17th April last, the Dobinson Charity was given for the benefit of the poor, and was, by a scheme of the Durham County Court of 23rd March, 1857, made wholly applicable to educational purposes. It is therefore under the jurisdiction of the Board of Education, and not of the Charity Commissioners. Any questions about it should therefore be addressed to the President of the Board of Education.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether proposals for standardising commercial statistics have been placed before him; whether he has considered the possibility of publishing the statistics of the new census of production in such a way as to form the basis for an international standard of commercial statistics; and, if so, whether he will co-operate with the statistical branch of the Irish Department of Agriculture in order to secure that the Irish portion of the census of production may be published in this form?

I am afraid that, in an answer in this House, it is not possible to deal adequately with the question as put by my hon. Friend. If, however, he will call at the Board of Trade, the officials will be glad to discuss the matter with him.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will at once put Circular 821 on sale, so as to make this document dealing with the supply of teachers available for that section of the public from whom the increased supply of teachers may be drawn?

The Circular is a somewhat technical document hardly suitable for distribution to parents of intending teachers, and I do not think it necessary to put it specially on sale. If, however, local education authorities desire further copies of the Circular for distribution they will be supplied in the usual way. The new Regulations referred to in the Circular will shortly be issued and will be on sale to the public.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the new Regulations for the preliminary education of elementary school teachers, he will secure an adequate supply of candidates for the teaching profession by making it a condition of Grant that all local education authorities should engage yearly a certain proportion of their population in the initial stage of teachership.

I have considered the hon. Member's suggestion, but as I doubt whether it would be effective I do not propose to insert such a provision in the new Regulations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if he will state how many bales of cotton were produced in India in the years 1908 and 1912, respectively?

The estimated yield of the Indian cotton crop in 1908–9 was 3,692,000 bales; and in 1912–13 4,397,000 bales.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he will state what is the number of higher grade and secondary schools in Scotland maintained by the public authorities; and the number of pupils in each who received free education last year?

There are 176 higher grade schools and thirty - five secondary schools under the management of school boards in Scotland. Of the former, fifteen schools exact fees, and nearly 4,000 pupils contribute, while the number of pupils in the 176 schools who do not pay fees, is about 20,500. I am not in possession of similar information regarding the secondary schools.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the custom to pay overtime worked by unestablished male shorthand typists employed in the Post Office telephone service at the rate of ordinary time while established employés are paid at the rate of time and a-quarter; and, if so, why this distinction is made?

There are no unestablished male shorthand typists employed in the Post Office telephone service, but a small number of such officers is employed in the Engineering Department. They are paid at hourly rates, and were engaged on the understanding that they would be paid at the same rates when performing extra duty. Thus the conditions of their employment are different from those of established classes. The case of these officers has been represented to the Select Committee on Post Office Servants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in further reference to the case of Miss Emily Edwards, if he will say whether power is given to the Medical Referee, in case of industrial disease, to consult any doctor who has previously had the case under consideration on his own initiative, without any application to that effect necessarily having been made by the parties themselves?

The Regulations require that the Referee shall, before deciding on the matter referred to him, make a personal examination of the workman, and shall consider any statements made or submitted by either party. There is nothing in the Regulations to prevent the Referee, if he should think it necessary, consulting any doctor who has previously had the case before him, but it would be a matter entirely for his own discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the kitchens of hotels, restaurants, and other places where the preparation of food, from the disposal of which profit is derived is carried on, come within the provisions of the Factory and Workshop Acts as being premises in which manual labour is exercised by way of trade or for purposes of gain in the adapting for sale of the articles in question; and whether, if they are not so included, he will state the reason for their exclusion?

The Home Office has been advised by the Law Officers of the Crown that the kitchens of restaurants, etc., are not "workshops" within the definition in the Factory and Workshop Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that, from a Return made to the Longford County Council by the Local Government Board for Ireland, it appears that in the nineteen years from 1894 to 1913 the sum of £5,980 18s 8d. has been deducted from the local Grants due to the county from the Local Taxation Account in respect of alleged default by tenant purchasers to pay the instalments due to the Irish Land Commission; whether he is aware that in this Return no credit for the payment of these instalments subsequently by the tenants appears from the year 1894 to the year 1905; whether, during these eleven years, no portion of these debts was collected by the Land Commission or credited to the local funds of the county; whether, in that case, the lands charged with these debts were allowed to become derelict or are now derelict, and, if not, why the sums charged in respect of them have not been collected from the succeeding tenants, and, if so collected, why have they not been credited to the county funds; and whether, having regard to the importance of this matter to the ratepayers of county Longford, he is prepared to allow an inspection of the books of the Land Commission during these years by a chartered accountant acting on behalf of Longford County Council, who state that no such final loss has ever occurred in the county nor are they satisfied that these debts really exist?

The hon. Member is mistaken in supposing that the net deduction of £5,980 18s. 8d. referred to in the question consists solely of arrears of land purchase annuities. It also includes deductions on account of other insufficiency of income of the Land Purchase Account and the Irish Land Purchase Fund, established under the Acts of 1891 and 1903, respectively. The manner in which such other insufficiency of income arises was described in detail in the answer given by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Waterford, on 22nd April, 1907. Of the sum of £5,980 18s. 8d. in question, £2,766 8s. 1d. represents arrears of annuities, and the balance of £3,214 10s. 7d. represents other insufficiency of income. The latter sum includes a considerable amount in respect of the "advance dividend," namely, the interest on the advance which accrues between the annuitant's first gale day and the dividend day, and moneys so deducted will be recouped to the county upon the payment of the final instalments of the purchaser's annuities. The arrears of £2,766 8s. 1d. do not represent a final loss, as the hon. Member infers. This sum comprised the total arrears in the county at the date when the Guarantee Fund Account was last made up. By the subsequent gale day the great bulk of such arrears had been recovered and credited to the County Guarantee Fund, but a fresh temporary arrear has since arisen in respect of the new gale, and this state of things recurs from gale day to gale day. There are no derelict purchasers' holdings in county Longford.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a copy from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain of Messrs. Smillie and Hartshorn's Report of the inquiry held into the Cadeby Main Colliery disaster of the 9th July last year, and in which they allege there were breaches of the Coal Mines Act; whether he is satisfied that such breaches of the Coal Mines Act did take place; and, if so, whether it is his intention to take any action against the management at this colliery?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a copy from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain of Messrs. Smillie and Hartshorn's Report of the inquiry held into the Cadeby Main Colliery disaster of 9th July last year, and in which they allege there were breaches of the Coal Mines Act; whether he is satisfied that such breaches of the Coal Mines Act did take place; and, if so, whether it is his intention to take any action against the management at this colliery?

I have received a copy of this Report from the Miners' Federation. As regards the two points on which the Report alleges breaches of the Act, the chief inspector, as a result of his inquiry, came to the conclusion that the requirements of the Act had not been complied with on these points, but he formed the opinion that the responsibility lay primarily with the manager who lost his life; and that, in the circumstances set out in his Report, and in view of the fact that the fire would in all probability have been got under without accident had the directions of the managing director been carried out, proceedings could not be taken with any prospect of success against the managing director. I have addressed a letter to this effect to the Miners' Federation. The report of Mr. Smillie and Mr. Hartshorn was not forwarded by the Miners' Federation to the Home Office until 30th May, whereas the time allowed by the Act for the institution of proceedings had expired on 8th January.

Arising out of the Home Secretary's reply, may I ask him, Is he aware that at the inquiry, presided over by Mr. Redmayne, the Chief Mines Inspector, into the causes of the Cadeby Colleries explosion, in which eighty-eight lives were lost, Mr. Chambers, the managing director of these collieries, declared that he would not, under similar circumstances in the future, withdraw the workmen from the mine, despite the fact that it is a grave violation of the Coal Mines Regulation Acts not to do so; in face of such a declaration, in which he wholly fails to realise his responsibility to human life, does the Home Secretary consider that Mr. Chambers is a fit and proper person to have miners' lives continued under his control?