asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, having regard to the fact that a workman was awarded 8s. a week as compensation for loss of earning capacity, if he fell sick would he lose his compensation allowance during sickness, notwithstanding the fact that the sickness had no connection with his injury, the compensation being given solely for loss in wages; or, on the other hand, if paid his compensation award, would he lose his sickness benefit?

The National Insurance Act does not affect any claim which insured persons may have to compensation or damages. Under Section 11, sickness benefit would be reduced by 8s. in the case referred to in respect of any injury or disease in respect of which the insured person was entitled to compensation; but if he was incapacitated from work by an illness which had no connection with any compensation he might be receiving, there would be no such reduction in his sickness benefit.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether persons insured under the National Insurance Act, 1911, may choose and receive medical treatment other than that practised by panel doctors, as, for example, treatment by herbalists; and, if so, whether it is within the power of a local insurance committee to forbid this?

There is no provision in the Regulations dealing specially with these cases, but, subject to the conditions therein prescribed, it is open to an insurance committee to allow insured persons to make their own arrangements, instead of receiving medical treatment from a duly qualified medical practitioner on the panel.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if, in spite of the Maynooth resolutions, all the Roman Catholic female teachers in Ballycastle, county Antrim, have been dismissed to make way for nuns; if the Roman Catholic ordinary intervened to protect the dismissed teachers; as the Maynooth resolutions have proved to be impotent as an instrument of protection, do the Commissioners propose to devise an adequate scheme for securing the tenure of all teachers during good conduct and efficient service; and are the nuns who supersede the dismissed Roman Catholic schoolmistresses graded and trained teachers or are they an order of teaching nuns who are paid by the State without possessing any certificate of competence?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the only two national schools under Roman Catholic management in Ballycastle are the Ballycastle Girls' School, and the Ballycastle Infants' School, and the manager proposes to put both these schools in charge of nuns from this date. The principal of the girls' school has been appointed principal of another school, but the junior assistant mistress does not appear to have been provided for elsewhere. The principal of the infants' school was offered another appointment which she refused. It would appear from a communication from the manager that the proposed change in regard to placing the schools in the charge of nuns has the approval of the Roman Catholic bishop of the diocese. The Commissioners have no general scheme under consideration such as that suggested in the question, nor have they any information at present as regards the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Chief Secretary the names of the Roman Catholic female and infant national schools in the county of Antrim which are now in charge of nuns, and from which graded national teachers were dismissed to make way for the nuns, distinguishing those which are under graded and trained nuns from those under the charge of nuns who possess no certificates of competency will he state the number of Roman Catholic lay schoolmistresses who were dismissed to make way for nuns, the number of lay assistants employed in these schools and their net salaries, excluding therefrom the sums of money which are deducted from the lay assistants' gross salaries by the nuns on the ground of vacations and other causes; and will he further state the names of the nun-taught schools in the county of Antrim where the lay assistants are obliged to do the whole or part of the menial work of the nunnery and school?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the only schools in the county of Antrim which are now in charge of nuns are St. Mary's Convent National School, Larne, and Lisburn Convent National School. There were three lay teachers in the former school and one in the latter, all of whom received appointments in other national schools. Both these schools are paid by capitation Grants, and the teachers are not, therefore, required to possess the qualifications laid down in the Commissioners' Rules. The nuns of St. Mary's Convent have, however, procured certificates from the English Education Department. There are no lay assistant teachers employed in these schools, and the Commissioners are not aware that there are any schools of the kind referred to in the last paragraph of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the latest Returns relative to the numbers of officers and men in the Territorial Force; if he will state what were the numbers at the corresponding period last year, and what is the increase or decline shown; and if he will say by how many the present numbers fall below the establishment?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what conditions the Greenwich Hospital pension for naval and marine life pensioners of good character who have attained the age of fifty-five years is granted; and what requirements must be satisfied by applicants?

The pensions referred to are Greenwich Hospital Age Pensions. They may be awarded at the discretion of the Admiralty to naval and marine life pensioners (which term does not include marine deferred pensioners) who have been in receipt of their pensions for five years and who have reached the age of fifty-five years. The available funds being inadequate to provide age pensions for all eligible men, awards are made by selection, regard being had to the ages and necessities of the applicants.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will inform the House whether the standard for men recruited for the Fleet has been reduced, and, if so, to what extent; and whether he will state the present standard for seamen, stokers, and Marines?

:Boys and Youths: In February, 1912, the height and chest standards were reduced by ½ in. In May, 1912, the age limit was reduced from 15¾ to 15¼, with height and chest standards shown below.Special Service Seamen: Chest standard was reduced by ½ in. and height for all ages reduced to 5 ft. 3 in. Previously it varied from 5 ft. 3 in. to 5 ft. 5½ in. (February, 1912.)Stokers, 2nd Class: Under 21, height and chest standards were reduced by 1 in. (February, 1912.)Royal Marines: Height standard reduced by 1 in. in August, 1912.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that the dismissal, without any warning or reason given and without compensation or pension, on the 12th May, 1909, of Sirdar Singh, translator and record keeper of the Commissioner's Court, Delhi division, in the Punjab, by order of the Lieutenant Governor, was in contravention of Government regulations; whether he is aware that this man had twenty-three years' good conduct to his credit and was entitled to compensation and pension; whether he is aware that his petitions appealing against this treatment, once to His Excellency the Viceroy in 1909 between Delhi and Lahore and again to the Secretary of State for India in 1912 between London and Delhi, have totally disappeared in course of transmission; and, if not, whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the facts of the case with a view to his reinstatement or retirement on pension with such compensation as may be just?

I have no information as to the facts stated, but inquiry will be made of the Government of India.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether second division clerks in the office of the Registrar-General of Shipping and Seamen are still engaged on duties for the performance of which other second division clerks were promoted to minor staff clerkships in 1908 and since then to staff clerkships; if he can state why promotions made in 1908 were only personal to the clerks upon whom they were conferred; and why there is now no grade in the office between second division clerks and staff clerks?

The circumstances existing in 1908 at the time of the creation of the minor staff clerkships are no longer present in the office of the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen. The minor staff clerkships ceased on the promotion of the officers, who formerly held them, to staff posts, where their experience is still available. The reason for an intermediate grade does not exist.