asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the appointment of the chairman and members of the committee of the Highlands and Islands Medical Service Committee will be made by the Treasury or by the Secretary for Scotland; and to what Department or Minister will they be responsible for their general policy?

I am afraid I can make no statement on this subject until the Bill is introduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an insured person who is in sickness attended by a doctor not on the panel is entitled to receive free medicine?

No, Sir. It is impossible to require chemists on the panel, whose remuneration is based on a capitation system, and accordingly limited to the sum available, to supply medicine to an unlimited extent on the prescriptions of doctors who have not, like those on the panel, a collective responsibility with regard to the arrangements made for medical benefit in the area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a local insurance authority is bound to accept the certificate of a doctor not on the panel as evidence of the right of insured persons to receive sickness benefit as defined by Section 8 (c) of the National Insurance Act?

As. I have previously stated in reply to similar questions, the insurance committees, to which I presume the hon. Member refers, are not concerned with the administration of sickness benefit for members of approved societies. The question of requiring satisfactory evidence of sickness, whether by certificates or otherwise, depends upon the rules of the approved society, subject to appeal to the Insurance Commission under Section 67 of the Act.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the manner in which the National Insurance Act is working among the outworkers of Nottingham, and also in view of the improbability that any considerable number of them will ever derive any benefits from the Act, the Commissioners, under Clause 7 of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill, will be empowered to frame a scheme more suitable to the needs of the Nottingham outworkers, whose earnings are small and uncertain?

Any provision with regard to benefits would be outside the scope of Clause 7. That Clause deals with rates of contribution, and there would be no advantage in extending its application to outworkers in view of the provision already made in Regulations under paragraph 10 of the Third Schedule to the Act. I would suggest, however, that the difficulties which the Noble Lord has in view will be partly met by Clause 3 of the Bill, which contains special provisions applicable to low-wage earners.

asked how many prosecutions have been brought against persons for failure to comply with the provisions of Part I. of the National Insurance Act in Scotland; how many succeeded; and the net cost of such prosecutions?

The number of prosecutions brought in Scotland up to the present time is twelve. A conviction has been obtained in each case, but in three cases an appeal lodged by the defendant is still sub judice. The present amount of the cost to the Commission is £313 12s. 7d.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the number of assistant clerks in the Statistical Office, Customs and Excise, eligible by service for the £10 special increment; the average period these clerks have been on their maximum salary; and why it is proposed to withhold from those clerks who are eligible by efficiency and long service, as stated on the 25th October, 1909, the £10 special increment?

I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on the 17th ultimo. The average period that the fifteen men therein referred to have been at the maximum of their class is eight years and two months.

also asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how many of the assistant clerks in the Statistical Office, Customs and Excise, in receipt of £10 special increment were passed over for promotion to supervising assistant clerkships in August last; how many of those promoted to supervising assistant clerkships at that time were eligible for but not in receipt of the £10 special increment; whether the qualifications required for a £10 special increment are superior to those required for supervising assistant clerkships; and, if not, whether he can define the qualifications required for £10 special increments and for supervising assistant clerkships?

The answer to the first part of the question is six and to the second one. An assistant clerk may properly be granted a special increment, though he does not possess the qualifications required for a supervisory post.

further asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how many assistant clerks in the Customs Statistical Office were in possession of £10 special increment, granted for a degree of special merit, when the class of supervising assistant clerks was introduced to the Statistical Office in August last; how many of these clerks having special increments were promoted to supervising assistant clerks; and what are the qualifications for supervising assistant clerks, in view of the fact that several men having £10 special increment for special merit, efficiency, and long service, have been passed over for the post of supervising assistant clerk which is the grade next above in the Statistical Office?

The answer to the first part of the question is 6; to the second, none; in reply to the third part, I beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on 26th ultimo.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government proposes to legislate in order to authorise deductions from income bonâ fide travelling expenses incurred in earning the amount brought into the income account?

The Government do not see their way to propose legislation with regard to travelling expenses deductions from Income Tax assessments on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many provisional valuations for urban and rural hereditaments, respectively, have been issued in Ireland as on 31st March, 1913, or, if more convenient, as on any subsequent date up to the 30th ultimo?

I am informed that up to 30th June, 1913, 75,000 provisional valuations had been issued, of which about 1,500 were in rural districts.

asked what is the percentage of rural hereditaments in respect of which he has been informed by the Irish Land Commission that they are in a position to, without the issue of Form IV. or personal inspection, supply the information necessary to enable provisional valuations, including fixed charges, to be served on the owners of such herditaments; and whether this percentage is identical with the percentage of hereditaments sold under the Land Purchase Acts?

The information requested by the hon. Member could not be given without an altogether disproportionate expenditure of time and labour. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many original provisional valuations, valuations on occasion, gross values, and full site values have been made by the permanent rating valuers of the Valuation Office, Ireland, since the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, passed; and whether he has read the evidence given by the representatives of those valuers on 24th February before the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, to the effect that the making of these Finance Act valuations has compelled them to work nearly one and a half hours per day longer on the average, and that their subsistence allowance when doing this Finance Act work was, generally speaking, of no financial advantage to them?

I understand that the officers referred to have been engaged on some 6,000 valuations. If they have had any extra work during the few weeks they were so employed, they have been fully compensated by the increase in their pay and prospects given on account of it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, under the Budget of 1909, Licence Duties were raised in London by 197, Manchester 273, Cardiff 220, Leeds 211, and Newcastle 208 per cent., while in Dublin the increase amounted to no more than 15 per cent.; and, if so, upon what principle assessments varying so greatly in different localities are justified?

The percentage of increase referred to are correct, if they are taken as relating to the provisional figures for retail on-licences given in the Return of Liquor Licence Duties (House of Commons Paper, No. 217, of 1912). Assessments vary according to the annual value of the premises assessed. I may add that one of the objects of the Budget of 1909 was to increase the Licence Duty payable in respect of premises of a high annual value.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Report of the Committee on Local Taxation will be presented before the end of the Session?

I understand that it will not be possible for the Report to be presented before the end of the Session.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether be will issue orders directing the authorities charged with the collection of Motor Licence Duties, etc., to issue a reminder to persons who have inadvertently omitted to renew their licences during the month of January before proceeding to levy the payment of a mitigated penalty under threat of prosecution in Court if not paid within ten days?

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the collection of Motor Licence Duties, etc., in England, and, if so, the matter is one entirely at the discretion of the various county councils and county borough councils. In Scotland, where the Board of Customs and Excise are responsible for the collection, it is the practice to issue a form of declaration at the close of each year calling the attention of licence holders to the necessity of renewing their licences and giving all necessary information as to the places where licences can be obtained, etc.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average annual increase of salary received by each officer who has entered the Inland Revenue Department by means of the first division examination since 1st January, 1903?

The average annual increase of salary received by each, officer who has entered the Inland Revenue Department by means of the first division examination since 1st January, 1903, is as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total number of minor staff officers and second division clerks who have been on the permanent establishment of the Inland Revenue Department at any time since 1st January, 1903; the number of such officers who have been promoted to the first division, as recruited from the first division examination; and the immediate increase or decrease of salary involved in each of such cases of promotion, together with the length of service at the time of promotion?

The total number of minor staff officers and second division clerks who were on the permanent establishment of the Inland Revenue Department on the 1st April, 1903, was 415, and since that date 436 have been appointed. The number of such officers who have been promoted to the first division as recruited from the first division examination is thirty-five. The immediate increase or decrease of salary involved in each of such cases of promotion, and the length of service at the time of promotion, are as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under Section 13 of the Finance Act, 1910, payment of Reversion Duty was demanded by the Inland Revenue in respect of subjects No. 53, High Street, New Aberdour, in the county of Aberdeen, upon the conversion of a lease into a feu, and that Mr. A. Dingwall Fordyce, the proprietor, paid in accordance with such demand the suns of £11 6s. 9d. in the 14th of May, 1913; whether he is aware that the subjects in respect of which this Reversion Duty was paid were tenanted by poor persons and that in converting the lease the landlord derived practically no benefit but renounced his right to claim the property which the tenant had erected on the site, thereby conferring a benefit upon the tenant, who now holds his subjects in perpetuity; and whether he will take steps to amend the Finance Act so as to exempt such cases in future?

I am aware of the case to which my hon. Friend alludes. I do not think that a landlord who wishes to deal generously with his tenant respecting the conversion of a lease into a feu need have any difficulty in arranging such terms as will be favourable to the tenant and at the same time involve no greater sacrifice to himself than he would have been prepared to suffer before the passing of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. In these circumstances amendment of the Act in the direction suggested by my hon. Friend does not appear to be necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that Irish Two and Three-Quarters and Three Per Cent. Land Stock, though possessing an Imperial guarantee, are almost unsaleable, he will take an early opportunity to strengthen their position by a statement in this House?

I do not understand the suggestion of the hon. Member, and can only refer him to the reply given him by the Prime Minister this afternoon.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has made inquiries with reference to the memorial from the tenants on the Rowland Blennerhassett estate, Beaufort., county Kerry, submitted to him on the 30th ultimo; and whether, 'in view of the fact that these tenants were promised sufficient turbary when they signed purchase agreements under the Ashbourne Act, he will now state what steps will be taken to redeem those promises to those tenants?

I have referred the memorial forwarded to me by the hon. Member to the Estates Commissioners, who inform me that it relates to holdings sold over twenty years ago by the landlord to the tenants under the Provisions of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1885. The Estates Commissioners have no knowledge of any promises such as those referred to and have no power to interfere in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Clonmeenaghan and Annaghcur grazing ranches now in possession of Mr. Gorman, Sligo, and Mr. Manly Palmer, Dromahaire, and situate on the Nicholson estate, electoral division of Lakeview, Sligo union, have been inspected by the Congested Districts Board with a view to purchase; and, if so, whether the purchase terms have been agreed upon?

The estate referred to has been inspected and the Congested Districts Board hope to issue an offer for its purchase at an early date. The terms for purchase have not yet been agreed upon.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Government sanctioned the movement in the Royal Irish Constabulary to send in applications for increased pay; whether it is proposed to introduce a new Constabulary Act; if so, when that Bill will be introduced; and whether it is proposed to hold an inquiry into the question of pay and pension in the Royal Irish Constabulary, or will the evidence taken at the last inquiry be relied upon to cover the existing conditions under which the men serve and live?

The regulations of the Royal Irish Constabulary lay down that, if any member of the force desires to make a representation regarding any matter in which his interests are affected, he is at liberty to do so through the usual official channel. All requests made to the constabulary authorities for permission to apply for increased pay have, therefore, been sanctioned and the applications, as received, have been submitted to the Irish Government, who will give them careful consideration. It is not proposed to introduce a Bill on the subject at present, or to hold an inquiry.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the particulars as to main armament given in the White Paper, No. 537, for the German "Kaiser" class are official; and whether any information is available as to the main armament of the seven later battleships and battle-cruisers now building which are included in that Return?

The particulars referred to appeared in the 1912 edition of "Nauticus" and in the February number of the "Marine-Rundschau" of that year. These publications, though not "official," are exceptionally well informed. The following particulars are taken from the "Marine-Rundschau" for July, 1913, and the 1913 "Nauticus":—

asked the Secretary for War whether, in view of the fact that Belgium is about to add 30,000 men to her peace strength, he can say whether personal service will remain limited to that of one son per family or will there be any change in the Belgian law of recruiting?

I understand that in Belgium when one son of a family is serving with the Colours it is the intention that a second son should claim to postpone his period of service until that of the former son is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many field batteries out of the 99 now serving at Home, other than the 72 allotted to the Expeditionary Force, are on the higher establishment at the present time?

Of the field batteries at Home 72 are on the higher and 27 on a lower establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the numbers of officers, of non-commissioned officers, and of men, respectively,= for the Militia, the Militia Reserve, the Yeomany, and the Volunteers, exclusive of the permanent staff on the establishment on 1st July, 1903, and also the numbers of each of the above ranks serving in each category on the same date; if he will also give the numbers of the establishment of officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, respectively, for the Special Reserve and for the Territorial Army on 1st July, 1913, exclusive of the permanent staff, as well as the numbers of each rank in both categories serving on the same date, 1st July, 1913?

supplied the following figures:—

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the numbers of officers, of non-commissioned officers, and of men, respectively, of all arms serving with the Colours in the Regular Army on 1st July, 1903; if he will give the difference between this total number and the number of the total authorised establishment for that year; and will he give similar information for 1st. July, 1913?

asked the Secretary of State for War why contracts for the supply of meat to the Army are for two months instead of for the usual period; and is it contemplated supplying the Army through supply institutes, or obtaining goods by open tender as at present?

Changes are being made in order to secure a better system of meat supply for the Army. All contracts will, as before, be Government contracts, placed after competitive tendering.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is able to say, after the recent official inquiry into the matter, that there is no reliable foundation for suggestion that non-commissioned officers belonging to the Monmouthshire Territorial Force have, under the influence of the National Service League, been dissuading young men in the county of Monmouth from joining the force?

As I have already informed the hon. Gentleman, I have been unable to obtain any precise information on this subject.

asked the Secretary for War whether it is proposed to use all or any part of the reserve balance of £80,000 belonging to the Army institutes in South Africa in financing commercial undertakings in garrison towns in this country to compete with private traders; and whether such proposals have his approval?

No such proposal is under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can now state an approximate date when the stained glass windows which were removed for repairs eighteen months ago will be replaced on the north-western staircase of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and when the restoration of the ceiling decorations and the re-painting of the walls, in accordance with the original scheme of colouring, of the lecture theatre gallery, containing the art collection known as the Jones Collection, will be finished and this gallery be opened to the public?

The Committee appointed to advise as to the treatment of the staircase recommended that should the stained glass windows be found to interfere too much with the light, they should be replaced with windows of a lighter design. One of the windows had been temporarily replaced on the staircase and observations are being taken as to its effect upon the light. Arrangements have been made for the restoration of the ceiling, but I cannot say when the redecoration will be complete, as the Committee found themselves unable to make recommendations until the purpose for which is was to be used is settled. I asked the Advisory Council for the Victoria and Albert Museum to advise me and they reported in favour of the allocation of the gallery to the Jones Collection. I have decided to adopt the Advisory Council's recommendations, and am in communication with the Office of Works with regard to the best means of carrying them out.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether, as stated by those who purport to represent the views of chiefs and other natives from Southern Nigeria now visiting this country, the Government proposes to transfer the ownership of the land in Southern Nigeria from the native communities to the Crown or to dispossess the natives of their land?

No, Sir. The Government have never made, have never entertained, and would not entertain such a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies how many so-called agitators are now in custody in South Africa either sentenced or awaiting trial; how many of these are trade union officials and how many women; and, if any have been sentenced, will he inquire under what law they have been sentenced and lay copies of that law upon the Table?

I have no present information on the subject. If, and when, I receive it I will inform the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the authorities are retaining all the troops which were concentrated on the Reef owing to the recent disturbances, and will not demobilise the force thus collected until the elements of uncertainty at present pervading the situation disappear; whether the troops here referred to are British soldiers; whether the power to demobilise these is vested in the South African Government; and what are the elements of uncertainty which still pervade the situation, and upon which the retention of the troops is sought to be justified?

The decision as to the moment at which the forces collected on the Rand, some Regular troops and some not, can be moved, must necessarily rest with those who are in immediate touch with the situation. Imperial troops can only be moved by the general officer commanding, who would, in such case, act in consultation with the Governor-General and Union Government. Lord Gladstone has informed me that his Ministers wish it to be clearly understood that they did not ask for military to coerce miners on strike. So far as miners and mine property are concerned troops are not now required. But owing to serious unrest among natives, who come from all parts of South Africa, all precautions ought to be relaxed at once. Troops have already been withdrawn from posts occupied during disorders and will be withdrawn from mines areas altogether without unnecessary delay. Meanwhile, the Government has already begun practical work of considering grievances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies when the regulation of the Colonial Service which prohibits all salaried public officers, whether or not their whole time is at the disposal of the Government, from speculating in the shares of or being connected with any company, occupation, or undertaking which might bring their private interests into real or apparent conflict with their public duties, or in any way influence them in the discharge of their duties, was made; whether the regulation arose out of any specific case of impropriety; and if any case has arisen in which it was necessary to put the regulation into force?

The original regulations on the subject go back many years. The Colonial Regulations are subjected to revision from time to time, but the one to which the hon. Member refers has not been materially altered since the year 1903, when it was introduced to render the older regulation more definite and precise. I am not aware of the circumstances in which the regulation was originally promulgated, and I could not say without an exhaustive search in what cases (if any) action has been taken under it. The regulation is well known to all officers in the Colonial Service and is generally, I believe, loyally observed by them.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State has information to the effect that an agitation has arisen in Bengal and in the Bengali Press against the proposal of the Government of India that recognition of secondary schools shall in future rest with the local administration instead of with the Calcutta University?

The Secretary of State has no official information.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he will use his influence to expedite the discussion on the Scottish Estimates and to prevent its being delayed to the fag-end of the Session?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to Question 49 to-day.

asked the Prime Minister if he can now give any approximate date when this House may expect a Report from the Committee of Defence with regard to the possibility of invasion or of serious raids by a hostile force; and if he will say how many meetings of the Sub-Committee appointed to deal with the above question have already been held?

The Committee of Imperial Defence will not report to the House, but, when the proceedings are concluded and have been considered, I hope to make a statement on the subject referred to. There have been thirteen meetings of the Sub-Committee, which has latterly been sitting two days a week. It will be some time before the inquiry is concluded.

asked the Prime Minister if he will say how long there has been a vacancy in the office of the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Carmarthen; whether he has submitted any names for this office; and if he will undertake that persons recommended have some military experience and a residence in the county?

The office referred to has been vacant for a month. In making the appointment, all relevant considerations will be taken into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can make any statement to the House in reference to the negotiations which have taken place between Lord Kitchener and the French Government on the Capitulations in Egypt and the future system of government in that country?

No negotiations have taken place between Lord Kitchener and the French Government, so far as I am aware.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that the fumes from copper works do a great amount of damage to neighbouring crops; and whether, in view of the powers conferred upon him by Section 8 and Section 27, paragraph (b), of the Alkali, etc., Works Regulation Act, 1906, he will issue a Provisional Order dealing with this nuisance and providing for compensation to be paid to farmers whose crops have been damaged

I am considering what practical steps can be taken to make an effective reduction in the amount of acid gases at present discharged into the air from copper works. I have no power to make a Provisional Order providing for the payment of compensation to farmers in respect of any damage to crops.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what number of men rejected locally for colour-blindness by the Board of Trade has been passed on appeal; and what test was used for this purpose?

During the three months, 1st April to 30th June, fifteen men who failed to pass the local colour vision examinations were reported by the special examiners as having passed, and twenty-nine as having failed on appeal. The tests ordinarily used in the special examinations include a lantern test, various spectroscopic tests, a test with Nagel's anomaloscope, and any other tests which the special examiners see fit to adopt.

asked the Postmaster-General the total number of minor staff officers and second division clerks who have been on the permanent establishment of his Department at any time since 1st January, 1903; the number of such officers who have been promoted to the first division, as recruited from the first division examination; and the immediate increase or decrease of salary involved in each of such cases of promotion, together with the length of service at the time of promotion?

There are no minor staff officers in the service of the Post Office. The total number of second division clerks who have been on the permanent establishment of the Department since 1st January, 1903, is 1,849, but the maximum number of second division clerkships authorised at any one time was 1,305. Ten second division clerks were promoted to posts which are recruited from the higher division examination. Particulars of their service and the increase in pay obtained on appointment are given below:—

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that on the occasion of a fire at the house of Mr. F. C. Tiarks, at Chislehurst, in the early morning of the 29th of last month, the housekeeper spent a quarter of an hour while the house was in flames in trying to telephone to the Bromley Fire Station; that after she had endeavoured in vain to get a reply from the operator the footman tried, and that in all fifteen minutes were wasted before the fire-call was answered; and, if so, what action he has taken in the matter?

My attention has been called to a paragraph in the "Daily Mail" of 30th June to the effect stated in the question. I have made special inquiry and find that the allegations are wholly unfounded. The facts are these: About 1 a.m. on the 29th June a call was received from the residence next to Mr. Tiarks' house for the Chislehurst Fire Brigade (Lower Borough). It was put through to them, but the brigade advised the caller to ring up the Chislehurst Police Station. At 1.3 a.m. a call from Mr. Tiarks' house for Bromley Fire Station was put through, and the caller was informed from the fire station that the fire was out of the Bromley district, but that the brigade would turn out if their expenses were guaranteed. About 1.10 a.m. the telephone operator on his own initiative called the Chislehurst Fire Brigade (Upper Borough), to whom he gave information of the fire. The Bromley Fire Brigade turned out at about 1.17 a.m. in response to a second call from Mr. Tiarks' house guaranteeing the brigade's expenses. It will thus be seen that the first call was received not from the house that was actually on fire, but from the next house; being a fire call special attention was given to it, and no doubt if there was a brief delay in answering the call from Mr. Tiarks' house it was owing to the fact that the operator was devoting special attention to seeing the first call through. He was not, however, responsible for the delay which occurred before the Bromley Fire Brigade turned out, and it would appear that he rendered a considerable service by calling the Chislehurst Fire Brigade on his own initiative.