asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any decision has yet been come to or whether any action is to be taken in connection with the refusal of Messrs. Mowlem and Company to start a workman who cannot produce his unemployment insurance card, such card having been deposited at a Labour Exchange when the man first became unemployed?

This matter is still receiving my careful consideration, but I am not yet in a position to add anything to the answer given to my hon. Friend on the 16th June. My hon. Friend may, however, rest assured that every effort will be made to find a satisfactory solution.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if uniform arrangements are prescribed by the Insurance Commissioners for the method and time of payment to doctors working under the National Insurance Act; if he is aware that as regards Derbyshire the panel doctors have not yet received the whole of the amount due to them under the Act in respect of the first quarter of the year, the reason assigned being that all the patients are not yet allocated; if he can state the total number of insured persons in Derbyshire, and the proportion of them which have been assigned to approved doctors; and if steps can be taken to ensure more prompt payment of the amounts due to medical men in the area referred to?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that a payment of a previously ascertainable amount is due at the end of each quarter of the calendar year to each doctor now on the panel. The Regulations provide that the insurance committee shall make payments in advance at the end of each quarter of such amounts as may be agreed for this purpose between it and the doctors on the panel; but the precise amount actually due to any particular doctor can only be finally determined when all the various factors in the year's working of the Act have been ascertained and allowed for. Of course, no doctor will receive any payment in respect of any quarter during which he was not on the panel. The answer to the third part of the question is in the negative, and to the fourth part, in round numbers, 20,000 out of 172,000.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give, for the information of insured persons in the Princetown, Huccaby, and Postbridge districts, Devonshire, the names of those medical men on the panel who have agreed to attend insured patients in that area?

The names of the doctors in question, like those of all other doctors on the panel, are included in the lists exhibited in post, offices and other places for the information of insured persons. I have already furnished the hon. Member with the doctors' names.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that a doctor on the panel for Postbridge, Devon, refused to sign the card of Susan Coaker, an insured person whom he attended, on the ground that he refused to sign all cards in that district until the Commissioners had agreed to pay mileage fees suitable to the peculiarities of the district, and although Miss Coaker was ill in February she has been unable to obtain any sickness benefit up to now; and will he state what steps he proposes to take in this case?

My attention has not been drawn to the case referred to, but I am making inquiries of the insurance committee. I may add that arrangements have now been made for the payment of special allowances on account of mileage in the district in question.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Ins attention has been called to the fact that there is much uncertainty among insured persons under Part I. of the National Insurance Act as to their position when going on holiday but receiving no remuneration; whether he can state if such persons are liable, and, if so, how far they are liable, for contributions under the Act?

An employer is not required to pay contributions in respect of any week in which no services are rendered and no remuneration is paid. The employed contributor has then the option of paying the full contribution himself or of falling into arrear. He is under no obligation to pay, and arrears will only affect his benefits if they exceed on the average three contributions a year.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that many old friendly societies have omitted to provide in their rules for the payment of their officers, there is any rule in the Model Rules A referring to such societies that were issued as a guide for approved societies making provision for the payment of remuneration to the executive officers of the society in respect of their duties in connection with the administration of the National Insurance Act

Model Rules A, which were designed as additions to the existing rules of a society seeking approval as a whole, do not contain provisions as to government and, therefore, do not deal with the payment of executive officers, which would ordinarily be provided for in the main rules of the society. The Commissioners have, however, recognised that in many cases the omission by societies to provide for the payment of officers was due to oversight, and have, therefore, issued a circular (of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy) to the effect that a society will suffer no disadvantage from the omission if it is prepared to adopt the necessary amendment of rules at the next opportunity.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will say why benefits are not paid to John Wright, of 191, Greenstead Road, Colchester, who was certified by his doctor on 27th March as incapable of work from illness and continued incapable until the 3rd May, and who on the 10th May was again certified incapable and is still incapable; of work; and whether the fact that the certificate of his private doctor, who is not a panel doctor, justifies the approved society, Lodge No. 6533 of the Manchester Unity, in withholding benefits?

I am informed by the approved society that, as regards the first period referred to, the injured person neglected to obtain any medical certificate at all until he had been ill for three weeks, and that, recognising himself to be at fault, he withdrew his claim. As to the second period, I am informed that he has not yet approached the authorities of his lodge, and that they will at once consider his case when he does so. With regard to the general question raised in the last part of the question, I have nothing to add to answers which I gave on the 14th instant, and on many other occasions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide, by means of the Amending Bill to the National Insurance Act, that maternity benefit be paid to the woman herself and be her property; that the Clause in the National Insurance Act dealing with the prescribed fee of the doctor called in under the Midwives Act be struck out of the Act; and that it shall be compulsory for approved societies to pay sick benefit for four weeks in maternity cases of employed married women?

Amendments to the effect suggested by the hon. Member have already been put down and will be duly considered in Committee.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the draft Reports of Select Committees are printed under contract by one printer, while the final Reports as approved are printed under a different contract by another printer; and, if so, whether a more business-like and economical arrangement will be made?

I am informed that the answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of Tax Revenue contributed, respectively, during the financial year 1912–13 by England, excluding Monmouthshire, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, including Monmouthshire, and in each case the amount per head of population thus contributed; and the rate per £ such taxation amounts to upon the total income assessed under Schedules A, B, D, and E in the respective countries?

Particulars as to Tax Revenue in 1912–13 will be found in the Financial Relations Returns which were presented yesterday and of which copies will be available shortly. These Returns, however, relate only to England and Wales, to Scotland and to Ireland; and no separate information as to Wales and Monmouthshire is available. As regards the last part of the question, figures as to the gross income reviewed under each Schedule of the Income Tax in England and Wales, Scotland and Ireland in 1912–13, though not yet available, could be given at a later date, but I might perhaps point out that the Tax Revenue contributed by a country corresponds rather to the gross income owned in the country than to gross income reviewed for Income Tax purposes in that country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any Return was made in pursuance of Form IV. in respect of Assessment Essex Uc. 134–9417 2 and 3, amounting to 46 perches of land; if so, who was stated to be in occupation of the land and what was the date of the lease and length of term or tenancy in such Return; will he say by what authority do the Inland Revenue Commissioners demand payment of Undeveloped Land Duty in respect of so small a portion of land; and why is the purchaser required to state a number of facts relating to the previous user of the land which are presumably known to the Commissioners, or would be but for their default to obtain the information by Form IV., and which facts are not known to the purchaser?

The law contains no provision relieving an owner from liability to Undeveloped Land Duty by reference merely to the size of any particular price of land assessed. The inquiry referred to in the last part of the hon. Member's question was addressed to the owner in the belief, which now appears mistaken, that he sought an exemption from duty under Section 17 (5) of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910. A return was made on Form IV. Land and indicated the name of the occupier and the fact that the tenancy was yearly, but did not include all information necessary to determine whether the claim understood to be made was well founded.

also asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority is Undeveloped Land Duty demanded for the fiscal years 1909–10 to 1912–13 upon 46 perches of land, formerly agricultural land, purchased in April, 1912, and added to a garden which after such addition does not exceed in total area more than one acre; why and by what, authority such purchaser is called up by the Inland Revenue Commissioners to pay the duty for periods preceding such purchase; and will he say by what authority is the duty demanded for the year ending 31st March, 1913, seeing that the purchase was completed and the land incorporated in the adjoining garden in April, 1912?

The land in question is liable to Undeveloped Land Duty under Section 16 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, except for such period, if any, as it falls within the scope of any exemption granted by law. Under Section 19 of that Act, the duty is payable by the owner for the time being. If I rightly apprehend that the land to which the hon. Member refers is that to which he alludes in the other question addressed to me by him, the Commissioners of Inland Revenue being now satisfied that the land is exempt from duty for the year 1912–13, will withdraw the charge for that year.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, under the new Bill proposed for dealing with Irish land purchase, it is suggested that the expenditure of the Land Commission should he solely an Irish charge; and if the same arrangement has obtained as regards the Wyndham Act?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet acquired the estate of Lord Conyngham, situated in the Rosses district of county Donegal; and, if riot, when the purchase of this estate is likely to be completed?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet acquired this estate, and they cannot at present say when the purchase of the property is likely to be completed.

asked the Chief Secretary the total amount of grants for special services paid out of the Irish Constabulary Force Fund to officers and men, respectively, in each county in Ireland each year since 1878?

The hon. Member's reference to special services is not understood. As I have already stated, no payments have been made from the fund except as rewards for meritorious services, bounties, pensions, or allowances as authorised by Statute.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, having requested the County Court judges to consider and report on a scheme of County Court reform, and the judges having done so and made certain specific recommendations, he will now act on the advice of the judges?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his question on this subject on 29th May to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Ballindine, county Mayo, pension sub-committee, having investigated the claim of James Mongan, of Bally glass, granted him an old age pension of 5s. per week, and the pension officer, being of opinion that his means entitled him only to a pension of 3s., appealed against this decision, and the Local Government Board, having heard the appeal, dismissed the claim on the ground that the applicant's income exceeded the statutory amount; and whether, as this case is again pending, the sub-committee having once more granted the pension, the Local Government Board will give more favourable consideration to the calculations made in this case by the subcommittee and sanction their decision?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The case is again before the Local Government Board on appeal, and all the circumstances will be duly considered.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that some teachers who entered for a two years' course of training during the years 1898–1900 had, prior to their entrance, a promise of a school; whether the claims of such students were considered by the Commissioners of National Education; can he state the number of such students who were paid the initial salary of £56 per year; whether, out of twenty-nine teachers who completed a two years' course in 1900, and were appointed to schools with an average between thirty and fifty, two were paid a special salary, while twenty-seven were paid the ordinary salary; whether these twenty-seven teachers had as high qualifications as the two who got special consideration; whether the claims of these twenty-seven teachers will now be considered; and whether the National Board gave to the Commission of Inquiry a full explanation of this difference of treatment?

The Commissioners of National Education have no information as regards the first paragraph of the question, but they specially considered the claims of all students in training in 1898–1900. The Commissioners are unable to state the number of such students who were paid the initial salary of £56 per year, without an exhaustive examination of the office records for a long period. As I have already stated, two teachers who completed their training in 1900, and were appointed to schools with an average attendance of between thirty and fifty were, in the special circumstances of their case, paid a higher salary than £56, exclusive of residual capitation Grant, and twenty-seven such teachers were paid the ordinary salary. The claims of these twenty-seven teachers have already been considered by the Commissioners, and unless some new facts are submitted in connection with them they will not again be considered. The answer to the last paragraph of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a copy of a resolution adopted by the County Down Teachers' Association wherein it is stated that no teacher outside Ireland is deprived of the rights of citizenship; whether the Irish national teachers are supposed to teach the duties of citizenship; and can he state on what educational grounds the Commissioners of National Education prevent the teachers from taking part in matters concerning the well-being of their districts?

I have received the resolution referred to. As I have already informed the hon. Member, the rules of the Commissioners of National Education do not require teachers to give lessons in civic duties to school children, but in the programme for national schools it is suggested that as an alternative to the study of a special period of history a course of lessons in citizenship may be given in the highest standard of large schools. The restrictions imposed on teachers with regard to their civil rights were relaxed to a considerable extent in 1907. The Commissioners hold that general abstention of the teachers from local political quarrels has added materially to their usefulness, and they do not consider that it would be in the interests of the teachers or the schools to modify still further the rules on the subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, owing to reductions caused by altering one of the conditions upon which the pensions of chief officers of coastguard were calculated, chief officers' pensions have been reduced by about £20 a year for the last twenty-five years; and, if so, whether the Admiralty will restore the rates of pensions to the original amounts by increasing the sum to be derived from other factors?

There has been no alteration in the conditions upon which chief officer's pensions are calculated, but, owing to promotion late in life, chief officers now being pensioned have not been able to serve as long in that rank as their predecessors, with the result that the average pension is now approximately £13 less than that awarded in 1888. As I have informed the Noble Lord in previous replies, it is not intended to make any alteration in the scale of pensions.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many canteens for the use of sailors are in existence in Scotland; what are the profits from these, and what use is made of such profits; and whether such canteens will come under the operation of the limited local option Clauses of the Temperance (Scotland) Bill?

There is one field canteen at Lamlash, which was opened on 2nd September, 1911. The profits up to 10th February, 1913, amounted to £225 17s. 11d., and will be appropriated to expenditure in connection with the Recreation Ground at Lamlash. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can now state the result of the inquiry into the allegation of violation of the Fair-Wages Clause by the firms of Spagnoletti, Limited, Shepherd's Bush; Johnson and Phillips, Charlton, Kent; Keith and Blackman, Holloway Road; and Messrs. Crompton, Chelmsford, contractors to the Admiralty, in the wages paid to instrument makers and the amount of boy labour employed?

The inquiry is proceeding, but as it entails personal investigation of wages books, etc., at the works of the firms mentioned, and of a number of other firms to ascertain rates usually paid, it will necessarily occupy some further time.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he can give the average number of rounds per gun fired each year in their respective countries by the Regular Artillery of the British, French, and German armies; and (2) whether all the batteries of Artillery of the Territorial Army fire twenty-five rounds per gun every year; and can he say what is the difference in the average number of rounds per gun per year fired by our Territorial Artillery and the average number of rounds per gun per year fired by the Regular French and German Artillery?

The number of practice or service rounds per battery (six guns) fired annually by the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery (Regulars) quartered at home and by Territorial batteries is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of field ambulances authorised to be maintained on the establishment of the Territorial Force; how many of such units are complete and effective; and what is the total strength, established and effective, respectively, of these field ambulances?

There are fifty-six field ambulances. The establishment amounts to 504 officers and 12,417 non-commissioned officers and men, and the strength to 408 officers and 10,456 non-commissioned officers and men.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the field operations which have recently been fixed to take place at Aldershot on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd July, will, owing to several intending competitors being prevented from taking part arid many officers and men being unable to attend, detrimentally affect the Army athletic meeting which was arranged as far back as December last to be held on 23rd and 24th July; whether he is aware that a similar thing happened last year; whether other dates could have been selected for the operations without inconvenience; and whether the policy of the War Office or the general who is in command at Aldershot, whichever fixes the dates for the operations, is to discourage athletics in the Army?

I am making inquiries into this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Education how many and which local education authorities make arrangements for testing by oral or written examination the progress of scholars in elementary schools; whether, failing such arrangements, any outside examination or inspection of school work is conducted other than by His Majesty's inspectors; and upon what principle, under what circumstances, and at' what intervals do the latter examine scholars in selected schools on behalf of the Board?

The Board have no information as to how many or which local education authorities make arrangements other than examination for the purpose of awarding scholarships to or free places in central or secondary schools, nor as to outside examinations or inspections of school work conducted otherwise than by His Majesty's inspectors. Visits are paid by His Majesty's inspectors to elementary schools for the purpose of testing the progress of scholars in accordance with Articles 21 and 22 of the Code. The intervals at which such a visit is paid to any particular school are no longer fixed. The principles on which the inspection and examination of scholars are conducted by His Majesty's inspectors at their visits are indicated in paragraph 14 of the Prefatory Memorandum to the Code for 1909, a copy of which I am sending to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that Mr. W. M. Meyer, of 26, Grafton Road, Kentish Town, had his cabdriver's licence revoked in November, 1907, as a result of being concerned in a trial for theft at the Old Bailey, where he was found not guilty; and whether he will now order a licence to be issued, seeing the hardship inflicted upon Mr. Meyer through no fault of his own?

The person referred to was acquitted on a charge of larceny in 1906, and also on a previous occasion on a charge of unlawful possession; but as it was clearly proved that he was an associate of thieves, the Commissioner of Police considered him an unsuitable person to hold a cabdriver's licence. In view of the lapse of time, I propose to ask the Commissioner to reconsider the question of granting a licence if the man can. produce satisfactory evidence as to his conduct and character.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any and, if so, what steps have been taken to render valid the marriages attempted to be solemnised at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Square, by a certain Bishop Mathew, a person not in holy orders of the Church of England; and whether any steps can, or will be, taken to punish the offender?

I am advised by the proper authorities that the marriages in question are valid. This being so, there are no grounds for taking any action in the matter. The celebrations took place more than twenty years ago, and I am advised that owing to the lapse of time proceedings for penalties in respect of any irregularity cannot now be taken.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if any register is kept of the established gardening societies throughout the county of London; and if any part of the Board of Agriculture Development Fund has been placed at their disposal?

The answer to both parts of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is proposed to introduce a special Local Government (Adjustments) Bill for Scotland; and, if not, can he explain why the Bill introduced by the President of the Local Government Board applies only to England?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, at least for the present; as to the second part, there are differences between the English and Scottish cases, as appeared in the inquiry before the Joint Select Committee.

asked the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been drawn to the Report of the Committee on Public Morals of the United Free Church of Scotland, in which they draw attention to the lack of uniformity in the exercise of powers vested in the sheriffs with respect to by-laws for the regulation of public refreshment and to the fact that the legitimate wishes of certain burghs are not given effect to; and whether he can suggest either any method whereby such uniformity could be secured or, failing such, whether he is prepared to introduce legislation to amend the Act in this particular?

I am aware of the report mentioned, but I would remind my hon. Friend that under the statutory provisions governing the confirmation of these by-laws it is the duty of the sheriff to consider the by-laws submitted to him for his confirmation with due regard to the circumstances and requirements of the burgh concerned as established by the evidence submitted to him, and I am not satisfied that it would be desirable to secure by legislation that there should be an absolute uniformity in the terms of by-laws where local conditions may be very different.

asked the President of the Local Government Board under what Vote the sum of £80 expended during the year ending March, 1913, on research other than that carried out at the Local Government Board laboratory or out of the sum of £1,900 voted for auxiliary research is to be found?

The sum of £80 referred to was paid out of the Vote for the Local Government Board (Civil Service Estimates—Class II., Vote 17), £50 under Sub-head B, and £30 under Sub-head V.

asked the President of the Local Government. Board the number of public vaccinators, and the total amount of fees and bonuses paid to them, in each of the years ending Lady-day 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, and 1912?

The total number of public vaccinators now in office in England and Wales is 3,684, and I think it may be taken that the numbers have not varied to any great extent in either of the years mentioned. The figure given includes some public vaccinators who act in more than one district, and are therefore counted more than once. The following awards have been certified during the year ended—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the case of Walter Blagg, an engine driver who was dismissed from the service of the Midland Railway Company on account of alleged drunkenness; and whether, in view of the recommendation of the Royal Commission of 1911 that no employé should be punished until he had an opportunity of justifying himself, he will say what action the Board propose to take in the matter?

Representations were made to the Board of Trade with regard to this man's case in December last, and an inquiry by the Board was asked for. It appeared that his dismissal had taken place nearly a year before, and as it was not alleged that any breach of the strike settlement of August, 1911, had occurred, it did not appear to fall within the scope of the inquiry which was then pending on behalf of the Board of Trade. I am not aware whether any request was made to the company that the man should be heard and allowed to call witnesses, but I am asking for their observations on the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will cause to be inserted in the proposed contract with the. Marconi Company for Imperial wireless stations a list of the existing Marconi patents, with the date of expiry of each, upon which royalty is to be paid?

Such a list would involve an inquiry into the date of the expiry of patents in all the countries where stations of the Imperial chain will be situated. Besides, the royalty under the proposed contract will cover the use not only of the existing Marconi patents, but also of any future Marconi patents which may be taken out during the term of the contract, and which may be utilised in the stations. I see no advantage in inserting in the contract such a list as that suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if, when quoting the first half of the first sentence of paragraph 24 of the Report of the Advisory Committee upon the Imperial wireless chain, to the effect that the Marconi system is at present the only system of which it can be said with any certainty that it is capable of fulfilling the requirements of the Imperial chain, he will at the same time, for the guidance of the House, quote the second half of the same sentence, to the effect that this must not be taken to imply that, in the opinion of the Committee, the Marconi Company must necessarily be employed as contractors for ail the work required for the Imperial chain?

I quoted the first half of the sentence because that was the only portion relevant to the question to which I was replying, which dealt, not with the comparative advantages of the erection of the stations by Government engineers and by the Marconi Company, but only with the comparative advantages of the Marconi system and other systems. Had the latter part of the sentence been relevant, a succeeding sentence from the same paragraph in the Report which they hon. Member omits to mention, would also have been relevant. It states that it may be said, and is no doubt the fact, that at the present moment the Marconi Company alone has had practical experience of the sort of long-distance work required, including experience in putting down stations, in organising the traffic and staff and in coping with the difficulties that arise in a new industry, and the value of such experience and organisation may well outweigh other considerations if rapid installation and immediate and trustworthy communication be desired.

asked the Postmaster-General whether lockers may be supplied at post offices where the total staff reaches 200; and, if so, as the staff at Portsmouth post office is over 400, and has expressed a desire for long lockers, whether he can see his way to grant their request?

In cases where the total adult staff employed at a post office is 200 or more, the question of supplying long lockers receives consideration. It has already been fully considered as regards the Portsmouth head post office, but the circumstances in this case are not such as to show any special need for the provision of long lockers in place of the existing small lockers, and the change could not be made without undesirable curtail of space. It has accordingly been decided not to take any steps in the matter at present.

asked the Postmaster-General when the new scale of charges for the use of the telephone will be announced?

I regret that I am unable to fix a precise date. It is necessary to make very careful inquiry into the costs of the service under Post Office conditions in order to arrive at a solid basis for constructing a tariff of telephone charges. A mistake might have disastrous effects on the finances, and therefore on the future progress and efficiency of the telephone system. The matter is rendered the more difficult by the fact that the conditions of the service, owing to the recent transfer, are in many respects still hardly normal. The inquiry is actively proceeding.