asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that Private Levi Frank Babbs, late 6th Battalion Devonshire Regiment, who was injured on duty with the Territorial Force, has only been paid sixty-three days' pay at 1s. a day, when, by the Regulations, he was entitled to 3s. 6d. a day; and when the man will receive the balance due to him?

As I have already explained to the Noble Lord, a man can either have treatment in hospital with ordinary pay or a gratuity of 3s. 6d. a day up to a total period of six months. Private Babb was in a military hospital for sixty-five days, and during this period he received ordinary pay. On discharge from hospital he was given 3s. 6d. a day for the remainder of a period of six months from the date of the injury. No more pay is due to him.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the Morane-Saulneir hydro-aeroplane recently demonstrated to the officers of aviation at the Admiralty successfully fulfilled the tests required; and, if so, whether the results were of a sufficiently satisfactory character to make it desirable that the Admiralty should be in possession of this particular type?

This hydro-aeroplane gave a successful demonstration. On inspection it was found that the machine was in some respects not up to the Admiralty standard. The performances of the machine will be carefully watched.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if an extra examination for assistant clerkships, Royal Navy, is to take place in December next, and, if so, will it be made clear to the parents of the competitors and to the competitors themselves that the rates of pay for five and a half years after entry were fixed as long ago as 1863 and have not since been revised, notwithstanding extra expenses and increased qualifications required, with increased expense of preparation; and if he will make it generally known that the prospect of service as assistant paymaster appears likely to cover twenty years, and not ten years as at present, unless some changes and improvements are made?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and an announcement to that effect has already been made. As regards the second part the rates of pay of accountant officers appear in the regulations for entry, and no necessity is seen for stating when these rates were introduced. There is no intention of adopting the suggestion contained in the third part of the question, as such a state of affairs as that contemplated by the hon. Member will not be permitted to arise.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that the balance to the credit of the Island of Montserrat on 31st March last exceeded £15,000; and whether, in view of the expectation that when the balance reached £10,000 the exceptional Export Duties on produce which had been imposed for a temporary purpose would be removed, he will carry out this expectation, instead of allowing the balance to be spent on buildings which are not of urgent necessity?

The estimates for 1913-14 have just been received, but I have not yet had time to consider them. I observe that the balances to the credit of Montserrat on the 31st March, 1913, were £14,844 18s. 0½d. The question of taxation, including the Export Duties, will be duly considered, and the Governor will, if necessary, be consulted on the subject.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether it is proposed to print in its amended form the Mental Deficiency and Lunacy (Scotland) Bill when it comes down from the Scottish Committee; if so, will he say how many days will be given to Members to consider it in its new form before the Report stage is proceeded with.; and will he, in view of the nature of the measure, give a fair opportunity to Members to consider necessary Amendments?

The answer to-the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The usual course will be followed. The rest of the question relating to the Business of the House I am unable to answer.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Board have any information not available to the general public showing that cottages can be provided in rural districts in the North of England at an economic rent, covering site building, sinking fund, water supply, and drainage, of 3s. per week; and, if so, whether he can publish such information and so encourage the provision of cottages in such districts?

I must refer the hon. Member to the Report of the Departmental Committee on Buildings for Small Holdings. The Board have no information which is not shared with that portion of the general public which has inquired into and considered the question of rural housing and studied the report to which I have referred.

also asked what are the last Returns available of the outbreaks of swine fever in the United Kingdom; and how they compare with those of previous periods within recent years?

The number of outbreaks of Swine Fever in Great Britain during the first six months of each year front 1908 to 1913 inclusive, is as follows: 1908, 1,192; 1909, 911; 1910, 731; 1911, I,332; 1912, 1,797; 1913, 1,230. With regard to Ireland, I must refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Vice-President of the Irish Department.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Solicitor-General for Scotland, speaking at Skelmorlic on 18th December, 1912, in the name of the Government, said they would never rest until the whole of the ten millions of taxes which still affected the food of the people had been entirely removed and we had a free breakfast table; and whether this is now the policy of the Government?

I understand that in the speech referred to, which was made nearly two years ago, the Solicitor-General for Scotland expressed a wish, and did not purport to announce the intentions of the Government. As regards the latter part of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the speech which I made in the House on the 11th June last.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he is aware that in Germany the public vaccination of infants under three months old is prohibited; and whether he will consider the advisability of issuing a similar regulation for public vaccinators in this country?

I have no information showing that the public vaccination of infants under three months of age is prohibited in Germany. In England and Wales a public vaccinator contracts to vaccinate within four weeks after receipt of a request to do so, but, in the absence of such a request, he does not usually offer to vaccinate until after the child has attained the age of four months, and the vaccination officer has given him notice that the vaccination law have not been complied with in respect of the child.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of domestic exports of the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, respectively, in 1872, 1882, 1892, and 1912; and will he state the percentage increase between 1872 and 1912?

The following statement gives the information desired, so far as relates to the years 1882, 1892, 1902, and 1912:—

Years.	Exports of Domestic Produce from
	United Kingdom.*	Germany.	United States.
	Thousand £	Thousand Marks.	Thousand Dollars.
1882	241,467	3,190,500	749,911
1892	227,216	2,954,100	923,237
1902	277,552†	4,677,800	1,333,268
1912	480,196†	8,956,800	2,362,696
*Excluding the value of ships exported. These exports were first recorded in 1899.
†Including the value of ships, the figures would be £283,424,000 in 1902 and £487,223,000 in 1912.

The proportionate increases between 1882 and 1912 are: for the United Kingdom, 99 per cent.; for Germany, 181 per cent.; and for the United States, 215 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of imports into the United Kingdom, United States, Germany, France, Belgium, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa, respectively, in 1882 and 1912, and the percentage increase during the same period?

The following statement gives the particulars required:—

Country.	Value of Imports in 1882.	Value of Imports in 1912.	Increase in 1912 over 1822.
			Amount.	Proportion.
	Million £ s.	Million £ s.	Million £ s.	Per cent.
United Kingdom	413.0	744.6	331.6	80
United States	156.8	378.8	222.0	142
Germany	153.9	525.9	372.0	242
France	192.9	318.0	125.1	65
Belgium	64.3	182.9	118.6	184
Japan	5.5	63.1	67.6	1,047
Australia	34.2	76.4	42.2	123
Canada	22.8*	137.7*	114.9	504
New Zealand	8.3	18.8†	10.5	126
South Africa1	11.4	38.8	27.4	240
NOTE.—The figures for Germany, Trance, Belgium, and Canada relate to imports for consumption. In the remaining cases they relate to total imports. The figures for South Africa and Australia for 1912 are not entirely comparable with those for 1882, at which date the Union of South Africa and the Commonwealth of Australia had not been constituted.
* For year ended 30th June, 1832, and 31st March, 1913, respectively,
† In 1911.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will print and publish a précis of the reasons which actuated the Board in raising the load line, especially the load line of old vessels; and whether he is prepared to issue such précis to the public or, in the alternative, arrange that such précis be accessible for public inspection at convenient dates and times?

The modification of the tables of freeboard made in 1906 was due principally to alterations in the types of vessels and improvements in ship construction, which had taken place since the time when the original tables of freeboard were framed. As the hon. Member is aware, the question of the load line is the subject of inquiry.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is possible under Post Office Regulations for the payer of a money order to defer payment for a prescribed period and, further, within such period to stop payment and to claim the return of the money, and that such practice has led to several instanecs of fraud; and whether he will consider the advisability of amending the Regulations?

Any remitter of an inland money order may defer its payment for any period not exceeding ten clays, and is entitled to have the amount of the order repaid to him if payment has been stopped at his request within the deferred period. If the remitter has deferred payment this is notified on the face of the order, together with the period of deferment. I am not aware of any case in which, where a money order has been put to the purpose for which alone it is intended, namely, the remittance of money by post from one person to another, this regulation has facilitated fraud, but if the hon. Member will furnish me with particulars of any such case, I shall be happy to consider it.

asked time Attorney-General whether his attention has been called to the fact that the President of the Probate and Divorce Court is now obliged, in order to deal with the arrears in his Court, to put cases in the list for hearing on several days a week after the normal Court hours, and to sit late to hear them; whether he is aware that such an arrangement involves inconvenience to suitors as well as unnecessary strain upon the judge; and whether any and, if so, what arrangements can be made to provide a proper number of judges to deal with the work in the Divorce Court, so that it may be conducted under normal conditions and at normal hours.

My attention has been called to the facts stated in the question. Every effort is being made by the learned President to deal with the arrears in his Court regardless of any inconvenience to himself, and although some inconvenience may also be caused to suitors they will doubtless prefer it to having their cases postponed. It is not possible at present to make any other arrangements to deal with the work of this Court.