asked whether the Report of Lord Ashby St. Ledgers' Committee will be circulated before any Irish Clauses of the National Insurance Act (1911) Amendment Bill are discussed?

The Report is in the printer's hands and will, I hope, be made available to Members to-day.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is in a position to state if he has had a reply from the National Health Insurance Joint Committee if insurance cards can be issued in such a form as to render them suitable for transmission through the post in cutout envelopes having an opening not covered with transparent paper?

I understand that the matter is still under the consideration of the Joint Committee.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state whether any portion of the £25,000 loan Grant for afforestation has been applied in the province of Ulster; how much of this sum has already been allocated; and will he bear in mind that county Cavan, which has been largely denuded of timber during the last ten years, is well known for its timber-growing capacity?

The entire amount of the advance of £25,000 made by the Development Commissioners for the acquisition of lands for afforestation in Ireland has already been spent or allocated for pending purchases. These purchases are confined to five districts, none of which is situated in Ulster. In county Cavan no area, fit for planting which is not required for agricultural holdings and is at the same time sufficiently large to satisfy the requirements of the Development Commissioners, has been brought to the notice of the Department. Under the annual Vote of £6,000 provided for the purchase and working of woodlands, remnants of estates dealt with under the Land Acts, the Department have acquired ten areas, of which four, amounting in all to over 1,400 acres, are in Ulster. One of these areas is situated in county Cavan, namely, the Bailieboro' centre, area 404 acres.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the number of lunatics deported from America into Ireland during the year 1912 and during the present year; whether the American law provides a fine for the steamship companies which carry and land lunatics in America; and whether any arrangement can be arrived at between the American and British Governments to prevent the deportation of Irish-Americans who have spent the best years of their life in America?

I am informed that forty-eight lunatics were deported from America to Ireland during the year 1912 and thirty-nine during the present year. It is understood that the American Immigration Commissioners have power to require a steamship company to convey back to Europe at the company's expense any passenger whom the Commissioners may reject under the American law as an undesirable immigrant, but I cannot say whether the American law provides for any further penalty on a steamship company. The question of making a representation to the United States Government on the subject of the deportation of lunatics to Ireland has been under consideration, but it has been decided that no good purpose could be gained by raising the question with the United States Government at the present time.

asked then Chief Secretary when the purchase agreements on the Mrs. Sankey estate, Derrycasson, Ballyconnell, county Cavan, were lodged; is this estate on the all-cash register; and will he state when the tenants may expect to be vested?

The purchase agreements in this estate were lodged on the 29th July, 1907, and subsequent dates. It is on the principal register of direct sales (all cash), and, having regard to the claims of other estates, the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to say when it will be reached, but when so reached it will be dealt with as rapidly as practicable.

asked if the War Office prescribes a test of firing efficiency for Territorial Artillery; if every battery in the Territorial Force was subjected to such test during the year 1912;and, if so, what number of batteries failed to pass the test?

There is no prescribed test laid down, but careful records are kept of the firing carried out.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will give the names of the actuaries engaged upon the calculations in connection with the pensions of those teachers who retired owing to the age limit before April, 1912, and their reasons for the delay in making their report?

The actuaries whom the Board of Education have employed are Mr. G. F. Hardy and Mr. D. C. Fraser. The question referred to them for report is not the comparatively restricted inquiry named in the hon. Member's question, but the whole cost of putting into effect the Teachers' Superannuation Act passed last year. This involves many complicated actuarial calculations relating to all the certificated elementary teachers, both those now in service and those who have retired. I have little doubt that the work is being proceeded with as expeditiously as the nature of the inquiry permits.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he will complete Cd. 5951 by enlarging the statistics in Part I. by including all grant-earning schools in the same way as in Part II. of the same Paper?

An analysis of the receipts and expenditure of grant-aided secondary schools is in preparation and will soon be ready for issue, which, I hope, will give the hon. Member the information he desires.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if the Crown lands of Dorrery, in Caithness, were recently cleared of stock for the purpose of making a deer forest; what expenditure has been incurred up to date for the purpose; how many claims for compensation for depredation by deer and other game have been made in regard to it; what amount of compensation has been paid; how many claims are still unsettled, and the amount of them; what steps are being taken to prevent further depredations; how much is being spent in the erection of deer fences; whether a claim has been made by the trustees of the late James Sinclair, of Forres, for £17 6s. 9d., in respect to total destructions of last year's turnip crop, £15 and damage to fences, £2 6s. 9d., on the croft of Robert Macpherson, crofter, in the parish of Reay, the actual amount of the damage having been assessed by a practical farmer; whether the Crown factor tried to bargain with the crofter by asking him to accept £13; whether the crofter has been unable to pay his rent owing to the destruction of his crop; whether the amount of rent due for the year to Whitsun is £11, and is thus less than the amount of compensation offered by the Crown factor; and whether a summons has been served on the crofter for payment of the rent of £11, and asking that the crofter should further be found liable for an additional year's rent under threat of ejection?

Upon the reletting of the Crown lands in Dorrery, in Caithness, from Whit Sunday, 1901, an area of about 3,025 acres at the southern end of the estate, which my predecessors were advised was of little use for grazing, was at a cost of about £115, fenced off with a sheep fence from the remainder of the farm so as to exclude the sheep from that area, which was reserved entirely for sporting. Beyond small sums expended in repairs to this sheep fence, and in feeding the deer in the winter in order to prevent them straying on adjoining holdings, and the cost of constructing a moor road for the benefit of the sporting generally, no other expenditure has been made by the Crown in connection with the deer forest. The question of raising the sheep fence to make it an effective deer fence is now under consideration. Six claims have been made by tenants on the Bramlbin estate against their landlords, the trustees of the late Mr. James Sinclair, of Forres, in respect of damage done by deer to crops and fences. Although the Crown is under no legal liability to meet or indemnify the claims which these tenants may have against their landlords and it is not clear that all the deer came from Dorrery, it was considered that on equitable grounds the Crown should make reasonable compensation to the tenants, and the local factor was instructed to settle with the tenants accordingly. Four of the claims have now been agreed at the total sum of £44 2s. 6d. In one of the remaining two cases the tenants have no legal claim under the Statutes governing the matter, and in the other, that of Mr. Robert Macpherson, a claim was made as stated in the question, but the Crown factor has been unable to adjust it with the tenant, who declines to settle on the same basis as the other tenants. It is understood that rent is owing by Mr. R. Macpherson, and that proceedings are pending for the recovery thereof, but I am not aware of the exact amount owing. Failing acceptance by Macpherson of the offer made by the Crown I can only leave him to pursue his statutory claim against his landlords.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will in the future pay to county councils the cost of effecting loans for the purpose of acquiring or building houses for small holdings?

The Board are only authorised to repay the cost of raising loans for the purchase of land, i.e., such loans as are sanctioned for a term of eighty years. The Board obtained authority to repay these costs in consequence of the fact that the Public Works Loans Commissioners were advised that they had no power to include the costs in the amount of the loan when the term of the loan exceeded fifty years. The result of this decision was that the costs could not be borrowed, and would, therefore, have had to be paid by the councils out of revenue, if the Board had not agreed to repay them. In the case of loans for buildings, the term of which cannot exceed fifty years, no such difficulty arises, as the costs can be included in the amount of the loan and borrowed. The cost of raising loans for buildings amounts roughly to 1 per cent., and this amount, when spread over a term of fifty years, cannot be regarded as a serious impediment to building.

asked the Secretary for Scotland on what grounds or on what evidence Mrs. Margaret Bone (No. 11,512), of Stranraer, Wigtownshire, has been deprived of her old age pension?

:I am informed that Mrs. Margaret Bone was disqualified in virtue of the terms of Section 3 (1) (b) of the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908.

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) how many local authorities have not yet appointed whole-time tuberculosis officers; and (2) whether any tuberculosis officers have been appointed by local authorities without first submitting the names and qualifications of the applicants to the Board?

I may refer the hon. Member to the answer to a question on this subject which was circulated with the Votes on Wednesday last.

also asked whether all tuberculosis officers appointed with the approval of the Board had previously held house appointments for at least six months in a general hospital in addition to a similar period of attendance at a special institution for the treatment of tuberculosis?

The Board have adopted the suggestion contained in the Interim Report of the Departmental Committee on Tuberculosis, that it is not desirable to lay down any hard and fast conditions on this matter. Some of the officers who have been appointed have not possessed the particular qualifications mentioned in the question, but in all cases, before approving, the Local Government Board, in consultation with the Insurance Commissioners, have satisfied themselves that the approval might properly be given.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the through rates from Ireland to Great Britain have been raised; whether in the case of livestock it is necessary to rebook them in Great Britain; and whether the through rates from Great Britain to Ireland have been raised in the same proportion?

I understand that through rates generally between places in Great Britain and Ireland have been raised in about the same proportion, but there may be cases in which the through rate on livestock from Ireland has been withdrawn while the corresponding rate from Great Britain remains in force. As I stated in reply to the question which my hon. Friend asked on 28th July, I am making inquiries as regards the extent to which through bookings of livestock are now in force.

asked the Postmaster-General whether canvas bags are now used for the conveyance of registered parcels; whether crates were formerly used; whether the change has led to an increase in the percentage of parcels of which the contents are damaged in transit; if so, what is the extent of such increase; and whether he will consider the adoption of a system less apt to lead to damage to the contents of registered parcels?

Bags as well as baskets have always been used for the conveyance of registered as of unregistered parcels. I am not aware of any increase in the amount of damage done to registered parcels which calls for reconsideration of the methods of conveyance employed. Upon the general question of the extended use of bags I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to the questions asked on this subject last year, and especially to those of the 19th and 22nd February, 1912. I would add that registered parcels are of course handled with special care and damage to them is comparatively rare.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the amount of sickness which has existed for some time past among the telegraph staff of the Dundee post office owing to the lack of proper means of ventilation in that office; and whether, in the interests of the health of the staff and in the interests of the public service, he will have investigation made with a view installing an efficient system of ventilation in that office?

I am having inquiry made into this matter and form the hon. Member of the result in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, looking to the alterations which are now taking place in the wires up Deeside, he can see his way to make inquiry with a view to providing telegraphic and telephonic communication between Banchory and Strachan?

I will have inquiry made concerning the provision of telegraphic and telephonic facilities at the Strachan Post Office, and will acquaint the hon. Member with the result.

asked the Postmaster-General when Cavan will be connected with the trunk telephone; when it is proposed to establish the exchange; and will he say whether the local telephone system in county Cavan cart be fully used in connection with trunk line messages direct?

The work of constructing the trunk line to Cavan is nearing completion, and I hope that it will be possible to bring the line into use and to open the exchange by the end of September. The existing local telephone system of call offices will be placed in connection with the trunk system, but it may only be possible to afford conversation from them within a limited area of about 100 miles.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will insert a clause in the Imperial wireless agreement which will prevent the last sentence in clause 19 operating in such a manner as to prevent a judge's order for inspection given to a patentee who claims that his patents are being infringed in a Government station from being effectively acted upon?

The clause in question gives the Marconi Company certain rights of inspection in cases where they are able to satisfy the Postmaster-General that they have reason to suspect that their patents are being infringed at a Government long-distance station not provided by themselves. The words referred to by the hon. Member provide that these rights are not to cover the inspection of apparatus which it is necessary to keep secret on strategic or defensive grounds. Nothing in the clause affects in any way any rights which any other patentees may have against the Crown. If in any case a judge's order for inspection by such patentees could be made and acted on effectively, there is nothing in the present agreement to prevent its being so made made and acted on. I see no reason for adding any such provision as the hon. Member suggests.

also asked the Postmaster-General whether, having regard to the fact that copper and other material which enters largely into the construction of wireless stations fluctuates considerably in price, so that it may be under certain circumstances advantageous for a contractor to defer purchase of such material so that the construction of the stations may be delayed, he will, as this construction is stated to be a matter of urgency, increase the penalty laid down for the non-completion within eighteen months of acquisition of site and the signing of the agreement in Clause 6 to such a sum as would make it disadvantageous for the contractor to delay construction for the purpose of securing any advantage from market fluctuations to the detriment of the Imperial service?

I agreed to the penalty as reasonable, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, and the contract having been signed, I am not prepared to reopen the question with the Marconi Company.