asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Stanley Francis Pinn, of Sidmouth, who was examined for bronchial affection in June, 1912, July, 1912, December, 1912, and March, 1913, by naval surgeons (when he was told there was nothing serious), and again on May, 1913, when tuberculosis was found, and the patient was sent to the Stonehouse Hospital, being in June invalided out of the Service, has now been sent as a private patient to Didworthy Sanatorium at the expense of the medical officer of health for Sidmouth, since the latter despaired (after Stanley F. Pinn had been visited in July by a Government tuberculosis officer from Exeter) of his getting any insurance sanatorium treatment while still curable; and whether, seeing that such delay was, according to the medical officer of health, a matter of life and death for this patient, he is prepared to direct that the Insurance Commissioners refund the medical officer his out-of-pocket expenses in getting Pinn over to Didworthy, and bear the expense, or, if not all, then some of the expense, of keeping Pinn at this private sanatorium?

I am snaking inquiry into this case and will inform the hon. Member of the result.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the perforation of unemployment, stamps by employers as a protection against fraud has been prohibited; is he aware that this practice is permitted by the Post Office, and that the permission to print the initials of employers on the gummed backs of unemployment stamps does not afford sufficient protection; and if he will state why perforation of the stamps is not permitted?

The perforation of unemployment stamps by employers is not allowed, because, if it were permitted, it would be possible to discover the identity of the workman's previous employers by examination of the unemployment book, to which perforated stamps had been affixed. There is, however, no objection to the printing of the employer's initials on the gummed backs of the unemployment stamps, provided that they are printed faintly. I am not aware that this system does not afford sufficient protection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, approximately, how many hereditaments or identification numbers there are in the rural districts and in the urban districts, respectively, in Ireland?

The numbers are, in the rural districts, 1,100,000; in the urban districts, 330,000.

asked (1) how many gross and full site values the permanent rating valuers of the. General Valuation Office, Ireland, have fixed over and above the 6,000 complete provisional valuations which they made; and (2) in how many of the 2,330 Estate Duty valuations hitherto made in Ireland since the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, passed, all the original provisional valuations of the hereditaments covered by them have been issued; and by what date the remaining provisional valuations of those Estate Duty cases may be expected to be issued?

The statistics asked for could not be prepared without considerable expenditure of time and money, and when prepared would not, in my judgment, serve any useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor the Exchequer whether he is aware that the interpretation by the Board of Customs of the Amalgamation Committee's Report as applying to surveyors who held their positions prior to the date of the Report is contrary to precedents (new regulations governing new entrants), and that the taking away from these surveyors (all old servants who have, through this amalgamation, lost considerable prospects of advancement but were conditionally compensated in certain instances by a grant of £50) of all payment for attendance between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.; the requirement of four overtime visits per month after 8 p.m. to be made without remuneration, and before a charge for overtime can be made; the reduction from 12s. or 16s. to 7s. 6d., paid for each visit (after four have been made); the withdrawal of payment for attendance on Sundays and holidays; the cancellation, except partially to present holders, of eight allowances, each of £30, hitherto paid for tea inspection; and the extension of the hours during which their daily attendance must be made, constitute a series of grievances; and whether, if no further compensation may be given, he is able to offer these surveyors special terms of retirement from a service the conditions to which have in their opinion altered so much to their detriment?

I cannot accept the statements in the question as a fair or complete summary of the amalgamation changes in regard to surveyors, formerly Customs surveyors, to whom I assume my hon. Friend refers, nor can I agree with the suggestion that there has been any misinterpretation of the Amalgamation Committee's Report. I see no reason for offering special terms of retirement to these officials, and I am not aware that any of them have applied to be retired before their natural time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will allow the members of the Customs and Excise Department who suffer from diminished prospects owing to the amalgamation of these services to retire on abolition terms?

I do not consider that the existing state of the amalgamated Customs and Excise service affords grounds for the grant of special terms of retirement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that batches of aged workmen, mostly under seventy years of age, are being dismissed by colliery owners in South Wales on various pretexts; and whether he will so amend the Old Age Pensions Act as to enable aged workmen in such cases to come within the scope of its benefits?

I have no information as to the facts stated in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, the Government cannot undertake to propose legislation on the lines suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a Mrs. Mary Brady, Graddum, Crosserlough, county Cavan, was recently deprived of her pension; what means has this old lady; will he state what age she is shown to be according to the Census of 1841 and 1851, respectively; and will he have her case reviewed and in the meantime direct that the pension and arrears be paid lest she should suffer from the action of the inspector?

Mary Brady was deprived of her pension on 16th September, 1912, as the result of a question raised by the pension officer that she had not reached the statutory age. She is recorded in the Census Return of 1851 as being two years old. In the record of her parents' family in the 1841 Return there is also a Mary shown as being six months old, but it appears from the 1851 Return that this child died in 1843. The Local Government Board have no power to reopen consideration of her case.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland), whether any portion of the £25,000 loan granted for afforestation has been applied to the province of Connaught; and whether he will consider the claims of farmers in county Leitrim for Grants for such a purpose, having regard to the fact that a number of estates had been denuded of timber previous to their sale to the tenants in that county?

No portion of the advance of £25,000 from the Development Fund for afforestation has been expended on the purchase of land in Connaught, but the Department are in negotiation for the purchase, subject to the Development Commissioners' approval, of two areas amounting to over 2,000 acres in that province. Two areas, extending to 1,700 acres have already been acquired in county Galway by means of the annual Vote of £6,000 for the purchase by the Department of woodlands—remnants of estates which are being dealt with under the Land Acts. The Department have made inquiries for land for afforestation in county Leitrim, but no suitable areas of sufficient extent have yet been offered to them. The advance from the Development Fund can be applied only to the purchase of extensive tracts of land which are suitable for economic timber growing, and no portion can be utilised to assist farmers in the planting of their holdings.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the application of James Byrne, Blackmills, Dromin, Dunleer, county Louth, to have a fair rent fixed at Ardee on 5th May (Record No. 3482) was dismissed with 10s. costs to the landlord, Maxwell T. Moore Boyle; and, seeing that no evidence on behalf of the landlord was given nor reason given for the decision, whether he will, in view of the principle involved, cause inquiry to be made into the case?

In the case of James Byrne referred to, the holding consisted of about half an acre rented at £2 10s.,and his application to have a fair rent fixed was by order of the Sub-Commission Court dismissed with 10s. costs to the landlord on the ground that the holding was not substantially agricultural or pastoral in its character. If the tenant is aggrieved at the order of the Court, he is at liberty to apply in the prescribed manner to have the case reheard on appeal.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that Robert McMahon, of Hollymount, has entered into a purchase agreement to purchase the grazing farms of Coolhenry and Shanvally, in the Queen's County, containing 216 acres, under the Land Purchase Acts, from Lord Holm Patrick; if he is aware that Robert McMahon occupies 957 acres of grazing lands elsewhere, and has refused an offer made to him by the Estates Commissioners for part thereof; if he will say the amount of the advance applied for in respect of the purchase of Coolhenry and Shanvally; and whether, taking into consideration the fact that immediately adjoining these lands are 91 holdings under £7 valuation, as well as many other uneconomic buildings, the advance asked for will be made by the Estates Commissioners?

Robert McMahon has entered into a purchase agreement to purchase under the Irish Land Act, 1903, from Lord Holm Patrick, 215 acres of the lands of Coolhenry and Shanvally, held by him as tenant, subject to a rent of £161, and has applied for an advance of £3,997 under the Land Purchase Acts. The Estates Commissioners cannot now say what action they may take as regards the advance applied for. The Commissioners have had a preliminary inspection made of other lands, comprising some 540 acres in Mr. McMahon's occupation as tenant, with a view to estimating the amount they would be prepared to advance if an arrangement were come to between him and the landlord for the sale to the Commissioners in fee simple of the lands as untenanted lands. Their estimate was communicated to Mr. McMahon, but up to the present no proceedings have been instituted for the sale of the lands.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a copy of the resolution unanimously passed by the Listowel Rural District Council asking that subtenants should get the same facilities as tenants who purchase their holdings and pay annuities to the Land Commission direct; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter.

I have received the resolution referred to. The matter of the purchase of their holdings by sub-tenants appears to be sufficiently provided for by Section 15 of the Irish Land Act, 1903.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received a copy of the resolution unanimously passed by the Listowel Urban Council, asking the Government under the new Land Bill to give the Estates Commissioners power to purchase land within urban areas, and also to advance money to town tenants to enable them to purchase their holdings; and whether he has received a similar resolution from the Listowel Rural District Council; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

I have received the resolution referred to and would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the similar question of the hon. Baronet the Member for North Wexford on the 10th April last.

asked the Chief Secretary whether a complete inspection has taken place on the Ormathwaite estate in connection with the extension of five turbary plots in the townland of Lissahane; whether the recommendations of the Estates Commissioners' inspector with regard to these extensions have been complied with; whether the Estates Commissioners, in September, 1912, gave instructions to Mr. Fitzgerald, the negotiator of this sale, or to the solicitor acting for him, that the inspector's recommendations with regard to the extension of these turbary plots should be carried through; whether one of the tenants who claims the extension, and who has not yet signed a purchase agreement, and who has accepted the award of the Estates Commissioners' inspector, provided extension of turbary be given to him, is to be deprived of the advantages to be derived by him through the purchase of his holding; and whether the Estates Commissioners are prepared to enforce the recommendations of their inspector?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question of the hon. Member for Cork City on this subject on the 28th July, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the final replies to, the skilled labourers' petitions will be made known; and what proportion of the £19,000 which was voted for increases to the skilled labourers' pay has already been allotted to the men?

The consideration of the great number of questions raised has taken somewhat longer than was anticipated, but the replies to the whole of the petitions are practically complete and will be issued with the least possible delay. I am not in possession of the detailed information necessary for me to give a reply to the latter part of the question.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty when the answer to the workmen's petition for an increase in the overtime rates will be promulgated; whether be is aware that the answer was promised for July; and whether, in view of the amount of overtime at present being worked, any change decided upon will be retrospective?

The consideration of the last annual requests dealing with many of the conditions of employment of all the various classes—comprised in the 50,000 employes—in His Majesty's dockyards and naval establishments has taken somewhat longer than was anticipated. As my hon. Friend is aware, the replies as to wages were issued as early as 9th May. The remaining replies are practically complete, and will be issued with the least possible delay.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is able to announce any amendment of the Regulations with regard to the length of service necessary for obtaining the Territorial decoration in the case of officers who have served in the non-commissioned ranks; and whether he has received any suggestions for such alterations?

There is no present intention of amending the existing Regulations dealing with the grant of the Territorial officer's decoration.

asked the Home Secretary the terms of reference in the inquiry into the Cadder Colliery, disaster?

The inquiry will be a statutory inquiry under Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act and, according to the terms of that Section, will be an investigation of the accident and of its causes and circumstances.

asked the Home Secretary if he will publish the correspondence between the Home Office and the Scottish coalowners, regarding the provision of safety and rescue appliances in mines.

As this will be one of the questions to be gone into at the inquiry which is to be held into the accident at the Cadder Colliery, I think it, would be better to leave the matter to be dealt with by the Commissioner who will make a full report which will be presented to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to the, growing danger to pedestrians through the habitual abuse of the roads by motor cyclists who rely upon speed and difficulty of identification to escape arrest; if he is aware that the motor cycling Press affords evidence that the breaking of the speed limit is customary, and that the new Regulations as to noise have been altogether ignored by motor cyclists; and what he purposes to do in these circumstances to suppress this public nuisance?

There are unfortunately many instances in which motor cyclists in- fringe the law and regulations as to speed and the use of cut-outs; but the evidence before me does not indicate that these offences are as frequent as my hon. Friend suggests. The police do their best to check them. I would refer him to what I said on 27th May last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Kincardine with regard to the steps I have taken for the enforcement by the police of the Local Government Board Regulations.

asked the Home Secretary if he is aware that the use of many roads by pedestrians and by ordinary cyclists has become exceedingly dangerous owing to the perils caused by motor cars and motor cycles; that parents have found it necessary in many districts to forbid their children to ride ordinary bicycles; and whether any attempt is to be made to restore the use of the public roads to the public?

I have no evidence of the existence, in the country generally, of so serious a state of affairs as is indicated in the question. In the Metropolitan police district, I find that the police this year have increased their vigilance, and that a larger number of prosecutions against motorists has been instituted by them than in any previous year. My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the whole question of motor traffic in the Metropolis has been under the consideration of a Select Committee, and that their Report, issued yesterday, makes a number of suggestions for the better control of motor traffic and the diminution of danger.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been directed to the fact that, on 5th August, the chairman of the Newmarket magisterial bench, in fining a motor cyclist for riding his machine at a speed dangerous to the public, said that motor cycles were the greatest curse they had on the road; and what he purposes to do to arm magistrates with larger powers to help them to cope with the evil?

My attention had not previously been called to the case in question. I have had no representations to the effect that magistrates generally regard their existing powers as insufficient.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India if the appointment of Mr. Hornell to the Bengal directorship of public instruction has been confirmed; and, if not, whether an inquiry will be held into the circumstances of this appointment before it is finally ratified?

I have nothing to add to the reply on this matter given to the hon. Member for West Donegal on the 12th instant.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Local Government Board made any inquiries or took any steps as to the case of the child No. 52 in the Starvation Return for 1911, beyond communicating to the guardians the particulars of the inquest and asking for and obtaining the guardians' observations printed in the Parliamentary Return; and, if the Local Government Board did make any other inquiries, or took any other steps with regard to this case, will he indicate what they were?

The case did not come before the Local Government Board until it was reported to them by the coroner a long while after its occurrence. I understand that it was not regarded as one in which the Poor Law officials were concerned, and further correspondence with the guardians was not considered necessary.