asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the allowance for rebate of Income Tax on small incomes comprising both earned and unearned income is made entirely at the earned income rate of 9d., even in cases where the amount entitled to rebate exceeds the amount of earned income; and, if so, what is the statutory sanction for this practice?

The answer is in the negative. Where, in the case of a small income partially earned, the abatement allowable exceeds the earned income, the balance of the abatement falls to be made against unearned income; and, if the relief is granted by way of repayment, the amount repayable in respect of the unearned income is calculated at the full rate of Income Tax in force.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how many new national schools were received into connection with the National Board of Education in Ireland in the county of Londonderry in the years 1912 and 1913, respectively; where these schools were situate; the average attendance of each for the year ending 31st December, 1913; whether there was accommodation for the pupils attending these schools in the schools previously existing in their respective neighbourhoods; and, if so, why were these schools received into connection?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that in 1912 no new national school in county Londonderry was received into connection with the National Board, and in 1913 one such school was received into connection. This school is situate in Portstewart, and the average attendance for year ended 31st December, 1913, was thirty-five. The children at this school are all Roman Catholics, and there was no national school available for their attendance under Roman Catholic managers or with Roman Catholic teachers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that the firm of Morrison and Mason, who are carrying out dock extension works at Portsmouth Dockyard, are paying the labourers employed by them on that work from 2s. to 3s. per week less than the recognised rate of wage of the district; and whether he will take steps to compel that firm to observe the provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause?

I am inquiring into the matter.

asked the Secretary of. State for War whether he can give particulars of the experiments in the dietary of the troops undertaken during the autumn Manœuvres; and whether the results have been satisfactory?

There were no special experiments in the dietary of the troops during the last autumn Manœuvres, but the question of what is a suitable ration on Manœuvres is under consideration in the light of the experience then gained.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of recruits enlisted in England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, respectively, during the years 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1913?

The figures asked for are to be found in Section II., Part III., of the general Annual Returns for the appropriate years, under the heading "Recruiting and Casualties." The figures for the twelve months ended 30th September, 1913, will appear in the forthcoming issue of the Return, which, as I have explained, will shortly be published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum were cured and restored to their friends last year?

During the year 1913 five patients were discharged, recovered, to care of friends, and four to the care of Salvation Army authorities; seven were remitted, recovered, to prison, and two discharged absolutely on expiry of sentence; making a total of eighteen recovered for the year.

asked the Home Secretary whether any and, if so, how ninny prisoners in the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum died of brain disease during the last five years?

Nineteen.

asked the number of burials in the cemetery of the Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum during the past eight years, distinguishing between men and women?

One hundred and fifty-six men and twenty-six women.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the assault committed by the police on Mrs. F. E. Smith, who was arrested on the 10th instant, under the mistaken belief on the part of the police that she was Mrs. Pankhurst, and seriously injured whilst being arrested; whether it is proposed to compensate Mrs. Smith for the injuries which she sustained; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made into the charges against the police on the occasion referred to, and take such action as may be necessary to prevent any recurrence of further cause for these oft-repeated charges?

The reports I have received show that Mrs. Smith was not assaulted by the police, but that both she and the police were pushed and thrown on the ground by the pressure of an excited crowd. The police were assaulted by Mrs. Smith's friends, who purported to be present as Mrs. Pankhurst's bodyguard, and were armed with small Indian clubs. Mrs. Smith, who was charged with obstruction, was certified by a lady doctor to be unable to attend at the Police Court next day owing to bruises; but I am glad to say she was not so injured as to prevent her attendance at a meeting of the Women's Social and Political Union a few days later. There can be no question of compensation, and I fear my influence with the Women's Social and Political Union is insufficient to prevent the recurrence of unfounded charges against the police.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease originated and were confined to the Wallasey lairs; whether inquiry has been made if foreign produce was supplied to live stock; and whether the Birkenhead lairs generally are being disinfected?

The first cases of foot-and-mouth disease in the recent outbreak at Birkenhead occurred in the Wallasey lairage, but on the following day a number of cases were discovered in the Woodside lairage. The Board have ascertained by inquiry that at Woodside foreign hay and meal were supplied to cattle, but at Wallasey only Irish hay was supplied to cattle and English meal to swine. The whole of the landing place at Birkenhead is being thoroughly cleansed and disinfected.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the number (by counties) of applications for new holdings under the provisions of the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act since it was passed; how many of the applicants were existing smallholders, and how many are considered suitable; and how many existing holders have applied for enlargements, how many have been applied for in deer forests, and how many of the latter have been granted and in what forests?

The following are the particulars which I promised the Noble Lord when answering this question orally:—

Return of numbers of applications for new holdings and enlargements received up to and including 31st December, 1913: No. Country. New Holdings. Enlargements. Total. 1. Aberdeen 46 9 55 2. Argyll 739 290 1,029 3. Ayr 70 1 71 4. Banff 13 8 21 5. Berwick 20 — 20 6. Bute 26 52 78 7. Caithness 244 248 492 8. Clackmannan 1 — 1 9. Dumbarton 24 3 27 10. Dumfries 63 5 68 11. Elgin 33 9 42 12. Fife 57 3 60 13. Forfar 17 4 21 14. Haddington 7 — 7 15. Inverness 1,193 997 2,190 16. Kincardine 19 3 22 17. Kinross 5 — 5 18. Kirkcudbright 40 1 41 19. Lanark 178 3 181 20. Linlithgow 11 — 11 21. Midlothian 61 1 52 22. Nairn 4 — 4 23. Orkney 93 130 223 24. Peebles 15 — 15 25. Perth 79 31 110 26. Renfrew 32 1 33 27. Ross and Cromarty 1,014 633 1,647 28. Roxburgh 76 9 84 29. Selkirk 18 — 18 30. Stirling 20 1 21 3J. Sutherland 197 384 581 32. Wigtown 65 5 70 33. Zetland 275 557 832 Totals 4,744 3,388 8,132

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been drawn to the destruction of an entire Rendille village by Boran natives; and has he any information he could give to the House?

I have seen the statement in the Press, but I have received no information on the subject. I am making inquiry of the Governor.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, whether he will considered the advisability of introducing a Bill to give health authorities power to have all still births compulsorily notified to the medical officer of health?

Local authorities already have this power if they adopt the Notification of Births Act, 1907. The Act is at present in force in England and Wales in areas embracing some 60 per cent. of the population.

asked the President of the Local Government Board by whom the inspection of motor vehicles is carried out for the purpose of ascertaining whether these vehicles comply with the regulations as to weight and width; and whether, in view of the large dimensions of these vehicles as at present constructed, proper facilities exist for ascertaining their weight, laden and unladen?

On every application to a registering authority for the registration of a heavy motor car, certain particulars, including the weight of the car, laden and unladen, are, under the Heavy Motor Car Order, 1904, required to be furnished by the owner. The same Order makes provision (i.) for the ascertainment of these weights by or in the presence of an officer of the registering authority, if the authority so direct, and (ii.) for bringing any car upon a highway to a weighing machine for the purpose of ascertaining whether the registered axle-weight is exceeded. I am not aware that the facilities referred to are inadequate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a regulation to the effect that, wherever a railway is crossed by a main road at a level crossing, the gates opening across the railway shall be manipulated by a lever operating both sides simultaneously and placed either in a signalman's box or in some sheltered spot so that the public may have less time to wait and the railway employé be enabled to work under shelter?

The arrangement described is a common one at important level cross- ings, but the Board of Trade have no general power to make such a regulation as is suggested. I will, however, call the attention of the railway companies to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Postmaster General the number of cases in which the buildings of the post and telegraph offices are the property of the Department, and the total value of the same in Scotland and Ireland, respectively; the number of cases in which the business is carried on in rented offices solely in their control, and the total annual rent of the same in Scotland and Ireland, respectively; and the number of cases in which the business is carried on by shopkeepers or others as an addition to their own business, and the total annual commission paid for the same in Scotland and Ireland, respectively?

The information desired by the hon. Member practically amounts to a return that could not he prepared without labour and expense, which would not appear to be justified.

asked the Lord Advocate whether the Dumbartonshire County Council have completed their inquiry as to the boundaries of the lands on either side of the River Leven, the use of which was and is appurtenant to the rights of ferry at Balloch, which, with other subjects, were purchased under Section 93 of the Roads and Bridges (Scotland) Act, 1878, and are now vested in them; and whether he can state the result of the inquiry?

The matter is not one in which I have jurisdiction, but I have communicated my hon. Friend's question to the county council and have received from the county clerk a reply stating that''The county council authorities made inquiry, the result of which, even if otherwise desirable, could not, I think, be satisfactorily dealt with by question and answer. But over and above this, matters relating to the question pot down are sub judice, and it would, in my Opinion, be inexpedient at present to discuss the points raised.

He has also enclosed a print of minutes of meeting of the Rights-of-way Committee of the Western District Committee of 2nd February, 1914, which I shall be glad to show to my hon. Friend.