asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of clerks to surveyors of taxes who have been at the highest salary attainable (Scale A) since 1910; is he aware that these clerks have served in the Taxes Department for periods ranging from thirty-one years downwards; and will he take these facts into consideration in fixing their salaries under the new scheme which is to come into operation this year?

The number of clerks to surveyors of taxes who have been at the highest salary attainable (Scale A) since 1910 is twenty-two, the period of service ranging from fourteen to thirty-one years. The facts will be duly considered in the connection to which the hon. Member refers, but I cannot promise that existing clerks will be treated as if their past service had been under the conditions of any new system that may be introduced on the basis of a different method of original selection.

asked whether the Board of Inland Revenue have now completed the arrangements for bringing into operation the new scheme providing for the reclassification and increased pay of the clerks and surveyors of taxes; and from what date such scheme is to take effect?

This matter is awaiting the Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, which I trust will shortly be issued.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can state the actual cost of all investments made under the National Insurance Act up to the 31st December, 1913, or any later day, and their present value or their valuation as at 31st December, 1913?

The net amount paid to the National Debt Commissioners for investment up to 31st December last was £15,263,000. A Return showing the securities in which these moneys were invested as on that date will, in pursuance of Section 54 (6) of the National Insurance Act, 1911, be laid before Parliament shortly. This amount does not, of course, include the sums issued for investment by societies, as to the manner of investment of which I have at present no information.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state for England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, respectively, the total number of persons insured under the National Insurance Act; the amount of the Insurance Fund; the amount paid in benefits; and the amount accumulated for future benefits and reserve?

The information asked for by the hon. Member is given, as far as possible, in the following statement. It should, however, be pointed out that the actual amount of benefits paid cannot be ascertained until audited returns have been received from the societies and branches (some 20,000) and insurance committees responsible for administering the benefits:—

— England. Scotland. Ireland. Wales. United Kingdom. Total No. of Insured Persons 10,846,700 1,492,000 720,000 700,700 13,759,400 Total Receipts of the National £ £ £ £ £ Health Insurance Fund to 31st December, 1913 26,661,000 3,688,000 1,335,000 1,740,000 33,424,000 Total Amounts issued by Commissioners to Societies, Committees, etc., for provision of benefits to 31st December, 1913 10,350,400 1,411,300 456,400 708,000 12,926,100 Amount accumulated for future benefits and reserve as at 31st December, 1913 (including current balances in National Health Insurance Fund, but not including current balances in bands of Societies and Committees) 13,248,600 1,848,700 663,600 810,000 16,570,900

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether any untenanted land on the Wade estate, Clonabraney, county Meath, has been offered for sale to the Estates Commissioners; if so, is it likely to be acquired; whether the

wants of the numerous small holders, who would be destitute of the means of livelihood if it is not purchased, have been inquired into; and whether the tenanted portion of the estate will be vested in the occupiers this year?

The Estates Commissioners have had the lands inspected, and have intimated the suns they would be prepared to advance for the lands, if sold to them. The owner has asked the Commissioners to increase the price. No arrangements as regards the resale of the lands, if acquired, have been made by the Commissioners. The tenanted portion of the estate is not yet in priority to be vested in the purchasing tenants.

asked if, when the untenanted lands of the Roche Kelly estate at Ballybricken, in the county of Limerick, are being distributed, the claim of Thomas Moloney, of Ballysheedy, in the said county, who is the grandson of the late Daniel Maher, who was evicted from 20 acres of land on that estate, will be taken into such consideration as will secure for this applicant an equivalent portion of the lands in question to that from which his mother, daughter of Daniel Maher, was evicted some years outside the prescribed time limit; and will he request the Estates Commissioners to say what is

the result of the attention promised by them in their letter to the hon. Member for Limerick City, dated 11th July, 1913, and that, as the eviction in question was one of unusual severity and as the claimant is a well-qualified farmer, due consideration will be given to his case?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Bridget Moloney, the mother of Thomas Moloney, made application in April, 1908, for reinstatement in a farm from which her father, Daniel Maher, is stated to have been evicted in 1852. As the eviction did not take place within the twenty-five years prior to the passing of the Irish Land Act, 1903, neither Mrs. Moloney nor her son come within the class of persons who can be dealt with as evicted tenants by the Commissioners under the provisions of the Land Purchase Acts, and they do not intend to take any action in the matter.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet conic to terms with Mr. Aitkins for the purchase of his interest in the (late) O'Donel estate, county Mayo, or when they hope to complete the purchase?

The Congested Districts Board have arranged terms with Mr. Aitkin for the purchase of his tenant-right interest in the farm which he holds on the O'Donel estate.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board has yet come to an agreement with Mr. Robert Vesey Stoney as to the sale of the village and lands of Mulranny, county Mayo, or when they hope to complete the purchase?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet come to any arrangement for the purchase of the estate referred to, and they cannot, at present, say when it is likely that the property will be purchased.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in the absence of any animal disease in Ireland, he is prepared to open the ports in Great Britain with the exception of Birkenhead?

In consequence of the uncertainty which unfortunately still exists as to the cause of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease among Irish animals in the lairages at Birkenhead, I regret that I do not feel justified at present in withdrawing the restrictions.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland for the number of principal teachers, male and female, assistant teachers, male and female, and junior assistant mistresses for each county in Ireland?

The following table shows the numbers of principal and assistant teachers and junior assistant mistresses, receiving personal salaries, in the service of the Commissioners of National Education on 31st December, 1912. The figures for 1913 will not be available for some time:—

— Principals. Assistants. Junior Assistant Mistrsses. Men. Women. Men. Women Antrim 392 260 155 823 159 Armagh 152 102 35 147 69 Cavan 136 108 10 53 90 Donegal 268 141 19 140 152 Down 309 167 79 485 120 Fermanagh 109 62 5 35 69 Londonderry 176 92 38 140 85 Monaghan 119 56 6 81 60 Tyrone 233 113 21 89 148 Clare 143 98 42 100 73 Cork 364 281 172 312 175 Kerry 189 154 98 192 81 Limerick 126 103 72 90 34 Tipperary 158 129 35 105 92 Waterford 48 70 23 41 30 Carlow 36 36 14 21 30 Dublin 123 171 161 364 54 Kildare 40 46 15 30 27 Kilkenny 76 76 24 54 43 King's 51 60 15 16 39 Longford 58 39 13 28 24 Louth 56 47 22 40 24 Meath 57 93 15 36 53 Queen's 55 51 11 29 39 Westmeath 54 72 17 31 30 Wexford 72 81 8 58 49 Wicklow 59 57 12 43 29 Galway 212 175 49 175 103 Leitrim 109 75 9 39 67 Mayo 260 141 51 192 131 Roscommon 139 90 18 66 88 Sligo 106 85 17 62 69 Totals 4,485 3,331 1,281 4,117 2,336

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will give the names of the various inspectors of the Royal Irish Constabulary employed in county Kerry, their salaries, allowances, mileage expenses, etc., for each of the past ten years?

The following officers of the Royal Irish Constabulary are at present serving in the county of Kerry:— Station. Name of Officer. Rank. Tralee … … … Hill, H. O'Halloran … County Inspector. Tralee … … … Britten, F. A. … 1st Class District Inspector. Cahirciveen … … … Irwin, John … 2nd Class District Inspector. Castleisland … … … M'Donnell, J. A. … 2nd Class District Inspector. Dingle … … … Hunt, M. … 2nd Class District Inspector. Kenmare … … … Patrick, G. R. W. … 1st Class District Inspector. Killarney … … … Cheesman, C. … 2nd Class District Inspector. Killorglin … … … Villar, R. P. … 2nd Class District inspector. Listowel … … … Walsh, A. … 2nd Class District Inspector.

The salaries and allowances of the various grades of officers will be found in the Annual Estimates presented to Parliament, to which I would refer the hon. Member. The amounts paid during the past ten years as travelling expenses to these officers is not available, and the collection of the information would involve an amount of labour out of all proportion to its utility.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that A. Ballard, of 2, Carlow Street, N.W., who served in the Metropolitan police from 1858 to 1879, when he was obliged to leave owing to injuries received while on duty, is in receipt of a pension of £41 12s. instead of the usual pension of £78 5s.; whether he was awarded £20 by Sir A. de Rutzen in 1907 in consideration of the injuries sustained by him; and, if so, why this has not been paid?

The case of ex-Police-Constable Ballard has repeatedly been before my predecessors since the year 1879, and has been fully considered. He received the full pension on the ordinary scale, and, as the medical referees advised that there was no connection between the illness which unfitted him for service and an injury on duty sustained some ten years previously, there was no power specially to increase the amount. It is not the case that any award was made to Ballard by Sir Albert de Rutzen; but a grant of £5 was given him in respect of the injury of 1868 by Sir John Bridge when chief magistrate. A small grant was also made him last year from police charitable funds.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the total number of insured persons in Great Britain and Ireland who have been certified to be suffering from tuberculosis; the number of those who are receiving residential treatment in sanatoria; and the total number of beds in sanatoria which are at the disposal of insurance committees for the reception of such patients?

I will ask the hon. Member to await the Return which, as I have stated in my replies to the hon. Members for South Norfolk and Salisbury, will shortly be laid before the House.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he will state what amount of public money has been expended during the years 1911, 1912, and 1913, respectively, on experiments in connection with flax; and if he will state shortly the nature of the experiments, and, further, to whom the conduct of such experiments was entrusted?

No payments have been made in the years mentioned in the question on experiments connected with flax. Grants have, however, been sanctioned by the Treasury to Leeds University from the Development Fund as follows:— £1,500 towards the cost of growing 120 acres during 1913. £2,400 for capital expenditure on an experimental station. £3,500 for working expenses during 1913–14.

The object of the Grant is to secure a practical investigation into the process of retting flax, with a view to testing the possibility of reviving the flax industry in this country. The experiments are being conducted by Leeds University Council, who have appointed an advisory committee to assist them in the matter.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken to enable the owners of 13,213 chests of opium awaiting entry into China to dispose of their opium according to their implied or express contract with the Government of India?

I can add nothing to the reply given a week ago. The steps taken have consisted of representations to the Chinese Government from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he can inform the House of the terms of the Anglo-French Agreement regarding the suppression of the traffic in arms in the Persian Gulf and the neighbouring waters?

Papers showing the terms of the Agreement will be presented in due course.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the principle of equal pay for equal work, which was applied to the men and women clerks in the Labour Exchange and Unemployment Insurance service, ceases to be operative when the salary of £105 is reached, male clerks only being allowed to proceed to the maximum under the Board of Trade?

My hon. Friend is not quite correct in supposing that the conditions of service of men and women clerks

— 1912. 1913. 1914. Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. 1st August … … 9,338 256,286 9,417 238,221 — — 1st September … … 9,286 254,211 9,378 237,053 — — 1st October … … 9,279 252,154 9,390 236,389 — — 1st November … … 9,279 250,657 Monthly returns discontinued. 1st December … … 9,274 253,481 1st January … … — — 9,294 254,039 9,366 239,819 Officers. N.C.O.'s and Men. Strength, 1st January, 1914 … … … 9,366 239,819 Strength, 1st January,1913 … … … 9,294 254,039 Increase and decrease during 1913 … … … +72 -14,220 Establishment, 1st January, 1914 … … … 11,233 301,167 Strength 1st January, 1914 … … … 9,366 239,819 Deficiency … … … 1,867 61,348

in the Labour Exchanges and Unemployment Insurance Service are intended to be identical. Men clerks are on a scale of salary of £60, rising by annual increments of £5 to £150, with an efficiency bar at £105. In the case of women clerks there are two grades, the scale in the lower grade being £60, rising by annual increments of £5 to £105, and in the higher grade £110, rising by annual increments of £5 to £150. The proportion of posts in the higher grade of women clerks to those in the lower grade has been fixed at one to five. These clerks may be promoted from the lower to the higher grade on the occurrence of vacancies, and they then proceed to the same maximum as men clerks. I may add that as regards length of holidays the women clerks have a certain advantage over the men.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he will give the Returns relative to the numbers of officers and men in the Territorial Force on 1st August, 1913, 1st September, 1913, 1st October, 1913, 1st November, 1913, 1st December, 1913, and 1st January, 1914; what were the numbers of the force at the corresponding dates 12 months previously; and (2) give the latest Returns relative to the numbers of officers and men of the Territorial Force; what were the numbers at the corresponding period last year; What is the increase or decline shown; and how many the present numbers fall below the establishment?

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the ratio of foreign meat as compared with home-fed meat supplied at present to the Army; and whether foreign meat exclusively is supplied on four days in the week throughout the year?

The ratio is four to three; and the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the annual wastage, reckoned in percentages, of men enlisted in each year in the armies of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, and assessed under the following heads: died, invalided, discharged for misconduct, discharged as unlikely to become efficient soldiers, struck off as deserters?

The figures are as follows:— — Germany. France. United Kingdom.‡ Died .195* .38 .333 Discharged for misconduct No comparable figures available No information .805 Invalided 4.23* 2.95 .844. Discharged as not likely to become efficient No information .354 Net loss from desertion .14† .39 .578 The figures for Germany are for the year 1911, and refer only to troops serving in Germany; those for France are for 1910, and (desertions) for 1913; those for the United Kingdom are the average for the last five years. *Non-commissioned officers and men of German army, not including Bavaria. †Officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the whole German army. No separate statistics dealing with non-commissioned officers and men only are available. ‡If other heads of wastage were included (namely, discharged for false answer on attestation, misstatement of age on enlistment, services no longer required, etc.), the aggregate of this column would be raised from 2.914 to 3.319, and, if discharges by purchase, under three months by purchase, and free discharges were included, the aggregate would be 4.307.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether there is any intention of amending the Moneylenders Acts this Session in so far as these apply to Scotland, in view of the fact that it has become the system of moneylenders there to rob the poor and impecunious by charges for preliminary expenses which seldom or never result in loans being advanced?

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply of the 17th instant to a similar question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his Department has any statistics of the number of cases where the General Fire, Life, and Accident Insurance Corporation of Perth refused payment of farmers' claims for deaths and accidents of animals and forced the farmers making such claims to resort to-arbitration instead of taking proceedings in the law courts; if so, will he say what was the average duration of such arbitration proceedings; in how many cases did they exceed one year; in how many cases did the farmers abandon their claims, accepting the company's usual offer to return the premiums paid by the farmers; and will he introduce legislation this Session to prevent insurance companies which do business in Scotland from inserting in their policies a compulsory arbitration clause which enables them to refuse payment of claims made on them?

I have no statistics of the cases referred to, and as

to legislation, I can only refer my hon. Friend to my reply given on the 17th instant.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the total area of lands in Scotland under the control of the Scottish Office?

There are no lands under the direct control of the Scottish Office. Doubtless the hon. Member refers to the lands under the Board of Agriculture for Scotland. The total area of land owned by that Board is 84,117 acres.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if he has considered the Report of Mr. Anderson in regard to the condition of the inhabitants of the Island of Scarp, Harris; and if he proposes to take any measures to give effect to the recommendation in the Report?

Mr. Anderson's inquiry was in connection with distress in Scarp caused by want of seed oats and potatoes for the Spring of 1913, and the Board took measures to relieve that want.

asked the Secretary for Scotland why the Land Court has so long delayed a decision in regard to the application for small holdings on the farm of Eoligary, in Barra; and, having regard to the urgency of this case, whether he will urge the Land Court to issue a decision at an early date?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the oral answer which I have given to-day to the Noble Lord, the Member for West Perthshire.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will consider the advisability of ordering that all workhouse infirmaries and nurseries should be inspected periodically by one of His Majesty's female inspectors, and that such inspection should not be allowed to devolve entirely upon male inspectors?

Some inspection of such institutions is already being made by the female inspectors, and I am considering what measures are necessary in order to secure that all Poor Law infirmaries and nurseries should be inspected by women at suitable intervals.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will state the reason why British India was not included among the countries which furnished vital statistics to the Registrar-General for England and Wales for inclusion in Table XXXVII. of the Annual Report for 1911; and whether he will arrange for a statement in respect to that country to be included in future Annual Reports?

Vital statistics for British India have not been included hitherto in Table XXXVII. of the Registrar-General's Annual Report because the system of registration there is still incomplete, and the Returns published by the Indian Government are confessedly not such as can be fairly compared with those for other countries with a fully established system of vital registration. The table is, however, periodically revised, and the question of the inclusion of British India will be duly considered.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Board attach any conditions with regard to birth visiting to the consent they give under Section 2 of the Notification of Births Act, 1907; and whether he will state how many Metropolitan borough councils actually carry out birth visiting, specifying those which do so?

Having regard to the terms of the Act, the Local Government Board have not formally attached any conditions to their consent to its adoption, but they have endeavoured to secure that some machinery should be available for following up the cases and giving advice where necessary. As regards the second part of the question, in all the Metropolitan boroughs arrangements have been made for visiting except in Camberwell and Islington.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the cost of living at Bexhill-on-Sea is considerably higher than the index number of 111 given in the Board of Trade Return; that the outdoor force at that town are placed on the wages scale of a Class 3 office, whereas the indoor force are placed in a class lower; whether he will say how this classification was arrived at; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, he can see his way to grant the higher classification to the indoor force?

The question of the classification of Bexhill-on-Sea for scales of pay of the indoor staff has recently been under consideration in connection with a memorial from the staff, but I regret that it was not possible to accede to their request for a higher classification. The cost of living index number 111 was ascertained by the Board of Trade after independent investigation, and the Post Office was, of course, bound to accept it. The circumstances in which the outdoor force were in most cases placed at a higher class than the indoor force were fully explained, at the time when the present system of classification was decided upon, in a Parliamentary Return of the 2nd July, 1908 (Post Office (Changes in Wages, etc.), to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are about 42,000 residents in Hove; that telegraph facilities close in Hove offices at eight o'clock; and if the Department will arrange to keep one of them open until midnight?

The Hove post office is open for the dispatch of telegrams till 10 p.m. on week-days, and the Brighton post office, which is less than a mile and a half away, is always open except from midnight on Saturday till 7 a.m. on Sunday. The number of telegrams dealt with at Hove during the last hour of the present attendance is very small, and I do not think that any extension of the present hours is warranted.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the advisability of affording to the public facilities for posting letters for the Continental mail in the night train at Charing Cross without the extra charge of 2d. per letter, and thus obviate the attendance of a Post Office official at the station, to clear the letter-box and to receive letters, before the departure of the train?

There are no facilities for dealing with mails on the Con- tinental passenger train which leaves Charing Cross at 9.0 p.m. The Continental night mails, including letters posted with a late fee at Charing Cross Station, are conveyed by the mail train which is appointed to leave Cannon Street at 9.11 p.m. It is, therefore, necessary that a Post Office official should attend at Charing Cross to receive the late fee letters in question and convey them to Cannon Street. It is necessary to impose a fee in order to restrict the amount of correspondence posted at the latest possible hour to the quantity which it is then practicable to include in the proper dispatches. I regret that in these circumstances I am unable to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Post, master-General whether postmasters and their assistants have been instructed to refuse farthings not of the coinage of the present reign in payment for stamps; and, if so, on what authority such instructions have been issued?

I am not aware of the issue of any such instructions as those referred to in the question. If the hon. Member will favour me with particulars of any case in which such farthings have been refused at a post office I will have inquiry made.

asked the Prime Minister how many Government officials of all grades there are in the United Kingdom at the present moment; and whether he will state the yearly cost of their salaries and allowances?

I am in communication with the Noble and gallant Lord on this subject.