asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the increasing substitution of nickel and other metals for bronze in the coinage of various European nations, he considers a similar departure desirable in the case of our cumbrous British coins of the lower values?

As I have already stated in this House, I do not think that the experience of other countries in connection with nickel coinage affords adequate grounds for its introduction into the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Report of the Departmental Committee on Local Taxation which is now under consideration will refer to Scotland; whether the local authorities in Scotland have been invited to give evidence on the subject, and when and where the evidence was taken; and when copies of this evidence, if any, will be available for reference?

The forthcoming Report will deal with England and Wales only. I understand that no oral evidence has yet been received from local authorities in Scotland.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that in consequence of recent rain-storms there has been a great overflow of the River Barrow, and that there is a sheet of water stretching over the countryside and flooding the lands from Monastereven to Athy; and whether he will this Session press forward the Barrow Drainage Bill?

The Board of Works have no information as to floods on the River Barrow beyond that appearing in the public Press. I am in communication with local authorities in the matter, and cannot say, as at present advised, that legislation on the subject this Session is possible.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the total amount borrowed by local authorities in Ireland in order to provide cottages and allotments has been about £8,000,000; whether the total annual rent paid by tenants is £117,000; whether the cost of collection and insurance reduces the net interest received to £80,000, or 1 per. cent. only on the money advanced; and in what proportion is the annual loss borne by the ratepayers and by the National Exchequer?

The hon. Member has, apparently, taken his figures in round numbers from the last Annual Report of the Local Government Board. Making due allowances for the rents of the cottages included in the loans but not completed in March, 1913, and also for the incidental expenses in connection with such cottages, the general result would work out, approximately, as follows: 43 per cent. of the cost borne by the tenants; 25 per cent. borne by the Government; and 32 per cent. by local rates.

asked the Chief Secretary the total income of the Irish Intermediate Board for Secondary Schools in Ireland during the last school year, and the sources from which this amount was derived; and approximately how much of this was spent in payment of Grants to schools, in the conduct of examinations, in exhibitions and prizes, in the cost of administration, respectively, and bow many boys' and girls' schools, respectively, shared the Grant?

The total income of the Intermediate Education Board for Ireland for the year ended 31st December, 1913, was £82,898 13s. 10d., and the sources from which this amount was derived were as follows:— Share of Local Taxation Duties £46,566 15 5 Interest on Securities 33,197 18 0 Examination Fees 1,481 15 3 Interest on Cash on Deposit 1,168 10 11 Interest on Advances to Managers 363 9 6 Sales of Publications 115 19 9 Sale of Waste Paper 4 5 0 £82,898 13 10

The expenditure during the same period was as follows:— School Grant £52,166 18 3 Cost of Examinations 13,112 1 2 Exhibitions and Prizes 6,439 15 0 Cost of Administration 6,118 10 5 Cost of Inspection 4,350 19 8 Cost of Audit 200 0 0 Law Costs 97 2 9 £82,485 7 3

The schools which shared the Grant were:— Boys 159 Girls 123 Mixed 39 Total 321

asked the Chief Secretary what is the cause of the delay in the inspection of the farm of Timothy Flaherty, Fenit, county Kerry, whose fair-rent appeal was heard in Killarney in June, 1913?

The Land Commissioners inform me that the holding referred to will be inspected by the assessor, together with other Kerry holdings, early in the coming month. It was not possible for him to visit the lands before having regard to the number of prior cases on his hands.

asked the Chief Secretary when the lands of Magherahaan and Gortnesk will be split up by the Congested Districts Board; and if they have yet settled on a scheme for the distribution of these lands?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that the date cannot yet be fixed when the lands in question will be distributed under a scheme.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will consider the desirability of winding up the Constabulary Force Fund in view of the facts that the capital of the fund has now reached nearly £380,000, and that the number of subscribers to it now serving is only about 800?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question on this subject asked by the hon. Member for South Sligo on the 24th instant.

asked the Chief Secretary if, in any pending legislation for the improvement of the position of the Royal Irish Constabulary, he will favourably consider the desirability of shortening the punishment imposed on those constables who marry or have married without leave, and consider whether it would be sufficient punishment, added to the ordinary incidents, if a constable so marrying was subjected to the disabilities at present imposed for a period of three or five years for marriage without leave?

The matter referred to by the hon. Member will be fully considered before any legislation affecting the Royal Irish Constabulary is introduced.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether, seeing that more than twelve months have elapsed since the issue of the Annual General Report of his Department for 1911–12, it is proposed to issue that for 1912–13 at an early date; and whether steps can be taken to accelerate the publication of these Reports, so that they may form a record of the proceedings of the Department up to within a few months of their publication?

The Annual General Report of the Department was presented to Parliament on the 25th instant, and copies will be available in a short time. The Report deals with the operations of the Department up to the close of the agricultural year. In view of the large amount of statistical and other returns which have to be obtained from the various committees, schools, and institutions working under the Department, it is not practicable to complete the Report at an earlier date.

asked the President of the Board of Education when the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the subject of augmentation of pensions for school teachers compulsorily retired before 1st April, 1912, will render its Report?

I am at present unable to add anything to the answer which I gave on the 12th February to a question by the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division on the same subject.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what was the total capital cost of construction and of armament equipment, what is the annual cost in maintenance and ammunition, and what is the annual cost of maintenance and pay of officers and men, including prospective non-effective charges, of the "Ajax," "Audacious," "Queen Mary," "Iron Duke," "Marlborough," "Benbow," "Delhi," "Tiger," "Queen Elizabeth," "Warspite," "Valiant," and the "Barham"?

I shall be glad to give my hon. Friend the information he seeks, but it is not possible to do so for at least a fortnight, owing to the pressure at which the Admiralty staff are working at this season of the year.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the re-presentation of the Navy Estimates in March, he will present a Return showing the aggregate amounts provided in the Navy Estimates in each financial year from 1904–5 up to and including 1913–14; the actual amounts expended from Navy Votes in the same series of years; and the difference in each year representing the amount unspent and which automatically was employed for the reduction of the National Debt?

The particulars desired are as follows:— Year. Parliamentary Grant. Annual Expenditure. Amount Surrendered to the Exchequer. £ £ £ 1904–5 36,889,500 36,859,681 29,819 1905–6 33,389,600 33,151,841 237,759 1906–7 31,869,500 31,472,087 397,413 1907–8 31,419,500 31,251,156 168,344 1908–9 32,319,500 32,181,309 138,191 1909–10 35,831,800 35,734,015 97,785 1910–11 40,603,800 40,419,336 184,464 1911–12 44,392,500 42,414,257 1,978,213 1912–13 45,075,400 44,933,169 142,231 1913–14 *48,809,300 †48,809,300 — * Includes Supplementary not yet voted. † Estimated.

The question as to the application of the amounts surrendered is one for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State For War if Sunday shooting by Territorials is necessary because the Government will not provide sufficient shooting ranges?

I cannot accept the statement of cause and effect suggested in my hon. Friend's question.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has seen the confidential circular to the members of the Wolverhampton Territorial Force, signed by H. B. C. Dent, lieutenant-colonel, officer commanding, North Midland Field Ambulance, and dated 16th February, 1914, asking whether they are willing to enrol themselves as special constables for the protection of drill halls, stores, etc., in the event of a riot taking place or being reasonably apprehended, and enclosing a stamped, addressed envelope for reply; whether he can say by whose authority this circular has been issued; and whether it is any part of the duty of a military officer to enrol special constables, or whether that is the duty of the civil authorities?

I have not seen the particular document referred to. It was considered necessary that, in order to preserve life and property, steps should be taken to provide adequate protection for armouries and magazines belonging to the Territorial Force in time of emergency, and instructions were issued from the War Office accordingly. The duty of enrolling special constables falls upon the civil authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for War what firms contracting for the supply of Australian meat for the Army applied for a modification of the specification under which they had contracted, to allow them to remove, on account of the presence of a parasitic worm, certain parts of the carcase not previously allowed to be removed; what firms have taken advantage of this modification; whether the modification continues in favour of any of these firms whose meat of the same parts as accepted for the Army has been condemned by a sanitary authority as infected with the worm and unfit for human food; what is the estimated saving effected by taking this Australian meat instead of sound British or Irish meat; and whether he is aware of the opinion prevalent in Ireland that foot-and-mouth disease is maliciously introduced in the interest of importers and contractors for the supply of imported meat?

The removal of the flanks and briskets, on account of the possible presence of a parasite, takes place in Australia under Government supervision. There has, therefore, been no question of authorising Army meat eontractor3 to remove those parts. The saving resulting from the issue of frozen beef instead of home-bred beef on four days in the week is estimated at £150,000 a year for the troops stationed in the United Kingdom. I am not aware that the suggestion as to the origin of foot-and-mouth disease contained in the last portion of the question is prevalent in Ireland, but the occasional existence of foot-and-mouth disease in parts of Great Britain and Ireland has not been one of the factors in the question of Army meat supply.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether during a recent dispute in Edinburgh between a firm of butchers and the Shop Assistants' Union, the Scottish Society for the Employment of ex-Soldiers supplied any men to the firm; and whether this society receives any Grant from Government funds?

I understand that the society named supplied some men to the firm in question, but that, when this was done, it was not known that there was a trade dispute in progress. The society received a Grant of £10 last year.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the Joint Committee, representing the War Office and the Admiralty, that has been inquiring into the rates of wages and conditions of employment of the men employed on War Department vessels has completed its investigations; and, if so, whether they have issued any Report, or is it intended to issue one?

I am afraid that it is not yet possible to add anything to the answer given to the hon. Gentleman on the 21st July last.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that some of the assistant foremen employed by his Department are paid at a lower rate than the men under their control are paid; and whether it is contemplated increasing the wages of these men in proportion to the responsibility they have?

A new scale for assistant foremen was promulgated on the 20th instant, to take effect from 1st October last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the discontent prevailing among the warders at the Camp Hill House of Detention owing to the fact that they are called upon to discharge their duties under the old regulations applicable to convict establishments, which regulations are rigorously enforced, but are unfitted for an establishment such as Camp Hill, with its difficult and experimental objects; and, if so, whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

The directors inform me that they have not heard of any discontent existing among the staff as alleged; and there is nothing in the nature of the duties discharged by the staff which differs from ordinary prison service in such a way as to call for their special treatment. I cannot, however, accept as accurate the statement that the regulations in force are unsuited for the prison Although for general purposes the regulations of convict prisons apply to Camp Hill, the peculiar circumstances of this prison are amply provided for by the rules made under the Prevention of Crime Act and laid on the Table of the House on 17th February, 1911.

asked the Home Secretary if he will explain the reason for the delay in paying the extra remuneration to the members of the Metropolitan police Force employed on extra duty in connection with work before Christmas at the Mount Pleasant Post Office; and if he will take steps to prevent such delay in the future?

I understand that this account was paid on the 18th instant. The collection and examination of accounts of this nature must take a considerable amount of time, but the Commissioner of Police has given directions which will, he hopes, reduce this to a minimum.

asked the Home Secretary whether persons confined in criminal lunatic asylums are allowed to see legal advisers and private doctors?

If sufficient occasion arises for a visit from a legal adviser, the visit would be allowed. The patients are under the care of the highly qualified medical staff of the asylum, and a consultation with a private medical practitioner would not be necessary save in wholly exceptional circumstances.

asked (1) whether, in the Broadmoor criminal lunatic prison, parts of prisoners' letters to friends are erased by the prison authorities because they are contrary to the regulations; whether copies of the regulations are posted up in the prison or supplied to the prisoners; and (2) whether letters written to their relatives and friends by prisoners in the Broadmoor criminal lunatic prison are sometimes stopped, while prisoners are left to understand that they have been dispatched?

Letters from lunatics are sometimes quite unfit to send out of the asylum, and have to be stopped or partially erased. It must be a matter for the discretion of the medical officers having charge of lunatics to decide when this has to be done. No regulations could be laid down defining the circumstances which render such a course necessary, but the regulations require all letters so stopped to be laid before the council of supervision of the asylum at their next meeting.

asked whether the tradesmen who supply goods to the criminal lunatic asylums are summoned on coroner's juries in respect of deceased prisoners; and do the same persons frequently act?

The summoning of jurors for an inquest at a criminal lunatic asylum is a matter for the coroner, and I have no information as to the manner in which they are selected.

asked the Under-Secretary for India what is the number of officers of the Indian Army now on furlough, and what is the number of retired officers of the Indian Army drawing pensions or permitted to bear a title indicating military rank; and whether any rule of the Service entitles such officers on furlough or retired to take part at their own will and pleasure in regimental or brigade drilling of bodies of civilians brought together in the United Kingdom without the express sanction of the Crown?

The number of Indian Army officers on furlough is 290. With regard to the second part of the question, there are, approximately, 430 officers residing out of India unemployed, and 1,110 officers retired on pension. No officers of the Indian Army retain military rank after leaving the Service unless they draw pension. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War.

asked if the President of the Board of Agriculture will give to the House the latest information received by the Board in reference to outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease?

No outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed since the two confirmed at Liverpool on Monday last, particulars of which have already been announced to the House. The reports from all the three scheduled areas are satisfactory.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will consider the advisability of reappointing the Departmental Committee, with the addition of some scientific experts, to further consider recent development experiences in the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease?

The Departmental Committee to which my hon. Friend refers was appointed little more than two years ago to inquire into the circumstances of the then recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, and to consider whether any further measures could be adopted to prevent their recurrence. The Committee, with the assistance of the best expert opinions available, examined the whole question with great care, and in their Report unanimously approved the methods followed in this country for dealing with the disease. No new conditions bearing on the subject having arisen, I see no reason for considering it advisable to reappoint the Committee.

also asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he will immediately cause inquiry to be made respecting the infection of foot-and-mouth distemper occurring to live stock detained in Birkenhead lairages and report the result to the House; and whether he can state when he expects to open the port?

Very careful inquiries are being made to acertain the origin of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in the lairages at Birkenhead, and I hope to be able to make a full statement to the House on Monday next.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if, in consequence of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at Redditch, in Worcestershire, it is proposed to interfere in any way with next week's shorthorn show and sale at Bingley Hall, Birmingham?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture how many horses were shipped from the following ports, giving the numbers separately for each port, and how many were rejected by the inspectors as being unfit for exportation under the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, at each port during the year 1913 and for the month of January, 1914: Grangemouth, Leith, Newcastle, Hull, Goole, Grimsby, Boston, Harwich, London, and King's Lynn, or any other ports?

I presume that the hon. and gallant Member refers only to horses intended for exportation to the Continent of Europe. If that is so, the desired information is given in the following table:— Ports. the Year 1913. Number Shipped after Examination with Certificate of Veterinary Inspector. Number Shipped with Certificate of Jockey Club (under Section 7 of Act of 1910. Number Shipped under Permits from Board Exempting from Veterinary Examination. Total Number of Horses Shipped. Number of Horses Rejected after Examination. Boston … — — — — — Dover … 1 — 5 6 — Folkestone … 4,981 — 1,015 5,996 1 Goole … 9,304 — 367 9,671 165 Grangemouth … 3,123 — 35 3,158 53 Grimsby … 1,421 — 33 1,454 54 Harwich … 8,390 — 2,962 11,352 14 Hull … 13,376 — 50 13,426 400 King's Lynn … 1,209 — — 1,209 6 Leith … 1,545 — — 1,545 33 Liverpool … 44 — — 44 — London … 17,846 1 478 18,325 445 Newcastle-on-Tyne … 3,086 — — 3,086 220 Newhaven … 22 — 11 33 — Southampton … 191 — 258 449 — Totals … 64,539 1 5,214 69,754 1,391 Ports. The Month of January, 1914. Number Shipped after Examination with Certificate of Veterinary Inspector. Number Shipped with Certificate of Jockey Club (under Section 7 of Act of 1910. Number Shipped under Permits from Board Exempting from Veterinary Examination. Total Number of Horses Shipped. Number of Horses Rejected after Examination. Boston … — — — — — Dover … — — — — — Folkestone … 283 — 133 416 — Goole … 24 — — 24 — Grangemouth … 374 — — 374 7 Grimsby … 125 — 20 145 5 Harwich … 356 — 86 442 — Hull … 2,207 — — 2,207 88 King's Lynn … 140 — — 140 4 Leith … 179 — — 179 1 Liverpool … — — — — — London … 2,029 — 88 2,117 103 Newcastle-on-Tyne … 466 — — 466 18 Newhaven … 1 — 2 3 — Southampton … 2 — — 2 — Totals … 6,186 — 329 6,515 226

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Spanish Government have published the proposed mining law or regulations relating to mining in the Riff zone; and, if so, whether he will publish such law or regulations for the use and guidance of British mining interests?

The text of the mining law together with that of the regulations for the establishment of an arbitral committee to deal with mining claims in Morocco of a date anterior to the new law are available to any interested British parties at the Commercial intelligence Branch of the Board of Trade. I hope this will meet the requirements of those interested.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the manager of the Margate Labour Exchange is advertising for carpenters by displaying bills at the Exchange and in shop-windows in various parts of the town offering a wage of 8½d. per hour, which is ½d. per hour below the rate of the district; and whether this attempt to secure cheap labour has his sanction?

I have made inquiries into this matter, and am informed that the advertisements to which my hon. Friend presumably refers relate to vacancies notified not in the Margate district, but in other districts in which the rate for carpenters is lower than at Margate. I should add that, as my hon. Friend is aware, the officers of the Labour Exchanges take no responsibility with regard to the rate of wages offered by employers beyond supplying the applicant with all information in their possession on the subject.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total number of full-time male employés of the Post Office over twenty-one years of age employed in the London district; and how many of these will continue to receive payment at the rate of 25s. a week or less when the recommendations of the Holt Committee come into force?

The total number of full-time male employés over twenty-one years of age employed in London is, approximately, 34,350. Of these, about 400 will continue to receive payment at the rate of 25s. a week or less after the recommendations of the Holt Committee come into force; in addition, there are about 1,000 who will receive that rate of payment for a time, though rising later to above 25s. a week.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will inquire into the cause of dismissal of Frederick Mayo and Ernest Newman, recently employed as doorkeepers at the Gerrard Telephone Exchange; and whether, in view of the fact that they both hold first-class certificates of character after 25 years' service in the Metropolitan police force, he can secure for them other employment in the Post Office or in any event modify the action taken by his department, so that it will not act detrimentally to their obtaining other employment?

Frederick Mayo and Ernest Newman were dismissed because they refused to perform certain light cleaning duties considered proper to their class, and persisted in this refusal, although they were aware that dismissal might be the consequence. I regret that I cannot sanction the re-employment of either of these men; but in view of their long service in the police force, I should have no objection to the case being recorded as one of resignation.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the grade of doorkeepers at the various telephone exchanges has been abolished; if so, what has been given by way of compensation, and will he say what is the position of those doorkeepers who have been placed on cleaning work; whether this transfer is contrary to their terms of engagement; and if, as a consequence, there has been a rise in the number of petty thefts from the staff?

The grade of doorkeepers in telephone exchanges has not been abolished. Doorkeepers are liable to perform light cleaning work, and are so informed when they are engaged. I am not aware of any rise in the number of petty thefts from the staff.

asked the Postmaster-General how many of the staff at the Wigan post office will immediately receive the increase of pay recommended by the Holt Report; what will be the aggregate annual amount of such increase of pay; and whether he intends to reduce the staff or rearrange the existing duties of the Wigan post office staff who will receive no immediate benefit, so as to save the money required to provide the increase of pay immediately recommended?

Certain recommendations of the Holt Committee are still under discussion with the Treasury, and I regret that it is not possible at the present time to furnish the hon. Member with the particulars for which he asks. I can, however, assure him that there is no intention of providing for increases of pay by the process he suggests.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the post offices of Burnley, Bolton, Oldham, Preston, Warrington, and many other of the larger towns in Lancashire, are open for the transmission and delivery of telegrams at 7 a.m.; whether the post office at Wigan is not so open until 8 a.m.; and, if so, on what principle this discrimination against the early markets of Wigan is based and justified?

The hour of opening for public telegraph business is 7 a.m. at Bolton, Preston, and Warrington post offices, and at 8 a.m. at Burnley, Oldham, and Wigan. At Wigan post office it was formerly 7 a.m., but was changed to 8 a.m. in December, 1911, because of the very small amount of work done before 8 a.m., amounting to less than three telegrams a day both sent and received. Telegrams can be sent between 7 and 8 a.m. from either the Lancashire and Yorkshire or the London and North-Western railway stations, which are only 100 and 360 yards respectively from the Wigan post office, or can be telephoned by telephone subscribers, to Liverpool or Manchester. The attendance for public telegraph business is determined by the amount of work to be done.