asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Mr. J. T. Davies, who is a first-class clerk in the Welsh Commission for the administration of the National Insurance Act, is the same Mr. J. T. Davies who is a paid official private secretary of the Chancellor of the Exchequer; if so, whether Mr. Davies finds time to perform both duties; and what are the salaries pertaining to the two offices, respectively?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. Mr. Davies, in being seconded from his Department to act as my private secretary is in an exactly similar position to that occupied by any other Civil servant who for the time being is private secretary to a Minister of the Crown. I may add that Mr. Davies, ever since his appointment as private secretary, has dealt with my correspondence relating to insurance, including the large number of such letters which come from Wales. Mr. Davies is at present drawing a salary of £250 a year net from the Welsh Insurance Commission, and in addition a private secretary' s allowance of £200 a year from the Treasury.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of members in the 356 societies and branches in which deficiencies in administration accounts have already been shown; and what is the total amount of such deficiencies?

In the 318 cases in which the Commissioners have information as to the exact amount of the deficiency the total amount involved is £4,550, and the number of members concerned 172,482.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether the valuation of any approved society has been made by the Government actuaries, and with what result?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second part does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state how many of the 100 approved societies in England and the nine approved societies in Scotland, Wales, and Ireland have complied with the instructions of the National Insurance Commissioners and claimed provisional reserve values, and which was the first date when any one of such societies made its claim; and whether reserve values have yet been allotted to such society?

Ninety-six societies have claimed provisional reserve values, the earliest claim being received on 4th June, 1913. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can state whether the National Insurance Commissioners are aware that many of the agents and employés of approved societies are complaining of the inadequacy of their remuneration; and whether, as the work of administration of the Act may suffer, steps will be taken to inquire into the matter?

I am afraid I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member for Salisbury on the 24th February and to many similar questions on this subject.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury the present number of approved societies open to men only, open to women only, and open to both sexes, respectively?

The figures for which the hon. Member asks are 794, 65 and 1,398, respectively.

asked what steps have been taken by the Insurance Commissioners to carry out the provisions of Section 19 of the National Insurance Act, 1913, relating to casual labour?

After a careful investigation into the conditions of employment of casual labour in the Port of London, in which every assistance was given by the employers and the trade unions, the Commissioners laid down certain requirements to which in their opinion any satisfactory scheme under this Section must conform. The outline of a scheme which would comply with these conditions was referred to the employers and the trade unions concerned in December. Both parties concerned appointed a small committee to consider the proposal in detail, and while these two committees are deliberating it would be premature to make any further statement, except that an essential feature of the proposal is that the men's share of the contribution varies with the number of days of employment in the week. No other schemes under Section 19 are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he will grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for Colchester?:

[National Insurance Acts Medical Attendance (England, Scotland, and Wales)—Return showing the number of insured persons who at the end of the first year after the National Insurance Act came into operation had chosen panel doctors, the number who had chosen an approved institution, the number who had been assigned by the several insurance committees to panel doctors or to institutions, the number who had been allowed to make their own arrangements for medical treatment with doctors not on the panel, and the number who had neither chosen doctors nor institutions nor had been assigned to doctors nor had made their own arrangements.]

My right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the Return asked for would be of a public utility sufficient to justify the time and labour necessary for its compilation and for ensuring its accuracy. He regrets, therefore, that he cannot see his way to grant the Return.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many occasions for the ascertainment of Increment Value Duty have arisen up to the 30th December, 1913; how many valuations have been made on those occasions; and how many claims for duty have been disclosed?

I am informed that the number of cases of sale, lease or death, such as to give rise to occasions for collection of Increment Value Duty up to the date named, may be estimated as approximately 786,000, but the number of valuation units comprised in a single case being subject to great variation, I am unable to give even approximately the number of separate occasions. The number of valuations on separate occasions actually completed up to the date named was, however, approximately 783,000, and the number of assessments of duty 3,750.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if local surveyors of Income Tax are in practice disassociated with the officials at Somerset House who administer the Super-tax; if so, why it is considered advisable to deprive the collectors of Super-tax of the special knowledge and facilities possessed by the local surveyors; and (2) with regard to the collection of Super-tax, if the Board of Inland Revenue have specially instructed local surveyors of Income Tax that they are not to make any local inquiries concerning Super-tax payers or persons who may reasonably be supposed to possess more than £5,000 a year, and, further, that the local surveyors are only asked to supply, in regard to the Super-tax, information which happens to be at their command without special inquiry; and, if so, will he say what steps are taken in these circumstances to secure that a central body of Special Commissioners can effectively levy Super-tax?

The information possessed by local surveyors of taxes is always at the disposal of the Special Commissioners of Income Tax, with whom rests the administration of the Super-tax. The Special Commissioners are in constant communication with the local surveyors, but the question how far local surveyors can properly be given powers of initiative is one to be settled by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, to meet the convenience of tine local authorities throughout the country who are now making up their budgets for the forthcoming financial year, he could give any indication of the amount of the promised additional aid from the Imperial Exchequer in 1914–15; in respect of what services such aid will be given, in order that the demands upon the ratepayers may be adjusted accordingly; and (2) whether, having regard to the fact that in the case of further contributions from the Imperial Exchequer in relief of local taxation London is to be favoured, and parts of London at any rate will receive substantial aid, will he say if the administrative county of London is to share in such relief; and will he indicate generally what parts of the county would benefit, and by what machinery such relief would be afforded?

I am unable to anticipate my Budget statement for the coming year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Customs clerks appointed unattached surveyors of Customs and Excise, under the Report of the Amalgamation Committee presented to this House in 1911, have latterly been debarred from officiating in Excise general districts; whether this is owing either to the unsuitability of their clerical training for employment of this nature or to representations made to the Board of Customs and Excise by practical members of the Department; and whether, under the circumstances, it is the intention, as far as these officials are concerned, to abandon the amalgamation principle of the interchangeability of the various kinds of duty upon which an unattached surveyor may be employed?

No, Sir. The whole body of unattached surveyors are available for officiating in the various districts throughout the United Kingdom as required. Their employment is arranged to suit the convenience of the business of the Department, and no significance attaches to the incidence of the employment of particular individuals during particular periods.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what are the sums which are paid by Scotland, England and Wales, and Ireland, respectively, from the Petrol Tax and are therefore available for road improvement?

No separate figures for Wales are available. For the other figures I beg to refer the hon. Member to the Return of Revenue and Expenditure (England, Scotland, and Ireland) for 1912–13 (H.C. 200 of 1913).

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether all the divisions of contract at the Stationery Office are at present open to free competition by the firms tendering; and whether he will secure as far as possible that on future occasions the five-yearly divisional contracts should not be extended without open competition, as was the case with Divisions Nos. 2 and 3 to Messrs McCorquodale and Company five years ago?

The answer to both questions is in the affirmative.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the award of the Board of Trade arbitrator in 1903 that earnings of 1s. per hour were reasonable for skilled workers engaged in work on Government bookbinding contracts issued under the Stationery Office, he will make inquiries, when awarding the contracts now offered, that piecework or other rates of payment adopted by the firms to whom the contracts may be awarded, shall be such as will secure the earning of this rate of pay by the workers in question?

The award in question applied to a class of binding different from that to which the new bookbinding contracts now being arranged by the Stationery Office relate. There is no necessity, therefore, for the inquiries suggested.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he has received information with regard to a cattle drive which took place at Ross Hill, Galway, in the first week of November of last year; whether he is aware that the stock in question were the property of the Misses Davenport, two ladies of over seventy years; that these ladies have been boycotted for some time past and their stock driven from their lands on previous occasions; and whether he will give instructions to the police to afford adequate protection to the persons and possessions of these ladies?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked on this subject by the hon. and gallant Member for East Down on 17th February. There was no interference with the cattle of the Misses Davenport, nor were their cattle ever driven off their lands. Adequate police protection is being afforded to these ladies.

asked the Chief Secretary if he will state the average number of persons who, during the last three years, have been sentenced to terms of imprisonment on account of being unable to pay certain liabilities incurred by them; and the average length of such sentences?

The average number of persons who, during the last three years, have been sentenced in Ireland to terms of imprisonment on account of being unable to pay certain liabilities incurred by them, and have been received into prison, was 161, and the average length of such sentences was 17.7 days.

asked whether James Kane, Royal Irish Constabulary, now residing at Bryntirion, Derwen, Denbighshire, is entitled to a police pension; whether he is compelled to travel to Bangor every quarter to obtain his pension; whether the pension might in future be paid to him at Ruthin instead of Bangor; and whether attempts have been made to obtain Mr. Kane's signature to receipts for a pension although he had not received any money?

All constabulary pensioners residing in Great Britain are paid through the collectors of customs and excise, under arrangement with the Customs and Excise Department, and, when pensioners, for their own convenience, reside at a distance from the collector's station and do not wish to attend before him in person, they obtain a certificate of identity from the nearest excise officer and forward it, with a filled form of declaration and receipt, to the collector in order to obtain a remittance of the sum due. Pensioner Kane declines to adopt this course, and there is, therefore, no alternative but to attend in person before the local collector at Bangor.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Lords of His Majesty's Treasury have yet sanctioned the proposals of the Commissioners of National Education for the teaching of Irish as an ordinary subject in national schools; and, if so, whether he can give particulars of the regulations which will govern the teaching of Irish in the national schools from the 1st of July, 1914?

The reply is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that a claimant for an old age pension named Mrs. Helena Howe, Rushfield, Castletown, Kinneigh, in the Bandon North sub-committee district, county Cork, was refused a pension by the Local Government Board on the ground that her means exceeded the statutory limit, namely, £31 10s. a year, and that the pension officer for the district recommended the claimant for a pension at the rate of 3s. per week and appealed against the decision of the subcommittee when they passed the claim at 5s. a week; and, seeing that the claimant has no means and is only living with a friend in a small farmhouse, the valuation of which is £4 10s. in this poor and remote district in the county of Cork, whether he will request the Local Government Board to reconsider their decision?

The facts are as stated as regards the amounts recommended by the pension officer and allowed by the subcommittee, but the statements as to the claimant's circumstances do not accurately represent her position. She is living on a farm of 59 acres, the valuation of which is £35 15s., and the rent £22 15s. 4d., which she assigned to her son in 1908. Seven acres of the farm are under cultivation and the remainder is used for the grazing of ten cows, five calves, and two horses, as well as pigs and fowl. In the circumstances, the Board estimated that the value of the privileges she enjoys from residence on this farm exceeds £31 10s. a year, and her claim was accordingly disallowed. The Board have no power to reconsider their decision in the matter.

asked how many cottages under the Labourers (Ireland) Acts have been built or were in course of erection in the rural districts of Abbeyleix, Athy (No. 2), Mountmelick, Roscrea (No. 3), and Slievemargy; and if he will state, having regard to the population and valuation, the percentage of cottages in each rural district erected or in course of erection?

The number of cottages erected or in course of erection in the various rural districts on 31st March, 1913, were as follows:—Abbeyleix 402, Athy (No. 2) 154, Mountmelick 384, Roscrea (No. 3) 80, and Slievemargy 147. In the Abbeyleix Rural District one cottage has been erected or is in course of erection for every forty of the population and for every £212 of the valuation, and the corresponding figures for the other rural districts are: Athy (No. 2), population 37, valuation £207; Mountmelick, population 65, valuation £240; Roscrea (No. 3), population 46, valuation £314; Slievemargy, population 29, valuation £155

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Martin estate, Ross, county Galway, which was valued some six months ago by the Congested Districts Board, has yet been purchased; and, if not, will he state the cause of the delay?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet purchased the estate referred to, but they have deceided to make an offer for its purchase as soon as practicable. There has been no avoidable delay in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board have yet made an offer for the Levesey estate, Kilbride, Connemara; and, if not, whether the landlord has expressed his willingness to sell to the Board?

The Congested Districts Board have not yet made an offer for the purchase of this estate, but they are at present making inquiries from the trustees as to whether they would be willing to negotiate for a sale of the property through the Board.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have yet acquired the Clements estate, Connemara; and, if so, when the building operations, etc., are likely to begin?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that an offer for this estate, comprising twenty-one townlands in Oughterard Union, has been accepted; but the estate has not yet been vested in the Board. Until this has been done, the estate cannot be dealt with. The Board are not yet in a position to say when the vesting will take place.

asked whether the Congested Districts Board have recently intimated to the tenants of the late Henrietta Phibbs estate, county Mayo, that they must pay a year's rent on or before 7th March instant, and another year's rent in May next; upon what grounds this demand has been made; what arrears of rent, if any, were due by the tenants when the Board acquired the estate; what is the area or valuation of untenanted land on the estate which will be available for the relief of congestion; and the number of years' purchase, exclusive of bonus, at which the estate has been sold?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. The offer of the Congested Districts Board for this estate was made on the 26th April, 1912, the rents to be payable to the Board as from the 1st November, 1911. Owing to prolonged negotiations, this offer was not accepted until the 18th November, 1913. Meanwhile, the tenants withheld payment of rent, and they were informed that payment would be required of the rents customarily payable in November, 1912, and November, 1913. When the Board acquired the estate there was an arrear of £516 9s. 9d. to the 1st November last, and the area of untenanted land purchased by the Board was 566 acres and Poor Law valuation £112. The tenanted lands were purchased at prices varying from seventeen to nineteen years' purchase.

asked whether the agreement between the Marquess of Sligo and the Congested Districts Board for the sale of his estate in county Mayo provides that all shooting rights over agricultural lands shall be vested, with such lands, in the tenant purchasers; that the reservation of fishery rights by the owner shall not give him any right to prevent the use by the tenant purchasers or their assignees of the waters of the rivers or lakes on the estate for industrial purposes; and whether there has been any modification of the extensive land reservations in the Westport district which were proposed by Lord Sligo as one of the conditions of sale?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that they are not yet in a position to give the information asked for, but none of the matters referred to have escaped the attention of the Board.

asked when the money asked for in the Supplementary Vote for Law Charges and Criminal Prosecutions (Ireland) was spent?

The Supplementary Vote is for the financial year ending 31st instant, and covers expenditure up to that date. The claims for prosecutors' and witnesses' expenses which rendered the Supplementary Vote necessary, have been paid in the current financial year from time to time according as the audited returns were received.

asked the Chief Secretary with reference to the reply given by the Commissioner of Valuation stating that his attention had not been drawn to the opening of a co-operative society by Trinity College, Dublin, whether he is aware that the Dublin Mercantile Association wrote to the Commissioner on the 26th November last on the subject, and that he replied thereto on the 29th November last; and if he will now reply to the question put?

I am aware of the correspondence mentioned, but I would remind the hon. Member that the Commissioner of Valuation has no power to revise a valuation in any case which has not been brought to his notice officially in the list furnished by the local rating authority.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many huts for workmen have been built by the contractor at Rosyth; how many rooms there are in each of these huts; and how many men, women, and children are lodging there?

Sixty-four habitations have been erected by the contractor at Rosyth, including a model lodging house. The number of rooms in each house varies from four to fifteen. Nine hundred and five men, 82 women, and 138 children are lodged there.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what price was asked by the landowner for the 87 acres required for naval purposes at Cromarty; and what was the value of the acres for rating purposes in 1912–13?

Compensation claimed by the owner is £20,000, which includes easements for water supply and injurious affection to lands, houses, and shootings not taken by the Admiralty. The rateable value per acre cannot be given, as the land acquired comprised several detached plots, which are not separately assessed. The total rateable value of the property (some 1,959 acres in extent) from which the Admiralty land is apportioned is approximately £1,009 10s. This sum includes £200 for shootings over some 7,000 acres.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether be is aware that an engineer named Phillips obtained a patent in 1884 for a peculiar form of blade or wing for sustaining flying machines in the air; whether the subject matter of this patent, known as the "Phillips Entry," is now being used by the British and Foreign Governments; whether it is to the use of these blades that the Parsons turbine owes its efficiency, and are many ships in the British Navy being fitted with these blades, thus obtaining high speed with economy of fuel; and has the inventor ever received any acknowledgment for his services?

The information contained in the first part of the question appears to be correct. The reply to the second part of the question is in the negative so far as the Navy is concerned. The Admiralty has no information as to the practice of foreign Governments in this respect. The reply to the third part of the question is that, so far as the Admiralty can judge, "Phillips Entry" is in no way embodied in the type of blade used in the Parsons turbine. The reply to the fourth part of the question is that the Admiralty has no information. The patent appears to have expired as long ago as 1898. Admiralty machinery contracts provide for royalties and other charges connected with inventions to be paid by the contractor, but, as will be gathered from the answers to the second and third parts of the question, no acknowledgment, direct or indirect, appears to have been due at any time from the Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the price per ton paid for oil in the latest Admiralty contracts?

I must refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave the Noble Lord the Member for Portsmouth on the 18th of last month.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the copper, brass, bronze, and gun-metal fittings contained in His Majesty's ship "Empress of India" exceeded in value some £10,000 at the time she was used as a target for experimental firing; and, if so, whether he will take steps in future to remove such fittings before ships of His Majesty's Navy are used for such purposes?

All material, valued at £15,000, that was worth the expense of removal was taken out of "Empress of India" before she was used as a target. No definite estimate of the value of the remainder can be given. The same procedure will be followed in future similar cases.

asked if any report had been made on or information given as to a defect in the machinery or equipment of submarine A7 during 1913?

No, Sir.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state, in regard to the "Cossack," "Ghurka," "Mohawk," and "Tartar," the date of launching, cost speed, and size; and whether he will state the cost speed, and size of the destroyers laid down last year?

The size and dates of launching of the "Cossack," "Ghurka," "Mohawk," and "Tartar" will be shown in the Return, standing in the name of my right hon. Friend the Member for North St. Pancras, which will be issued to-morrow. The full speeds are thirty-three knots, and the cost exclusive of guns:—

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state if the "Cossack," "Ghurka," "Mohawk," and "Tartar" have been transferred to the Sixth Patrol Flotilla with nucleus crews; and, if so, whether he will state the reasons for this step?

This is part of a general reconstitution of the First Fleet flotillas consequent upon the dispatch of sixteen destroyers of the "G" class to the Mediterranean and the delivery of the "L" class. The transfer of the four vessels named to the Sixth Flotilla had to take place on a day fixed in advance, and there are consequently some vacancies in the Third Flotilla pending the delivery of some vessels of the "L" class," which has been somewhat delayed.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, having regard to the special nature of their duties, he will consider the desirability of placing shipwrights employed on aviation duties at Eastchurch and elsewhere on the same basis as engine-room artificers and electrical artificers similarly employed as regards pay and position?

Naval ratings are graded in the Royal Flying Corps on their individual merits, due regard being had to their pay and position in the naval service.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he has observed the remarks made by Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, on 4th February last, that if a general reduction of displacement of warships were to set in he would welcome it; and will he and his advisers give favourable consideration to this suggestion?

The displacements of the latest British battleships are considerably smaller than those of almost all the latest battleships constructing for foreign Powers whose dimensions are published, and there is no truth in the idea entertained in some quarters that we are or have been leading the way in increasing the displacement of capital ships. Notwithstanding these facts, the Admiralty would be willing to join in agreement for a limitation in the size of capital ships if we were led to believe that negotiations for such an agreement would not be unwelcome. Any such arrangements would, of course, on both sides have to keep in view what other Powers are doing in this respect. The difficulties, though serious and self-evident, would not, in my opinion, be insuperable, provided a mutual desire to reach a result existed on both sides.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether contingents of men from various Yeomanry regiments attended the Coronation, but the Coronation medal was only granted to the officer in charge, the senior non-commissioned officer, and the senior private of such contingents; and, if so, whether the other men of the contingents may either be given the medal or be allowed to wear it if they buy it for themselves?

In the case of Yeomanry regiments which were present or represented at the Coronation, the Coronation medal was awarded to the commanding officer, the quartermaster, the officer commanding a detachment, a selected warrant or non-commissioned officer, and the private soldier with the longest total service. The reply to the last part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the case of David Bulmer, who served twelve years in the Scots Fusiliers, went through the Egyptian campaign of 1882, was engaged at the battle of Tel-el-Kebir, and was awarded a medal with a bar and the Egyptian star, left the service with a good character, and is now an elderly man without employment, but who is in receipt of no pension though he has made repeated applications for one; and whether his case will now be taken into consideration with a view to awarding him a pension?

Special pensions to campaigners who are not qualified by length of service for ordinary pensions are only given to men of sixty-five years and upwards. I understand that David Bulmer is only fifty-seven years of age, and that he is therefore not qualified for a pension under the regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for War the price at present being paid for Army hay in the following Commands:—Salisbury, Chester, and Warwick; who are supplying these contracts; and how long the present contracts run?

The prices at which Army contracts are placed are invariably treated as confidential, but at present there are no contracts for hay at the stations mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether regimental quartermaster-sergeants of the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery receive no rise of pay on promotion, although regimental quartermaster-sergeants in other branches of the Army do receive a rise of pay on promotion; and, if so, whether he will explain why this distinction is made?

Non-Commissioned officers do not invariably in other branches than the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery receive an increase in their total pay on promotion to regimental quartermaster-sergeants. In the two branches in question this promotion carries with it a higher classification for allowances and for pension, and it is not considered right to give these quartermaster-sergeants additional advantages.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether under the present system of pay a captain and adjutant of Royal Horse Artillery will on promotion to major lose £56 5s. 5d. a year?

I am unable to follow the hon. Member's figures; but I may remind him that I stated recently in reply to a question that the case of the captain, Royal Horse Artillery, promoted major, Royal Field Artillery, is under consideration.

asked whether a major of a Royal Field Artillery battery only draws, until he had twenty-four years' service, 1s. 5d. a day more pay than his own captain with twelve years' service, provided the latter has done three years on the rank of captain, whereas the major has very heavy financial and other responsibilities running into thousands of pounds, his captain having none?

The difference of pay is correctly stated.

asked whether a major of Royal Field Artillery, until he has twenty-four years' service, draws actually less pay than a captain of Royal Horse Artillery or a captain and adjutant of Royal Field Artillery, and as much as 3s. 7d. a day less pay than a captain and adjutant of Royal Horse Artillery, all having only twelve years' service in all, of which three have been done in the rank of captain?

The answer is in the affirmative, except that the 3s. 7d. in the question should be 4s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether a court-martial was constituted to inquire into allegations that certain officers in the Army conspired with certain civilians that gifts and considerations should be corruptly offered to and accepted by certain officers as inducements and rewards for showing favour to Lipton, Limited, in relation to the affairs and business of the Crown; and whether the said court-martial was disbanded in order that proceedings might be instituted in the ordinary Courts of criminal jurisdiction having power to adjudicate and pronounce sentence against civilians as well as Army officers; (2) whether, amongst the officers included in the list of those under court-martial in connection with charges of the corrupt offer and acceptance of inducements and rewards by Lipton, Limited, and certain Army officers, respectively, were not included the names of Quartermaster and Hon. Captain J. Fowles and Quartermaster and Hon. Lieutenant F. Walker; whether, in the prosecution upon the same charges in the ordinary Courts, these officers are not included as defendants; and upon what advice, and under what circumstances, and for what reasons the officers named are not afforded an opportunity of meeting the charges laid against them under the court-martial but abandoned for decision by the ordinary Courts? and (3) whether, on the 12th February, 1914, Quartermaster and Hon. Captain James Fowles was placed upon retired pay; whether he was so placed on his own application or under any and what other circumstances; whether his attention has been called to the fact that on 14th February, 1914, letters were read in evidence and evidence given at Bow Street Police Court indicating that the officer named was concerned in the offers made by Lipton, Limited, alleged to be corrupt, and that the officer named was in such evidence alleged to have made a higher counter-demand of a corrupt nature; and why, in these circumstances, the officer named was not included in the prosecution, and so afforded an opportunity of defending his good name, but was placed upon retired pay?

It would not be right for me to make any statement with regard to the case referred to while it is sub judice .

asked the Secretary for War whether the Army Service Corps, in September last, was short of its proper establishment of officers; and, if so, how man; and how many officers of the Territorial Army Service Corps were required to enable the duties of the Army Service Corps on manœuvres to be carried out?

There was a shortage of two officers, or, if two temporarily unfilled vacancies for inspectors of mechanical transport are included, of four officers. The strength was sufficient to enable the corps to carry out its duties on manœuvres without the assistance of officers of the Territorial Force, Army Service Corps, though these latter officers were permitted to attend for the purpose of gaining experience.

asked the Secretary for War the total number of 30-cwt. and 3-ton lorries, respectively, belonging to commercial motor owners which have been delivered and put on order under the terms of the War Office subvention scheme of August, 1912, not including any vehicles registered under the earlier temporary subvention scheme nor any vehicles constructed to the War Office specification of 1912, original or as subsequently revised, which have been purchased or put on order by the War Office itself?

The scheme has not yet been completely developed, and until it is I think it would be better to defer a statement of the results.

also asked the Secretary for War what is the amount of subsidy paid to owners of 30-cwt. and 3-ton lorries, respectively, under the terms of the War Office subvention of 1912; and how does this subvention compare with the schemes in France and Germany?

The subsidy is from £110 to £120 for both categories of lorries. In the case of France and Germany the periods of enrolment of the lorries are longer and the subsidies paid higher.

asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number and position of Army recruiting stations in Ireland; the number of the troops raised there in each of the three years ended 31st December, 1913; and whether it will be in the power of the Irish Government if the Irish Government Bill becomes law in any way to restrict or hamper recruiting operations in that country?

In reply to the first two parts of the question I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the General Annual Reports on the Army, Section 11, Part III., Recruiting and Casualties. As regards the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to Section 2, Sub-section (3) of the Government of Ireland Bill.

asked the Secretary for War whether the additional pay sanctioned by an Army Order dated 1st January, 1914, for certain Army officers is applicable to British officers serving in India, i.e., not being officers of the Indian Army; and, if not, whether there is any prospect of the Indian Government granting additional pay on similar lines; and whether such additional pay would take effect as from 1st January, 1914?

The Secretary of State expects to receive shortly the recommendation of the Government of India on this question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether there is a scarcity of food grains in any and, if so, what part of India; and whether it will be necessary to import any and, if so, what quantity of grain, to make up the deficiency?

There has been a serious failure of crops in about one-quarter of the area of the United Provinces, and crops have also been injured in smaller areas of the Central Provinces, Bombay, Rajputana, and Central India. This local shortage of food grains can be supplemented from other parts of India without importation from other countries.

also asked the Under-Secretary for India if he can give the House any information as to the unrest on the North-West Frontier; and what steps he is taking to prevent or punish raids by lawless members of the Afghan tribes?

The Secretary of State has ascertained from the Viceroy that the frontier is quiet save for two or three isolated daring raids to which publicity has been given by the Press. Two such raids on railway stations in the Peshawar district are being dealt with through the Amir of Afghanistan, in whose territory the perpetrators reside, and measures have also been taken for the greater security of stations and trains at night. For a raid in the Mardan district, in which three British subjects were killed, the Utman Khel tribe is being blockaded; and to punish two serious outrages in the same district, in which eight British subjects were murdered, a force has recently entered Buner territory and destroyed the two villages principally responsible. Strong representations are again being addressed to the Amir regarding the continued residence of outlaws in the Afghan district of Khost, and their use of that district as a base for raiding neighbouring British territory.

asked the President of the Board of Education the number of local education authorities who will receive in 1913–14 the special Grant for heavily-rated areas under the Board's Code of Regulations; the number of authorities whose expenditure on elementary education in 1912–13 exceeded the produce of a rate of 1s. 6d. in the £, and who would be entitled to participate in the special Grant but for the restrictions at present attaching thereto; by how much the special Grant of £350,000 would have to be increased in order to pay the full Grants to these authorities; whether all or any of such authorities can rely upon receiving the full Grant in the forthcoming financial year, having regard to the promise of the Government of increased aid from the Imperial Exchequer in respect of education; and the amount receivable by the London County Council in the forthcoming financial year in the event of London, whose rates for elementary education exceed the produce of a rate of 1s. 6d. in the £, being allowed to participate in such Grant?

The answer to the first question is fifty-six, and to the second question eighty-six, so far as figures at present enable me to judge. If all these eighty-six authorities were to receive three-quarters of their excess expenditure above the produce of a 1s. 6d. rate, an additional sum of about £532,000 would probably be required. As regards the fourth question, I am not aware of any promise having been made by the Government of increased aid in the forthcoming financial year, and I am not in a position to state at present whether any increased aid will or will not be provided. As regards the fifth question, the amount which London might be entitled to receive in the year 1914–15 would depend upon the expenditure of London during the financial year now current, but, on the figures of the year 1912–13, the sum receivable in 1913–14 would have been about £312,000.

asked the President of the Board of Education what was the cost defrayed out of the Parliamentary Grants to the Science and Art Department, some forty years ago, of the series of grey majolica columns erected as part of the decoration of the Lecture Theatre or Ceramic Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum, but recently demolished; are there means to reproduce an example or two of the columns as specimens of the art of the English potter and designer at the time; what is the cost of the new columns constructed in accordance with paragraph 4 of the Report by the Committee who advised on this matter (Cd. Paper 6353, of 1912); and what educational or artistic benefit, if any, has been secured For the public or for the students using the museum by the destruction of the majolica columns and the erection of others instead?

The museum records of the period are not sufficiently complete to enable me to state the cost of the columns in the old Ceramic Gallery. The majolica columns and other decorations in the refreshment rooms are preserved in their entirety, and examples of the tiles and lettering from the columns in the old Ceramic Gallery are also available for students and others desiring to study this class of work. The new columns are being constructed by the Office of Works, to whom I must refer the hon. Member for the answer to the third part of the question. In answer to the fourth part of the question, the reconstruction of the decorations of the gallery has been undertaken in order to provide for the Jones Collection, a setting worthy of it and appropriate to the nature of the works of art of which it is composed.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Board of Education propose to make a scheme under the Charitable Trusts Acts in the matter of the old national school premises at Ightman, in Kent; and, if so, what are the reasons for making this scheme; whether he is aware that the school board and the local education authority have been in occupation of this building for nearly forty years, and have spent large sums of money upon it; to what extent would the new scheme diminish the value of the ratepayers' financial interest by diminishing their security for the repayment of the sums expended, to which they are entitled in certain eventualties; to what extent would the new scheme transfer to the rector and churchwardens the present rights of the local education authority in regard to control of premises out of school hours; to what extent would the new scheme give new and exclusive control to the principal officiating minister of the parish; would the effect of the new scheme be to give the local education authority a more restricted use of the premises of this council school than the use they are entitled to of the premises of a non-provided school under Section 7 (1) (e) of the Education Act, 1902; will he explain why it is in the interest of educational efficiency in the school that the ownership and occupation of the premises should be complicated by bestowing new rights on a number of conflicting interests; will he include in the scheme provision for the appointment of new and representative trustees, in accordance with recent practice and legislation relating to the administration of parochial charities; and would he sanction a Provisional Order giving the local authority compulsory powers of purchase of the site and buildings if applied for?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board are advised that a scheme is necessary to enable a new lease of the school to be granted to the authority. I am aware that the school board and the local education authority have been in occupancy of the building for nearly forty years, and that loans were raised in 1877 and 1882, respectively, for expenditure on the premises. The proposed scheme does not affect the security for repayment of the sums expended. The scheme enables the trustees to grant a lease to the authority on such terms as may be agreed on, subject to the approval of the Board. I have no reason to suppose that the parties will submit to the Board a lease which will restrict the authority's existing right of user of the premises. The scheme gives no new control to the principal officiating minister—it merely preserves his control of the premises for Sunday school purposes. I am not aware that the scheme bestows new rights on a number of conflicting interests. The charity is an ecclesiastical charity, and it would not be in accordance with the practice of the Board, in making schemes of this character, to provide for the appointment of representative trustees. With regard to the last part of the question, I can express no opinion on the point until it arises.

asked the Attorney-General whether any system or regulation exists for securing in judicial as in other public appointments that the persons appointed have the necessary physical fitness, failing which they come prematurely on a pension list which, unlike the ordinary Civil pension list, is not statutorily safeguarded by any requirement of a minimum period of public service or by graduation of pension according to length of tenure of office?

Regulations which are suitable for testing the physical fitness of unknown candidates at the beginning of their professional life are not necessarily appropriate in all respects when making appointments of another character, whether judicial or administrative; but those responsible for making such appointments have due regard, amongst other things, to the physical fitness of the person selected.

asked the hon. Member for the Doncaster Division, as representing the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, if he will say which Members of the Government are Ecclesiastical Commissioners; and have they all taken the prescribed oath testifying and declaring that they are members of the Church of England as by Law established?

The Statute of incorporation of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners directs that the following Ministers of the Crown, being members of the Church of England, shall be Ecclesiastical Commissioners, viz.:—The Lord Chancellor, The Lord President of the Council, The First Lord of the Treasury, The Chancellor of the Exchequer, and one of the Principal Secretaries of State to be nominated by His Majesty. The Secretary for the Colonies is now the Secretary of State so nominated. In addition the present First Commissioner of Works is an Ecclesiastical Commissioner nominated by the Crown, but not in his capacity as a Minister of the Crown. These and other Lay Commissioners are not required by the Statute to subscribe the declaration of membership of the Church of England until they act as Ecclesiastical Commissioners; those of them who have so acted have subscribed the declaration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the length of time which has elapsed since the last case of foot-and-mouth disease in Ireland was dealt with, he will consider the possibility of now opening the ports on this side for the importation of Irish cattle without risk of infection?

Veterinary officers of the Board and of the Irish Department met at Birkenhead on Thursday last, and all available evidence bearing on the question of the origin of the recent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease was carefully examined and discussed. Some further communication between the representatives of the two Departments must take place before any conclusions can be arrived at. Meanwhile, I regret that the new outbreaks confirmed yesterday in the South of Ireland make it impossible for the restrictions upon the importation of Irish animals into Great Britain to be relaxed for the present.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what was the total cost of the administration of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908, in the years 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912, and 1913, respectively; and what proportion of such cost represents moneys repaid to county councils to meet expenses incurred in respect of ascertainment of demand, acquisition of land, valuation, conveyancing, compulsory proceedings, and compensation for disturbance?

The expenditure of the Board in the administration of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act, 1908 and 1910, is shown in the following table:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received

from the Railway Clearing House the amended scale of rates for milk which the railway companies propose to put in force on the 1st proximo; whether under it the charges for consignments from twelve to thirty-four gallons show average increases of 6.2 per cent., 5.2 per cent., and 4.6 per cent., respectively, on the ½d., ¾d., and 1d. rates existing prior to July, 1913; whether the railway companies have furnished any and if so, what evidence within the terms of the Act of 1913 as to their title to any increase at all in respect of this traffic, in view of the facts that they do not collect or deliver, and by special conditions require the consignor and consignee, respectively, to assist in loading and unloading?

I do not know what basis my right hon. Friend has taken for his calculations, but I think he must have overlooked the fact that fractions of a penny were counted as a penny under the scales in operation before July last. The obligation on a railway company to justify an increase of rate only arises on complaint being made to the Railway and Canal Commission, when it would be necessary under the Act of 1913 for a company to prove inter alia that the proportion of the total increase of rate allocated to the particular traffic is not unreasonable.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many towns have powers under special Acts to regulate the supply of milk; and whether he will give the names of the towns and the titles of the Acts?

The following list gives the names of the local authorities in whose districts provisions based on the Model Milk Clauses are in force, and the dates of the Local Acts including those provisions:—

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether there has been an outbreak of diphtheria in Upper Norwood; whether 117 cases have been reported; whether the cause of the outbreak has been traced to the milk supply; whether on one farm supplying milk to the neighbourhood one milker had an ulcer on his finger which proved to be infected with diphtheria germs, and another had sores on his hands which were infected with diphtheria germs; and whether several of the men on the dairy were found to carry diphtheria germs in their throats?

The outbreak, which affected several sanitary districts, has been investigated by one of the Board's medical inspectors, who is now preparing a Report on the subject, which will be published shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value for 1912 of domestic exports from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, respectively, not including in each case the exports to the Colonies or Possessions belonging to the country named?

The following statement shows the value of the domestic exports from the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States in 1912, distinguishing the value of the exports from each country to its respective Colonies and Possessions:—

asked what was the value of exports from the United Kingdom to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, respectively, five years previous to the first grant of Preference; for the year in which Preference was granted; and for 1913?

The following statements embody the information desired by the hon. Member:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of cotton manufactures imported into the Philippine Islands from this country and from the United States for the years 1909 and 1913; what is the average percentage of preference that the United States enjoys in cotton manufactures with the archipelago compared with Great Britain; and whether the preference given to the United States manufacturers of cotton goods is acting to the detriment of the British manufacturers?

The following statement compiled from the official Philippine Trade Returns shows the value of the cotton manufactures of all kinds imported into the islands from the United Kingdom and from the United States of America in each of the years 1908–12. Corresponding figures for 1913 are not yet available:—

Since October, 1909, cotton goods manufactured in the United States of America have been free of duty. From that period, as the above statement shows, the imports from the United States have expanded considerably, whilst the imports from the United Kingdom have shown a decline.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that since early in October, 1913, it has been the practice at the General Post Office in Dublin to refuse parcels with addresses written in Irish characters, although previously similarly addressed parcels had been accepted without objection; whether this change is the result of an order issued by the Postmaster-General; if so, whether he will explain why the order was made; and, if not, will he give instructions to the officials concerned to revert to their former custom?

No instructions on this subject have been issued for some years. If any parcels addressed only in Irish characters have been accepted, their acceptance was contrary to the longstanding rule referred to in my answer to the hon. Member's question on the 24th of February.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing in Malta owing to the slowness and irregularity of the existing mail service; and whether he proposes to take any steps to provide improved postal communication with Great Britain?

The mail service between Malta and the United Kingdom has recently undergone revision in consequence of the expiration of a contract between the Government of Malta and the Austro-Hungarian Sea Navigation Company for the conveyance of mails between Malta and Sicily. The existing arrangements provide for the conveyance of mails between Malta and Sicily or Italy on four days a week in both directions, and on any other occasions on which extra steamships of the company referred to may be performing the voyage. Mails for Malta are, as heretofore, being dispatched from London each day; but, in view of the restricted sailings from Sicily to Malta, the mails made up on Sundays are being forwarded to Marseilles for conveyance thence to Malta by French steamship. According to the most recent information at my disposal, the present arrangements are merely temporary.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the Cunard mail steamer "Carmania," on Sunday, 15th February last, called at Queenstown but did not enter the harbour, and left for New York without the American mails which awaited her arrival at Queenstown; whether this is not the first occasion on which this vessel failed to embark the mails at Queenstown; whether he is aware that on the same date the White Star steamer "Arabic," drawing the same amount of water, did enter the harbour and embarked mails and passengers without any difficulty, and left the harbour, actually passing the "Carmania," which was lying outside; whether this was a violation of the contract with the Cunard Company; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?

The facts are generally as stated by the hon. Member. My right hon. Friend is in communication with the Cunard Company on the matter, and he will acquaint the hon. Member with the result in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General, whether he will approach the Postmasters-General of the Dominions' Governments with a view to getting them, in conjunction with the British Post Office, to allow the proceedings of all scientific societies to be sent at reduced postage rates, so as to stimulate their circulation in the Empire, in the same manner that the Canadian Government now allow preferential postage on English magazines in Canada?

I am not aware that there is any demand from scientific societies for special facilities for the distribution by post of their proceedings. I fear, however, that in any case I can hold out little hope of a reduction in the postage on printed matter in the service between this country and the Dominions and Colonies.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state why the English mail viâ Stranraer and Larne, due at Belfast at 8.45 a.m., cannot be delivered simultaneously, as it used to be, with the mail viâ Dublin which is due at Belfast at 8.40 a.m.; and why neither of them are available before about 11 o'clock and 10 o'clock a.m. respectively, although the official guide says deliveries of both begin at 9.30 a.m.?

The English mail viâ Stranraer and Larne is due at the Belfast Post Office at 8.52 a.m., and the mail viâ Dublin is due at the Post Office at 8.50 a.m. The second delivery should begin at 9.30 a.m., and letters received by both mails should fall into it. This is possible, however, only when there is a punctual arrival of both mails, which my officers use their best endeavours to secure.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will inquire into the case of H. J. Pateman, at present residing at 13, Queen's Road, Church End, Finchley, an auxiliary postman of sixteen years' service, who has recently been dismissed from the Post Office service without any compensation or gratuity; will he take into account that the cause of Pateman's loss of employment is physical disability to continue the performance of his duties owing to a diseased hip, alleged to be the result of a fall on some iron steps while on duty seven years ago; and, as Pateman has a wife who is delicate and three young children to support, will he consider whether some grant or allowance can be made, assuming the facts to be as stated?

I am advised that Mr. Pateman's disease is not the result of the accident which he met with in 1906, and I regret that compensation cannot be paid to him. I understand that he is at present in receipt, of certain payments, among these sickness benefit of 10s. a week under the Insurance Act. The question of making him a grant from a small fund at my disposal for the relief of officers in necessitous circumstances will be reviewed next month, when the sickness benefit will cease.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will consider the advisability of providing facilities for dealing with mails on the Continental passenger train which leaves Charing Cross at 9 p.m., thus avoiding the necessity of a Post Office official attending at Charing Cross for the purpose of receiving late-fee letters and conveying them to Cannon Street for dispatch by the 9.11 p.m. train; and whether he will consider the question of giving to the public the same facilities as those enjoyed by the French, who are able to post their letters on the night train at the Gare du Nord, Paris, without the imposition of a late fee?

A late fee is charged at all stations for letters for the Continental night mail posted after 6 p.m., and Charing Cross is in the same position in this respect as Cannon Street. Even if mails could be dealt with in the passenger train leaving Charing Cross at 9 p.m., it would still be necessary, for the reasons given in my reply of the 24th February, to charge a late fee on them. As regards posting at post offices in London, I am glad to say that it has now been found possible to arrange that, on and from Monday, the 2nd March, letters and postcards for all parts of France may be posted in a special box provided at the General Post Office, King Edward Street, up to 7 p.m. daily (Sundays excepted) without late fee. The question of extending this arrangement to other principal offices in London will be considered in due course.