asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has any information as to the number of insured persons suffering from consumption who are now in workhouse infirmaries; and, if not, whether he will take steps to obtain such, information?

My right hon. Friend is not in possession of the information in question.

Will the hon. Gentleman grant the Return which stands in my name in reference to this matter?

I do not think the Return should be asked for by the Insurance Commission.

Does not the hon. Gentleman think it a matter of importance that a number of insured persons suffering from consumption are at present under treatment in workhouses?

I did not mean that. I do not think the information could properly be asked for by this Department.

To what Department should I apply?

The Local Government Board, I think.

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.]

For the reasons stated in my reply to the hon. Member of the 2nd instant, which were fully discussed in Debate on the 5th instant, my right hon. Friend cannot alter his decision.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that other Members of the House, including the chairman of the London Insurance Committee, desire this Return? Will he not take notice of hon. Members on his own side if he will not of Members on this?

It is not a question of taking notice of Members. The information is difficult to obtain.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the London Insurance Committee has the information, and can give it as regards London in two minutes, and that other insurance committees are in the same position?

reply was inaudible in the Gallery.

asked whether the Government propose to make a Grant to those chemists whose bills for 1913 have not been paid owing to a deficiency in the drug fund, if it is shown that the prescriptions ordered by the doctors were not unreasonble?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Prime Minister to a similar question by him on the 26th February last.

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the hon. Gentleman's replies, I shall raise the question at the earliest opportunity.

asked why Provisional Orders and Provisional Special Orders under the National Insurance Acts dated in October last, and presented to this House in the early part of February and then ordered to be printed, have not yet been printed?

No Provisional Orders are made by the Insurance Commissioners. Five Provisional Special Orders made and laid before the House in the periods referred to have not yet been printed, as the type which has already been set up for the Statutory Rule Volume cannot yet be released, and it is the practice of the Stationery Office to avoid double composition by using the same type for both Provisional Orders and Statutory Rules. The issue is expected to be made shortly, and in each case a copy has been available in the Library since the date of laying.

Will the hon. Gentleman say why Orders which were made as long ago as October are not available to Members of the House except by searching in the Library?

All Orders have been made available to the persons to whom they apply, and also to Members of this House through the Library.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that an undertaking has been given that these Orders should be circulated amongst Members, but that they are not circulated until the time for taking objection to them has expired?

I was not aware of that undertaking.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, if he is aware that many delegates attending the district insurance health committees have to pay their own expenses in attending the health committees; and if he can state whether delegates' out-of-pocket expenses can be paid to them for attending health committees?

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for West Hampshire On the 6th instant.

asked whether the inquiry of the Departmental Committee into excessive sickness and deficiencies under the National Insurance Act is a secret inquiry, or whether the evidence will be published when complete?

I do not know what the hon. Member means by a secret inquiry. In accordance with the usual practice, the proceedings of the Committee are confidential, but, as I have already stated, evidence will be published. To remove any misapprehension, I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the terms of reference.

Does the hon. Gentleman mean that he does not understand what a secret inquiry is?

I mean that the term is totally inapplicable to this inquiry.

asked whether the Government intend to appoint a Committee to inquire into excessive sickness and deficiencies in Wales under the National Insurance Act, Wales not being included in the scope of the inquiry of the Departmental Committee now sitting?

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member on the 2nd instant.

how does the hon. Gentleman propose to find out whether deficiencies really exist without making inquiry?

I have already informed the hon. Member that the Welsh Commissioners are making inquiry to see whether any such deficiencies exist.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, if he is aware that the Insurance Commissioners have required in Memorandum 187 I.C. that no insured person will on and from 12th January last be able, without a medical card, to exercise a choice of, or to claim treatment from, a doctor selected by him; that in spite of such regulations the medical cards have not reached insured persons in several hundred thousands of cases, with the result that they are wholly unable to obtain medical benefit when sick except at their own expense; and whether, as in such cases insured persons are being deprived of the benefit promised to them as the result of their own and their employers' contributions, the Government propose to take any and, if any, what action in the matter?

Under the arrangements indicated in the Memorandum in question, doctors are not permitted to require the persons on their lists to produce medical cards as a condition of their receiving treatment until notified by the Insurance Committee that medical cards have been issued to all such persons. Those arrangements, moreover, provide a special procedure whereby persons who desire to choose a doctor may obtain a medical card for the purpose upon application, and my right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that there is any ground for the apprehension of the hon. Member.

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that, in fact, a large number of insured persons are not receiving medical benefit since this Order was issued?

I am not aware that anything has been done which has prevented from obtaining medical benefit anyone who had a right to it.

asked the Prime Minister Whether the Government will introduce legislation to enable the expenditure incurred in treating insured persons suffering from tuberculosis in workhouse infirmaries to be recouped to the ratepayers?

The question of the treatment of tuberculosis in insured persons is receiving consideration, but the Government have no intention of amending Section 12 of their National Insurance Act, 1911, in the direction suggested.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1911, with regard to deposit contributors expire at the end of this year, it is the intention of the Government to introduce legislation at an early date to deal with the position of deposit contributors; whether the Bill for this purpose will be introduced before Easter; and whether ample time will be allowed for the consideration of the Government's proposals on this complicated problem?

As I recently stated, special investigations in regard to this class of insured persons are in progress, and, until they are completed, it would be premature to make any statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Perth General Station Joint Committee of the Caledonian, Highland, and North British Railways has recently posted a notice to workmen (painters, plumbers, and slaters), in connection with Part II. of the National Insurance Act, to the effect that they must now begin payment of unemployment contributions, including all arrears of contributions since 15th July, 1912; and whether he can do anything to abate this demand?

My attention had not previously been called to this notice, but the circumstances appear to be the same as those dealt with in the answer given by me to the hon. Member for West Houghton on 24th February, of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked how much has been expended upon the harbour works at Dover during the past ten years; and when the same are likely to be completed?

The total expenditure to end of current financial year is £1,937,100. The work in hand is expected to be completed by September, 1915.

asked the Prime Minister the number of resolutions that he has received in connection with the Hyde Park and other public meetings protesting against the deportation of Mr. Hessel Jakob Poutsma, Mr. James Thompson Bain, Mr. Archibald Crawford, Mr. Robert Burns Waterson, Mr. George William Mason, Mr. David M'Kerrell, Mr. William Livingstone, Mr. Andrew Watson, and Mr. William H. Morgan, from South Africa by the South African. Union Government; and if he intends taking any action in the matter?

The number of resolutions received is about 330. As regards the attitude of the Government in this matter, I would refer the hon. Member to the speech made on the 12th February by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to which I have nothing at present to add.

Are we to be given to understand that the Government have taken the advice of their Law Officers as to the constitutional and legal right of the Government to intervene in any case?

That does not arise on the question. Perhaps the hon. Member would give notice.

asked the Prime Minister how many days he proposes to allot for the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill?

I cannot yet say.

had the following Question on the Order Paper: To ask the Prime Minister if he will state the number of troops which it is estimated would be required to subdue Ulster in the event of revolt; what is the number of troops now stationed in Ireland; and if any arrangement has been made for naval co-operation should the necessity arise for armed intervention?

The first and third parts of the question are of an extremely hypothetical character and out of order; the hon. Member can only ask the central part.

Under those circumstances I shall only ask the central part.

That is the only part I was prepared to answer. The strength of the troops in Ireland on 1st February was 23,755, and there has been no material change since.

May I ask whether the Territorial Force is liable to be used in Ulster with the Regular troops

I do not propose to answer that, Sir.

In view of the injury now being caused by the present uncertainty to the Army, can the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance—

The hon. Member must give notice.

As the right hon. Gentleman stated he would not answer the last part, may I ask him if he will actually say that as regards naval co-operation—

That is the part of the question which I ruled should not be put.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a Committee to investigate and deal with the claims of mariners and others who, owing to the avocations which they follow, are almost wholly disenfranchised, and at present are given no facilities whatever for the purpose of enabling them to record their votes at Parliamentary elections?

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that a number of persons employed in our mercantile marine are, although they are on the register of voters, unable to record their votes on the actual day of a Parliamentary election by reason of their absence at sea in the course of their employment, he will give facilities for the passing of the Bill now before the House for enabling such persons to exercise the franchise?

I doubt whether a Committee would be able to deal satisfactorily with the claims referred to. The difficult case of absent voters involves some obvious hardships for which it is not easy to devise appropriate remedies, and I cannot say more than that the question shall be carefully considered.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give facilities for the consideration of the Bill now before the House to enable absent persons to exercise the franchise?

Is that a private Member's Bill?

Yes.

I will look at it.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has already informed the House that he would give this matter immediate attention?

That is being done.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the salary attached to the Secretaryship for Scotland is only £2,000; that the Minister concerned is responsible for local government, education, fisheries, the Boards of Agriculture, Lunacy and Prisons, the national galleries and museums, the Register House, the internal administration of specific branches of the Home Office, the Board of Trade, etc., for all of which there are separate Ministers for England; whether the Master of the Horse has £2,500; and whether he is prepared to increase the salary of the Secretary for Scotland?

The salary of the Secretary for Scotland was fixed at £2000 by the Secretary for Scotland Act, 1885, and I am not prepared to introduce legislation to alter it. The salary of the Master of the Horse is £2,000—not £2,500.

Is the hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Hogge) also the hon. Member who brought forward a Motion not long ago for the reduction of the salary of the Secretary for Scotland?

Are we to take it that it costs as much to look after the King's Horse as it costs to look after the business of Scotland?

Apparently, at the present moment, it does.

asked the Prime Minister if his attention has been directed to the damage that will be inflicted on the Metropolis, and the disappointment that will be felt by Colonial and other visitors to London at this season if the picture galleries and museums are closed for any long period; and if he will consider the possibility of opening them with safety if numbers of attendants are engaged and an entrance fee is charged to cover the expenses which may be incurred in guarding the treasures exhibited?

I understand that an early date for re-opening the National Gallery will be fixed at a meeting of the trustees to be held to-morrow. The supervision of the rooms is being re-organised, and other precautions are being taken.

With regard to the other galleries may I ask the Prime Minister to make a recommendation such as that suggested?

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the curtailment of private Members' opportunities to discuss the policy of the Admiralty owing to the long speech delivered by the First Lord last Tuesday on the Motion that Mr. Speaker do leave the Chair, and of the fact that this practice has been growing into a habit during recent years, he will consider the advisability of either increasing the number of days during which this Motion is to be debated or of affording Ministers other opportunities of explaining the policy of their Departments before the House goes into Committee of Supply?

Yes, I will certainly consider the hon. Member's suggestion. The matter is one which might be well brought before the Committee on Procedure.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government will consider the advisability of appointing another Royal Commission to deal with the question of the storage of food and raw material in time of war in view of the altered circumstances since the Report of the Royal Commission of 1905?

Various aspects of the question of the supply of food and raw material in time of war are being carefully examined by Sub-committees of the Committee of Imperial Defence, and I see no reason to appoint a Royal Commission on the subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement of the Minister of Defence in Australia on the policy of naval defence as regards the Overseas Dominions; and if he will advise another Colonial defence meeting?

His Majesty's Government are in communication with the Commonwealth on the subject, and the holding of a conference with Australia and New Zealand is now under consideration.

Will the Colonies receive more consideration than Ulster at the hands of the right hon. Gentleman?

Is it not the fact that the Prime Minister has himself sent a dispatch to the Commonwealth Government of Australia saying that he cannot hold this conference till 1916?

I have sent no dispatch at all.

Are you not responsible—[HON. MEMBERS: "Order."]

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the total cost to date of the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition has been £40,000, of which sum the Government have only contributed £3,000; that £3,800 is required to complete its work; whether he is aware that the "Discovery" Expedition was given a Grant of £45,000, followed by a further Grant of £50,873; whether he is aware that the Shackleton Expedition was given a Grant of £20,000; whether it is now proposed to give a Grant of £10,000 to another Shackleton Expedition for work similar to which the Government refuse a Grant to Dr. Bruce; and whether, in view of the fact that Scotland contributes a surplus revenue to the United Kingdom of approximately three millions a year, he can see his way to make this Grant of £3,800 to complete the work of an expedition which has enriched the Admiralty, the Meteorological Office, and the museums of the United Kingdom?

I am aware of the facts referred to by my hon. Friend. I cannot hold out any hope of a further Grant from public funds towards the cost of publishing the records of the Scottish Antarctic Expedition. When the Grant of £3,000 for this purpose was agreed upon in 1910, it was made clear to the parties concerned that no further Treasury contribution would be forthcoming.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that to-day the Secretary to the Treasury stated that £5,000 was to be put down for the purposes of scientific research, and would it not be very much better if the Government would complete the scientific research which has been accomplished by this expedition before they spend more money in encouraging other scientific expeditions?

The competition of these various scientific bodies is very keen.

Is the Prime Minister aware that the money for the Scottish expedition was subscribed publicly, while the money for all these other expeditions has been found either by the Government or by one individual, and why cannot Scotland have something?

Scotland has always had a large share of the money granted for those purposes.

That is not fair!

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take into consideration the advisability of introducing legislation for the purpose of declaring St. George's Day a public holiday?

I fear I do not see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is a very good thing to encourage patriotism, especially at a time like the present?

This matter has been considered by successive Governments, and they have all decided in the same sense.

asked what are the intentions of the Government with regard to the Leipsic Exposition; whether it is proposed to spend any money in this direction; and, if so, how much?

His Majesty's Government have decided, on the invitation of the German Government and in compliance with representations made by the principal, associations connected with the printing and publishing industries in this country, to participate in the Leipsic Exhibition, which is to be devoted to the printing, publishing, and allied trades. The Governments of France, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, and Sweden will also be officially represented. The total cost to public funds of the participation of this country is estimated at £13,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many fatal accidents occurred, during the last five years for which particulars are available, owing to passengers falling out of trains; how ninny minor accidents were due to the same cause; and how many of these accidents would have been avoided if all the doors had been locked by some automatic device?

The number of passengers killed and injured through falling from trains in the United Kingdom in the years 1909 to 1913 was 126 and 237 respectively, an average of 25 and 47 respectively per annum. I cannot say how many of these accidents would have been avoided if an automatic device for locking the doors had been in use, or, on the other hand, how many additional deaths or injuries might have been caused by the adoption of such a device.

asked whether the inventions and plans submitted by Mr. John Wilson, of Bakewell, Derby, have been fully considered by the Board of Trade; and whether the question of the automatic locking of railway carriage doors to which his inventions refer is being still considered by the Board?

This gentleman's invention has been examined by the inspecting officers of railways. On the general question I can add nothing to the reply I gave to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Wilton Division on the 10th March.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the circumstances of the sinking on 30th October last, in the North Sea, after collision of the steamship "Kinneil," of Bo'ness, have been brought to his notice; whether, at the time, she was carrying a deck cargo of 18 feet in height; whether, owing to the imminent dangers of this deck cargo after the collision, the crew were put in a position of peril and could do nothing in attempting to save their vessel from sinking; and whether the Board have held a formal investigation into this casualty or intend to hold one?

The collision case to which the hon. Member refers was dealt with by the Admiralty Court, and it is not proposed to order a formal investigation. My information is that the deck-load did not exceed 15 ft. in height. If the hon. Member has any evidence to show that the height of the deck cargo added to the danger of the crew in this particular case, or hastened the sinking of the vessel, I shall be glad to consider it if he will forward it to me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade have recently invited applications for positions as nautical surveyors under the Board at a commencing salary of £200 per annum; if so, whether he is aware of the fact that the annual earnings of most shipmasters and many ships' officers exceed this sum, in addition to which they are accommodated and provided with food when on board their ships; and, seeing that the salaries offered for surveyorships to the Board of Trade are not adequate for such positions, and in view of the general higher standard of remuneration in the merchant service and enhanced cost of living, whether he will consider the desirability of substantially increasing the salaries of the Board of Trade surveying staff all round?

Applications were invited recently for some posts as nautical surveyor under the Board of Trade at the usual scale of salary of £200, rising to £400, with a possibility of promotion to higher posts, and a large number of applications have been received. The initial salary is lower than that which many officers are at present receiving, but it is the minimum of a rising scale, and the posts are pensionable.

When was the scale the right hon. Gentleman refers to fixed; is it not true that there has been a very large increase in the cost of living since; and have not increases been made in the pay of officers in the merchant service generally?

I shall be pleased to give the hon. Gentleman that information if he will put a question down.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give any information regarding the cases of the captains of the steamers "Bengore Head" and "Bellona" who, though successful in their appeals in the High Court against the suspensions of their certificates at Canadian Courts of Inquiry, were compelled to themselves bear the costs of these appeals; whether in a similar case, that of the "Grecian," the costs were refunded by the Canadian Government; whether the Board of Trade have used their influence ina similar direction, as suggested by the Imperial Merchant Service Guild; and whether the matter is still engaging the consideration of the Board of Trade with a view to making provision that in cases of this sort which arise in future captains or officers whose appeals are successful will not be compelled to bear the costs of such appeals?