asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the event of men leaving their employ in quite a legitimate way by giving due notice, and working such notice out in the customary way of the trade, men are barred in all cases from receiving unemployment benefit under the National Insurance Act?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the final decision upon claims to unemployment benefit rests not with the Board of Trade but with the Umpire. I may, however, point out that the disqualification in Section 87 (2) of the Act applies only to a workman who loses employment through misconduct or who voluntarily leaves his employment without just cause.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether under a recent order Customs watchers have been deprived of payment for overtime; if, under the same order, Customs officers on the establishment are given an annual allowance of £13 to compensate them for loss occasioned by the new arrangements; if, previously to the making of the new order, both classes of officers were treated in the same way as regards overtime pay; what is the rate of pay of the Customs watchers; and if he will state the reasons for the alteration made?

Customs watchers have not been deprived of payment for overtime. The conditions relating to overtime pay were altered by an order of June, 1913, and the new conditions taken as a whole are not less favourable than the old. The overtime conditions of the Customs officers referred to are governed by an order of November, 1912, under which a certain section of these officers receive a compensation allowance of £13 per annum. Formerly, on certain kinds of work, watchers received overtime pay from merchants under conditions similar to those applicable to the officers under whom they were employed, but their employment and overtime conditions as a whole were not the same as those of officers, and are not properly comparable. The pay of watchers is 24s. a week in London, and elsewhere 21s. a week (one-fourth of the number rising to 24s. a week) and two good conduct allowances of 1s. a week are granted after five and ten years' service respectively. The overtime conditions were altered as a result of the Report of the Committee on the Waterguard Service and Watchers in 1912.

asked the President of the Local Government Board (1) if he will state the number of persons in receipt of old age pensions in July, 1913, in the urban district of Stanley, county Durham; (2) the number of persons in receipt of old age pensions in July, 1913, in the borough of Northampton; and (3) the number of persons in receipt of old age pensions in September, 1913, in the borough of Warrington?

Statistics of the numbers of old age pensioners resident in each county and county borough on the last Friday in March are given annually in the Reports of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise. The figures for the last Friday in March, 1913, are as follows:—

County borough of Warrington	…	796
County borough of Northampton	…	1,963

These are the latest figures available. It is, I fear, not practicable to give information as at another date, or for any subdivision of a county area.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that Mrs. Mary Griffin, nee Moriarty, Old Road, Cahirciveen, has applied for any old age pension, and that her claim has been rejected on the ground that no record of her parents or their family has been found in the Census of 1841 and 1851; and whether, in view of the fact that her marriage certificate has been put in evidence and declarations of old residents to the effect that she has exceeded the statutory age, he will state why the pension has been refused?

Mary Griffin's claim for an old age pension was disallowed by the Local Government Board on appeal on the ground that the Board were not satisfied that she had reached the statutory age. A record of her family was found in the 1841 Census Return, but her name did not appear as one of the children. The family was not found in the 1851 Census Return. Her marriage certificate does not appear to have been put in evidence before the Board, and the declarations referred to being merely uncorroborated expressions of opinion on the part of her friends afforded no proof that she was seventy years of age.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have made any proposals to, or entered into any negotiations with, the owner of the Dobb estate at or near Donadea, county Kildare, for the purchase of the same under Section 6 of the Act of 1893, as amended by the Irish Land Act of 1909; can he say if a preliminary inspection of the said estate has been made by them; and, if so, is it intended to follow up such inspection by making a final offer for the purchase of the said estate under the provisions of the said Land Acts?

No proceedings have been instituted by the owner for the sale of this estate under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by the Act of 1909. As the hon. Member has already been informed, the owner has supplied the Estates Commissioners, at their request, with a map and other particulars, and they have had a preliminary inspection made. The Commissioners are not prepared to make an offer for the purchase of the estate at present, but, if they acquire untenanted land which could be utilised for the relief of congestion on this estate, the Commissioners will consider the question of making an offer to purchase the property.

asked the Chief Secretary what is the present state of the negotiations with regard to the purchase of the Boyd estate (E.C. 9,545). in the counties of Wexford and Kilkenny; and if he will state the cause of the delay in the compleiton of the purchase, considering that the tenants have left the fixing of an equitable price altogether in the minds of the Estates Commissioners?

Proceedings have been instituted for the sale of this estate by the owner to the Estates Commissioners under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by the Irish Land Act, 1909. The property has been inspected, and the Commissioners have the matter under consideration with the view to the issue of an offer for the purchase of the estate.

asked the Chief Secretary when the grass farms on the estate of Major A. D. D. Kelly, situate at Mucklon, county Galway, will be divided among the uneconomic holders there?

The Estates Commissioners have made an offer for the purchase of this estate under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, subject to the statutory condition that the tenants agreed to purchase their holdings at the prices fixed by the Commissioners. Some of the tenants have refused to purchase their holdings at such prices, as they desire the Commissioners to redeem the annuities payable by the occupiers to the Board of Works in respect of the River Suck Drainage, and to add the redemption value of such drainage annuities to the prices of their holdings. The Commissioners have no power to comply with such application, and are so informing the parties. The Commissioners are not at present in a position to state when they may be able to allot the untenanted land should they acquire the property.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Roger Connell, Caherlehillane, Kells, on the estate of the late R. P. Blennerhassett, applied for a free Grant for building in January, 1913, and that the estate was not vested in the purchasing tenants until December, 1913; whether he is aware that the three other tenants on the townland were given free Grants of £30 each and a further loan of £30 for improving their dwelling-houses; can he say why discrimination was practised against this tenant; and whether steps will now be taken to treat him on the same terms as the other tenants?

The Estates Commissioners inform me that Connell's application was made in February, 1913, and the lands were vested in the purchasing tenants in the following month. The question of what Grants, if any, should be made is entirely a matter within the discretion of the Commissioners, and they decided not to sanction any expediture in regard to Connell's holding. The Commissioners are not prepared to depart from this decision.

asked the Chief Secretary whether last Session a Grant of £40,000 per annum was promised by the Government to supplement the salaries of teachers in Irish secondary schools; whether the Roman Catholic Head Masters' Association declined to accept the conditions attached to the proposed. Grant; if it is for that reason it has not been included in the Estimates; whether the assistants in all other secondary schools are thus penalised; and what steps be now proposes to take in fulfilment of the Government's promise?

Time proposed Grant of £40,000 referred to by the hon. Member was promised conditionally to improve the position of assistant lay teachers in Irish secondary schools. The correspondence with the Roman Catholic Headmasters' Assoociation, which has been presented to Parliament, explains the difficulties that have arisen in the matter. As I have already stated in the reply to the hon. Member for West Kerry, I propose within a few days to introduce a Bill making provision for the payment of this Grant, and if the Bill meets, as I trust it will, with general acceptance, the Grant will be included in a Supplementary Estimate.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that at Omagh Assizes on the 13th instant an engine-driver named Fullerton was sentenced to four months' imprisonment in consequence of having been held responsible for an accident which occurred at Donemana on the 7th September, 1913; and, having regard to the evidence that was submitted as to the sobriety and good character of Fullerton by independent witnesses, fellow railwaymen, and the officials of the railway company, and also the strong recommendation to mercy by the jury, whether he will take steps to effect the immediate release of this man, who, considering the punishment already received, has suffered considerably for an accident that happened in the execution of a difficult and responsible occupation?

My attention has been called to this case. The prerogative of mercy is vested in the Lord Lieutenant, to whom any memorial on behalf of the prisoner should be addressed. I have no doubt that any such representation will be carefully considered by His Excellency.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to a case at Clones Petty Sessions against Mr. H. W. Given for using a motor car without a rear light at 7.50 p.m. on 18th February, which had been adjourned from a previous Court as the bench had been equally divided; whether he is aware that, at the second hearing, one of the magistrates on the bench demanded that the case should be withdrawn, and that when the officer in charge of the case stated that he could not take upon himself the responsibility of withdrawing it unless requested to do so by all the magistrates who heard it, the magistrate in question refused to put it to the bench but proceeded to suggest that the officer was proving the case in a peculiar fashion and taking a most improper course; whether it is the practice that direction for the withdrawal of prosecutions are acted on when made by all the members of the bench; and can he now say what action it is proposed to take in this case?

My attention has been called to this case, and the facts appear to be correctly stated in the question. It is not the practice that directions for the withdrawal of prosecutions are acted on when made by all the members of the bench, but as this case is one of no public importance, and has been heard twice, it is intended to give directions to the police not to proceed further with the prosecution.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Estates Commissioners are using Irish-made or local-made joinery in the building of the houses on the Thompson estate, Kilcoke, Queen's county; and whether the Commissioners will, in the future, give preference to the Irish-made article in the erection of houses under their control?

The Estates Commissioners understand that, owing to the difficulty of obtaining joinery, due to recent labour troubles, it was found necessary to obtain some from England in connection with the works referred to. It is the wish of the Commissioners to utilise Irish materials where practicable.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he has received official information of an outrage at Ballyjames-duff, county Cavan, when the Protestant parish church was set on fire and the pulpit and chancel destroyed, after the church Bible and clerical vestments had been thrown into the road; and whether any arrest has been made in connection with the affair?

The police authorities inform me that on the morning of the 22nd instant this church was discovered to be on fire. The police were promptly on the spot, and the vestry door was found to have been forced open, and the pulpit was in flames. The fire was quickly extinguished, but the pulpit and a portion of the altar rails were destroyed. The articles referred to were found outside the church. One man has been arrested on suspicion. The police believe that robbery was the motive for the breaking into the church, and that on failing to obtain any money the place was set on fire. The outrage has no political or sectarian significance.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that cases have occurred in Ireland, at elections of county and district councils under the Local Government Acts, in which the returning officers, while holding prominent positions in local political organisations, have acted in elections in which near relatives have been candidates; and whether, seeing that the returning officers, as custodians of all the blocks of ballot papers used by the voters, are in a position to identify the persons who voted for particular candidates, the Local Government Board in Ireland will take steps to ensure that returning officers at these elections in Ireland will be entirely free from political or personal bias, so that public confidence in the secrecy of the ballot may be maintained?

Occasionally complaints have been made by defeated candidates at local government elections attributing their defeat to the action of the election officers, but as the Local Government Board have no power to investigate or question the conduct of the elections they are unable to vouch for the accuracy of the statements made by the complainants. The returning officers are appointed by the county councils, and their actions can only be questioned by election petition.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is the intention of the Irish Government to appeal against the decision of Mr. Justice Boyd, declaring illegal the detention by the Customs authorities of arms imported into Ireland from any place abroad; and, if so, whether he will issue instructions or cause the same to be issued by the officer of State responsible to the Customs authorities to allow the importation until and if the proclamation of the Government is upheld in the Court of Appeal?

Mr. Justice Boyd gave no decision. He entered a formal judgment for the plaintiffs without giving any reasons or expressing any opinion. The hearing in Belfast was merely formal for the purpose of obtaining evidence. The judge stayed execution, and extended the time till the first day of the Easter Sittings to enable the defendant to move the Court to have judgment entered for him. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary if, preceding the recent movement of troops in Ireland and the issue of orders for the despatch of a naval squadron to Irish waters, any information was received as to the prevalence of disorder in Ulster which rendered such precautions necessary; and whether any request for such assistance was received from the civil authorities in Belfast or elsewhere?

The answer to the whole question is in the negative.

asked the Secretary of State for War what instructions were given to General Sir Arthur Paget between the time when he received the letter from the Army Council, dated 14th March, and the time when he wrote the telegram, received 7 p.m. on 20th March; whether these instructions included an order to move the regiments of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade North; and, if not, if he will explain why General Sir Arthur Paget reported that, if they were ordered North, the officers of this brigade preferred dismissal?

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement my right hon. Friend made on Monday last, in which he gave full details of all the movements of troops which were ordered. No order was given to move the 3rd Cavalry Brigade.

asked whether General Sir Arthur Paget accepted the orders recently issued on the subject of military operations in Ireland without protest or did he tender his own resignation?

The reply to the first part of the question is yes, and to the second part no.

next asked the Secretary for War what consideration led him to instruct General Paget, on the 20th March, 1914, to refuse all resignations of officers?

These instructions were given in conformity with the principles laid down at the conference with general officers commanding-in-chief as stated in the first section of the White Paper.

asked the Secretary for War whether any shorthand notes were taken of the interview between the Secretary of State for War and General Sir Arthur Paget, at which steps for carrying out the movements mentioned in the letter of the Army Council to Sir Arthur Paget, of the 14th March, were discussed; and, if so, whether he will publish them?

No, Sir.

also asked the Secretary for War whether the second paragraph in the letter dated 20th March, printed on page 3 of the White Paper, from Brigadier-General Gough to the Army Council, was shown to the Cabinet the same day the letter was received; if not, if he will say when its contents were made known to the Cabinet; if he will say precisely what was the first information received from the Army Council about which General Gough says that the officers in his command require further information before being called upon at such short notice to take decisions so vitally affecting their whole future; and if he will say exactly what the decision was which those officers were so suddenly called upon by the Army Council to decide upon?

My right hon. Friend does not think he can add anything to the statement on this subject which he made to the House last Wednesday.

asked the Secretary for War whether he has yet received General Gough's reply as to the accuracy of his reported comments on the conduct of his superior officers as appearing in the Press of Thursday last; if so, whether General Gough accepts that report as substantially accurate or not; and if not, then in what particulars it was accurate?

General Gough states that he did not accord an interview to Press representatives.

asked whether paragraph 255, King's Regulations, was complied with in the case of officers of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade in the recent misunderstanding of orders; and, if so, why were the papers not included in Memorandum Cd. 7318?

No, Sir. The paragraph of the King's Regulations quoted refers to cases of resignations arising out of misconduct or circumstances affecting an officer's honour or character as a gentleman, and had no application to the recent events?

asked the Secretary of State for War whether General Gough has in his possession a document, signed by General Sir John French, to the effect that the Cavalry Brigade under the command of General Gough shall not be used to enforce the present Home Rule Bill on Ulster; and, if so, does this apply to the rest of the Army?

My right hon. Friend would refer the hon. Member to the statement he made in Debate on the 25th instant.

asked what Officers of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade were relieved of their commands; whether any and what officers were appointed or sent to relieve them; and whether any and what conditions were attached to the relieving of the officers relieved, or to the appointment of the officers appointed in relief?

My right lion. Friend has nothing to add to the statement which he made on this point on Wednesday.

also asked what the expression to be "relieved of his command" imports in military parlance?

An officer may be relieved of his command finally or temporarily pending an inquiry. In the latter case, should the inquiry exonerate the officer from blame, he is reinstated in his command.

asked the Secretary for War whether he will publish correspondence or notes of any interview in which he authorised the disappearance and subsequent reinstatement of officers domiciled in Ulster in case of military operations in that province?

There was no interview to which the hon. Gentleman's description would correctly be applicable.

asked the Secretary for War how many resignations of their commissions were actually received from officers during the fortnight ending the 28th of March; whether any conditional resignations have been officially or unofficially intimated to the Army Council; and, if so, whether any and, if so, what replies have been sent to such conditional resignors?

Apart from the exceptional circumstances of the officers of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, which have been fully dealt with, two resignations were received at the War Office: both have been withdrawn.

asked the Secretary for War whether the War Office or Ministers have received representations from any other presidents of Territorial Force associations, besides Lord Esher, as to the circumstances under which many of the officers of their force would resign their commissions?

No, Sir.

asked the Secretary for War how many rifles, how many rounds of ammunition, what mobilisation stores or other equipment, were in store at Omagh, Armagh, Enniskillen, Carrick fergus, Newry, and Dundalk, respectively, at the beginning of March?

It has never been the custom to make public information of this kind, and my right hon. Friend does not consider it desirable to do so.

asked the Secretary for War whether the statement of the law as regards the duty of soldiers to act in aid of the civil authorities which is to be found in the first three paragraphs of the White Paper [Cd. 7318] had the approval of the Law Officers before it was communicated to the general officers, or has since been approved by them or either of them as a true and accurate statement of the law on the subject; and, if not, whether he will obtain the opinion of the Law Officers on the point?

The statements in the paragraphs referred to were not made without proper consideration of their correctness and reference to the authorities concerned. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the statement of the law on this subject as made by Lord Haldane, which now forms an Appendix to Chapter 13, Manual of Military Law.

asked the Secretary for War how many times the Army Council met as a Council last year and how many times the Army Council has met as a Council during the present year; and will he give approximately the dates of the last three meetings?

There were fourteen meetings last year, and there have been four during the present year. The answer to the last part of the question is that the meetings have been held during the last five weeks.

asked the Secretary for War whether the generals who met at the War Office on Thursday warned the Army Council that no single regiment could be counted on to fight on the Liberal side in case of civil war; whether any question of such a character as to call for such language was asked; whether any such language was, in fact, used; and whether any information was given by the War Office to the military correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph"?

The answer to all parts of this question is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any men employed in the Sheerness dockyard branch of the Admiralty Works Department have been placed on the establishment; and, if not, whether the delay is due to any change of policy?

No men in the Director of Works' Department at Sheerness have yet been established. Delay has arisen because of the desire to meet the claim to establishment of certain men in the Works' Department at the various yards over fifty years of age. The matter has now been adjusted and the appointments contemplated will forthwith be made. There will, as I have previously said, be further additions to the established list in the coming financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will state how many horses were purchased by, or on behalf of, his Department in Ireland during the years 1911, 1912, and 1913; and, if possible, will he state the numbers by sexes?

The figures are:—

—		Mares.	Geldings.	Total.
1911–12	…	1,442	1,205	2,647
1912–13	…	1,371	1,503	2,874
1913–14	…	1,834	1,685	3,519

asked the number of men serving in the French military forces on a voluntary basis, under the following beads, as men elisted as volunteers before reaching the military age, as men who have re-engaged to serve as non-commissioned officers, and as officers, non-commissioned officers, and men, serving in the Colonial army, either in France itself or in Oversea garrisons?

The figures are, for 1st January, 1914, as follows:—

Men enlisted as volunteers before reaching the military age	94,150
Men who have re-engaged	48,000
Officers of the Metropolitan Army	28,519
Officers, non- commissioned officers and men serving in the Colonial Army, either in France itself or in oversea garrisons	57,133
Total number of men serving in the French military forces on a voluntary basis	227,802

asked the number of men serving in the German Army on a voluntary basis, as men enlisted as volunteers before reaching the military age, as volun-heads, as men enlisted as volunteers before poses, such as schoolmasters (of military age), as men who have re-engaged to serve as non-commissioned officers, and as men who have enlisted to serve abroad?

The figures are, for the 1st October, 1913, as follows:—

Enlisted as volunteers before reaching the military age	56,317
Enlisted as volunteers and for special purposes such as schoolmasters (of military age)	68,070
Men re-engaged to serve as noncommissioned officers	118,624
Men enlisted to serve abroad (approximately)	2,000
	245,011

asked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the statement of two privates of the Leinster Regiment that they broke an expensive window and took a loaf of bread because they did not get enough to eat at the barracks; and will he inquire into the in matter?

I am obtaining information on this matter.

asked the Secretary for War if he can hold out any hope that non-commissioned officers and men of the Regular Army will, in the near future, be permitted to count their years of service with the Colours in all cases, where they retire from the Army with a good character but without a pension, to count for pension if they subsequently join any of the less onerous services of the Crown, such as the Civil Service?

I am afraid I am not in a position to make any statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary for War what is the reason why non-commissioned officers and men of the Royal Horse Artillcry, Territorial Force, should not receive the same bounty as non-commissioned officers and men of the Yeomanry?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to what my right hon. Friend stated in Debate on the 10th instant, and to his reply to the hon. Member for the Wellington Division of Shropshire on the 18th instant.

asked whether orders have been issued from the War Office to farmers in South and West Wales for the compulsory calling up of horses for military purposes; if so, on what date; and how many horses were asked for?

Notices have been and are being sent out to all owners of horses and vehicles which may be required on emergency, not only to Wales but to all parts of the United Kingdom. I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of the notice referred to. I need hardly add that this notice has nothing whatever to do with possible disturbances in any part of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary for War whether letters similar to the circular issued by the officer commanding the 3rd North Midland Field Ambulance, under a misapprehension, have been sent out by the commanding officers of other Territorial corps; what action he proposes to take to prevent a recurrence of such mistakes; and whether he is now in a position to give his promised information?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative—the necessary action has already been taken; there is no information as to the numbers who offered to enrol themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, having regard to the continued reiteration by ex-Inspector Syme in his speeches and in his published pamphlet of his charges against the Commissioner of Police, and the wide circulation given to them, he still adheres to the decision which he expressed last August, that it is not desirable that proceedings should be instituted against Syme for libel, for slander, or for both?

I think the position is altered by the wider publicity which, during the last six months, has been given to the charges, and I have asked that the question of instituting criminal proceedings for libel should be considered by the proper authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many letters have been written by C. D. Pritchard, now confined at Broadmoor, during his detention?

To go through the records and trace every letter the patient has written for the last twelve years would occupy the time of an officer for at least several days. The patient has generally written one, sometimes two, letters a week.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the staffs in the criminal lunatic asylums would be prejudiced by loss of office, or otherwise, by any material permanent reduction in the number of inmates?

No.

asked if it is an invariable rule that a person found, by a verdict of a jury, to be guilty but insane, and ordered to be detained during His Majesty's pleasure, is detained permanently in a criminal lunatic asylum until he can be discharged, or are there any instances of a removal to a county asylum; and is there any authority by which this removal can be made?

Under Section 5 (1) of the Criminal Lunatics Act, 1884, a criminal lunatic may be removed from a criminal lunatic asylum to a county asylum, subject to the conditions laid down in Section 9 of the Act. This is occasionally done, but not often.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to any cases in which small landholders and statutory small tenants have been assessed as proprietors or occupiers of their holdings and their improvements thereon, instead of being assessed in accordance with the provisions of Section 31 (6) of The Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, and The Lands Valuation (Scotland) Amendment Act, 1895, therein referred to; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular to assessors and local authorities calling their attention to the statutory provisions which relate to the valuation of these subjects?

Some statements to the effect mentioned in the question have come under my notice, but I am not aware of the facts, and am unable to express any opinion on the merits. As at present advised I think it unnecessary to issue a circular as I have no reason to suppose that assessors require to have their attention called to statutory provisions governing valuation, and ample opportunity of appeal is given to persons aggrieved by the assessors' valuation, but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the facts of any cases which are within his knowledge I am prepared to consider the matter further.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what were the dates, respectively, on which the eleven imprisoned Lewis cottars were forced to wear convict dress, on which the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty first asked a question in the House on this matter, and on which these cottars were permitted to resume civil for convict dress; and whether the occasion on which discussion on this question took place in the House was one under which the time for debate was curtailed by the usual regulation which limits the discussion of a question brought up on adjournment to about twenty or twenty-five minutes?

These cottars have not been forced to wear convict dress. They are entitled as civil prisoners to wear their own clothes, but have elected to wear, instead, the dress of untried prisoners. As regards the remainder of the question, I must refer my hon. Friend to the OFFICIAL REPORT of Parliamentary Debates.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many cases of small-pox have been notified in Aberdeen during this year; how many of the sufferers have not been vaccinated; how many have been vaccinated; how many re-vaccinated; if any deaths were reported; and, if so, to which of the three classes they belonged?

Six cases of small-pox have occurred in Aberdeen this year. All these have been vaccinated in infancy and none have been re-vaccinated, though in one case re-vaccination had been unsuccessfully attempted on three occasions. One death has occurred of a man of forty-seven who had not been vaccinated since infancy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the imports and exports of each province of Ireland and also of the counties of Down, Armagh Antrim, Tyrone, Fermanagh, and Londonderry?

Particulars of the direct trade of each Irish port with foreign countries and British possessions in each the years 1908–1912 will be found in Volume II. of the Annual Statement of the Trade of the United Kingdom for 1912. but this does not include goods imported at ports of Great Britain but destined for consumption in Ireland or goods of Irish production which are shipped abroad from ports in Great Britain. Moreover, no statistics are available with regard to the movement of goods between one province or county and another.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a dispute at Millwall, where it is alleged that children are being employed in dangerous work which has hitherto been performed by adult labour; and whether, under the Trade Boards Act, he can take any action to bring the dispute to an end, which involves 1,000 women?

I am informed that a settlement of this dispute was arrived at on Friday last.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has received an appeal from Mr. T. A. M'Kee, of Wrexham, against a demolition order condemning a building formerly a cottage but now a part of Mr. M'Kee's business offices and storerooms; whether these premises are still used for habitation; whether they are in any way dangerous to workmen or adjoining property; and whether he will cause impartial and full inquiry to be made before arriving at any decision in the matter?

I have received an appeal from Mr. T. A. M'Kee against a demolition order made by the town council of the borough of Wrexham. At the present time I have before me only the statement in the matter made by the appellant, and have not heard from the town council on the subject. I am not in a position to reply to the next two points raised in the question. A public local inquiry must be held before any such appeal as this can be dismissed.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether it is his intention to promote legislation to amend the law in connection with the appointment of Commissioners of Sewers, constituted under an Act of Henry VIII. and subsequent amending Acts, where there is now a large population and duly elected local authorities are in existence?

The Board are considering, in conjunction with the Board of Trade, possible amendments of the Land Drainage Act, and will be glad to receive any definite suggestion on the particular point to which my hon. Friend refers.