asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether in the Navy Estimates for 1911–12 the sum of £19,272 was taken as a first instalment towards the construction of two river gunboats; that the further sum of £61,936 was taken in the following year for the continuation of this work, and that the order for the vessels, then named "Kingfisher" and "Rail," was reported to have been placed with Messrs. Yarrow and Company; that in 1913–14 the sum of £2,438 was taken as the first instalment towards the construction of two river gunboats, referred to as No. 1 and No. 2; and that in the current Navy List there is no mention of any vessel named "Kingfisher" or "Rail," while the Estimates for the coming financial year contain no specified provision for work on river gunboats; how many vessels of this type have been ordered since 1st April, 1911; how much has been spent on them; and when it is expected that they will be completed?

It was decided not to proceed for the present with the construction of these river gunboats, and therefore no money has been spent on them.

Why has £80,000 appeared on the Estimates during three successive years without any of it having been spent?

It was in consequence of the delay in the commencement of these vessels. They will undoubtedly have to be commenced. The actual date depends upon the requirements of the rivers on the China station. It has been found possible to delay the construction of these boats.

Why was a second allocation of money made in two successive years?

I think the expenditure is always divided over the years.

Has piracy been so effectively dealt with in the Canton Delta that the construction of these gunboats can be delayed?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in the event of there being at the end of 1915 an insufficient number of completed "Dreadnoughts" to provide for the maintenance of a 50 per cent. superiority over Germany in Home waters and also a force of four or six of these vessels in the Mediterranean, he will state whether the Admiralty would deplete our necessary strength in the Mediterranean to ensure the presence of an adequate number of ships in Home waters or vice versâ?

This is one of those hypothetical questions which it is best not to answer.

Is not this beyond hypothesis, that after the end of 1915 we shall only have two "Dreadnoughts" to spare for the Mediterranean, after providing for the 50 per cent.?

I am much obliged to the hon. Member for the information.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the "Royal Sovereign" and "Royal Oak," laid down on 15th January, 1914, are not expected to be completed until after the end of March, 1916, that a greater average sum will have been spent on these ships by the end of the coming financial year than on the "Revenge," "Resolution," and "Ramillies," and that hitherto dockyard-built ships have been completed more quickly than those built by contract, it is anticipated that the three vessels named will be completed by the end of 1915?

It is anticipated that "Revenge," "Ramillies," and "Resolution" will be completed before the end of 1915.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether any reduction of our naval strength in the Persian Gulf is contemplated in view of the agreement which has lately been come to with France concerning the gun traffic of Muscat?

No reduction is at present proposed, but the situation is being closely watched with a view to such modifications of the arrangements now in force as the altered conditions may require or justify.

Has the right hon. Gentleman had any reports of attacks upon British ships by pirates?

No, Sir; I have not received any. The India Office is much concerned in this subject, and, perhaps the question ought to be addressed to them.

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that two British ships were raided in the Persian Gulf by pirates not long since?

I am not personally aware of it.

Is anything being done to arm vessels of the Indian Marine in the Persian Gulf?

I could not answer that without notice.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty if his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the messing and sleeping accommodation for the engine-room artificer staff on the "Marlborough" for the eleven days of her recent trials; if he will consider the possibility of devising better provision for the future and of granting shore leave during some of the time of trials lasting so long; if he will have inquiry made into the case of the "Marlborough"; and if he will cause inquiry to be made into the messing provision for the submarine establishment at Harwich when one of the two ships which are usually there for the purpose is away on annual refit and cause better provision to be made?

The conditions under which steam trials are run necessitate a certain amount of inconvenience to all on board, officers as well as men. This is due to several reasons. The arrangements for messing and accommodation can only be temporary. The ship is short of many facilities that exist when she is fully prepared for commissioning, and there are present a large number of officials and men forming the contractor's staff, record party, etc., not part of the regular complement. Subject to these facts, I am not aware that the circumstances in the case of the trials of, the "Marlborough" were exceptional. But if my hon. Friend still desires it, I will call for a report. I should add that all ranks and ratings concerned receive a special allowance during trials. As regards the last part of the question, there are twelve submarines and two submarine depot ships at Harwich. Each of the latter is fitted to mother nine submarines. Some inconvenience is unavoidable when one of these ships is absent refitting, but the refits of the submarines at Sheerness are arranged, as far as possible, to ensure that there are not more than nine at Harwich during the absence of one of the depot ships.

Will the right hon. Gentleman have some inquiry made into this complaint?

I will certainly make inquiry and ask for a report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the speech in London of Mr. H. C. A. Eyres, Consul-General at Constantinople, in which that gentleman said he believed that Turkey was a decadent nation and the Turk was without a spark of progress, while, as far as Eastern peoples were concerned, there was nothing to be hoped from Turkish regeneration; whether such speeches commenting publicly on the affairs of the country in which he serves are permissible on the part of a Consul-General; whether any representations have been made by the Grand Vizier on the subject to the British Ambassador at Constantinople; and whether the Foreign Office has taken any and, if so, what official action in the matter?

My attention has been called to a speech made by Mr. Eyres at a private club in London. Representations with regard to it have been made by the Grand Vizier to His Majesty's Ambassador at Constantinople, and I am in communication with His Majesty's Ambassador on the subject.

Is any disciplinary action contemplated against this gentleman for his very irregular conduct?

A rather serious view is taken of the matter, but as it is, so to speak, still sub judice, I would rather not say anything more about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has received any information regarding the composition of the Court which is to try Mr. Bowskill; whether arrangements have been made for the provision of legal advice for him at his trial; whether it has been decided that such trial shall he held at Loanda or, if not there, at Noki?

In a telegram dated 29th March His Majesty's Minister at Lisbon reported that he had received a note from the Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs stating that a telegram had been sent to the Governor-General of Angola requesting information as to the composition of the tribunal which is to try Mr. Bowskill, and as to the place where the trial will be held, and urging that the trial should not begin until Mr. Bowskill had had time to obtain legal assistance. His Excellency promised to inform Mr. Carnegie of the Governor-General's reply when it had been received.

asked the Secretary of. State for Foreign Affairs whether the recent proposals of the French Government for diminishing the allowance to corner margin for errors in Customs declarations have been modified; and whether he can give any further information on this question?

The original proposal of the French Government was to reduce the margin of error from 5 per cent to 1 per cent., but this was subsequently modified, and the margin is fixed at 3 per cent. by the Budget Bill adopted by the French Chamber of Deputies on 23rd March last.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if, before sanctioning the proposed rule prohibiting patients in the Sierra Leone nursing home from being treated by their private practitioners, he will consider the peril to recovery which might arise through denying to patients suffering from a disease the continued medical skill of their regular medical practitioners who alone would possess the history of the case?

My hon. Friend may rest assured that full consideration will be given to this and all other aspects of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a white man was recently removed to the Sierra Leone nursing home suffering from black-water fever; that he had previously been treated by a native doctor with high qualifications in whose skill in the treatment of tropical diseases confidence is reposed not only by the native population, but by many of the white population; that the patient applied to the authorities of the nursing home to allow him to be treated by his regular medical attendant, but that in view of the proposed new rule this was at first forbidden, but afterwards permitted; and whether he has received any representations of public opinion from Sierra Leone on the subject of the proposed treatment?

The circumstances of the case to which my hon. Friend refers are not within my knowledge. I am not sure that I understand the last part of the question; but I have received no representations of public opinion from Sierra Leone on the subject of the proposed new rule to which my hon. Friend refers.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any representations from the West African section of the local chamber of commerce?

I cannot carry all the representations in my head. I will inquire.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether the humble memorial from the subordinate officers of the Federated Malay States Railways, petitioning for a revision of their salaries' scheme and conditions of service, was sent to him through the proper channel before a copy of it was sent to him direct; and whether he has yet received the memorial?

I have received both copies of the memorial, and I am satisfied that the steps which are being taken will remove any legitimate cause of complaint, and the High Commissioner has accord- ingly been requested to inform the memorialists that I am not prepared to intervene on their behalf.

Do I understand that any steps are being taken in the Federated States?

Yes, Sir, the whole matter is under consideration.

asked whether any officer in the Army has, during the last fortnight, been given an unconditional order and failed to obey?

No, Sir.

asked whether Private Harold Spiers, of the 1st Worcestershire Regiment, was tried by court-martial on the 22nd of September, 1911, and sentenced to fourteen days' imprisonment; what was the charge made against him; and what was the defence offered by him?

The sentence was fourteen days' detention. The charge was absence without leave. He pleaded guilty, and it was stated in extenuation by his counsel that, owing to the hardships he had gone through, he did not realise the serious position in which he was placing himself.

Is it the fact that this man was ordered to serve on duty in suppressing riots in connection with a strike, and that the sight of men being shot down in the roads so unnerved him that he deserted?

I cannot answer as to what was in the soldier's mind, but he certainly endured other hardships besides those mentioned.

Are not all these statements of my hon. Friend the statements of his counsel as justification for his act?

That is a representation by counsel as to what was in the soldier's mind. I can only answer as to the other hardships he has suffered.

asked the Under-Secretary for War the number of soldiers dealt with for desertion, discharges for misconduct, and imprisonment by court martial for the years 1909 to 1913, inclusive?

My hon. Friend will find this information on pages 36–37, and pages 74–75 of the General Annual Report on the British Army.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures showing the cost of the Land Valuation Department for the year ending 31st March, 1914, including the amount borne by other Votes and the amount borne by the Valuation Office, Ireland?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the estimated cost of the Land Valuation Department for the year ending 31st March, 1915, including the estimated amount borne by other Votes and the amount borne by the Valuation Office, Ireland?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the cost of land valuation to 31st March, 1913, £1,393,000, as given by him, includes the costs borne by the Land Valuation Office, Ireland; and, if not, what the latter costs amounted to up to 31st March, 1913?

The figure £1,393,000 which my right hon. Friend explained in reply to a question on the 5th May last, does not include the costs borne by the Valuation Office, Ireland, which up to 31st March, 1913, amounted to £39,497, making a total of £1,432,497. The total figures estimated on the same basis for the years ending 31st March, 1914 and 1915, are £745,900 and £843,614 respectively, including the items mentioned by the hon. Members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has yet been able to give, as promised, his personal consideration to the statement submitted to him by the surveyors and officers of the Customs and Excise Departments; and when he hopes to make a state- ment of the Government's intentions in the matter?

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he has received representations from the Excise officers in connection with the amalgamation of their Department with the Customs Department, and also representations concerning the duties imposed on them by the National Health Insurance Act, 1911, the Old Age Pensions Act, 1908, and the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910; and if he will appoint an independent Committee, with representatives of the House of Commons on it, to investigate the grievances of the Excise officers?

I have given my personal consideration to all the representations which have been submitted from Customs and Excise officials, and have caused, or am causing, detailed replies to be sent to them. I will consider any replies that may be received, and then decide what further action, if any, is desirable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his undertaking that he would introduce a Revenue Bill at the commencement of the present Session, it is his intention to move the First Reading of the same at an early date after the Easter Recess?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has been afforded an opportunity of reading the final Report of the Departmental Committee on Local Taxation; and, if so, whether, in view of the inability of a majority of the Committee to recommend the imposition of a rate upon land values, it is the intention of the Government to proceed with the policy known as the taxation of land values, with a view to raising the revenue required for the whole or part of the local services of the country?

The Report is now under consideration. As regards the latter part of the question, my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to add anything to his previous statements on the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the statement of the medical officer of the Welsh Insurance Commission that the number of insured cases receiving domiciliary treatment is small and does not warrant the sum spent for them, namely 6d. per insured person, paid to the panel doctors; whether several insurance committees have found themselves short of funds for sanatorium benefit in consequence of the above 6d. being diverted from them; and whether he proposes to make a temporary Grant to needy insurance committees so that consumptive insured persons may receive the sanatorium benefit which they need and to which they are entitled?

My right hon. Friend understands that the report contained in the hon. Member's question does not accurately represent the observations of the officer in question. These were addressed solely to the circumstances of a particular area in which domiciliary treatment had in many cases been given without formal recommendation for sanatorium benefit. With regard to the latter part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that expenditure upon domiciliary treatment is part of the committee's expenditure upon sanatorium benefit as a whole, and that extensive Grants are already provided towards the cost of comprehensive schemes comprising arrangements for the treatment of insured persons.

Has a surcharge been made in cases where domiciliary treatment has been given without advice?

No, it will depend on the circumstances of the case.

In the circumstances of the case to which the lion. Member has referred, will it be so?

I cannot say.

asked whether the borough committees in the county of London have only met once and in a few cases twice since January, 1913; whether the failure to do so is giving grave offence to the representatives of the friendly societies; when the next meetings are likely to take place; why the powers contemplated in the Act, in Section 60, are not given to the borough committees; and why the borough committees are not made a first, summary, and inexpensive Court of Appeal for all persons who have small grievances under the Act?

The question of the functions and position of district insurance committees in the scheme of administrative arrangements under the National Insurance Acts is one which presents considerable difficulties, and the matter is engaging my right hon. Friend's close attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he can give the House any information regarding the construction of the Quillimane-Shire Railway, and the capacity of the harbour of Quillimane for dealing with such shipping as may be expected to frequent that place when it has become the terminus of a railway?

The track has been opened up in the neighbourhood of Quillimane for 34 kilometres. On the main line the track comprising the region between the flats of Nicuadalla and the Licuare, to the extent of 20 kilometres, is being opened up, as well as 28 kilometres on the Inhamacurra branch between the Nicuadalla country and the head of the Inhamacurra Railway. The question of the improvements necessary at the port of Quillimane is, I understand, now engaging the attention of the Portuguese authorities.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the chief inspector of factories in India issues a Report of the work of the inspectors; and, if so, whether it can be made available to Members of this House?

There is no chief inspector of factories for India as a whole. The provincial inspectors of factories render reports annually, and if the hon. Member wishes to see these I shall be happy to place in the Library a copy of the Reports for the year 1912.

asked how many factory inspectors are engaged in the administration of the Indian Factory Act; how many are natives and how many Europeans; and whether, previous to appointment, they had practical knowledge of factory life, or, if not, what were their previous occupations?

There are fourteen factory inspectors in India. All are Europeans. Four of them were appointed in this country, of whom two had experience of factories, and the other two had qualified for the Home Office Factory Inspection staff. The other ten were appointed in India, and had had experience in factories or in business.

asked how many British-Indian troops were sent to Muscat last year to protect the capital, and at what cost to Indian finances; and are any troops stationed there now?

The number of British-Indian troops of all ranks sent to Muscat last year was 1,024, and the number stationed there now is 408. These figures exclude non-combatant details. Figures as to the cost are not available at present, but a further communication on this point is expected from India.

Has there been any fighting?

Will the cost be recovered from the Sultan, or will they debit it to the Indian Revenue?

The cost will not be borne by the finances of India alone. Presumably the Treasury will bear its due part.

asked when the Quinquennial Report on the Progress of Education in India (1907–12) will be laid upon the Table?

I understand that the copies of the Review are now on their way from India. They will be laid on the Table as soon as possible after they are received at the India Office.

asked if the £2,150,000 remitted from India in respect of profit on coinage of rupees has been invested on behalf of the gold standard reserve; and, if so, in what securities, or has it been added to the reserve in gold, or how otherwise has it been dealt with?

The sum of £2,150,000 has been added in sovereigns to the gold standard reserve.

asked if he will say why the Council drafts were sold in 1913–14 for a sum of £1,456,100 in excess of all Home requirements; why a closer estimate of these requirements was not made; how the money was employed pending its requirement for the following year; and if the sales for the requirements of 1914–15 will be correspondingly reduced?

The reasons for selling Council drafts in excess of the Secretary of State's immediate requirements are given in the Report of the Royal Commission on Indian Finance and Currency. I would refer the hon. Member especially to paragraphs 176 and 179. The estimate of requirements in 1913–14 was as close as was possible when it was made. Money held in England in excess of the standing balance at the Bank of England was lent in the usual way to approved borrowers. The sales in 1914–15 will be conducted in accordance with the policy recommended by the Royal Commission, which makes it impossible to say now what the total amount will be.

Are we to understand that the India Office accepted in its entirety the Report of the Royal Commission?

No; I said nothing of the kind.

Why does the hon. Gentleman quote the Royal Commission's Report as a reason for having exceeded the requirements of the country when the Royal Commission's Report was not issued until after the requirements had been exceeded by this sum of over £2,000,0007

I think the general reasons were stated in the paragraph to which I referred the hon. Member.

asked how much of the £1,415,700 additional Home expenditure on capital account during the year 1913–14 represents discharge of debt; what was the nature of the debt; and what was the nature of the other expenditure on capital account?

£280,000 represents the discharge of guaranteed debenture bonds of the Bengal Nagpur Railway Company, for which the Secretary of State was liable. The other additional expenditure on capital account was made up as follows:—

asked whether the suggestions with reference to an Amendment of the terms of the Government of Ireland Bill, as outlined in a Government White Paper, will, in the event of the Bill obtaining a Second Reading, be forthwith tabled as actual Amendments to the measure, and be debated on Committee stage in due course; and whether the Government adhere to their statement that the suggestions as outlined represent a limit of concession beyond which they are not allowed to proceed?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the Prime Minister's statement on this subject on 16th March; and, as regards the latter part, to the speeches made by my right hon. Friends on the Second Reading of the Bill, to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the impossibility of approaching the settlement of the Irish problem with any prospect of success in the present excited state of public opinion while this House is sitting and party feelings exacerbated by continuous Parliamentary discussion, he will consider the desirability of extending the Easter Recess from four days to three weeks, so as to admit of the possibility of some settlement being arrived at during that period?

My right hon. Friend regrets that he does not see his way to accede to the hon. Member's suggestion. He trusts that the view expressed in the first part of the question may prove erroneous.

Will the right hon. Gentleman and the Cabinet consider the advisability of a prolonged Adjournment at Whitsuntide with this object in view?

It will be considered when the time comes.

asked whether His Majesty's Government have any intention of taking advantage of the right to use the forces of the Crown to uphold law and order and to support the civil power in order to crush opposition to the principle and policy of the Government of Ireland Bill?

asked whether His Majesty's Government have any intention of using the forces of the Crown in Ireland or elsewhere to crush political opposition to the policy or principles of the Government of Ireland Bill?

I will answer this question and No. 45 together. The policy of the Government with regard to this matter was clearly stated last night by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and I have nothing to add to his statement.

Was the Lord Chancellor wrong when he answered this question on behalf of the Government in the negative?

Is that question in order, Mr. Speaker?

That is a matter on which we can only form our own judgment.

asked the Home Secretary what were the questions which the general officer commanding in Ireland put to officers under his command, and which are referred to in the third paragraph of the Memorandum of the Army Council dated 23rd March, 1914?

The Prime Minister has seen the general officer commanding in Ireland, who informed him that, when he summoned the general officers commanding divisions and brigades under his command, the only question put or intended to be put by him to them. was whether they were ready to put their duty before all other considerations? It was not his intention that this or any such question should be put by the general officers to their subordinate officers. He informed the general officers of the permission given by the Secretary of State to all officers whose homes were in Ulster to withdraw temporarily from their regiments in the event of operations becoming necessary in Ulster, and he requested the general officers to find out at once the number of officers who would withdraw on this ground. He was asked whether any officers who could not claim this exemption would be allowed to resign, and he replied that the result of any refusal to do their duty could only be dismissal.

May I ask whether it would not be convenient that the actual words, or a summary of what was said by the general officer, were laid on the Table of the House?

I have given, so far as possible, the actual words of Sir Arthur Paget.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as a matter of fact, this question was put to subordinate officers by any divisional officer?

I should require to have notice of that.

May I ask whether the general officer stated to his subordinates that non-commissioned officers and men domiciled in Ulster would have the same chance of not taking part in the operations as the officers?

I will put that question to Sir Arthur Paget, but I cannot answer now.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there is any note or memorandum in the possession of Sir Arthur Paget of these questions?

I understand that there is no note. The issue was so exceedingly simple that Sir Arthur Paget did not think it was necessary to have a note.

Did not his military secretary take a note?

No, I believe not.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will ascertain whether the commanding officers who repeated these questions to the company officers made any note?

I will consider the question.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether we are to understand from this communication from Sir Arthur Paget that the Divisional and Brigade Commanders under him did not communicate his exact words to the officers serving under them?

As I have said, I have not any information as to the questions put by the brigadiers to their subordinate officers, and consequently I am quite unable to say whether they added to, or subtracted from, the statement made by Sir Arthur Paget.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the circular letter issued by the hon. Member for South Shropshire to a non-commissioned officer of the Grenadier Guards and others; if so, whether it differs in principle from the handbill distributed by one Crowsley among soldiers at Aldershot; and, if not, will lie consult the Public Prosecutor with a view to his deciding whether similar proceedings should be instituted against the hon. Member as were instituted against Crowsley?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The remainder of the question should be addressed to the Attorney-General.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture what cottages, if any, have been built by the Board or the Commissioners of Woods for agricultural labourers employed on the land under their control in the north of England during the past five years; what has been the average cost of them; whether they are let on economic rent; and, if not, what the economic rent would be?

Twenty-four cottages have been built by the Commissioners of Woods for agricultural labourers employed on the land under their control in the north of England (the counties being Cheshire, Lincolnshire and Yorkshire) since 1st January, 1907. The average cost of them has been £218, including drainage, water supply, fencing, carting and levelling, and, in some cases, bridge approaches, but excluding architect's fees. Each cottage includes three bedrooms, parlour, living room, scullery, larder, store and detached fuel house and earth closet. They are all let to farmers, parish councils or small holdings associations, who rent farms of the Crown. Twenty-one out of the twenty-four are let at economic rents equal to interest at from 4½ to 5 per cent. per annum, on the cost; two were erected without extra rent to replace worn-out cottages on the same farms, and one is let at a rent which is not economic.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to state what is the economic rent which is being paid?

It is a rent equal to interest at from 4½ to 5 per cent. on the cost.

May I ask whether the 4½ or 5 per cent. covers not only the interest on the cost, but also the amount expended on repairs?

It covers the whole cost.

May I ask whether a cottage of this sort cannot be built under a cost of £200?

We have experience extending over a period of years, and the cost some years ago cannot be taken as the price at which cottages can be built to-day.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he can give figures showing, for the year 1912, or if possible for 1913, the total fees received by the Board for the horses examined at various ports under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1910, and the expenditure incurred by the Board in respect of salaries of veterinary inspectors and other incidental expenses?

The information asked for was given in answer to two questions addressed to me by the hon. and gallant Member for the Widnes Division on the 5th March. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of the answers.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he has any official information showing what steps are taken by the Governments of other countries to protect the grower who consigns produce to markets on commission, or whether he will take steps to secure reports from His Majesty's representatives abroad on the subject?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I will refer the hon. Member's suggestion to the International Institute of Agriculture for consideration.

asked what use it is proposed to put the out-building in Kensington Palace, in which formerly was housed the old Roman boat and other articles of interest belonging to the London Museum collection?

The building has been set apart for use as a much needed store.

asked whether there is any reason why the fountains in the Dutch Garden of Kensington Palace should not play more frequently that is at present the case?

It has been the practice that the fountains should play from Easter until the end of September daily from ten till five. The First Commissioner will gladly consider this suggestion.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this has not been carried out?

I am not aware.

asked whether, in order to enable the public to see into Hampton Court Park, and to make more attractive the stretch of road from Kingston to Hampton Court Palace, the First Commissioner of Works will consider the advisability of demolishing the wall alongside the road on the north side of the park and of substituting therefor an iron paling?

This improvement is very desirable, but there is no money available for it at present.

Will the hon. Gentleman have an estimate made of the cost?

Yes, I will consider how much it will take to carry out the work.

asked whether any progress is being made with the proposed new spirit museum in the South Kensington Museum grounds between the buildings and Cromwell Road?

A new scheme is now being prepared for erecting this building as part of the western extension of the museum. The original proposal has been abandoned.

Are we to understand that the ground is taken off?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet decided to appoint a committee to inquire into the working of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906, with a view to legislation to do away with the present anomalies, as shown by cases decided in Court?

I am fully alive to the importance of this matter, but, as I have explained on a previous occasion, some of the questions involved, and particularly the question of State insurance, which the Government has promised shall be investigated, will have to be considered in connection with the system of national insurance established by the Act of 1911, and it is desirable that there should be a somewhat longer experience of the working of that system before the inquiry is instituted.

asked the Home Secretary whether it is his intention to introduce a Bill to amend the Factory and Workshop Act, 1901, and to consolidate all Acts relating to factories and workshops?

I am afraid it will not be possible to introduce a Factory Bill this Session.

asked the Home Secretary the number of persons employed in the cotton industry, distinguishing between males and females, and also giving the number under twenty-one years of age in each sex; and, if he has not these particulars, will he ask for a return from all employers of the number of workpeople as specified above?

The latest figures available are those of the Census of 1911, when the numbers returned as engaged in cotton manufacture were as follows: Males, 233,380, including 77,472 under twenty-one; females, 371,797, including 148,165 under twenty-one. These figures include 2,565 employers. The latest Factory Act return of persons employed in the industry is for 1907, but a return for 1912 has been collected, and is now being tabulated as rapidly as possible.

asked the Home Secretary whether any inquiry is being made by the Government, or the Departments concerned, into the way in which secret orders and private and confidential information is being divulged to Members of this House and others, in order to discover who is responsible?

The Government have no information which would justify them in making such inquiries.

asked the Home Secretary when he will introduce the Bill for the amendment of the Truck Act?

As I stated last Thursday in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for the Ince Division of South-West Lancashire, I hope to introduce the Bill soon after Easter.

asked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to a charge of an alleged assault brought against a young girl by the name of Sarah Yaxley, aged seventeen, that was heard at the. Great Yarmouth Court on Monday, 23rd March, who was charged with assaulting three young women whose ages were between twenty-one and twenty-six, and fined 10s., including costs, in each case or seven days' imprisonment with hard labour; if he is aware that Police-constable Bokenham, who gave evidence against the girl, was some time ago admonished by the justices for giving false evidence; if he will order the fines to be returned; and if he will call for a copy of the police-constable's evidence?

I have received a report from the justices with regard to this case, from which it is clear that my hon. Friend has been misinformed as to the police-constable referred to. He has never been admonished by the justices for giving false evidence, and his conduct has been exemplary in all respects. After considering a full report of the evidence, I am sorry I can find no sufficient ground for interference with the sentence.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will state how many European Legislatures refuse free postage to their Members whilst in attendance on Parliamentary duties; whether he is aware that a number of Members of this House favour free postage per the House post office during the Session; and whether he will consider the advisability of adopting the usage general in other countries?

I am afraid I can add nothing to the reply given to the hon. Member's previous question on the 26th March. I think no useful purpose would be served by addressing an inquiry on the subject to The postal administrations of all European countries.

asked whether it is necessary that a mass of printed matter should be perused and accepted and signed as an agreement by any person desirous of being connected with the Government telephones; why subscribers living within 10 miles of London who subscribe for the purpose of being connected with London can only have trunk calls with London; and whether this renders useless or greatly impairs the value of the telephone service around London, and when trunk calls will be charged at the cheaper rates available on the Continent?

As there are obligations on both sides it is necessary that a formal agreement should be entered into by any person desirous of obtaining telephone service, and it is convenient that all the important conditions of the service should be printed with the agreement form. The terms of contract have been modified from time to time, and my right hon. Friend is always willing to consider suggestions for their amendment or simplification. The question of the charges to be made in future for trunk telephone calls is now receiving consideration. The hon. Member is, however, under a misapprehension in supposing that calls made by subscribers to exchanges within 10 miles of the centre of London are trunk calls.

Is the information supplied by the district head in St. Albans erroneous when he treats calls to the centre of London as trunk calls?

I shall have to have notice of that question.

Are we to understand that the trunk system will be replaced by the zone system? Has the zone system been under consideration for two years, and how soon are we likely to have the result?

That matter has not yet been decided.

asked why the people of Cunningsburgh have been refused a money order office, in view of the fact that the Department would be guaranteed against any loss?

I am making inquiry, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked whether the Government propose to change in any way, or use as stated in the Report, that part of the Holt Committee's Report which deals with the rise in the cost of living?

The Committee stated that certain considerations which they enumerated, including the rise in the cost of living, "are relevant in fixing the remuneration which should be given to Post Office servants, and attention has been given to them in the recommendations which your Committee have made." The Government have accepted the scales of pay which the Committee recommended on those considerations.

asked what are the lowest, the highest, and the average rates of wages paid to employés of the Government in the Forest of Dean district, distinguishing between wages paid to workers under and over eighteen years of age?

I am making inquiries, and if the hon. Gentleman will be good enough to postpone the question until next week I hope then to be able to give a complete answer.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the acreage of greater Birmingham, the acreage assessed for rates as agricultural land, and the total amount raised in rates from the total area, and from that part assessed as agricultural land?

The total extent of the city of Birmingham is about 43,500 acres. I am informed by the Town Clerk that the city is now being surveyed for assessment purposes, and the evidence at present available suggests that there are just over 20,000 acres of agricultural land. The total amount of public rates collected during the year 1912–13 in respect of properties in the city was £1,618,000. It is not known how much of this was collected in respect of agricultural land, but the amount may be estimated at about £7,000.

asked whether District Auditor Propert stated in evidence on the 25th ultimo at the Cardiff Police Court that, though some of the charges included in the accounts of the Central Welsh Board submitted to him last year for audit were illegal, he did not disallow them, but certified the accounts as correct; if so, whether such action was regular and in accordance with the usual approved practice of the Local Government Board in such cases; and what is the value of an audit which fails to detect irregularities or to disallow illegal payments?

My right hon. Friend has no information on this matter at present, but he is making inquiries.

asked what, according to the Census of 1911, was the female population of the United Kingdom, and to what extent it exceeded the male population, and how these figures compare with those of the Census of 1901?

The female population of the United Kingdom at the Census of 1911 was 23,275,120, and exceeded the male population by 1,328,625; at the Census of 1901, the female population was 21,356,313, and exceeded the male population by 1,253,905.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has information to the effect that gas companies in London are importing coal from Germany; and, if so, whether this new departure is due to the increased cost of production in this country?

I am informed that considerable quantities of German gas coal have been purchased for the manufacture of gas in London. This is, no doubt, due to considerations of price, but I am unable to discriminate between the causes which may at the moment have rendered the German more favourable than the English market as a source of supply for London gas works.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he has received a resolution from the Enniscorthy District Council asking him to remove the restrictions placed on the sale of cattle and pigs in county Wexford, in view of the facts that it is impossible for the farmers to obtain sufficient feeding stuffs, and that foot-and-mouth disease has never existed in county Wexford; and if he will state what reply has been given to the Enniscorthy District Council?

The whole of the county Wexford has now been removed from the area of restrictions. The Enniscorthy District Council and other local bodies have been so informed.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed by the town commissioners of Mountmellick, requesting the Government to restore facilities for the shipping of Irish stock from unaffected areas to ports in this country, and pointing out the stringency of the restrictions in Ireland; can he say why Dublin was not included in the recent Order opening the northern ports and Sligo; and why King's and Queen's counties, which have been free from foot-and-mouth disease for a period of over thirty years, are not included within the area of the recent Order issued permitting shipment to certain ports in this country and Scotland of stock for immediate slaughter?

The resolution referred to was duly received and replied to. Since Monday night the landing of animals from the ports of Belfast, Derry, Dundalk, and Sligo for immediate slaughter at Glasgow, Birkenhead, and Manchester has been authorised by an Order of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries. The Board, in making this Order, made it a condition that the animals so shipped should come from the northern side of the boundary line agreed to by the two Departments.

asked the present position of Ireland in the matter of foot-and-mouth disease; whether there have been any further outbreaks of the disease during the past week; and whether any of the previously existing restrictions have been relaxed?

Since my reply to a similar question by the hon. Member last Thursday, two further outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease have occurred in county Cork and two in county Dublin, making fifty-four outbreaks in Ireland altogether. Restrictions have been removed from those districts in Munster temporarily scheduled pending the result of investigations on the movement of certain calves from Cork; these animals have now been traced, but restrictions remain on all districts within fifteen miles of any outbreak of the disease. The customary area has been scheduled on account of the outbreaks in county Dublin.

Is there any indication as to the source of the outbreak in the county Dublin?

The outbreak at Stepaside, county Dublin, occurred only two days ago, and I do not think that the officers of the Department have had time to do anything more than make the elaborate arrangements that are necessary for seeing to the food supply of Dublin and the immediate neighbourhood, but I will undertake to endeavour to make the matter as clear as possible.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Dublin market will be open to-morrow?

The whole of the city and the vicinity of Dublin are within the fifteen-mile radius of the place where the outbreak occurred.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture whether Mullingar Fair, which is due to be held on the 6th April, and is one of the most important fairs of the year, will be allowed to be held?

Yes. Representations were made by the Department at Mullin-gar yesterday, and a satisfactory arrangement was arrived at.

May I ask whether under the new regulation drawing a line from east to west, and providing that no cattle north of that line are allowed to be exported, applies to any store cattle imported from Mullingar and taken up North?

Yes; the boundary line must be kept.

For store cattle?

Yes.

asked the Attorney-General if, with a view to mitigate the nuisance arising from touting circulars and advertisements by registered moneylenders, be will introduce a Bill enacting that, in all cases where loans with such moneylenders are contracted upon the invitation of the moneylender, the maximum rate of interest legally chargeable and recoverable shall not exceed five per centum per annum?

I am not able to promise to introduce legislation, but the hon. and learned Member will have observed that a Bill for amending the Moneylenders Act has come down from the House of Lords, and will offer opportunities for modifying the existing law when it comes before this House.

Are we to understand that the Government will give facilities?

I cannot undertake that.