asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the fact that employed contributors under Part II. of the National Insurance Act whose cards are forwarded to the central Labour Exchange offices from the local Labour Exchange after the expiration of six days' unemployment, do not in some cases receive unemployment benefit until they have been out of work for twenty or twenty-one days, owing to the fact that the books of the local exchange are not made up on the Wednesday of each week for payment on Friday, and that if the cards are not returned to the local exchange by Wednesday no payment is made until the Friday of the following week; and whether he will take steps to remedy this state of affairs?

Payment of benefit is made on Friday at the Labour Exchanges in respect of unemployment up to and including the preceding Wednesday. So far from the books being closed on the Wednesday, payment is made on authorities to pay which arrive on Friday in time for payment. There have undoubtedly been delays due to the pressure at which the work has been performed from time to time (e.g.,, in London on the occasion of the building trade dispute), and there must be some delay where a claim is disputed. I am not aware that apart from such special causes delays of the length mentioned by my hon. Friend occur, but if he will give me any specific instance I shall be happy to make inquiries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that property described in the alleged provisional valuations Barnet 925 and 927 has only a total area of 1 rood 26 perches, or less than half an acre; that this property comprises a small residence and garden, and was as to all of it in the occupation of the same person, a Mr. Richards, in. 1909, and is still in his occupation; will he state why two valuations were made, and why a notice of intention to claim Undeveloped Land Duty on part of the garden, described as provisional valuation Barnet 927, has been served on the owner; what is the date of the survey made by the valuer; what is his name; whether he is a qualified valuer; will he give the entry in the book of the referencer, and say why has no information been given to the owner's agents in reply to inquiries, as was promised in the Commissioners' letter of 11th December, 1913; and do the Inland Revenue Commissioners claim that those valuations were legal provisional valuations?

I regret the delay which has occurred in answering the inquiries of the owner's agents. The hon. and learned Member is, I believe, misinformed as to the continuous occupation of the property by Mr. Richards. At the time of the inspection, which was made on 10th February, 1913, the house was vacant. It stood in grounds 20 perches in extent, separated by a fence from an adjoining plot having an area of 1 rood 6 perches, which, I understand, is the remainder of the land to which the hon. and learned Member alludes. The valuer was unaware that this plot was occupied with the dwelling house at 30th April, 1909, and for this reason two valuations were made, and a charge of Undeveloped Land Duty was contemplated. In view of the facts now elicited a new valuation will be issued, and no Undeveloped Land Duty will be charged. The property was first inspected by a valuation assistant, a professional associate of the Surveyors' Institution, whose notes conformed to the foregoing statements, and the valuation was made by a valuer who had held a valuer's licence for twenty years.

asked whether the Land Valuation Department are responsible for assessing and collecting Mineral Rights Duty?

Mineral Rights Duty, like the other Land Values Duties, is assessed and collected from the head offices of Inland Revenue at London, Edinburgh, and Dublin, with the assistance of the Valuation Department when necessary.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he will lay upon the Table a draft of the rules for the distribution of the Grant of £40,000 proposed to be made under the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill?

Before the Second Reading of the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill I shall lay on the Table a draft of the proposed scheme for the distribution of the Grant of £40,000. It is intended that this scheme shall be carried into effect by rules under Clause 3 of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the surcharges amounting to £9 4s. 9d. against the Ballinasloe guardians were for the difference in two tenders for advertising and job printing, and also the printing of the half-yearly abstract of accounts; whether those tenders are 20 per cent. less than was given to a former contractor four years ago; whether the Local Government Board and the present auditor had on a previous occasion accepted the guardians' explanation why the higher tender for this work was accepted; whether this has been the first surcharge made against the guardians of the Ballinasloe union, which is the lowest rated in the county; and whether work had been done which had not been included in the contract?

Two of the three surcharges making up the amount stated in the question were in respect of losses incurred by accepting the higher of two tenders for printing and advertising in each of two successive years. The third surcharge related to the printing of abstracts, as stated. The surcharges are before the Local Government Board on appeal, but with the information at present before them they are not in a position to confirm the accuracy of the statements made by the hon. Member in his question. All the relevant circumstances will, however, be investigated by the Board before they give their decision on the appeals.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he can state why in Banbridge Rural District Council only 105 cottages have been built out of 167 authorised, in Castlereagh Rural District Council only, 21 built out of 71 authorised, in Hillsborough Rural District Council only 75 built out of 159, and in Moira Rural District Council only 129 built out of 197 authorised; whether he can state why those cottages have not been built although they have been authorised for several years; and whether he can state if the administration expenses for cottages in the Moira Rural District Council amounts to £89 as compared with £6 15s. per average in the Listowel Rural District Council?

The cottages referred to in the first paragraph of the question which were not built on the 31st March, 1913, have not been "authorised for several years," and, with the exception of Castlereagh, are nearly all included in Orders made in 1912, but in respect of which the arbitrators' awards were only made at different periods of the year 1913. In the case of Castlereagh, the award was made in June, 1912. Any delay which has occurred has been due to the difficulty of getting contractors at reasonable prices, to the unwillingness of the councils to proceed unless they obtained on land purchase terms, not merely the £170 per cottage as fixed by the Local Government Board, but the total amount of money required by them, and to considering the question of amending the plans with a view to reducing the cost. This is now being done in the case of Moira Rural District, but in the other districts tenders have now been accepted for nearly all the cottages authorised. The comparison made in the last part of the question is apparently based upon Parliamentary Return, No. 193, of 1906, which gives particulars of the entire cost of the last completed scheme in each district before the Act of 1906 was passed.

asked the Chief Secretary what cause the junior inspector assigned in 1910 for the reduction of the merit mark awarded by the senior inspector in 1908 and by the district inspector in 1909 to Mr. Charles McCarthy, senior assistant, East Wall Boys' School, Dublin, as none appeared in the report furnished to the manager or to the teacher; whether it is possible that the circular issued by the Board to inspectors in June, 1911, re changing of previous merit marks, may hare done a further injustice to this teacher; and, if so, will the Commissioners consider the advisability of immediately promoting this teacher of many years highly efficient service?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the inspector who assigned the merit mark to Mr. McCarthy in 1910 did not furnish any special reason for his action, which, presumably, he regarded as warranted by an examination of this teacher's work in the school. The mark thus given was supported in 1911 by a district inspector at a further examination of the school and in 1912 by a senior inspector, both of whom assigned the same mark. The Commissioners do not consider that their circular of June, 1911, to the inspectors has done any injustice to this teacher. As the promotion of assistant teachers is only made in exceptional circumstances the Commissioners are not prepared to consider Mr. McCarthy's immediate promotion in view of the character of the reports on his school work.

asked the Chief Secretary what are the teaching qualifications of the nuns who have been put in charge of the Roman Catholic girls' and infants' schools at Ballycastle, county Antrim, and to make room for whom trained and efficient school mistresses were dismissed by the manager, in spite of the Maynooth Resolution?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the staff of the school referred to consist of three nuns and a junior assistant mistress. One nun is a trained teacher under the English Education Board. The other two nuns were recognised as teachers under the English Board of Education. The junior assistant mistress is duly qualified under the National Education Board.

asked the Chief Secretary if the Commissioners of National Education give effect to the seventy-second recommendation of the Powis Royal Commission, and if the rule that the Commissioners grant aid to one school only in connection with the same convent is still in force?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The rule referred to in the concluding portion was abolished in 1884.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Congested Districts Board has taken any steps or instituted any negotiations for the purchase and sale of the following estates, the tenants of which have applied several years ago, namely: the estate of Major Torrens, Lecamy and Carrowblagh, the estate of the trustees of the Reverend Thomas MacLellan, Tar-drum, Balleighan, Ballymacarthur, the estate of George Gilliland, Carrichue, and the estate of MacNeill, Carrowmena, all in the county Donegal; and will he say what, if any, progress has been made?

The Congested Districts Board have communicated with the owners of the properties referred to, but none of the estates have been offered for sale through the Board. The estate of John Smyth and another, trustees of the Reverend Thomas McClellan is the subject of sale proceedings before the Estates Commissioners by the owners direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903. Having regard to its position on the principal register of direct sales (all cash), the Commissioners are unable to state when it may be reached.

asked the Chief Secretary when the untenanted lands at Moyvane, Newtownsands, North Kerry, purchased by the Estates Commissioners, will be divided and distributed amongst the poor people of the district?

The Estates Commissioners hope to be in a position to distribute the untenanted lands on this estate at an early date.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he will bring before the Estates Commissioners the case of Mr. P. Kirby, of Gortnaminch, North Kerry, an evicted tenant, who claims reinstatement in his holding, or an equivalent holding of untenanted land; and whether his application will receive favourable and immediate consideration?

The hon. Member I presume refers to the application of Patrick Kirby for reinstatement in a holding at one time in the possession of his father on the Listowel estate. This estate has been purchased by the occupiers under the Land Purchase Acts, and the Estates Commissioners have no power to interfere with the present occupier of the holding in question. Kirby's application was not lodged within the period prescribed by the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, and it cannot, therefore, be dealt with under that Act.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Thomas M'Namara, senior, of Guhard, Liselton, North Kerry, signed his agreement to purchase his holding on the Huggard estate; can he say whether the agreement to purchase, which was signed in the presence of Mr. P. O'Carroll, J.P., Ballybunion, was lodged with the Estates Commissioners; and, if so, whether he can state why the landlord has not carried out the conditions of the purchase agreement?

The Estates Commissioners understand from the solicitor for the vendor that this tenant is a second term tenant, and that when filling up the forms of purchase agreement a mistake was made in the agent's office by filling into the form prepared for McNamara the terms of purchase applicable to a first term tenant. The agent, on discovering the mistake, returned the form to McNamara, pointing out the error, and stating that the document could not be accepted. McNamara was also informed of the terms upon which a purchase agreement could be accepted from him. Up to the present no purchase agreement in respect of this holding has been lodged with the Estates Commissioners.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the international character of some of the great armament firms, the Board of Admiralty are in a position to assure the country that adequate safeguards are employed to prevent British inventions, designs, and improvements relating to warcraft of all kinds being used for the benefit of foreign Powers?

The armament firms employed by the Admiralty are British firms, having their domicile and register in the United Kingdom. Their directorate and main shareholders are British. The fact that some of these firms may have branches in foreign countries, or undertake work in the United Kingdom for foreign countries, does not affect the fact that the companies are under British control and amenable to British law, including the Official Secrets Act. All contracts that in any way comprise confidential matters contain strict stipulations in regard to the observance of the Official Secrets Act, and other necessary precautions. The Admiralty have no reason to doubt the adequacy of the steps taken in all matters that admit of being treated as Government secrets or of being kept confidential in national interests. The Government does not interfere with the construction of armaments of contractors' design for foreign Powers, and cannot, any more than any other Government, necessarily monopolise all inventions and improvements, many of which from their nature could either not be kept confidential at all or only for a very limited period.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether about 800 acres of land in or about the Wessenden valley of Yorkshire has been purchased recently for military purposes; and, if so, when was the purchase effected, what was the acreage so purchased, what is the average height above sea-level, what price was paid for it as a whole, and, if it was made up of various properties, what price was paid for each of these?

This land is being purchased by the Territorial Force Association of the West Riding of Yorkshire. The total area is about 835 acres, and the total cost of the purchase, which is not formally complete, will be a little over £16,000. The height above sea-level varies from 1,200 to 1,400 feet. About 748 acres were acquired by arbitration as follows:

• Mr. Lockwood, £2,626.
• Mr. Hirst, £5,609.
• Sir J. Radcliffe and Mr. Crosland (lessee of Sir J. Radcliffe), £4,726.

The remainder of the purchase money will be expended on the purchase of the remaining 87 acres and the acquirement of certain copyhold interests and common rights.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether in the White Paper (Cd. 7318), paragraphs 2 and 3, the words "unreasonable" and "outrageous" are used as synonymous terms; who, in case a command is given to troops to act in support of the civil power in the event of disturbances, is, according to the King's Regulations, to determine whether the command is reasonable or not, the commanding officer, subordinate officers, or the rank and file; and whether a subordinate officer, believing that an order to fire given by his commanding officer is unreasonable, is entitled to refuse to give the order to the men under his immediate command?

I should not describe the words as synonymous but as cumulative and ejusdem generis. As to the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to paragraphs 963, 964, 965, and 966, of the King's Regulations, and to the Appendix to Chapter 13 of the Manual of Military Law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the repeated suggestions that the Dominions should have a voice in matters concerning the welfare of the Empire as a whole, made both in this country and the Dominions, and also in view of the petition presented to the Prime Minister on the 25th April, 1911, signed by nearly 300 Members representing various parties, in favour of an Imperial Senate of an advisory character, it is the intention of His Majesty's Government to deal with this matter at the next Imperial Conference; and, if so, will he notify the respective Dominion Governments in advance?

No, Sir. Proposals of a more immediately practical character with regard to the representation of the self-governing Dominions on the Committee of Imperial Defence have since been put forward by His Majesty's Government and accepted generally by the Dominions.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Indian Civil Service Family Pension Fund is in possession of a surplus of £770,000; and, seeing that this indicates that contributions have been made on an excessive scale, will he say whether any and, if any, what steps are now to be taken in the interests of past and present subscribers?

The valuation of the Indian Civil Service Family Pensions scheme as at 31st March, 1911, showed an excess at that date of estimated assets over estimated liabilities amounting to £770,897 on the basis of interest at 4½ per cent. being allowed in future on the balances at the credit of the scheme, and an excess of £601,909 on a 4 per cent. basis. The rate to be allowed in the future is 4 per cent. Advantages have recently been granted to subscribers which have the effect of reducing the estimated surplus from the latter of the two sums mentioned to £17,000, which is reserved as a margin to meet contingencies.

asked the Secretary for Scotland how many full-time and how many part-time medical officers of health are employed by local authorities in Scotland; how many of the former receive a salary of £500 or over; and how many receive less than £500?

In Scotland there are 134 medical officers of health. Of these 33 are full-time officers and 101 are part-time officers. Of the whole-time officers 16 have salaries of £500 or over; the remainder receive less than £500.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what public funds are at present available to local authorities or individual applicants by way of advances for building purposes in Scotland; and under what conditions and at what rate of interest?

Under the Housing Acts the funds controlled by the Public Works Loan Commissioners may be lent for purposes connected with the housing of the working classes—

(1) To local authorities on the security of the rates and upon the recommendation of the Local Government Board for Scotland. The present rate of interest is 3½ per cent., irrespective of the period of repayment. The maximum periods of repayment recommended by the Local Government Board are sixty years for houses and eighty years for land.

(2) To companies, societies, and individuals, as specified in Section 67 of the Housing of the Working Classes Act, 1890, with a maximum period of repayment of forty years, the rates of interest being 3¾ per cent. and 3½ per cent. respectively, according as the period of repayment does or does not exceed thirty years.^*

^*Provided the borrowers enter into covenants restricting the rents or otherwise limiting the profits to be derived from buildings to 5 per cent. per annum on the capital outlay. Where such covenants are not entered into, the rates are 4 per cent. for thirty years, and 4¼ per cent. for forty years.

Under the Small Landholders (Scotland) Act, 1911, assistance for building purposes may be provided by way of loan to "landholders" and cottars from the Agriculture (Scotland) Fund. The conditions under which such assistance is at present given are detailed in an Order of the Board of Agriculture for Scotland dated 17th March, 1913 (S.R. and O., 1913, No. 281—S. 10), of which I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what agreement, if any, was entered into between his Department and the railway companies regarding displaced or reduced employés when sanction was given for a working agreement and pooling arrangement between the Midland and Great Northern Railway Companies?

The Board of Trade have not sanctioned any working agreement between the railway companies named, and they are not aware that any such agreement has, in fact, been sanctioned.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, although a communication was sent to the Holt Committee, they did not investigate the conditions and wages of the male cleaners; and, if so, whether he will look into the question with a view to raising these men's wages, seeing that the majority of local governing bodies pay their labourers 25s. a week with a weekly half-holiday, and male cleaners are only paid 21s. a week and receive no half-holiday?

The wages and conditions of service of male cleaners, which were not considered by the Holt Committee, are about to be reviewed, and an announcement on the subject will be made in due course.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give the average time it takes at present of connecting a new subscriber to the telephone system from the time of receiving the subscriber's order to the time the subscriber begins to receive the service, in London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Dublin, respectively?

The average time it takes at present to connect a new subscriber with the telephone system in the cities referred to is as follows:—

London	…	…	18½ days.
Birmingham	…	…	51 days.
Liverpool	…	…	26 days.
Manchester	…	…	40 days.
Edinburgh	…	…	18 days.
Belfast	…	…	40 days.
Dublin	…	…	21½ days.

These delays are due partly to the want of spare plant, which is being met as quickly as possible by new underground schemes, and partly to the abnormal amount of work on hand for the general development of the telephone service. They also include exceptional delays due to wayleave difficulties or to circumstances arising out of the subscribers' private arrangements.

asked the Postmaster General what is the percentage of increase on the total pay and emoluments of all postal and telegraph and telephone employés represented by the immediate concessions announced in a special issue of the official Post Office Circular as estimated to cost £640,000?

The cost of the concessions referred to is approximately 4½ per cent. of the total pay and emoluments of the classes dealt with by the Holt Committee, excluding clerical classes.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state, as nearly as possible, by what year the concessions to the postal and telegraph and telephone employés, announced in a special issue of the official Post Office Circular, will involve a cost of £1,225,000 a year; and will he state, as nearly as may be estimated, the cost in each year from the commencing cost of £640,000 until the maximum is reached?

I regret that it is not possible to give the particulars asked for. In the case of some classes the ultimate cost will be reached at once or within a year or two; in the case of others it may not be reached for many years. No accurate, or even approximate, forecast is practicable as to the increase in cost from year to year.

asked whether it is intended to issue a statement showing, in detail, the effects of the concessions made to different classes of postal, telegraph, and telephone employés, over and beyond those recommended in the Holt Report, in order that hon. Members, with reasonable time for examination and consideration, may be able to judge how far grievances which, it is alleged, were not dealt with adequately by the recommendations in the Report have now been satisfied; and when any such statement will be forthcoming?

It would not be desirable to issue such a statement at present, as many points are still under consideration. The claims of the minor classes, which were not included in the Holt Committee's Inquiry, are now being reviewed, and the decisions thereon will be announced in due course.