asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether he is aware that Mrs. Lucy Carline Ellis, middlewoman outworker, of 176, Gordon Road, Nottingham, has been fined 1s. and 8s. in two prosecutions for non-payment of the insurance tax on behalf of two of her employé s, though it was not proved that the latter had not been employed by others for the period in respect of which the summonses were issued, and that Mrs. Ellis was their first employer in the week; whether he will instruct the Insurance Commissioners not to prosecute in such cases, and to reimburse Mrs. Ellis the amount of the fine levied; and why the opportunity of the introduction of the National Insurance Act, 1911 (Part II. Amendment) Bill has not been taken for removing the grievances of the outworkers?

No, Sir. The magistrates were satisfied on the evidence before them that an offence had been committed, and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to take such action as is suggested in the question. As regards the last part of the question. I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member's previous questions on the same subject.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas military pensions granted in respect of Army service, other than K Company Royal Engineer service, in cases where pensioners become established Post Office telegraphists, are paid in addition to wages and carried beyond the maximum, the military pensions of ex-K Company men are held in abeyance; whether in some cases this leads to a largo monetary advantage during the post-military service in favour of those pensioners who did not serve in K Company; and whether the Treasury are able to introduce legislation for the purpose of giving effect to the recommendations made by the Secretary of State for War, the Postmaster-General, and the recent Select Committee on Post Office servants, namely, that the whole period of service in K Company, where it is followed by established service in the Post Office be treated as Post Office and not military service for the purpose of computing civil pension?

In the case of telegraphists appointed to established situations in the Post Office after service in the Royal Engineers, any military pensions earned by services in K Company are suspended during their civil service, because their service in that company is reckoned for the purpose of fixing their initial pay in the Post Office. I am not aware that this arrangement leads to the result suggested. As regards the last part of the question, I beg to refer to the reply of my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight on the 20th instant.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury why Mr. Davey, employed at Greenock in His Majesty's Customs, is prohibited in his spare time from taking part in local school board work; is there a Departmental Regulation on this point; and does this Regulation apply equally to officers and men?

In accordance with the decision of His Majesty's Government announced on 28th October, 1909, in this House by the Prime Minister, the Treasury issued a circular stating that in future it would rest with the head of each Department to determine whether, and, if so, upon what conditions an officer of his Department might become a candidate for, or serve on, any local council, subject to the provision that the duties involved in such candidature or service do not conflict with the personal performance of the officer's duties. In accordance with this instruction, the Board of Customs and Excise made an Order that their permission was to be sought in all such cases. Their permission is freely given in many cases, but it is their practice to refuse it in any case in which the meetings of the local body take place in the hours of the officer's official duty, and, so far as they know, permission has never been given in any such case. The meetings of the school board referred to in the question are held within the hours of Mr. Davey's official duties, and the Board therefore regretted that they were unable to accede to his application for permission to stand as a candidate.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will explain why the cost of printing and paper for the "Dublin Gazette" is higher than that of the printing of the "Edinburgh Gazette," despite the fact that the sales of the latter are greater?

The "Dublin Gazette," by reason of the insertion usually of a large number of official announcements, contains on an average 50 per cent. more matter than the "Edinburgh Gazette."

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that several labourers in the Macroom district have been waiting for years to have cottages sanctioned for them by the Local Government Board built, and that in some cases the plots have actually been fenced in and used by the prospective tenants; can he explain the cause of the delay in building proper dwellings for those labourers whose present abodes have been condemned by the officers of public health as unfit for human habitation; and will the Local Government Board represent to the Macroom District Council the necessity for building at once those cottages that have been sanctioned?

As stated in my reply to the question of the hon. Member on this subject on 13th January, 1913, a communication was addressed to the Macroom Rural District Council by the Local Government Board suggesting the desirability of issuing advertisements for contractors for the erection of the cottages, and it subsequently appeared from the council's minutes that tenders for some twenty cottages were accepted. The Board have no further information as to the number of cottages now remaining to be built, but they are in communication with the council as to the progress of the scheme.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that twenty men were returned for trial at Westport on the 2nd March last for riot and unlawful assembly in connection with an attack made on the actors of the play known as "General John Regan," and on the police, some of whom were seriously wounded; whether he is aware that the newspapers published in county Mayo expressed their approval of the action of the rioters, and that defence funds were got up for the defendants; will he say whether many of the defendants are members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; whether, seeing that the trial was postponed at the Castlebar Assizes last March, he will say whether these defendants have yet been tried; and, if not, when and where will their trial take place?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. A public fund for the defence of these men has been instituted, and reports of meetings at which the fund was advocated have been published in the local newspapers. I have no information as to whether the defendants are or are not members of the society referred to. The case has been adjourned to the next Assizes for the county of Mayo, when it is intended that the trial of the accused shall take place.

asked the Chief Secretary the numbers of officers and men of the Royal Irish Constabulary force for each of the eight years ending 31st December, 1913?

The following table gives the required information:—

Year ended.	Officers.	And other Constables.
31st December, 1906	247	9,684
31st December, 1907	241	10,112
31st December, 1908	240	10,479
31st December, 1909	242	10,473
31st December, 1910	242	10,449
31st December, 1911	242	10,373
31st December, 1912	241	10,412
31st December, 1913	241	10,259

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners received an application for a portion of the untenanted land on the Massey estate from Mr. James D. Sullivan, Ballinagree, Macroom; and seeing that this applicant would, by reason of his industry and savings, be qualified for a parcel of land, will his claim be considered when the untenanted land on this estate is acquired for purposes of distribution?

The reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. A scheme for the allotment of the land has not yet been prepared and the Estates Commissioners are not at present in a position to state what action, if any, may be taken in regard to Mr. Sullivan's application.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that six labourers on the Gollock estate, near Ballinagree, county Cork, have made a claim for a portion of the turbary; whether the Estates Commissioners have investigated their claim; if not, will they do so; has any portion of the turbary been allotted by the Commissioners, if so, in what manner; and, if not already done, will the Estates Commissioners acquire this turbary for the benefit of the people in the neighbourhood?

The estate referred to is the subject of a sale by the vendor direct to the tenants under the Irish Land Act, 1903, and purchase agreements at prices agreed upon between the parties have been lodged with the Estates Commissioners. The vendor is the owner of some mountain land in the neighbourhood of the estate which has not been included in the sale. There is some turbary on this mountain, and the Commissioners are in communication with the owners with a view to the provision thereon of turbary for six persons on the estate whose holdings are situate in the townland of Knocknagappul.

asked the Prime Minister what was the information which led the military authorities to believe that the Great Northern Railway of Ireland would refuse to allow troop trains to travel north?

No, Sir; I am not prepared to inquire of the military authorities.

asked the Prime Minister under what Regulation the late Secretary of State for War, in paragraph 1, Part I. of the new White Paper directed General Officers Commanding-in-Chief, in December last, to inquire of any officers desiring to resign their commissions their reasons for doing so:

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to paragraph 510 of the Royal Warrant for Pay.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish the questions to which General Sir Arthur Paget has replied in his statement dated 2nd April, 1914; and if he will say whether a proof of this statement was seen by himself before it was given to him officially?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer to the answer which I gave to-day to the hon. Member for East Kent; and, as regards the latter part, to the reply which I gave on Monday to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will state the tonnage of the armoured ships in full commission in the Far East on the 31st March, 1904, 31st March, 1909, and 31st March, 1914; and what is the total tonnage of the armoured ships added to the Japanese Navy since 31st March, 1904?

supplied the following figures:—

GREAT BRITAIN.
	31st March, 1914.		Tons.
China	Battleship, 1	…	*11,985
	Cruisers, 2	…	25,450
East Indies	Battleship, 1	…	11,800
Australia	Battle Cruiser, 1	…	19,200
	Total	…	68,435
31st March, 1909.
China	Armoured Cruisers, 4	…	43,500
East Indies	Nil	…	—
Australia	Nil	…	—
	Total	…	43,500
31st March, 1904.
China	Battleships, 5	…	62,300
East Indies	Nil	…	—
Australia	Armoured Cruiser, 1	…	12,000
	Total	…	74,300

The total tonnage of armoured ships added to the Japanese Navy since 31st March, 1904, is 302,479 tons, including those captured from the Russians.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will supply a copy in the Parliamentary Papers of the reply of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty on the subject of the carrying out of the arrangements arrived at in 1909, which is mentioned in the Colonial Office note on page 11 of Command Paper 7347?

No, Sir; it contained matter which it would not be in the public interest to publish.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received a resolution from the Retail Purveyors and Family Grocers Association, Dublin, protesting against the proposed Army trading monopoly scheme; and whether he can state what the War Office intend doing in regard thereto?

Yes, Sir. I have received the resolution mentioned, and a similar one from the Dublin Chamber of Commerce. The whole matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the contractor for carting at Stobs Camp in 1913 paid a wage of 24s. per week for the work of removing soil and lifting and delivering goods from the railway station; whether the hours worked per week were 51, and the rate of wage paid in accordance with the recognised trade union standard for carters in that district; whether the wage being paid this year by another contractor for the same work is 14s. for a week of longer hours; and whether this is a violation of the Fair-Wages Clause to which Army contracts are subject?

From inquiries which have been made it appears that the men employed in connection with the contract are receiving not less than the recognised rate of wage in the district, and that the wages of the boys occasionally so employed are satisfactory. There docs not appear to be any infringement of the Fair-Wages Clause.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that First Air Mechanic P. C. Strickland, Royal Flying Corps, was discharged medically unfit on the 8th July, 1913; that this man has since been admitted into Hanwell Asylum suffering from acute neurasthenia; and that he was the principal support of his mother, a widow; and whether, in view of the fact that the neurasthenia is stated by doctors to be due to shock received while on duty from the sight of a fatal accident, a small pension may be granted under Article 11G6, Royal Warrant?

Inquiry is being made. I will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member as soon as a decision has been arrived at.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Welsh Church Bill will, immediately in the event of commutation being accepted by the Church Representative Body, and otherwise gradually with the extinction of life interests, alienate from the Church property which in 1906 produced an income of £157,338?

In the event of the scheme of commutation set forth in the Bill being accepted, property which in 1906 produced an income of £157,238 will be alienated from the Church, but the Representative Body of the Church will receive a capital sum estimated approximately at £2,000,000 in lieu of life interests. If the commutation scheme is not accepted, the property will be transferred subject to all such life interests.

asked the Home Secretary whether the terms of the commutation in the Welsh Church Bill were framed on the basis that the capital sum to be given to the Church Representative Body, together with the interest at 3¾ per cent., estimated to be derivable from the investment thereof, should, approximately, suffice to meet the liabilities taken over by the Church Representative Body in respect of existing interests, together with the expenses of administration involved in the discharge of such liabilities?

Except that the interest is calculated at 3½ per cent., the answer is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when the Report of the Committee which conducted in India in 1912 scientific investigation into the nature, origin, and means of transmission of foot-and-mouth disease will be published?

The Report in question is in the press, and will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary for Scotland if his attention has been directed to the increase of the number of unvaccinated children in Morayshire; whether the annual number has quadrupled during the last six years; and whether he will draw the attention of the justices to the matter in order that only those parents really holding conscientious objections shall be allowed exemption from the law?

The county council of Morayshire have directed the attention of the Local Government Board for Scotland to figures furnished by the county medical officer of health which show that the number of statutory declarations of conscientious objection made in the county (exclusive of burghs) under the Vaccination (Scotland) Act, 1907, has risen from eleven in 1908 to forty-six in 1913. With regard to the last portion of the question, I would point out that the requirement of the Act is a sworn declaration to the effect that the parent solemnly and sincerely declares that he conscientiously believes that vaccination would be prejudicial to the health of the child. In these circumstances, and as the functions of the justices under the Act are purely ministerial, I do not think that any advantage would accrue from the course suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will expedite the provision of additional underground plant for Nottingham and endeavour to reduce the contemplated delay of another month, in view of the inconvenience caused to those changing their places of business which is at present experienced?

I am fully aware of the inconvenience that is being caused by the want of additional underground plant in Nottingham, and have given instructions that every effort is to be made to complete the works now in hand at the earliest possible date.

asked the Postmaster-General whether men who were members of the late National Telephone Company's staff and were transferred to the Post Office Engineering Department are to be regarded as Treasury assistant clerks or are to be regarded as an entirely new grade of assistant clerks.

Officers of the National Telephone Company who, on the transfer to the Post Office, were graded by the Postmaster-General as assistant clerks are members of the general body of assistant clerks.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephones were added to the telephone service during the year 1912 at Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Belfast, and Dublin?

In consequence of the alterations in telephone boundaries during the year 1912 resulting from the amalgamation of the Post Office and National Telephone Company's telephone systems and of the different methods employed in compiling their respective records, it is not possible for me to supply the hon. Member with the number of telephones added to the telephone service during the year 1912 in the districts named in the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what is the estimated annual increase in England and Wales, respectively, of the population between the ages of five and fourteen?

Assuming that the rate of increase of population from 1901 to 1911 has continued, and that the number of children between the ages of five and fourteen bears the same proportion to the total population as in the Census of 1911, the average annual increase of population in England and Wales, respectively, between those ages for the years 1911–1914 inclusive, is:—

• England (excluding Monmouthshire), 60,100.
• Wales (including Monmouthshire), 8,400.
• England and Wales, 68,500.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) the number of seamen engaged on British foreign-going ships in the United Kingdom during the first three months of each of the years 1912, 1913, and 1914, distinguishing the port of engagement, the number of such seamen who failed to join their ships, the number of continuous discharge books submitted to the Board of Trade for suspension, and the actual number of suspensions; and (2) whether he can state the number of Chinese engaged in British foreign-going ships under agreements opened in the United Kingdom during the first three months of each of the years 1912, 1913, and 1914, distinguishing the port of engagement and the number who produced continuous discharge books; and whether he can state the number of Chinese who were not allowed to sign agreements during the same periods owing to their not having a knowledge of the English language, as is required by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906?

The information asked for will be available very shortly, and I will arrange for it to be sent to my hon. Friend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state to what date the latest statutory returns of the United Dominions Insurance Company, Limited, were made up; when and by whom the present chairman and directors were appointed; how many of these have been directors of companies that have failed to meet their engagements; the amount of their present fees; the net profit on the year's business; the number of operative insurances held by the company; the present available capital; and how secured?

Returns under the Assurance Companies Act, 1909, are not made by the United Dominions Insurance Company, Limited, but the latest annual summary filed by that company under the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, is made up to 10th July, 1913. The only official information which the Board of Trade have with regard to the company is that contained in the statutory returns, which are open to public inspection, and I must refer my hon. Friend to those returns for any particulars he may desire to obtain.