asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the amount of revenue received under the head miscellaneous in the years 1894, 1899, 1904, 1909, and 1914, respectively?

The figures are as follows:— Financial year. £ s. d. 1893–4 … … 2,057,779 11 6 1898–9 … … 1,882,639 5 10 1903–4 … … 1,603,103 13 5 1908–9 … … 2,026,829 4 0 1913–14 … … 2,303,924 14 5

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty what cash return petty officers, non-commissioned officers, and men of the Royal Navy and Royal Marine Forces have actually received for their contributions under the National Insurance Act since the Act has been in force?

Nearly half of the insured seamen and Marines are members of approved societies during service, while a large proportion of those who belong to the Navy and Army Insurance Fund during service join approved societies on discharge, and it is not possible to give any information as to the cash benefits received by these men. The only cash benefit provided by the Act during service is maternity benefit, and the actual amount paid on this account to serving seamen and Marines who belong to the Navy and Army Insurance Fund is nearly £6,000. It must be remembered, however, that the main return for their contributions is the right to receive full benefits as civilians, when discharged, at the ordinary employed rate of contribution by the help of a transfer value from the Navy and Army Insurance Fund on joining an approved society or by readmission to the fund under Section 46 (3) ( h ) of the Act.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Joint Naval Commission in the New Hebrides has recently refused to allow natives on trial the assistance of counsel; whether His Majesty's officers sitting on that Commission concurred in this decision; and, if so, whether this was upon the instruction of the Admiralty?

The Joint Naval Commission, which consists of British and French naval officers, received a request from counsel to be allowed to appear before it, and replied that, as the request created a precedent, the matter should be-referred to superior authority. No instructions were given by the Admiralty. The powers and procedure of this Commission will, I understand, be discussed at the forthcoming conference with representatives of the French Government.

asked how many commissioned officers of the engineering branch have been added to the Navy since the end of 1910, exclusive of those promoted from commissioned warrant rank; how many have been removed from the active list in the same period; and how many officers are now undergoing the specialist course in engineering at Keyham?

No commissioned officers of the engineering branch, exclusive of those promoted from commissioned warrant rank, have been added to the Navy since the end of 1910.

Removals from the Active List since the end of 1910. Number of Engineer Rear-Admirals placed on the Retired List, 16. Number of Engineer Captains placed on the Retired List, 7. Number of Engineer Commanders placed on the Retired List, 88. Number of Engineer Lieutenants placed on the Retired List, 12. Number of Engineer Sub-Lieutenants placed on the Retired List, 2. 1121 Number of deaths while on the Active List (all ranks), 12. Number of resignations, 4. Total removals, 141.

There are, at present, seventeen officers undergoing the specialist course in engineering at Keyham.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether officers and men of the Royal Navy now stationed off the coast of Ulster are not permitted to accept hospitality from the inhabitants; and, if so, will he state the reason?

No, Sir. I have nothing to add to my previous answers on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for War what accommodation is being provided in Ireland for the housing of Government aeroplanes?

No permanent accommodation has yet been provided in Ireland. Temporary accommodation is arranged as required.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many aeroplane repair vans are in possession of the War Office, and where are they stationed?

There are twenty-two repair vehicles, which are distributed between Upavon, Netheravon, South Farnborough, and Montrose.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many aeroplanes are available for the use of the Royal Flying Corps at South Farnborough, Salisbury Plain, and Montrose, respectively?

At the present moment the numbers are:— South Farnborough (excluding those at the factory and those under inspection) 42 Salisbury Plain (including the school) 71 Montrose (including ten now on their way to Salisbury Plain) 17

asked the Secretary of State for War how many aeroplanes in the possession of the Imperial military authorities there are at present in India, South Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Egypt, the Soudan, Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Aden, and the West Indies, respectively; how many garages; and what staff for construction or repairs?

In regard to India, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Andover Division on Monday last. There-are no aeroplanes in the possession of the Imperial military authorities at the other stations mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for War how many aeroplanes are at present in the possession of the War Department; how many are under repair: and how many are of British manufacture?

In possession of the War Department 176 Under repair 70 Of British manufacture 136

asked the Secretary of State for War how many of the aeroplanes owned by the War Office are of variable speed; how many are two or three-seaters, with arrangements for dual control; and how many are fitted with automatic telephoto apparatus, and how many with wireless telegraph apparatus, respectively?

All aeroplanes have some variation of speed. Thirty-one, according to the latest information, are fitted with dual control. There are 164 two-seaters and no three-seaters. It would not be in the public interest to disclose the information asked for in the last part of the question.

asked the Secretary of State for War what provision is being made for the training in airmanship of His Majesty's forces in India and South Africa, in view of the exceptional opportunities for flying afforded by those countries?

As regards India I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for the East Notts Division by the Under-Secretary of State for India on the 7th ultimo. Six officers of the South African Defence Force are at present being trained at the Central Flying School.

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the importance of securing rapid transmission of information to Government headquarters in case of Native risings, he will state what provision is being made for the supply of aeroplanes and for securing facilities for training in airmanship for His Majesty's forces stationed in British East Africa, Somaliland, Nigeria, and other Crown Colonies?

Officers of the Colonies mentioned can be trained at the Central Flying School, provided that their applications are approved. The supply of aeroplanes in the circumstances mentioned is primarily a matter for the Colonial Office, but the resources of the War Department are at its disposal.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether there is any hope of an additional Grant being made to the 10,000 teachers who failed to accept the Superannuation Act of 1898; and whether these teachers will be given a share in the increased benefits of 10s. a year for every year of service granted by the Act of 1912?

The Board are prevented by the terms of the Act itself from applying the Elementary School Teachers (Superannuation) Act, 1898, to those teachers who declined to accept it. I regret that there are no funds at my disposal for the purpose suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether he is aware that, against the expressed wish of the Georgetown Town Council and the ratepayers of the city of Georgetown, the officer administering the Government of British Guiana is carrying through certain amendments to the Georgetown Town Council Ordinance, 1898, in the Court of Policy, where the unofficial members are always in the minority; whether he is aware that if these amendments take effect it will destroy the elective principle of the Georgetown Council by introducing the right of nomination by the Governor; and, if so, whether he proposes to give assent to it?

I am not aware that any such legislation as that referred to by my hon. Friend is being carried through, but, if so, I propose to await the arrival of the Ordinance before considering what advice I should tender to His Majesty in regard to it.

asked the Under Secretary for India whether he is aware that animals in India are still, in many circumstances and on many occasions, subjected to unnecessary suffering and cruelty; and whether any action has been taken by the Government of India as a result of the reports on the working of the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, received from the local governments in 1911?

The Government of India on a careful survey of the question of preventing cruelty to animals in India are satisfied that local governments are generally alive to its necessities, and that further legislation is not needed. The difficulty in dealing successfully with the evil does not arise from the defects of the law, but from the difficulty of enforcing the law in view of a certain apathy of public opinion regarding some forms of inhumanity. The Secretary of State has just received representations as to unnecessary cruelty to draught animals in Calcutta, and is asking the Government of India to consider whether the law cannot be more effectively enforced.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether he can give the House any information regarding a meeting of Indian students at Caxton Hall on Friday last, at which a resolution was passed disapproving of the existence and activities of the Students' Department and calling for its abolition; will he say whether such meeting was large and representative or not; and what action, if any, the Secretary of State proposes to take in regard to this demonstration?

I am informed that the meeting referred to took place on the 8th instant, and that resolutions of the character indicated were passed. I understand that the meeting numbered about 100 persons, and that a considerable portion of those present appeared not to be in sympathy with the speeches delivered. The Secretary of State does not propose to take any action in the matter. The Students' Department is doing all it can to assist Indian students in this country

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that twelve months have now elapsed since the publication of the Reports of the Departmental Committee on Jury Law and Practice; whether the Government is now prepared to introduce a Bill for the relief of the common jurymen of England and Wales; whether his attention has been drawn to the Returns lately issued from the Home Office relating to the length of time occupied by Assizes and Quarter Sessions in Glamorgan; whether he is aware that the last Midsummer Quarter Sessions in Glamorgan occupied six days and that common jurors were kept in Court thirteen days at the Winter Assizes held in Cardiff in March and twenty days at the Summer Assizes at Swansea last year; and whether he will, having regard to the above, undertake to place the common jurymen of Glamorgan on equal terms as regards length of service with their more favoured fellow jurors m various counties of England?

I am well aware of the recommendations of the Committee and of the Returns mentioned by the Noble Lord, but I fear it is quite impossible for me at present, having regard to the state of public business, to propose legislation for the amendment of the law relating to juries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the proceedings at the coroner's inquest on the body of Katherine Butler, which concluded at Southwark on the 28th April; and whether there is any prospect of steps being taken at an early date to give effect to the rider of the jury to the effect that legislation is urgently required providing that no one under the age of eighteen years shall be allowed to purchase or have in his possession any weapon answering the definition of a gun under the Gun Licences Act, 1870, and the Pistols Act, 1903?

The answer to the first paragraph of the question is in the affirmative. I am aware of the need for legislation to amend the Pistols Act, 1903, in certain points, but I fear that in the present state of Parliamentary business I cannot hold out any hope that I shall be able to introduce a Bill in this Session.

asked the Postmaster-General how many candidates there were for the recent vacant post-mastership of South Molton from the group in which that officer is situated with more service than the officer promoted; what special circumstances necessitated the appointment of an officer outside the group, thus departing from the recognised rule that postmasterships of less than £200 should be filled by officers within the group; how many similar appointments in this same group have been filled by officers from other groups during the past three years; and how it is proposed to compensate candidates in the group referred to for the loss of the postmastership of South Molton and others?

There were thitry-two candidates for the vacant postmaster-ship of South Molton from the group in which that office is situated who had longer service than the officer selected for the appointment. Although it is the practice to fill "group" appointments from candidates employed at offices within the "group," regard must be paid to the interests of the service as a whole, and since the inception of the "group" system three other outside appointments have been made to vacancies arising in the group in which South Molton is included, and one officer from that group has been selected for an outside appointment.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Postal Servants that a boundaries commission, on which the staff should be represented, should be set up to decide areas for postal wages; whether he will state the number of this recommendation; and whether he intends to put it into operation?

My attention has been drawn to paragraph 148 of the Holt Report and the action to be taken on that paragraph is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether the whole of the sorting at the sub-district offices in London is performed by postmen; whether a great amount of sorting is performed in all provincial offices by postmen; and whether this work is on the increase?

The sorting at all sub-district offices in London, except Battersea, is performed by postmen. At Battersea, however, there is a certain amount of work which is held to be proper to sorters, and a small number of sorters are, accordingly, employed there as well as postmen. A considerable amount of sorting (mainly inward sorting) is performed by postmen at provincial offices, but the practice at different offices is not uniform, and is affected by local considerations, e.g ., the size of the office and the nature of the sorting processes necessary, etc. It is probable that the application of the recommendations made in this connection by the recent Parliamentary Committee on Post Office Servants will result in an extension of the employment of postmen at some offices and a restriction on their employment in other cases.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, under the new meal relief regulations, the staff are now only entitled to one relief upon 10 to 2, and 4 to 8, and other similar duties which cover two recognised meal times; and, if so, will he give the matter his further attention with a view to a better system for the health and comfort of the staff being introduced?

The meal reliefs hitherto granted upon duties such as that referred to will not be reduced. The new regulations are not intended to supersede existing rules where the latter are more favourable to the staff.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the results of the working of the telegraph and telephone departments, respectively, for the year ending 31st March, 1914?

I am not yet in a position to give the information desired by the hon. Member, as the Post Office Accounts for 1913–14 are not yet closed. In my next Annual Report provisional, and as yet unaudited, accounts for the year in question will be published.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) if he will state, for the period from the establishment of the Department to the 31st March, 1914, the total cost to the State of the Department as such, as distinguished from the pre-existing institutions over which it has been given control; the total of the contributions made in the period by the Department towards technical schemes and other purposes in each county and county borough in Ireland; the total of the contributions made in the period by each county council, borough council, and other local body towards those schemes and purposes; the entire amount so contributed locally in the period; the area under tillage, the development of mineral or other resources, the new industries founded, and the population in each county when the Department was established and at date of the latest estimate, respectively; and the particular improvements in each county which the Department claims to be due to its efforts and a return for the outlay?

As most of the information asked for can be obtained from the Annual General Reports of the Department, the Vice-President does not see his way to authorise the compilation of a special Return of the elaborate kind suggested. The cost and labour involved in the preparation of such a Return would be out of all proportion to its utility.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, with reference to the sixty-three huts for coast watching, promised in this House on 30th November, 1911, if he can state how many of these huts have been actually erected; how many have telephonic communication; and what has been the cost up to date of their installation?

As my hon. Friend is aware, the sixty-three watch-huts referred to constitute a part only of the total number for the erection of which arrangements are being made. Of the sixty-three huts referred to thirty have been erected, in addition to four which have been rented or taken over. Six are in course of erection, while tenders are being now obtained for building eleven more. Suitable arrangements, not involving the erection of a hut, have been made in one case, and in the remaining eleven cases difficulties and delay have been experienced in obtaining suitable sites. The telephone has been installed in sixteen of the huts which have been erected, and is in course of installation at the present time in fourteen others. The position as regards the total number of huts contemplated by the Board of Trade—about 114—is that fifty-five have been erected, in addition to seven which have been rented or taken over, eleven are in course of erection, tenders are being obtained for building eighteen, and the sites for twenty-three have not been acquired. The telephone has been installed in twenty-six and is in course of installation in twenty-two. I regret that it is not possible at present to state the total cost of establishing these watch-huts.