asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of assigned revenue that will be withdrawn from Ireland in the event of the proposals as outlined in his Budget Statement being carried into effect?

The payments to the Local Taxation (Ireland) Account for the year 1913–14 amounted to £1,471,000, and will be dealt with as I explained in my reply to the hon. Member for West Bristol on Tuesday last.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a Memorandum showing the estimated effect of the Budget proposals upon the financial provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill?

There would appear to be no necessity for another Memorandum as suggested by the hon. Member, but there will be an opportunity for discussing the subject in the course of the Debate on the Financial Resolution in connection with the Government of Ireland Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the total amount of money to be received by local authorities under the Budget during the current year, ending 31st March, 1915, in respect of routine services, such as police, roads, and those parts of educational duties which are compulsory or enjoyed by Statute, and excluding Grants in respect of new developments in the action of local authorities; how much such amount to be received exceeds the amount which would have been received in assigned revenue and Treasury Grants under the law in operation at present; and how much the proportion of this amount of money to be received in rural England under the Budget in the current year exceeds the amount derived from assigned Revenue and Exchequer Grants, together with the amount received under the Agricultural Rating Act if that Act does not operate throughout the current year?

In answer to the first two parts of the question, reference can only be made to the figures given in the White Paper explaining the proposals made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Financial Statement. In answer to the third part of the question, I would refer to the answer which my right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board gave on the 6th instant to the hon. Member for the Eastern Division of Nottingham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state approximately the relief to rates in the county of Bedford under the Budget proposals?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on the 6th instant to the hon. Member for the Eastern Division of Nottingham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated effect of the proposed financial readjustment upon the Grants receivable by the West and East Ridings of Yorkshire, and the anticipated effect upon the general level of rates at present existing in each case?

I can only refer to the answer which my right hon Friend the President of the Local Government Board gave on the 6th instant to the hon. Member for the Eastern Division of Nottingham.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Memorandum on the Super-tax in 1914–15, issued by the Income Tax Commissioners, mean." that in the case of incomes of £8,000 and over the Super-tax will be graduated according to the scale set out in the Memorandum, or whether the whole of the income above £2,500 will be taxed at the rate of 1s. 3d. in the £?

In the case of incomes of £8,000 and over, the Super-tax will be graduated according to the scale set out in the Memorandum referred to in the question. The Super-tax on £10,000 will be made as follows:— Pence. 500 × 5d. … 2,500 1,000 × 7d. … 7,000 1,000 × 9d. … 9,000 1,000 × 11d. … 11,000 1,000 × 1s. 1d. … 13,000 1,000 × 1s. 3d. … 15,000 1,000 × 1s. 4d. … 16,000 1,000 × 1s. 4d. … 16,000 89,500 = £372 18s. 4d.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether a Navy man in his second period who has elected to have the 1½d. per week deducted from his pay is bound to have it deducted during the whole period of his service; or whether, if he changes his mind, he can, by giving notice, have the deductions terminated?

The Commissioners are advised that the election under the proviso to Section 46 (1) of the 1911 Act cannot be revoked after the prescribed time, which is in no case less than six months from entry into insurance, has elapsed.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will state our total Debt on 31st March, 1914, in the Consols,

I.—DEAD WEIGHT DEBT. A. Funded Debt— £ s. d. £ s. d. Consols 539,427,655 14 9 2¾ per cent. Annuities 3,828,566 5 10 2½ per cent. Annuities 29,815,780 13 0 573,072,002 13 7 Debt to Banks of England and Ireland 13,645,869 4 8 Total Funded Debt 586,717,871 18 3 B. Estimated Liability in respect of Terminable Annuities 29,552,219 0 0 C. Unfunded Debt— Exchequer Bonds* 20,500,000 0 0 Treasury Bills 13,000,000 0 0 1,500,000 0 0† Total Unfunded Debt 35,000,000 0 0† Total Dead Weight Debt 651,270,090 18 3 II.-OTHER CAPITAL LIABILITIES* 56,384,019 0 0 Total 707,654,109 18 3† *In addition to the Exchequer Bonds included in the Unfunded Debt, amounting to 20,500,000 there were outstanding the following Exchequer Bondswhich are included under the head of other Capital Liabilities, viz., issued for purposes of the Naval and Military Works Act £4,060,900 Issued for purposes of the Telephone Transfer Acts 6,397,000 Issued for purposes of the Cunard Agreement (Money) Act 1,820,000 12,277,900 Total Exchequer Bonds outstanding on 31st March, 1914 £32,777,900 †Treasury Bills to the amount of £1,500,000, having been paid off temporarily out of Exchequer Balances, were not actually outstanding on the 31st March, 1914. These Bills are, however, renewable under paragraph 10 (1) of the Revenue Act, 1906, not later than the 30th June, 1914. They must therefore be treated, for purposes of comparison, as liabilities still existing and are accordingly included as part of the outstanding debt on the 31st March, 1914.

2. Figures for the amount of Government Securities held by Government Departments on the 31st March, 1914, are not yet available. The latest figures are those for the 31st March, 1913, which will be found in the Government Departments Securities Return for 1913 (H.C. 146, of 1913).

floating Treasury Bills, and Exchequer Bonds respectively; the amount of Consols or Government Debt held by Government Departments; what is the amount at the credit of Savings Bank depositors; what is the amount of Government securities held against these deposits; how much of the Sinking Fund is available for interest and for capital reduction; and when the Treasury say they have applied so much for Debt reduction, is it the actual cash devoted to the purchase and cancellation of Consols or is it the face value of the reduction taking Consols at par?

supplied the following:

1. The aggregate gross liabilities of the State on the 31st March, 1914, were £707,654,109 18s. 3d., made up as follows:

3. Figures for the total amounts standing to the credit of Savings Bank depositors on 31st March, 1914, are not available. On the 20th November, 1913, the amount to the credit of depositors in Trustee Savings Banks was £54,258,860, and on the 31st December, 1913, the amount to the credit of depositors in the Post Office Savings Bank was (partly estimated) £187,462,000.

Trustee Savings Banks. Post Office Savings Bank. £ s. d. £ s. d. Consols and other Stocks … … … 40,885,987 0 0 … 134,005,686 0 0 Exchequer Bonds … … … 82,400 0 0 … 2,861,800 0 0 Treasury Bills … … … 96,000 0 0 … — Annuities for terms of years … … … 13,620,668 9 1 … 46,214,883 17 7

Government Securities include Local Loans and Irish Land Stocks. For a complete statement of the securities of all kinds held against these deposits reference should be made to H.C. 96, of 1914 (relating to Trustee Savings Banks as at the 20th November, 1913), and H.C. 176, of 1913 (relating to Post Office Savings Banks as at the 31st December, 1912) (Return for 1913 not yet available).

Interest and Management … … … £16,741,000 Repayment of Principal— ( a ) Capital Portion of Terminable Annuities … … … £2,165,000 ( b ) New Sinking Fund … … … 4,594,000 6,759,000 £23,500,000

6. In the Returns laid before this House a clear distinction is drawn between the amount of cash applicable to the reduction of debt and the nominal amount of debt redeemed.

asked the respective amounts realised by the extra duties imposed by Section 73 of the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, on conveyances and transfers on sale, by Section 74 on conveyances or transfers operating as voluntary dispositions inter vivos, and by Section 75 on leases and tacks, for the financial year ended 31st March, 1914?

Definite figures of the yield of the extra duties imposed by the several sections are not yet available, but the estimated accounts are as follows:— £ Under Section 73 … … 605,000 Under Section 74 … … 70,000 Under Section 75 … … 104,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he intends in his rating reforms to repeal Section 3 of the Voluntary Schools Act, 1897, which exempts voluntary schools from the payment of rates?

I cannot anticipate the statement that will be made on the introduction of the Bill.

4. The Government Securities held against these deposits at these dates were:

5. I assume that what the hon. Member desires to know is how much of the Fixed Debt Charge for 1914–5 is available for interest and reduction of principal respectively. On the assumption that the amount of the Fixed Debt Charge will be £23,500,000, as proposed in the Financial Statement of my right hon. Friend, the estimated figures are:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of the tax collected on motor spirit manufactured in the United Kingdom during the last financial year for which figures are available; and how much of this sum was refunded owing to the spirit being eventually used for industrial or other purposes, for which there is exemption or abatement?

The amount of duty collected on motor spirit manufactured in the United Kingdom in the year ended 31st March, 1914, was about £17,700. The records of repayments in respect of motor spirit used for industrial and other purposes do not distinguish between home-made and imported spirit.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that Mr. Richard Grubb, an auditor of the Local Government Board (Ireland), instituted proceedings for the recovery of a sum of £5 5s. 4d., arrears of collections due by Rent Collector Caffrey, to the Naas, No. 1, district council, county Killdare; whether an arrangement had been come to by Caffrey with the clerk of the council to stop the arrears due out of the poundage fees coming to Caffrey; whether, under the circumstances, it was necessary to take proceedings on a settled matter; whether he is aware that the recovery of the said sum of £5 5s. 4d. cost £7 1s. 6d., made up of the following items of account, rendered by William Findlater and Sons, Dublin, solicitors: instructions to proceed, 13s. 4d.; letter to auditor to know name and address of defendant, 3s. 4d.; letter to clerk of the council, 3s. 4d.; draft summons, 5s.; two copies, 2s.; letter, enclosing summons for service, 3s. 4d.; letters to Mr. Purcell, re attending in Court, 3s. 4d., and stating he could go by train to Sallins and drive over with the auditor, 3s. 4d.; attending Clane Petty Sessions, defendant was ordered to pay £5 5s. 4d. and 10s. costs, £2 2s.; expenses, 12s. 6d.; stamp on summons, 1s. 6d.; hand service, 2s. 6d.; letter, reporting fully on the case, 3s. 4d.; letter to Mr. Hanna, asking for remittance, 3s. 4d.; attending upon auditor to discuss matters, 6s. 8d,; letter that they had already applied, but had not received any intimation, 3s. 4d.; letter again asking reply, 3s. 4d.; attending on auditor to discuss the position when they were instructed to write to the registrar of Petty Sessions, 6s. 8d.; other letters costing each 3s. 4d.; postage on parcels, 5s.; total, £7 1s. 6d.; whether there was undue haste in proceeding against the collector as there were three months in which the amount could be refunded; and whether the auditor will be required, under the circumstances, to pay the costs of these unnecessary proceedings?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the alleged arrangement between the rent collector and the clerk, the auditor had no cognizance of such an arrangement nor could he recognise it even if he were aware of it, and therefore the question of refraining from taking legal proceedings did not arise. The statements as to the costs and charges incurred in recovering the amount surcharged are believed to be correct. There was no undue haste on the part of the auditor in taking the proceedings against the collector. Under the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1871, amounts surcharged should be paid by the persons liable within fourteen days of the date of certificate of surcharge in cases such as this one where there is no appeal. Failing such payments a statutory obligation is imposed on Local Government auditors to recover by process of law the amounts certified to be due. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative, the auditor having acted in accordance with his duty.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, in connection with their offer for the purchase of the estate of Dr. Day, near Tuam, the Congested Districts Board will include the Kilbannon portion of the estate, held at present as nonresidential grazing farms?

The Congested Districts Board have recently issued an amended offer for the purchase of the estate referred to, near Tuam, which has not yet been accepted. The Kilbannon portion of the estate has not so far been offered for sale to the Board.

asked the reason for the delay on the part of the Congested Districts Board in buying the Kilgevrin portion of the Lynche estate, Milltown, county Galway; and whether steps will be taken to buy this property for the relief of the prevailing congestion in the district?

The Congested Districts Board inform me that there has been no avoidable delay in dealing with this matter. An offer for the purchase of the property referred to has been issued by the Board, but has not so far been accepted. Negotiations are proceeding.

asked the Chief Secretary how soon the Congested Districts Board will be able to settle the Reddington estate, Kilbannon, county Galway, bought by the Board some years ago; and how much of the six or seven hundred acres of untenanted grazing land is to be used for the enlargement of the seventy-five uneconomic holdings whose valuation does not exceed £5 and the other congested properties on the estate?

The Congested Districts Board will not be in a position to deal with the rearrangement of the estate referred to until next spring. Until the scheme for the resettlement of the lands is prepared they are unable to say how much of the untenanted land will be utilised for the enlargement of the uneconomic holdings.

asked what untenanted land on the Reddington estate, county Galway, the Congested Districts Board proposes to take up for the relief of congestion; whether the lands of Mr. Kearney and Mr. Ryan are included amongst those for this purpose; and, if not, what is the reason?

The Congested Districts Board propose to take up the non-residential grazing lands which are held under yearly tenancies on the Tuam section of the estate referred to, and to utilise them for the relief of congestion. The Board have not considered whether proceedings for resumption should be instituted in the case of the lands held by Mr. Kearney and Mr. Ryan.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) the number and the exact dates and places of the various outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease which have occurred in Ireland from the 1st January to the present time?

The total number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease that have occurred in Ireland from 1st January of this year to the present time i.5 seventy-one, and the following are the particulars as to dates and places of such outbreaks:—

County Kildare.—31st January, Naas; 1st February, Ballysax, The Curragh; 23rd March, Ballysax, The Curragh.

County Dublin.—30th March, Tiknoc, Stepaside.

County Cork.—27th February, Ballinacourty, Kinsale; 28th February, Ballina-cusha, Queenstown; 1st March, Douglas, Cork; 2nd March, Ballincollig, Blackpool, Cork; 3rd March, Cork (two cases); Lehenaghmore, Cork; Ballinvarrig, White-church; Rahanisky, Whitechurch; Ummera, Macroom; 4th March, Rhanick, Queenstown; Clogheen Cross, Cork; Kilbarry, Cork; Togher, Cork; Barrack-ton, Cork; 5th March, Shannakiel, Cork; Cappagh, Kinsale; Ballinvoher, Cloyne; 6th March, Lisgoold West, Ballincurrig; Ballybrassill, Queenstown; Cork (two cases); Waterfall, Cork; 8th March, Walterstown, Queenstown; Sheepwalk, Fermoy; 9th March, Cork; Ballinvarrig, Whitechurch; 12th March, Ringaskiddy; Carhue, Coachford; 13th March, Saleen, Cloyne; 16th March, Cork; 17th March, Cork; Ballinraha, Blarney (two cases); 18th March, Ballinraha, Blarney; Ballynahina, Cork; 21st March, Black-rock; 23rd March, Belvelly, Queenstown; 25th March, Thresherstown, Whitechurch; 26th March, Whitegate, Midleton; 1st April, Coolacullig, Coachford; 2nd April, Coole East, White's Cross; 3rd April, Cork; 26th April, Derryvillane, Glanworth (two cases); 27th April, Carrig-downane, Glanworth; 27th April, Moueen, Glanworth; 11th May, Air Hill, Glanworth.

County Tipperary.—9th March, Thurles; 10th March, Thurles; 13th March, Lahasseragh, Templemore; Gortnassy, Ballingarry; 15th March, Gurteenmagher Templemore; 20th March, Roskeen, Drombane; 21st March, Gortfree, Kil-managh; 23rd March, Thurles; 1st April, Cloney Ross, Drombane; Lewagh, Thurles; Thurles; 2nd April, Ballybeg, Littleton (two cases); 3rd April, Breedagh, Toome-vara; 10th April, Gortfree, Kilmanagh; 11th April, Ballybeg, Littleton; 26th April, Finnahy, Upperchurch, Thurles; 27th April, Rossoulty, Upperchurch.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that a deputation from the London and Provincial Licensed Vehicle Workers was received at the Home Office on 18th February last with regard to several trade questions, and that up to the present no reply has been given to the representations then made; and whether he will make inquiry into the matter?

The deputation raised a number of difficult questions which required careful consideration. I am still in communication with the Commissioner of Police in regard to them, but I hope to be in a position to reply to the union shortly.

asked the Home Secretary whether he has confirmed the Order sought by the Manchester Corporation relating to the closing of shops for the sale of meat under the Shops Act, 1912, such Order being sent for confirmation on 21st March; and will he give this matter early attention?

A period of one month for the lodging of objections is required to elapse before the confirmation of an Order. On the expiration of that period, in the case of the Order in question, I wrote to the City Council to suggest certain amendments of detail in the terms of the Order; and I offered, if the council agreed, to make these amendments when confirming the Order. I am now awaiting the council's reply, on receipt of which I hope to be able (as no objections have been lodged) to confirm the Order forthwith.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any dissatisfaction has been expressed to him or to the local education authorities with the instruction given in the Thorp schools, Surrey; whether a number of children who previously attended these schools are now daily taken to St. Anne's Heath council schools; whether the cost of conveying the children to the latter school is paid by the parents of the children or by the education authorities, or otherwise; and, if so, how?

The local education authority have informed me that they are aware of the dissatisfaction in the locality with regard to the form of the religious instruction given at the Thorp Church of England school. Neither the Board nor the authority have received any expression of dissatisfaction with the secular instruction. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The authority state that the cost of conveying the children to Egham St. Anne's council school is not borne by them, and they are not aware by whom it is borne.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to be able to make an announcement concerning the future classification of sub-engineers, on whose behalf evidence was tendered to the Select Committee on Post Office Servants?

The Select Committee on Post Office Servants made no recommendation with regard to the officers referred to, and their case is still under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture, with reference to the recent appointment of Sir James Wilson to the International Agricultural Institute at Rome, whether the deliberations of the permanent committee are conducted in the French language and the appointee is unable to speak that language; whether such appointments are usually given to persons over sixty years of age; and whether Sir James Wilson is above that age and the holder of a pension of £1,000 a year as a retired Indian Civil Servant?

The discussions of the Committee, which I may say by no means represent the whole work of the delegates, are for the most part conducted in French. I understand that Sir James Wilson's knowledge of that language is sufficient to enable him to follow the proceedings easily and to contribute to them effectively, although he himself, like the delegate for the United States, speaks in English. I do not know the exact age of each member of the Committee, but I understand that several of them are sixty years of age or over. Sir James Wilson is sixty-one, and receives a pension of the amount stated in the last part of the question.

asked the President of the Local Government Board how many local authorities have agreed to provide treatment for all tuberculous persons in their area; and how many local authorities have only made provision for the treatment of insured persons suffering from tuberculosis?

One hundred and fifteen councils have submitted to the Local Government Board schemes for providing institutional treatment for persons suffering from tuberculosis, and in all these cases the scheme either expressly or by application provides for the treatment of non-insured as well as insured persons. There are now six county councils and five county borough councils which have not yet submitted such schemes. In the case of one of these counties, the Isles of Scilly, no scheme is needed; in another (London) arrangements for providing institutional treatment for the non-insured as well as the insured population are now being developed. Of the county boroughs, two, Bournemouth and Grimsby, will, I have reason to believe, submit schemes at an early date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give the quantities of tea imported into the United Kingdom from British Possessions and foreign countries, respectively, during the financial year ending 31st March, 1914?

The total quantity of tea imported in the year ending 31st March, 1914, was 369,539,904 lbs., of which 318,020,906 lbs. was consigned from British Possessions and 51,518,998 lbs. from foreign countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now give the value of the produce and manufactures of the United Kingdom consigned to the United States, France, Germany, Holland, and Belgium, respectively, in 1913; the percentage of wholly or mainly manufactured goods in each case; and the same information as regards goods exported to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, in the year 1913?

submitted the following statement:—

Countries to which Consigned. Total Value of Exports of United Kingdom Produce and Manufactures in 1913. Exports of Articles wholly or mainly Manufactured. Value. Proportion to Total Exports. £ £ Per cent. United States of America … … … 29,294,196 23,048,736 78.7 France … … … 28,932,988 17,425,643 60.2 Germany … … … 40,677,030 27,007,148 66.4 Netherlands … … … 15,429,144 11,748,561 76.2 Belgium … … … 13,239,733 8,451,425 63.8 Dominion of Canada … … … 23,794,926 20,042,966 84.2 Commonwealth of Australia … … … 34,470,452 31,256,720 90.7 Dominion of New Zealand … … … 10,837,647 9,599,552 88.6 Union of South Africa … … … 22,184,729 19,583,151 88.3

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of national and local expenditure, respectively, per head of the population per annum in the United Kingdom, United States of America, Germany, France, Belgium. Holland, Switzerland, and Japan, so far as these particulars are available?

Figures showing for a series of years the gross expenditure of the central Government and of the local authorities in this country will be found in the annual statistical abstract for the United Kingdom, and figures as to expenditure by the central Governments of most of the other countries mentioned in the question are given in the annual statistical abstract for foreign countries. I may point out that the differences between the various countries mentioned are so great in respect of the financial relations between the central Government and the local authorities, the functions of

the public authorities generally, the extent to which they are engaged in industrial enterprises, and the form in which their accounts are rendered, that any comparison of the kind suggested in the question would, in my judgment, be practically valueless.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received any communication from the Dundee Town Council in reference to the Report on Imperial and Local Taxation affecting England and Wales; and is the Departmental Committee to likewise consider the case of

Scotland, which is very much in need of being put upon a satisfactory basis?

I have received numerous communications from town councils and also from the Convention of Royal Burghs, on which Dundee is represented, in reference to the Report referred to in the question. With regard to the proceedings of the Departmental Committee, I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies on the subject given by the Chancellor on the 16th March and subsequent dates. The question of the method of allocation of the additional sums which will be available towards the relief of local taxation in Scotland is at present engaging my attention.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the expediency of appointing a minister of commerce and a representative consultative committee; and whether he is aware that many other commercial competing countries have such a department to guard trade interests generally?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which was given on this subject on 26th March last to the hon. Member for the Tavistock Division. The hon. Member seems to have overlooked the fact that the Board of Trade already have an advisory committee, largely composed of representatives of commercial interests, selected in consultation with the Association of Chambers of Commerce.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received any official request for time to discuss the question of payment of Members on the Vote for the purpose; and whether he will grant such time?

I have not received any such request. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend on this subject on Tuesday last to the hon. Member for Salisbury.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East is a member of the Select Committee on the Mall Approach Bill, before which Committee the Commissioner of Works is appearing by counsel, he intends to appoint another Minister to represent the Office of Works in this House?

No, Sir. I understand that the course adopted is quite in accordance with Parliamentary practice.