asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of firms who took out Tobacco Licences of £5 5s., £10 10s., £15 15s., £21, £26 5s., and £31 10s., respectively, for the year ending 31st March last?

The numbers are as follows:—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has been requested to receive a deputation representing the Scottish oil trade on the subject of Excise restrictions which hamper production; and whether, in view of the national importance of encouraging a home-produced supply of oil, he can arrange to meet the representatives of this Scottish industry?

I have received from the representatives of the Scottish oil trade a request to receive a deputation, but before coming to any decision I should be glad to have further time to examine the statement they have submitted to me.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the Board of Customs and Excise, in inviting applications from officers on indoor duties for transfer at the Crown's expense to certain outports, justify their decision, which they have communicated to the officers concerned, to give a preference to unmarried men; and whether, having regard to the best interests of the State, he will undertake that in future the question of marriage shall not be a consideration in making such or similar transfers, so that Government Departments may not set the example of penalising marriage?

I am informed that in the ordinary course the Board of Customs and Excise make no distinction between married and unmarried men; and they have certainly no intention of penalising marriage. I understand that the cases referred to by my hon. Friend, which numbered three only, were exceptional, and that as a matter of fact no married officers submitted their names for transfer to the posts in question, although it was open to them to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of voluntary contributors under the National Insurance Acts at any recent date; and the number who have joined owing to the Act of 1913?

The number of voluntary contributors in the United Kingdom at the latest date for which figures are available was 31,966. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the names of the approved societies to which the draft Regulations relating to the reduction of benefits for members in arrears were submitted before the draft Regulations were published; and which approved societies, if any, approved such draft Regulations?

As I explained in reply to a question by the hon. Member on the 25th May, the Regulations referred to were laid before the Advisory Committee, on which approved societies of all types are fully represented, and were unanimously approved by them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in consequence of the Scottish Insurance Commissioners having deducted 20 percent. from the accounts of the Aberdeenshire chemists and refusing any guarantee that this balnace will ever be paid, the pharmacists in that county propose giving notice to terminate their contracts forthwith; and whether, considering the hardship inflicted upon the panel chemists by the decision of the Commissioners and the inconvenience to the public which would result from their withdrawal as a body, he will take steps to place at the disposal of the Scottish Insurance Commissioners funds sufficient to enable them to pay in full all chemists' accounts properly incurred under their authority?

As I have previously explained, the payments now being made to chemists in respect of their accounts for the quarter ending in April last are only in the nature of advances in anticipation of the annual settlement, and in making such advances a margin is necessarily kept in hand. The Scottish Insurance Commissioners are in communication with the pharmaceutical committee in the area referred to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will favourably consider the advisability of securing that provision is made in the National Insurance Act, 1911 (Part II. Amendment) Bill for such payment as will secure the cost of administration expenses under Section 105 to such societies as have made an arrangement with the Board of Trade for the administration of Part II. of the National Insurance Act?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to Clause 9 of the amending Bill, which makes provision for an increased subsidy under Section 106 of the Act. Though this Clause does not in terms provide for the cost of administration it will serve the same practical object, i.e., to relieve the finances of associations with which the Board of Trade have made arrangements under Section 105.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware of the number of clerks to surveyors of taxes who have been at their maximum salaries for some years; and whether, in view of the further postponement of the revised rates of pay, he will make the new scheme retrospective?

The answer to the first part of the hon. and gallant Member's question is in the affirmative; and as regards the last part, I would refer him to my reply of the 24th February last to a question by the hon. Member for North Londonderry.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury from what date under the Financial Resolutions of this year already passed Income Tax on dividends and interest is liable to deductions at the higher rates imposed by such Resolutions?

Under the Financial Resolutions in question, and subject to the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1913, all dividends and interest, such as those from the public funds, which are liable by law to Income Tax at the rate in force at the time of payment, are subject to the higher rate, if paid on or after 6th April, 1914; while in the case of dividends and interest paid out of profits and gains assessed to Income Tax, the tax is deductible according to the rate or rates in force during the period in which the same has or have been accruing.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury from what date the increased Death Duties proposed to be imposed by the Budget of this year become chargeable; if not now having the force of law, whether under the Finance Bill they will be retrospective; and, if so, as from what date?

I would refer my hon. Friend to Clause 9 of the Finance Bill, as circulated.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what steps are being taken to equip British and Indian battalions in India with one-man range-finders such as are authorised to the number of five per battalion for the Expeditionary Force in this country?

Sanction has been given for the provision of these range-finders as funds become available for the purpose.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether the Indian Government are offering reclaimed land in the Punjab for sale outright; and why they are departing in this case from the traditional policy of owning the land themselves and charging rent for the same?

Some part of the land on the recently opened colonies m the Punjab is being sold by auction for the double purpose of recovering some of the heavy capital expenditure and of getting data for fixing the price of acquisition of proprietary rights by those colonists who are, in the first instance, admitted as State tenants. There is no departure from traditional policy. Auction purchasers, as well as State tenants purchasing proprietary rights, will pay water rates, land revenue, and cesses.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether it is proposed to increase the pay of British officers serving in India commensurate with the increase recently granted to officers serving in this country; and, if so, when?

The subject is under consideration by the Secretary of State and the Government of India, but the Secretary of State is not at present in a position to make any definite statement.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he will report the present condition of the famine districts of the United Provinces; whether distress is increasing; whether hundreds of thousands of animals have already perished; whether the people are wandering about in despair; what are the statistics concerning crime and disease; how many persons are working on relief works; what are the official forecasts; what further steps do the Government intend to take to meet the increasing gravity of the position; and can he give any information in relation to purely Indian (non-European) organisations, the Servants of India, for instance, engaged in helping the famine-stricken, the amount of funds at their disposal, and the number of persons employed?

The Government of India report increase in the distress in the United Provinces, and deterioration with increasing mortality among cattle. Little wandering of the people is reported. Crime show's an increase in two districts, but elsewhere is normal. Public health is generally good. The number of persons on relief works is 74,561, on gratuitous relief 82,500. The prospects of the immediate future depend on the coming monsoon. Early and abundant rains would immediately relieve the situation. The relief measures now in operation are considered adequate for present requirements, and are capable of expansion if circumstances should so require. Information will be called for regarding private charitable efforts.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the annual meeting together of the registrars of the Co-operative Land Societies is. not to take place this year; if so, does it mean there is no longer any necessity for these registrars to compare experiences or that the co-operative land system is no longer progressing; and has lie any figures in his possession to show whether these societies are increasing or diminishing in popularity?

There will be no conference of registrars this year, as there is no important subject for discussion. This does not imply any check in the growth of the co-operative movement, which continues to develop satisfactorily. Figures on the point will be given in the next Statement of the Moral and Material Progress of India, which will shortly be in the hands of Members.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether any system of intercommunication exists between the India Office and India and between the India and Colonial Offices whereby such an occurrence as the surprise visit of the immigrant ship to British Columbian shores is duly reported; whether timely information was received on this occasion; and whether steps can be and will be taken, so far as possible, to prevent a recurrence of such an incident?

In matters of this kind the authorities referred to communicate in the ordinary course information to each other, but in the particular case the hon. Member would seem to be under some misapprehension as to the facts. The incident is one over which the Indian Government and the India Office have no control. The ship was chartered in Hong Kong by an Indian resident in the Malay States, and the passengers were Indians who had been residing for some time in ports in China and Japan. As to the action of any authority under the control of the Colonial Office, questions should be addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India what were the prices paid per chest to the Indian Government at the Calcutta monthly sales of provision opium for each of the months in 1912 and the first half of 1913?

The price per chest at the Calcutta monthly opium sales was as follows:—

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India how many chests of provision opium and how many chests of Malwa opium, respectively, were disposed of during the years 1912 and 1913 for consumption in India, for export to China, and for export to all other countries?

supplied the following:—

No corresponding figures are available of the amount of opium sold for consumption in India, which is, however, estimated at about 12,000 chests annually.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India the number of chests of provision opium and of Malwa opium, respectively, in the hands of the Indian Government on the 31st of March in 1912, 1913 and 1914?

The Indian Government held stocks of Bengal opium as follows:—

The only Malwa opium in the hands of the Indian Government would be the unused balance of the 12,100 chests purchased by them as a special measure, for Excise use in India, during the year 1914. I am unable to give the exact figure.

asked the Undersecretary of State for India whether Savarkar, who was sentenced to imprisonment for importing pistols and other weapons into India, is still in prison; if so, how long he has still to serve, and where is he confined?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative; but the crime of which Savarkar was convicted was abetment of murder. He was sentenced in January, 1911, by the Bombay High Court to transportation for life. He is confined in the penal settlement in the Andamans.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he would be prepared to. recommend that the Children Act, 1908, should be so amended that the provisions of Part I. would apply to persons who undertake by the day the nursing and maintenance of children under seven years of age?

Legislation would be necessary to provide for the regulation of day nurseries for children. The question of initiating such legislation is under consideration.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the continued diminution in the number of dwellings available for the working classes in urban areas, and in order to encourage private enterprise to meet the demands for such dwellings, he will consider the possibility to grant an extension of the time allowed for the repayment of loans taken up by local authorities, to meet the cost of making and paving private streets, from seven years to twenty years?

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply I gave on the 18th May to the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil on this subject.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that a country authority avoids the cost of inspection by veterinary inspectors from the Board by prohibiting the entry of Irish cattle at all, he can see his way to have the cost of such inspection made by the Board?

The answer is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether there have been a number of cattle drives lately on a farm owned by Mr. Robert Carson, a Protestant trader in the town of Belmullet, county Mayo; whether his shop has been boycotted and if his herds have to be protected by the police; whether, on the 7th May last, Michael Conway, an organiser of the United Irish League, shook a quantity of hay seed outside the door of Mr. Carson's shop, which was clearly understood to mean that the boycotters would have the grass growing at his door; and whether any steps have been taken to bring this organiser of the United Irish League to justice for this act of intimidation?

Some small farmers in the neighbourhood of Mr. Carson's lands have on various occasions during the past few months driven their cattle on to his farms, but they have been driven off again on the approach of the police and before the police could identify the trespassers. It is understood Mr. Carson is about to take civil proceedings against some of these persons. Mr. Carson's shops in Belmullet have from time to time been subject to a boycott, and two of his herds have left his service, but those still in his employment have not to be protected by the police. An incident of the nature described in the final paragraph of the question did take place, but the circumstances in the judgment of the police did not warrant a prosecution.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the Reverend Mr. Richardson, manager of Drumgooland national school, in the county of Down, and rector of the Episcopalian church, forcibly ejected a pupil from that school because, in obedience to his mother, Mrs. Musgrave, he declined to do obeisance to Mr. Richardson on his entering the school in accordance with the form and manners prescribed by Mr. Richardson; whether the Commissioners of National Education confirm the expulsion; whether it was reported that the real reason why the boy was expelled was Mrs. Musgrave's secession from the congregation of which Mr. Richardson is incumbent; what other cases, if any, have occurred in which pupils were expelled from school because, in obedience to parental orders, they refused to carry out orders for obeisance made by school managers; whether it is competent for a manager of a State supported national school to enact that pupils who decline to do him obeisance when he enters shall be expelled; and whether the Commissioners have devised any scheme whereby such children may receive primary education?

The Commissioners of National Education inform me that a complaint made by Mrs. Musgrave in January, 1913, that the. Reverend J. 0. A. Richardson, M.A., manager of Drumgooland school, had forcibly ejected her son from the school was referred by the Commissioners to their local inspector for a report in the matter. The inspector reported that, on the entry of the manager into the school on, the 16th January, when the pupils stood up as a mark of respect (in accordance with a custom established in the school before Mr. Richardson became manager) Mrs. Musgrave's son, in obedience to his mother's instructions, remained seated. The boy was called to account by the manager for his insubordinate conduct, and ordered to behave himself or leave the room. He went out, but afterwards returned and was allowed to remain. After consideration of the facts reported by the inspector, the Commissioners advised Mrs. Musgrave that as the school custom of showing respect to the manager in the above manner was in accordance with the instructions laid down in one of their rules, the manager had acted within his rights in directing her son either to comply with the discipline of the school or to leave the room. The Commissioners are not aware of any report that the real reason why the boy was corrected by the manager was Mrs. Musgrave's secession from the congregation of which Mr. Richardson is the incumbent, nor can they trace any record of a case with similar circumstances in another school. As to the question whether it is competent for the manager of a State supported school to act as above described the Commissioners adhere to the decision conveyed by them to Mrs. Musgrave, and they do not consider that any necessity exists for the devising of any scheme for the primary education of children in cases such as this.

asked the Secretary for Foreign Affairs whether it has been decided to send an Anglo-French Commission to the Pacific in order to inquire into the question of the New Hebrides?

An Anglo-French Conference assembled here in London is at this moment discussing the whole question of the New Hebrides, and I cannot make statements as to what may be the outcome of it till the result of its work is known.