asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether he has been requested by the Mongolian authorities to send an authorised representative to Urga; and, if so, what answer has been returned; and what is the position of Mongolia in regard to the Chinese Government at the present time?

:His Majesty's Government have been given to understand from private sources that the Mongolian Government would be prepared to welcome a British representative. There has, however, been no opportunity for the Mongolian Government to make any official communication of this nature. Mongolia is now an autonomous State under the suzerainty of China.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what satisfaction has been obtained from the Greek Government for the treatment to which Mr. and Mrs. Musker were recently subjected at Okdjilar, on the Greco-Bulgarian frontier?

:I am in communication with His Majesty's Legation at Athens on the subject, and have been informed that inquiries are being made by the Greek Government, but I am not yet in a position to make any definite statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the treaty of 1905 between the United Kingdom and Japan postulates equal rights for the commerce and industry of both nations; and, if so, whether the rigorous exclusion of British ships from the coasting trade of Japan while subsidised Japanese vessels participate in such trade between Indian ports, and conduct a Japanese service exclusively between Calcutta and Rangoon, is justified by the terms of the treaty?

:As regards the first part of the question the hon. Member is presumably referring to Clause ( b ) of the Preamble to the 1905 Agreement between the United Kingdom and Japan which affirms the adherence of both Powers to the principle of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations in China. The coasting trade of the two countries is dealt with in Article 21 of the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 3rd April, 1911, which provides that the trade shall be regulated according to the laws of the United Kingdom and Japan respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, whether, in view of the fact that British merchants in Mexico exceed those of any other Power and that her nationals are the chief sufferers from the present condition of the country, he will urge upon the United States Government the necessity for recognising the de facto government of General Huerta?

:I can only refer the hon. Member to the answer given him on the 5th May last, and to those given to the hon. Members for Enfield and Orkney on the 9th and 10th March last to which I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any official information to the effect that a Russian post office is about to be established m Teheran?

:The answer is in the negative, though I understand that a postal official is to be employed at the Russian Legation to deal with correspondence arriving there by the messenger service. I have heard that a post office has been established for this purpose at Tabreez.

asked whether the Government have made any representations to the Russian Government protesting against the collection and appropriation of Customs by Russian agents in the province of Azerbijan, in Persia, as a breach of the Anglo-Russian Convention of 1907?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been called to the collection of Persian Customs Duties in the province of Azerbijan by Russian agents without the sanction of the Persian Treasury; and whether any steps have been taken to secure that the sums collected shall be paid into the Persian Treasury?

:My attention has been drawn to the matter. I have brought it to the notice of the Russian Government, and pending the receipt of their views, I cannot make a further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether his attention has been drawn to an interview with the Russian Minister in Persia in which His Excellency stated that he was in favour of the withdrawal of the whole of the Russian Army from Northern Persia; that the Czar and Foreign Office had given him orders to make arrangements for a speedy withdrawal, "that a commencement would be made from Kazvin, only small forces being left for the protection of the Russian Consulates and no troops being sent out to replace those leaving Persian territory; and whether he has received any reports from Persia showing that this policy is being carried out?

:The answers to the first three parts of the question are in the affirmative. As to the last part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer returned to him on the 12th ultimo, which showed that some progress in the withdrawal of troops has recently been made.

:May I ask if the-British Government or the British Indian Government has not sent troops to Shiraz, Bushire, and elsewhere when it desired to do so in Persia?

:Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would give notice of that question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether His Majesty's Government have ever officially or unofficially, by word or writing, indicated to any French Government or French statesman of Cabinet rank or to any French Government servant whatever that they were interested in the Three Years' Service Act, or were glad that it had passed, or that they would care in the least if it were repealed?

:The answer is in the negative so far as I am aware. It is no-part of our business to offer or express any opinion about the Three Years' Service Act in France.

:May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will communicate with the "Times" newspaper and other newspapers in this country which are carrying on an agitation for this side in favour of the three years' service in France?

:No, Sir. I am certainly not going to communicate with any organ of the Press. The best way of communicating with the organs of the Press no doubt is from this box, as I have done already this afternoon.

:May we gather from that reply that this agitation in this country for the Three Years' Service Act is really directed towards compulsory military service in this country?

:The hon. Member's question relates to three years' service in France. That is all I can deal with. It seems to me that the hon. Member wants to raise the question of military service in this country. That is not the same as the question on the Paper nor specially connected with the Foreign Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the city known as the Inter-, national Settlement of Shanghai, though consisting mainly of Chinese, is governed by a municipal council of foreigners, mainly British; whether lie is aware that Mr. Landale, the chairman of that council, at the annual ratepayers' meeting in March, 1908, expressed on behalf of the foreign residents his sympathy with the Chinese in their desire to dissipate the opium habit, and assured them that the community had every intention to assist them; whether, in spite of that declaration and of the drastic suppression of the opium habit in the surrounding country by the Chinese Government, the Shanghai municipality has since steadily increased the number of licensed opium shops from 87 in 1908 to 628 in 1912, with corresponding evil effects upon the Chinese population of the city and neighbourhood; and, if so, what steps he is taking to put an end to such a state of things?

:I am aware that there has been an increase in the number of licensed opium shops in the International Settlement at Shanghai during the years mentioned, though I am not in possession of the figures which would enable me to-estimate its extent. As I informed the hon. Member on 14th August last, I believe the majority of the members of the municipal council to be British subjects, but the council is an independent internatioal body over which His Majesty's Government have no control. It appears to be matter of regret that the number of opium licences in this settlement has been increased at a time when the consumption is being extinguished in the rest of China, and I hope the municipal council will soon reverse the policy.

:Are not the great majority of foreigners in Shanghai British subjects, and to whom would they look for protection in case of attack by Chinese or anybody else, and have we therefore not some authority over them?

:I must ask for notice of that question.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he is aware that a creditor who holds a judgment in India against a debtor who has no effects which can be distrained on has no means of enforcing his claim by process of bankruptcy unless he first puts his debtor in prison; and whether he will reconsider, in the public interest, the question of amending the bankruptcy law in that country so as to give advantages equal to those afforded by the law in this country?

:As regards the first part of the question, the Secretary of State is advised that the statement made is not correct; and that, in the case of a debtor without distrainable effects who has not been guilty of an act of bad faith, the practice of the Courts is not to commit him to prison, but to direct him to file his petition in insolvency. I would refer the hon. Member generally to the Code of Civil Procedure (Act V. of 1908), Section 55, and Order XXI., Rules 37 and 40. As regards the last part, I would refer to my replies on the 28th April.

:Does the hon. Gentleman suggest that traders in India have protection equal to that which is afforded by the bankruptcy laws in this country without involving imprisonment?

:Yes, that is what my answer was intended to convey. May I refer the hon. Member to the portions of the Code which really deal with the subject t

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether judges of High Courts hold office by letters patent at His Majesty's pleasure; and whether the Act of Settlement is extended to their case?

:The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would beg to refer the hon. Member to the answer given to his question on the 28th October, 1912.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Secretary of State has received any further representations to the effect that it is inconvenient for members of the Imperial Legislative Council to meet at Delhi; and that the isolation of the Department of Commerce and Industry in Upper India seriously impairs its ability and efficiency?

:No, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary 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.

:Is it the fact that he is kept in chains in the Andamans?

:That is not in the question. I do not know, and must ask for notice. He is confined in the penal settlement at the Andamans.

:In view of the recent immunity granted to gun-runners in Ireland, will some steps be taken to reduce the sentence on Savarkar for a similar offence?

:The offence is not similar. The offence for which Savarkar was convicted was abetment of murder— a totally different offence.

:Is it not the fact that the abetment of murder was the importation of revolvers into India?

:He was made a party to. the crime for which those revolvers were used.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India, whether he can yet say when the information which he promised with regard to proceedings under the Press Act of 1910 will be laid upon the Table?

:I understand that the Papers have been despatched from India, and hope to lay them by the end of this month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any representations as to the inconvenience experienced in Glasgow owing to the absence of a complete fully-equipped Inland Revenue office, and owing to the necessity of going to Edinburgh in order to transact business with the Inland Revenue office, especially in respect to Death Duties; and whether he can now take any steps to remove that inconvenience?

:I recently received a deputation on the subject to which my hon. Friend refers. I indicated to them the reasons why I could not see my way to establish a fully-equipped Inland Revenue Office at Glasgow, but promised to consider in respect of Death Duties any suggestions for promoting the convenience of the city which might be put before me.

:Have any suggestions been put forward?

:I am not sure, but I think there were two or three.

:Does the Department intend to take any initiative in this matter in respect to Death Duties?

:I should think that that would lie with the Glasgow authorities with reference to the carrying out of certain proposals which have been put forward.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that 75 per cent, of the business done in Edinburgh is Glasgow business?

:I could not say that.

asked whether any estimate of the amount contributed by Ireland to Super-tax has attributed to Ireland the whole of the Super-tax paid by persons domiciled there, or how otherwise has the estimate been arrived at?

:The estimated true contribution of Ireland to the Super-tax for the present financial year has been arrived at on the same basis as has been employed in former years, namely, that explained in House of Commons Paper, No. 200, of 1913.

:Is not the right hon. Gentleman estimating Super-tax on the same erroneous principle which he denounced as absurd in connection with the local Income Tax in Prussia?

:No; the hon. Gentleman is quite wrong.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman say where I am wrong?

:I should say on all points.

:How?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the judgment of Mr. Justice Rowlatt in the case of Purdy V. the King, in which he held that the proviso in Section 45 of the Income Tax Act, 1842, that the profits of any married woman living with her husband should be deemed the profits of the husband and be charged to the husband did not apply to charges by deduction; and whether, in view of this decision, the Commissioners will now recognise the claims of married women to exemption and abatement in respect of separate incomes?

:I am unable to recognise that the decision in this case, under which it was held that Mrs. Purdie was not entitled to the repayment of tax claimed by her, involves the consequence suggested by the hon. and learned Member.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman say why it is that, although an income from which the tax has been deducted is not deemed to be the husband's income, the wife is not entitled to claim her exemption?

:The hon. and learned Gentleman is now entering into an argumentative matter which I could not possibly discuss by way of question and answer.

asked if, for the purposes of Income Tax under Schedule A and Super-tax payable during the current financial year, deductions for maintenance, insurance, repairs and management beyond the 25 per cent, limit can be made?

:Under Clause 8 of the Finance Bill there will be no 25 per cent, limit to the allowances of Income Tax, Schedule A, on account of maintenance, etc., in respect of the current year. I am considering the question of extending to this year the corresponding relief in the case of Super-tax, which under existing law would not come into operation until 1915–16.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is proposed by Sub-section (3) of Clause 13 of the Finance Bill to limit the amount payable to local authorities in connection, with live stock diseases by relieving them from contributing to the administrative expenses of the Board of Agriculture in the event of a deficiency in the pneumonia account owing to exceptional prevalence of serious contagious diseases, or whether as announced in his Budget Statement, the whole cost of local administration in connection with cattle disease will henceforth be defrayed out of the Imperial Exchequer; and, if so, by what provision in the Finance Bill or by what other Government measure will this be effected?

:This question will be answered by the President of the Board of Agriculture.

:Does it not arise out of the right hon. Gentleman's Budget Statement?

:It deals with an item of expenditure to which I had to allude, but which is under the control of my right hon. Friend. I have handed the question over to him.

:Is it not an item of expenditure dealt with in a Clause in the Finance Bill for which the right hon. Gentleman is responsible?

:That is perfectly true, but I hope to get the assistance of my right hon. Friend in that matter.

:The effect of Clause 13, Sub-section (3) of the Finance Bill is in substance correctly stated by the hon. Gentleman in the first part of the question; and my right hon. Friend has asked me to express his regret that by inadvertence he did not make this more clear in his Budget Statement. It is not proposed otherwise to amend the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Acts, but provision is to be made for the payment of one-half of the salaries of veterinary officers employed by local authorities out of the Public Health Grant.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, after the explicit statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the whole of the cost of cattle disease would in future be borne by the Imperial Exchequer, his present statement will cause great disappointment among agriculturists?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the present position of the land valuations under the Budget of 1909; how many valuations have been completed and how many remain to be made; how many have been completed, but which will have to be revalued under the decisions of the Courts which have affected them; and if any statement or Papers on the subject will be presented before the Revenue Bill comes on for discussion?

:Up to the 31st May, 5,924,710 valuations have been served in respect of 7,952,111 hereditaments in Great Britain, and it is estimated that some two millions still remain to be served in respect of two and a half million hereditaments, but in a number of these cases, which are affected by the test case now before the Courts, the preliminary work essential to the making of the valuations on any basis has been completed. The answer to the third part of the question depends on a test case which has not yet come before the higher Courts. The answer to the last part is in the negative.

:The right lion. Gentleman has given the figures for Great Britain; can he give similar figures for Ireland?

:I must ask for notice of that.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman include the provisional valuations?

reply was. inaudible in the Reporters' Gallery.

asked whether it is proposed under the Finance Bill to take away from local authorities the power of levying local taxation licences conferred upon them by the Finance Act, 1908; and, if not, upon what grounds it is proposed to deprive them of the Grant of £40,000> to meet the costs of the collection of such, duties?

:It is proposed that the local authorities shall continue to levy the licences referred to, and that in lieu of a direct Grant from the Exchequer, which is no longer appropriate in the altered circumstances, they shall receive an allowance to meet the costs of collection, which will be more than the. equivalent of the discontinued Grant.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the Finance Bill no-allowance at all is made for the cost of collecting these duties?

:I am in negotiation with the local authorities on the-matter—in fact, I met their representatives yesterday.

:But, in fact, is it not the case that under the Bill no provision is made for paying anything to the local authorities for the expense of collecting, carriage, and Motor Car Duties?

:As I have said, I am in negotiation with the local authorities in reference to the collection of these duties, and until I come to some arrangement nothing will be settled. I shall then move an Amendment.

:Will not the right hon. Gentleman answer my question: Is not that the case under the Bill?

:The hon. and learned Gentleman knows that as well as anybody. The Bill has been circulated to the House.

:May I ask whether the allowance which it is now proposed to make will be at least equal to the cost of such collection to the local authorities?

:I think that that ought to be the basis—in fact, that was the basis I was suggesting yesterday. Their accountants and the officials of the Treasury have to discuss the amount it would cost to collect the duties.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received the Report of the inquiry into the case of Oscar Slater; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

:The Sheriff of Lanarkshire has reported to me the results of the inquiry which he held recently at my request into certain statements laid before me relative to the case referred to. After careful consideration of the information obtained by the Sheriff in the course of a full and searching inquiry, I am satisfied that no case is established which would justify my advising any interference with the sentence. I propose to lay the statements and evidence before the House.

:When will they be laid before the House?

:Within the next day or two; probably on Monday.

:Will the original evidence be included?

:Certainly not.

:Just the new evidence?

:Only of this inquiry.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has received any requests from Scottish local authorities in favour of the application of the Health Resorts and Watering Places Bill to Scotland?

:I have received one such request, from the Annual Committee of the Convention of Royal Burghs.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he has taken any steps to consult the local authorities with regard to the classification of roads under the proposals of the Budget of the present year?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave on the 25th May and 9th June, respectively, to questions relating to the same matter by the hon. and gallant Member for Midlothian and the hon. Member for South Aberdeen.

:Does that mean that the Road Board have not been called upon to classify the roads in Scotland?

:No.

asked whether the population of Scotland is, approximately, 30,000 fewer than it was three years ago; what is the decrease in the birth rate during that period; and whether the tide of emigration shows any signs of decreasing in volume?

:I am informed by the Registrar-General for Scotland that the population of Scotland is now, according to his estimates, about 30,000 less than the population at the date of the Census of 1911; and that while the birth rate of the year 1913 was 0.1 per thousand less than that of the year 1911, the birth rate of the first quarter of 1914 is 0.2 per thousand greater than that of the corresponding quarter of 1911. I am informed by the Board of Trade that their Returns of passenger movement have shown a marked falling off in the volume of emigration during the later months of 1913 and the current year, and that this reduction appears to operate in Scotland somewhat more than in the other divisions of the United Kingdom. The recorded net emigration from Scotland in the first four months of 1914 was less than one-half that of the corresponding months of 1913.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a Report on the result of the investigations into the case of the cottars lately imprisoned in the Calton Gaol and their application for land?

:I have received a Report from the Sub-Commissioner who was sent to investigate the matter, and negotiations have taken place between the Board and the proprietor, who has not so far been willing to depart from his previous attitude. If, however, the proposed amendment dealing with this district of Lewis in my hon. Friend's Bill is passed into law it will be possible for the Board to take action.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman give the Members of this House a copy of that Report?

:Oh, no; it is merely a Report of a Sub-Commission of the Board. It is not usual to publish it.

:May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that there have been hundreds of applications for land in the last three years, and that no steps have been taken, so far as I know, for the acquisition of land?

:Oh, no, a great many steps have been taken; that statement is quite incorrect. A great many steps have been taken for the acquisition of land, but, of course, there is not enough land in Lewis itself for all the applicants.

asked what is the total cost, including every item, of administering the National Insurance Act (Part I.) for the year 1913; and what is the total estimated cost of the same for the year 1914?

:As to last year I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth. The amount estimated to be expended by approved societies and insurance committees for cost of administration during the year 1914–15 is £2,579,400. The amount included in the Estimates for the financial year 1914–15 for central administration is £876,140.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether it is necessary for approved society No. 103 to be required to make three separate financial statements in three separate weeks to the Welsh Commissioners when making a requisition for moneys to pay accruing liabilities under the National Insurance Act, Part I.; whether he is aware that by such delays it has been necessary to secure an overdraft from the bank to the extent of £997 wherewith to meet the calls of sick members; whether he is aware that the interest per cent, for investments is much lower than the charge for an overdraft; and whether action will be taken to prevent the imposition of such additional clerical work upon societies and to prevent loss to societies by such dilatory methods?

:My right hon. Friend is informed by the Welsh Insurance Commissioners that two of the statements referred to were ordinary applications for issues from the National Health Insurance Fund. The remaining statement was required in order to ascertain the precise period covered by one of these applications. Except in the instance where this point arose, issues have been made immediately on receipt of the applications.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that on the 24th November last, at the first general meeting of the Scottish Legal Health Assurance Approved Society, a resolution was unanimously carried calling upon the committee of management of the society to resign, and that, notwithstanding this resolution, the committee are still holding office; whether it is at the instance of the National Health Insurance Commissioners (Scotland) that they remain in office; and whether, in view of Section 23 of the National Insurance Act, he proposes to take any action in the matter?

:The committee of man-angement referred to remain in office not at the instance of the Scottish Commissioners, but under the provision0073 of the rules of the society. These rules provide for election by the members in each year except that, in order to secure continuity of management in the initial period of the Acts working, the first committee retires in June, 1916, subject to removal before this date on the ground of personal misconduct or incapacity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, seeing that appeal cases from insured persons who are members of societies that have made arrangements under Section 105 of the National Insurance Act are now considered by the Boards of Referees, he will fill up the vacancy in the Windsor ward, or invite nominations of candidates, so that the Board may have its full complement of representatives?

:As was explained to my hon. Friend, in answer to his question on the 25th May, the Board's power of nominating to the workmen's panels is restricted, under the Regulations, to the filling of casual vacancies. The vacanacy in the Windsor ward is not of this nature. I will, however, see how far it may be possible to meet my hon. Friend's suggestion.

:Is the hon. Member aware that they have not had the opportunity of nominating?

:I think my hon. Friend has been misinformed. It was the fault of the workmen themselves in failing to nominate. I will, however, see what we can do to meet the difficulty.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the reference to the Committee on Reformatory and Industrial Schools in Scotland; and whether they will consider the question of superannuation for teachers other than those certificated in the technical sense and also for workers in these schools?

:I will circulate the terms of reference with the Votes— [ See Written Answers this date. ]

:Is the right hon. Gentleman quite sure that this Departmental Committee will actually consider the workers in these schools who are not certificated in the technical sense?

:The words of reference are in general terms, "the staffs of the schools."

asked the Secretary for Scotland when applications were received by the Board of Agriculture for enlargement of holdings at Cunnings-burgh, Shetland; if he will state on what grounds the said applications have not already been dealt with; and whether, in view of the fact that the landlord would be no loser by the particular portion of this estate being taken for enlargement of existing holdings and that there would be no tenants to compensate, he will ascertain if it would be possible to have the said applications considered without further delay?

:Applications for enlargement of holdings at Cunnings-burgh were received on various dates from May, 1912, onwards. Over 800 applications have been received from Shetland, and owing to the pressure of the Board's duties it was not possible to complete local inquiries concerning them till February last. As mentioned in reply to a former question, negotiations have been opened with the proprietor of the lands desired by the Cunningsburgh applicants.

asked why the Report of the Scottish Board of Agriculture, first promised to be issued by the middle of April and thereafter by the middle of May, has not been issued; and when it is to be presented?

:I regret that the completion of the Report, and especially of the Appendices to it, took longer than was originally anticipated. The Report was, however, presented yesterday, and will, I am informed, be issued to-day or to-morrow.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the real reason for the delay in presenting the statement? Is he aware that hon. Members on this side of the House have been seriously inconvenienced by the non-presentation of the Report?

:I cannot give any other reason than the one I have given in my reply. I have not received the full explanation to my inquiry as to why the Report was not up to the date I mentioned to the House. I regret very much that it has not been presented, but the matter is not entirely in my personal control.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether offers to give or sell land at a cheap rate for sites for cottages for labourers in rural districts have been received by the Government from landowners; and, if so, will he say why no advantage has yet been taken of such offers, and why no such cottages have been or are being yet built, as promised recently by himself?

:I have received some offers of land to be used for the purpose mentioned in the question. The Board have no power to accept such offers, but I hoped that the Commissioners of Woods and Forests might be able to take advantage of them. I found, however, that in consequence of the peculiar constitutional positon of the Commissioners legal difficulties arose, and although in one case, with which I persevered as an experiment, I understand that the difficulties have at last been surmounted, it is clear that legislation is necessary before the Government can proceed on any considerable scale with the provision of cottages.

:Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to ask the Government to introduce legislation to deal forthwith with this matter?

:Oh, yes, Sir. It will be dealt with in the Revenue Bill.

:May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether there is any chance of any building being done this year, or is the whole year to be wasted?

:We must have the Revenue Bill first?

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether it is proposed, in pursuance of his promise made six months ago, to supersede the Tuberculosis Order of 1913 by another Order providing for one valuation only of cattle alleged to be tuberculosis and for alteration in the basis of compensation; and whether his negotiations with the Treasury on the latter question have reached a satisfactory issue?

:Yes, Sir, the new Order will be issued very shortly, providing that compensation shall be payable at the rate of three-quarters of the market frame in cases of non-advanced tuberculosis and one-quarter of the market value in cases of advanced tuberculosis, with a minimum of 30s. in each case.

:What does the right lion. Gentleman mean by "very shortly"?

:I cannot state the exact date. It is not possible to do these things "offhand"; but without delay, I hope.

:Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that six months ago, in a statement made to the Cheshire farmers, he said that the new Order would be issued at a very early date?

:Yes, Sir, this is an early date; every month that has passed since then I have succeeded in getting better terms from the Treasury.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he has found it possible to persuade the Argentine Government to remove their embargo upon cattle exported from England and Wales prior to the Royal Agricultural Society's Show at Shrewsbury commencing on the 30th inst.; and, if not, whether, in view of the valuable business in pedigree cattle between the two countries usually transacted at the above show, and the abandonment of all restrictions upon importation by South Africa, Canada, and other countries, he will make further efforts during the next fortnight to secure the removal of such embargo?

:I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer which I gave to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. Member for Boston yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether his attention has been called to the inadequacy of the accommodation at the Government school in Nairobi, and in particular to the absence of any proper playground and of any shelter to which the children can go out of school hours; and whether any steps are being taken to remedy these defects?

:No, Sir; but I will enquire into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has considered the evidence of landowners before the Commission appointed by the acting Governor of East Africa to inquire into the native labour supply, and the various suggestions made for the reduction of the natives to a state of servitude; and if, in view of the agitation now being fomented to deprive the natives of their reserves, he will have such reserves vested in trustees in permanence for the benefit of the natives?

:I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Leeds on the 28th April.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman give this matter his further consideration before proceeding further?

:Yes, it is under my consideration at this moment.

:Will the right hon. Gentleman avoid the reduction of these reserves before the matter has been discussed in Parliament?

:There is no reason at present to assume that I have any intention of reducing the reserves.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Scotland was included within the terms of reference of the Departmental Committee on Local and Imperial Taxation?

:The terms of reference, which are printed at the opening of the final Report, were not expressly limited to England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if any estimate has been formed of the cost to the public of the police force which is devoted to the attempt to protect the public from the growing danger arising from the abuse of motor vehicles; and if he will suggest to the Chancellor of the Exchequer the additional taxation of motorists in order to recoup the great majority of the population, whose use of the roads is contracted and whose lives are endangered, for the extra costs thrust upon them by a limited number of well-to-do persons?

:The enforcement of the law in regard to motor vehicles is part of the ordinary duties of the police employed in the streets, and no separate estimate of its-cost could be made.

:Did not the magistrates complain that they had not power to impose a higher penalty than £11 in the case of a man who, after knocking down the woman, abandoned her on the road?

:That arises on a following question of my hon. Friend.

asked: the Home Secretary whether he is aware that, in cases of conviction of motorists for exceeding the speed limit or driving to the public danger, it is the common practice of magistrates to fine them in small sums, such as 40s. or £5; whether he is aware that such penalties do not act as a deterrent, being amongst the smallest expenses incurred by the motorists who commonly abuse the roads; and whether he will therefore propose legislation to this House providing for minimum penalties of such a character as shall make it inadvisable for motorists to drive to the public danger?

:The penalty to be imposed in any case is a matter within the discretion of the magistrates who hear the case; but I have recently issued a circular calling the attention of magistrates among other things to the importance of imposing an adequate punishment when offences under the Motor Car Act are of a serious character. There are strong objections to fixing minimum penalties by Statute, and Parliament has in recent years been opposed to limiting the discretion of the Courts in this direction.

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that on 8th June, Sergeant-Major F. C. Slater, of the Lancashire Fusiliers, while riding an ordinary bicycle between Meliden and Prestatyn, on a main road of a fairly wide character, being on the right side of the road and carrying a proper light, was run down, seriously injured, and abandoned by a motor cyclist; that on 30th May, Robert Harry Faulkner, a labourer, was found dying by the roadside at Paulerspury, Northamptonshire, having been knocked down and abandoned by an unknown motorist; and that on 27th May Mary Ann Loft was knocked down and seriously injured at Kingston by a motorist, who abandoned her to her fate; if he knows that such action on the part of motorists is now of frequent occurrence; and whether he will at once propose legislation to this House providing high minimum penalties, including sentences of imprisonment, for cases in which motorists are guilty of driving to the public danger?

:I have seen reports of the three cases to which my hon. Friend refers. I am happy to say that, so far as my information goes, such cases are of rare occurrence; but I agree that, when the offender can be traced, he ought to be severely punished, and I have no doubt that when an opportunity for legislation occurs this House will be disposed to increase the penalty under the Act.

:May I ask whether in another of these cases where the man was convicted of the threefold ground: of driving without a licence, of driving to the danger of the public, and of failing to stop when called, that the total penalty was only £39?

:It is for that reason that I hope the House on the first opportunity will agree to increase it.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is intended to introduce legislation to carry out any of the recommendations of the recent Royal Commission on the delay in the King's Bench Division?

:I doubt whether it will be possible to introduce legislation for this purpose this Session.

asked the Prime Minister if, before any committee or commission is set up to stand between this House and Civil servants in respect of their remuneration, he will give the House an opportunity of fully debating this subject?

asked the Prime Minister when he will give the House an opportunity of debating the management of Government telephones, the position of retrenched Civil servants from South Africa, and of the engineering staff of the Post Office, for which no time was available during the Debate on the Holt Report?

:I presume that my hon. Friend refers to the general aspect of the question. As my right hon. Friend the Postmaster-General stated last week, the Government propose in the first instance to set up a body to inquire as to the future relations of the State with its employés, both as to remuneration and the conditions of labour. It will be upon the Report of this body that action, if any, will be taken, and I am certainly of opinion that, when the Report is issued, a full opportunity for discussing it should be given.

:Can the right hon. Gentleman yet state whether the body will be a Select Committee or a Royal Commission?

:No, Sir, that is still under consideration.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Debate on the Post Office Estimates has been entirely occupied by a discussion on the grievances of the Post Office servants arising out of the Holt Report, he will give a day for the discussion of telephones and other Post Office subjects; and, if so, which day he will give?

:As I stated yesterday, if there is a general desire for a further day I have no doubt it can be arranged through the usual channels.

:Does my right hon. Friend mean that this additional day will be used entirely for the discussion of the telephones?

:No.

:During the two days no occasion was given for the ordinary criticism?

:Of course that lies very much with the disposition of the Committee.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that the Noble Lord the Member for South Kensington spoke in favour of and told for the Great Eastern Railway Bill in this House on the 11th of June; whether he is aware that the Noble Lord is the salaried chairman of that railway; whether he is aware that the Noble Lord is the holder of stock in that railway and, in the capacity of a paid servant of the company and a shareholder therein, has a direct pecuniary interest in the passing of the Bill; and whether, having regard to these circumstances, which appear to be fully in accord with precedent, he will introduce legislation which will prevent Members of this House from taking any -part in the proceedings on any Bill which affects their personal financial interest?

:I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of my hon. Friend's statement, but I do not think that matters of this kind are most suitably dealt with by legislation. In my opinion they should be left to the discretion and judgment of hon. Members concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether the bounty of £1 for every Infantry Territorial who attends camp for fifteen days, as announced in the special Army Order of the 8th April, will be granted to dismounted men and motor cyclists of the Imperial Yeomanry?

:Dismounted men and motor cyclists of the Imperial Yeomanry who attend camp for fifteen days can earn a bounty of 30s. if they qualify in equitation under the new rules. If they do not qualify in equitation they will be eligible for the bounty of £l given to Infantry and other arms.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether motor cyclists not belonging to the Territorial Force have been paid at the rate of 16s. per day during recent Army manœuvres, whereas those motor cyclists members of Territorial units who volunteered for manœuvres received only 9s. 2d. per day and rations; and, if so, whether he will take steps to remove this discouragement to the recruiting of motor cyclists for the Territorial Force?

:I do not think the comparison as stated in the question is accurate. It leaves out of sight the fact that the motor cyclist members of the Territorial Force units received clothing, messing allowance and camp accommodation in addition to pay and rations, and also the fact that they are engaged to serve at certain fixed rates, whereas the motor cyclists who do not belong to the Territorial Force are specially engaged for the short job. The Army Council are not aware that the emoluments offered to motor cyclist Territorials are any discouragement to recruiting.

:Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the fixed rate applies to the annual training of fifteen days and is not in any way a condition of attending manœuvres, and that the payment which has been given to the Territorial Force has been barely enough to cover the cost of the wear and tear of their machines and the fuel1? And does he not consider it advisable to induce those Territorial cyclists not only to attend training but also to go on manœuvres, and will he not give the same payment to other cyclists?

:It is impossible to give exactly the same terms' to cyclists in employment continuously and to others not so engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the recent canteen disclosures, he will institute an inquiry into the methods used by other contractors as well as Messrs. Lipton, with a view to discover how far the practice of corruption exists, and to arrange precautions against its revival?

:It has been decided to institute an inquiry into the whole system of supplying garrison and regimental institutes.

asked the Secretary of State for War why service in the Militia does not count in qualifying officers of the Special Reserve for promotion; and whether there is any difference in the annual training, except change of name, to warrant such distinction?

:Commissioned service in the Militia during embodiment or in the field counts for the purpose of time promotion in the Special Reserve. The difference between service in the Special Reserve and in the Militia consists in the fact that the former carries with it a liability to foreign service.

:Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the training is exactly the same, and if an officer is qualified by a certain number of years' training in the Special Reserve, surely he is no more capable than an officer qualified by the same amount of training in the Militia?

:Training in the Militia hardly counts now, it is so long ago since there was such training. I am quite aware of the distinction between foreign service and service at home.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if William Raffles, who was invalided some years ago from the Royal Marines, has been awarded a pension of 3s. 6d. a week; the date when Raffles became entitled to such pension; if there was any dispute as to his right to a pension; if he will receive arrears; and, if so, the amount of same?

:William Raffles was invalided from the Royal Marines in September, 1877, and under an old regulation, applicable to his case but now obsolete, he became entitled to a Marine Deferred Pension of 6d. a day as from the 28th June, 1892, the date on which he reached the age of 50. There was no dispute as to his rights to this pension, but the Admiralty had no information as to his whereabouts nor even that he was still alive. An application for assistance was made on his behalf in April last, and on his being identified steps were taken at once to award the pension. He will receive arrears amounting approximately to £200.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a complaint with regard to the painting of oil-fuel tanks at Portland by labourers; whether he is aware that this work was formerly done by painters, labourers only being allowed to clean down the ironwork; and whether he will make inquiries into the matter and put a stop to painting work being done by labourers at less than the proper rate?

:A complaint has been received respecting the painting of oil-fuel tanks at Portland by skilled labourers. In accordance with the usual Admiralty procedure, the covering of large surfaces, where no finish or appearance is necessary, is executed by skilled labourers.

asked whether the Board of Admiralty have yet decided to grant the same rates of increase of pay to the junior officers of Royal Marines serving both ashore and afloat as have been made to officers in the Navy and Army?

:A decision in this matter has not yet been arrived at.

:When will the Board of Admiralty come to a decision in this matter? I received the same answer about twelve months ago.

:No. The answer I gave was on the 4th of March this year.