asked the Patronage Secretary to the Treasury whether the system of nomination by Members of Parliament of men for positions in the Preventive Service is still in existence?

The answer is in the negative. Preventive men are now recruited by an examination for which nominations are granted by the Board of Customs and Excise. For details, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland on 11th November, 1912.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, if he will inquire into the case of Mr. C. Ruffy, of 29, Glamorgan Street, S.W., who joined the vocal section of the Amalgamated Musicians Union in January, 1912, and at the request of the secretary of that union handed in his receipt book for his contributions paid, in January, 1914, and in spite of repeated applications has failed to secure its return; and will he state why the receipt book is being retained?

I have communicated with the approved society in which members of the union referred to are insured. They inform me that the insurance books of the members of the different unions have required checking at the head office of the society, which has resulted in some cases in the local officials, to whom the books were originally surrendered, being unable to hand them back when asked for. The member in question has now received his book.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland the name of the particular body or association that pressed on the Treasury and the Irish Office the inadvisability of paying national teachers' salaries monthly; the date on which any such representations took place; and what steps were taken to effect this reform prior to any pressure or inducements being exercised?

I am unable to find that any body or association made such a representation as that indicated in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the Congested Districts Board has intimated that the difficulty which interferes to prevent their compliance with the terms of the resolution passed by the county council of Roscommon, requesting the board to include the town of Roscommon in their purchase of land belonging to the Earl of Essex, arises from a change in the practice of the Land Commission, who will not now vest an estate in the board which is subject to interests intervening between that of the owner and of the tenant in actual occupation of the holding; and whether, in view of the public interests concerned, he will request the Congested Districts Board to obtain from the Land Commission a relaxation of the rule above referred to in this case?

The Judicial Commissioner has given a decision to the effect that no holdings subject to intervening interests of not less than sixty years' unexpired, or that are fee farm interests, can be purchased by the Congested Districts Board by means of an advance under the Land Purchase Acts. The Land Commission are bound to act in accordance with this decision.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any reply has been given to the petition of the men employed on the War Department vessels that was handed in in September, 1911; and, if not, whether it is intended to give any reply to it?

This petition raised a number of questions affecting men employed under the Admiralty, inquiry into which has been proceeding. This inquiry is now complete, and I hope a decision will be reached shortly.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether a temporary fireman was engaged at Newcastle for work upon the War Department vessel "Lord Wolseley" at a weekly wage of 37s. 6d., with 9d. per hour for overtime; whether he is aware that the permanent firemen employed upon these vessels are paid at the rate of from 25s. 6d. to 29s. 6d. per week; and whether it is the intention of the Department to pay their regular staff the rate of pay current in the port?

A man was temporarily engaged, in an emergency, as stated. The rates of wages of the regular staff are under consideration as stated in reply to Question No. 10.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether boys, aged fourteen, are allowed to work night shifts in glass factories in Germany?

Yes, Sir. The conditions under which this is permitted are laid down in an Order of the Federal Council dated 9th March, 1913.

asked the Home Secretary in what sub-divisions of the Metropolitan Police area the sub-divisional inspectors receive a special weekly allowance of 5s.; and the sub-divisions in which such allowance is not made?

The particulars are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department the numbers, at the date of the last Census, of children between the ages of seven and twelve who were inmates of industrial schools, reformatories, asylums, or other institutions under the Home Office; and, if figures for these years of age are not available, whether the numbers can be given for the children of all ages?

At the date of the Census of 1911 the total number of inmates of industrial schools in England and Wales, all of whom must be under sixteen years of age, was 14,212. There are no figures available as to the number of inmates who were between the ages of seven and twelve, but during the year 1911 1,503 children between the ages of six and twelve were admitted to these schools. There are no children under twelve in reformatories—twelve being the minimum age for admission to these institutions. In asylums there were, on 1st January, 1911, 1,624 patients under fifteen years of age. There are no figures of those between seven and twelve. The only other institutions within the jurisdiction of the Home Office where children are detained are places of detention under the Children Act. There are no separate figures of the inmates of these places at the time of the Census, but the number under twelve would be very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Powers are taking any step in the direction of offering their good offices in order to avert the threatened rupture between Turkey and Greece?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 17th instant to the hon. Member for South Somerset. Occasion for joint action by the Powers in the sense indicated has, so far, not arisen.

asked the President of the Board of Education what arrangements he has entered into with the Royal Academy of Art respecting industrial art education in this country?

No arrangement of any sort has been entered into between the Royal Academy and myself in respect to the industrial art education in the country.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether the Government of India have taken into consideration the question of making interest on any portion of its 3½ per cent. rupee loans enfaced for London payable at 1s. 4d. to the rupee; will he say what is the total amount of rupee loans; and what would be the annual cost of making interest payable in London at 1s. 4d. to the rupee if exchange fell to 1s. 3 7–8d. in the extreme event of the whole amount being transferred to London?

Suggestions for making interest on rupee paper payable in London at 1s. 4d. to the rupee were considered some years ago, but were not adopted. The total amount of the public rupee loans of the Government of India is approximately 141 1–3 crores of rupees, of which less than 10 crores are enfaced for payment of interest in London. The direct cost of paying interest in London at 1s. 4d. the rupee in the case referred to in the latter part of the question would be about £25,550 per annum.

asked the Home Secretary (1) the total number of hospitals, dispensaries, nursing institutions, and convalescent homes, respectively, existing in England and Wales, excluding all establishments under the Poor Law and all establishments wholly or partly supported out of the rates; (2) how many hospitals or similar establishments managed by local authorities and supported wholly or partly out of the rates are treating non-infectious cases; where such hospitals or establishments are situated; and (3) the total number of hospitals, dispensaries, nursing institutions, and convalescent homes, respectively, excluding all establishments under the Poor Law, which are managed by the local authorities of England and Wales, including London, and are wholly or partly supported out of the rates?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to these questions. As I stated in the House yesterday, I am collecting information on this subject, and I hope shortly to be in a position to furnish the particulars desired.