asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in the event of war breaking out between Greece and Turkey, what steps he intends taking to protect British shipping in the East Mediterranean from the dangers to which it will be liable from floating, contact, and drifting mines in harbours and straits?

It is impossible to say in advance what steps His Majesty's Government may be able to take to prevent or minimise these dangers. I can only say that we shall exercise what influence we can to prevent war breaking out, and if it does break out to secure that harbours and straits are not closed to merchant shipping.

asked whether in respect to the piracy on board the British steamer "Shui-on" in 1911, the sum of £1,000, which was claimed by His Majesty's Government as compensation for injury to the health of the master, Captain Johnston, has now been paid by the Chinese Government; and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government will take further steps in obtaining a satisfactory settlement of this claim?

I will make inquiry of His Majesty's Minister at Peking, and will inform the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has information with regard to 4,000 Mussulmans who are reported to be surrounded in Argyrocastro by the forces of the provisional Government of Epirus; and if he will make representations to the Hellenic Government to use its influence to prevent the perpetration of outrages?

I received such a Report by telegraph from an unofficial source on the 12th instant, but I am not in a position to verify its accuracy. I understand that my informant, who is a United States citizen, is now in Northern Epirus in company with the United States Minister to Greece, who will doubtless make the representations the hon. Member suggests should they appear called for.

Is the hon. Member aware that the Hellenic Government, through the Foreign Secretary, have insulted this country by deliberately telling lie after lie on the situation?

The hon. Member is not entitled to use an expression like that about a friendly Government. [HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw."]

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture when he expects to begin the erection of labourers' cottages in rural districts where there is a scarcity of such houses?

The Bill dealing with this question will be introduced shortly, and will, I hope, be passed into law in time to enable the building of cottages to be begun in some districts this winter.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture if he is aware that there is an embargo on the importation of hay to the island of Jersey from the West Country on the ground of possible infection from foot-and-mouth disease, although there has been no outbreak of the disease in Somerset for two years, and that hay is being imported into Jersey from Denmark; and what action he will take?

The Board have no information with regard to the importation of hay from Denmark into Jersey; otherwise the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board are making representations on the subject.

asked whether any moneys have been allocated by the Board out of their Development Fund Grant towards independent research into contagious diseases of animals on the part of private investigators not in the employment of his Department?

Grants for this purpose have been made annually since 1911 to the Royal Veterinary College, and for similar purposes to the Wye College and to the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the request on the part of the National Pig-Breeders' Association, supported by several of the leading medical authorities in the country, for the institution of independent research at Cambridge, either by the university or by the Quick Trustees, in connection with swine fever and other diseases deemed to be caused by an ultramicroscopic and filtrable virus, and for a Grant from the Development Fund to promote such investigation; and, if so, whether the Government propose to comply with such request?

I received a deputation from the National Pig-Breeders' Association on this subject last week. As I stated in the course of my speech in the Debate on the Board's Estimates, I am endeavouring to facilitate arrangements which I hope can be made for independent research work on swine fever concurrent with that conducted by Sir Stewart Stockman, but not superseding it. Whether Cambridge University or some other institution is the best for this purpose is at present engaging the attention of the Board and the Development Commissioners, but no definite announcement can be made at present.

asked whether, in view of the slow progress of the movement for the establishment of agricultural credit banks in England and Wales, the increasing need for their useful operations in connection with small holdings, and the difficulty of deciding upon the system best adapted to British rural conditions, he will consider the advisability of setting up a Departmental Committee to consider and report upon the matter, with terms of reference similar to those of the Departmental Committee upon Agricultural Credit in Ireland, which has recently issued its Report?

The Report of the Departmental Committee upon Agricultural Credit in Ireland deals comprehensively with the subject, and much of it applies equally to England and Wales. The great obstacle to progress in this country is not any difficulty in finding capital or in devising a suitable system of co-operative credit, but the marked disinclination of many of those who would benefit by it to combine for that particular purpose. For these reasons I do not think that there is anything to be gained at present by setting up such a Committee as the hon. Gentleman suggests.

Is it not a fact that this marked disinclination to which the right hon. Gentleman refers is an indication of the difference of the conditions prevailing in England from those prevailing in Ireland?

That is a matter of opinion which may also be due to the different stages of development in co-operative idea in England and Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has had any complaint from Scotland regard- ing the lack of uniformity in the restrictions placed by county authorities on the importation and movements of stock; and, if so, whether he intends to take any steps to secure greater uniformity?

I am aware that inconvenience has been caused by the lack of uniformity in the Regulations made by local authorities and the Board have received some communications from Scotland with reference to it. In answer to the latter part of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to my speech in this House on Tuesday last.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether any steps are being taken to constitute a properly equipped Department of Agriculture at Oxford University, comparable with that existing at Cambridge University, for the more efficient training of prospective landowners and farmers; and whether the Board have made any representations to the former university on this subject?

The School of Rural Economy at Oxford has been from time to time the subject of conferences between representatives of the Board and of the university, and is recognised by the Board in the distribution of their annual Grants for agricultural education. It would not be possible within the limits of an answer to a Parliamentary question to draw a fair comparison between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge in this respect.

Is it not desirable that Oxford University should be at least as efficient as Cambridge University in this matter?

The hon. Gentleman will observe in my answer that I did not admit Cambridge was superior to Oxford.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he has yet been able to have an estimate made of the cost of demolishing the wall alongside the road on the north side of Hampton Court Park and of substituting therefore iron railings?

The estimated cost of substituting a suitable iron railing of simple design for the existing wall on the north side of the Hampton Court Road is £5,200. There are no funds available for this service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any portion of the sum of £13,000, the Estimate for the special investigation into movements of ice in the North Atlantic, is to be repaid by those interested in the North Atlantic trade; and whether this sum is likely to be an annual charge?

It is proposed that the British proportion of the cost of the new international service should be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament. The charge will be an annual one.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the advisability of putting this charge upon those who are interested in the North Atlantic trade, and who therefore benefit?

I will discuss that question with the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what number and what proportion of the total number of British ocean-going ships registered in the United Kingdom will have to be equipped with wireless telegraphy under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Convention) Bill; and (2) what number and what proportion of the total number of British ocean-going ships registered in the United Kingdom normally carry fifty persons, forty persons, and thirty persons, respectively?

The number of British foreign-going ships registered in the United Kingdom which normally carry fifty or more persons, and which will, therefore, have to be equipped with wireless telegraphy apparatus, under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping (Convention) Bill, will be about 1,100, with a tonnage of about 4,250,000 tons net, or about one-quarter of the total number and two-fifths of the total tonnage of British foreign-going ships registered in the United Kingdom. I regret that the figures show- ing the number of vessels which normally carry forty persons and thirty persons are not available. The figures given above are exclusive of ships engaged solely in the Home Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the tests for colour vision, the examiners open the lanterns in order to make notes; and, if so, whether orders will be given to discontinue the practice, as the introduction of stray light makes the tests unduly difficult for normal-sighted persons?

Effective arrangements have been made to enable the examiners to make their records without the possibility of any stray light from the lantern interfering with the candidates. If my hon. Friend has any information as to difficulty being experienced in the manner indicated by a candidate under examination I shall be glad to make inquiries in the matter if he will supply me with such particulars as will enable me to identify the case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will explain why, although pensioners from public services are ordinarily paid their pensions in advance, such pensioners employed in the Post Office are not paid quarterly in advance or otherwise than by a weekly sum reckoned as part of or in addition to their wages as postal employés; whether many such pensioners desire to be paid their pensions separately, as other pensioners are ordinarily paid, and regard the combination of pension with wages in a weekly payment as a means of cheapening their labour; and whether he is willing to include this matter in the reference to the proposed further Committee of Inquiry on the grievances of postal employés?

The change from quarterly to weekly payment of pensions in the case of men employed in the Post Office was made in 1900, in the interests of the men themselves. The combination of pensions with wages in a weekly payment does not in any way affect the amount of an officer's wages, which are laid down for the class as a whole, without any regard to the fact that some members of it are pensioners. The reference to the Committee of Inquiry which is about to sit will only include matters dealt with by the recent Select Committee, of which this was not one.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that many of these pensioners regard themselves as placed at a disadvantage by getting their pensions postponed to weekly instalments instead of getting them at the beginning of the quarter, and does his answer cover that inequality?

It is quite news to me that the Treasury ever permit payment of pensions in advance. I cannot say that is not the case in individual instances, but it is quite news to me. Apart from that, I may tell the hon. Gentleman that I was constantly pressed, when I was at the Treasury, to see that payment for pensions were made weekly instead of quarterly, as giving much greater convenience to the persons having them.

Will the right hon. Gentleman inquire whether Army pensions are not regularly paid in advance—I think both Army and Navy pensions—and, if that is so, will he see whether men are put at a disadvantage by getting as the thirteenth instalment in the thirteenth week of the quarter a sum which, if they were merely pensioners, they would get at the beginning of the quarter?

No, because I think that the balance of opinion is vastly in favour of the present system of payment of pensions weekly.

asked the Postmaster-General why 2nd February was fixed instead of 1st February as the date when the recommendations of the Holt Committee should come into force; whether this had the effect of preventing certain increases from taking place for another year; and, if so, whether these cases will be specially considered?

In the Committee's Report, which is dated 7th August, 1913, there is a recommendation that the new rates should come into force within a period not exceeding six months. Monday, the 2nd Ferbuary, rather than Sunday, the 1st February, was selected because the bulk of the Post Office staff are on weekly wages payable not from Sunday but from Monday in each week. In the latter part of the question the hon. Member probably has in mind those scale payment sub-postmasters whose ordinary triennial revisions fell due on the 1st February and were carried out on the old scale. In those cases there will be special revisions on 1st August, 1915, and any increases then found to be due under the Holt scale will be dated back a year.

asked the Postmaster-General the result of his inquiries into the complaints regarding the violation of Rule No. 177 with respect to the employment of officials under the direct supervision of relatives at the Birmingham Post Office?

I furnished the hon. Member with a full statement of the facts on the 19th instant.

asked the Postmaster-General the number of family relationships existing among the rank and file of the staff employed at the Londonderry post office; and whether, having regard to Staff Rule No. 177, there is any intention of extending the number of such relationships?

I am aware that a number of the staff at Londonderry are related to one another, but I see no ground for taking any special action there. I am assured that the discipline and work of the office are not affected by the relationships.

asked the Postmaster-General whether a vacancy for the position of overseer at the Watford office was recently filled by a sorting clerk and telegraphist from the Portsmouth office; whether this officer was fully qualified in all duties necessary to the telegraph section; whether sorting clerks and telegraphists attached to the Watford office have satisfactorily performed not only their own duties but, in addition, long periods of acting duties to fill the vacant duty of overseership; whether the claims and qualifications of these officers were fully considered in making the appointment; and whether it is proposed to offer a reciprocal promotion to the Watford staff as compensation for a lost appointment in their own office?

A vacancy for an overseer at Watford was filled in December last by the promotion of a fully qualified sorting clerk and telegraphist from Portsmouth. The claims of the local sorting clerks and telegraphists were duly considered, but none of them could be regarded as fully qualified for promotion. The officer promoted has, however, now at his own request returned to Portsmouth, and the question of giving the Watford staff a reciprocal promotion does not arise at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it has been the usual practice in the past for a Postmaster-General to turn out of their quarters officers and non-commissioned officers of one of His Majesty's cable ships for the benefit of the Postmaster-General's unofficial friends?

As there is only one spare cabin on the "Monarch," it is necessarily and always has been the practice, when more than one guest is on board, to require one or more of the officers to give up their cabins for the time.

Are we to understand that it has been the practice in the past for officers to turn out of their quarters?

So I understand.

asked the Postmaster - General whether the St. Kilda wireless installation is at the present moment without the services of an operator; whether those who erected the installation have been compelled to abandon its continuance as a philanthropic effort; whether representations have been made to him to secure its continuance, and what decision he has come to in the matter?

The wireless apparatus at St. Kilda was put up by the proprietors of a daily paper, and was worked by an operator of the Marconi Company, who has now been withdrawn. I understand that before leaving he gave some instruction in the use of the apparatus to one of the residents on the island, and that one wireless message has since been received. The question of the future working of this installation is under consideration.

asked the Postmaster-General what date the contractor has mentioned for the completion of the work of laying telephone lines in Earlestown, Lancashire?

A date has not been given by the contractor, but the work is practically completed and ready for final test.

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean to say that contracts are given without any date being named for their completion?

I do not recall the particulars of this individual contract at the moment. We have a very great number of contracts, and that is the information I have received. It seems to me to inflict no hardship on the locality.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the limited number of carpenters' crew ratings advanced to the shipwright rating at the beginning of the financial year, he will consider the lack of opportunity for advancement in these ratings and the possibility of opening up some higher rating for these men, so that they may have better opportunities for advancement in their own branch of the service?

Fifty special advancements of carpenters' crew ratings to shipwright are being made during the current financial year. It is not considered necessary to take any further steps to accelerate the advancement of these ratings.

Will the right hon. Gentleman explain what opportunities, other than the limited number allowed at the discretion of the Admiralty to transfer to the shipwright rating, these men of the carpenters' crew ratings have of rising to warrant commission ranks?

Well, fifty advancements to shipwright are being made this year.

Is it not a fact that the greater number of carpenters' crew ratings have no opportunity of rising to a higher rating than that of joiner at 22s. 6d. per week?

They may be advanced after examination, at the discretion of the Admiralty.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the recent suicide of an assistant clerk in the Admiralty; and, in view of the statement that the deceased could no longer live on his pay, if he will state the weekly amount of that pay, the number of clerks at present employed at a similar rate of remuneration, and whether it is proposed to grant any increase to those clerks?

The assistant clerk was at the time of his decease in receipt of £50 a year, equivalent to 19s. 2d. a week. He was on the usual scale of salary for assistant clerks, namely, £45 a year, rising by £5 annually to £85, and thence by £7 10s, to £150. There are 197 assistant clerks serving at present at the Admiralty on this scale, which is the same as in other Government Departments. The last part of the question should, I think, be put to the representative of the Treasury.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Indian Government has been consulted on the proposed purchase of a controlling share in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company; and, if it has, whether he will lay upon the Table of the House a statement of the views of the Government of India?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. In addition to communications that passed between the departments in London, Admiral Slade was placed in full consultation with political officers on the spot, and on his return from Persia he proceeded to Delhi, and conferences took place with officers of the Indian Government appointed by the Viceroy under instructions from the Secretary of State. In reply to the second part of the question, it is not proposed to lay Papers on the subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether that portion of the oil-field, which is said to be in Turkish territory, was submitted to the Government of India before the Admiralty came to its conclusion?

That hardly arises out of this question.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of the Money Bill sanctioning the purchase of shares in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company becoming law, the Government of India can be held liable to meet the cost or any part of the cost of a military expedition which in the future may have to be sent to defend the Persian Oil Company's concessions?

My hon. Friend's question is based on an hypothesis, and I am not able to answer it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to introduce a Bill to carry ont the Anglo-Persian oil transaction, or by what other means he will obtain the sanction of the House to the Resolution passed in Committee of the Whole House on the 17th instant?

The authority given by the Resolution will be confirmed by a Bill to be introduced in due course, and dealing with the method of providing the necessary funds.

Will there be an opportunity when the Bill is introduced for a discussion in the House on the subject?

Of course there will.

It will be a separate Bill dealing with this transaction?

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Anglo-Persian Oil Company will shortly place a contract for 150 miles of 10-inch steel pipes; and whether, in that case, he will exercise his influence to secure that the tenders will be confined to the British industries which will be taxed to find the capital invested by the Government in the Anglo-Persian Oil Company?

The reply to the first part of the question is that purchases of that nature will no doubt be necessary. To the second part, the Noble Lord has already been informed that it is not proposed to impose restrictions upon this company, to which Government Departments themselves are not subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether the contract will be placed before the debts of the Burma Oil Company are paid?

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether, if the contract is placed abroad, the contractors will have to pay as much taxation as our own people if the contract was placed in this country?

The right hon. Gentleman cannot be expected to answer that question off hand.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has now any further information regarding sanatorium accommodation in the area of the Carmarthenshire Insurance Committee?

My right hon. Friend is informed that so far as the insurance committee are aware no such statement as that referred to in the hon. Member's previous question has been made. During the past three months twenty-three persons in the area in question were recommended for treatment in sanatoria, and all, except one, who will be admitted this week, and five who refused the treatment, are already receiving that treatment.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has any further information to communicate to the House with regard to the statements made at the recent meeting of the South Manchester guardians, that there was no provision at the Withington Hospital for dealing effectively with the 112 men and forty-one women suffering from consumption, and to a lady guardian's further statement at the same meeting that, as a member of the local insurance committee, she was aware that eighty-eight people applied for sanatorium treatment and that it could only be given to three; and, in view of these statements, will he inform the House what provision has been made in this district to supply sanatorium treatment?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on Thursday last. The second part appears to relate to the Salford Insurance Committee. At a meeting of the sanatorium benefit sub-committee, on 13th May, eighty-eight cases were considered; of these forty-two were old cases, who were recommended for further periods of treatment, ten of them in residential institutions, and all have received the treatment recommended except one, who has left for Australia, and one who was found after attendance at the dispensary not to be suffering from tuberculosis. Of the new applications forty-five were recommended for benefit, and all have received treatment, eight in residential institutions.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman why it is that while the President of the Local Government Board promised a full reply to the first part of my question, and also undertook to look into the matter further, the hon. Gentleman now informs me that the question was replied to last week?

If the hon. Gentleman wants further information with regard to this entirely unsubstantiated charge he had better put another question down.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether the estimated cost of the National Insurance audit department in 1914–15 is included in the sum of £876,140 which he gave as the estimated cost of central administration for 1914–15?

The answer is in the affirmative.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to the case at Lambeth Police Court at which an inmate of Camberwell workhouse was charged with the offence of laughing in the workhouse dining-hall; whether it was with his consent that the inmate was warned that if he repeated the offence of laughing he would be sent to gaol; and, if not, will he issue instructions that laughing during the time when the inmates are having their food shall no longer be a punishable crime?

I have seen a newspaper report of the case to which the hon. Member refers, from which it appears that the hon. Member has been misinformed, and that the offence with which the inmate was charged was that of refusing to perform his allotted task of work. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. I think that inmates of workhouses may reasonably be required to maintain order and decorum during meal times, but I should not approve of a regulation requiring that strict silence should be enforced. Where a regulation in those terms has been submitted by a board of guardians the Local Government Board have raised objection and have secured is modification.

Are we to understand there is nothing in the Report at all that this inmate was had up for laughing at meal times?

My information is that the offence with which he was charged was that of refusing to perform his allotted task.

Is it the case that boards of guardians have submitted regulations proposing to make laughing at meal times an offence?

Some boards of guardians have submitted regulations to the effect that strict silence should be enforced, but the Local Government Board have refused to approve them.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any arrangements are to be made by which pensions will be provided for fully qualified handicraft teachers in elementary schools; and, if not, whether he can explain why the conditions of employment of those teachers are differentiated from those of other full-time qualified teachers in such schools?

The only teachers in elementary schools whose service is pensionable are certificated teachers, and the reason for this is that Parliament has so decided. With regard to the future position of the handicraft teachers, I am at present unable to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 9th June.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, having recognised the importance of encouraging handicraft instruction in elementary schools, he can do anything to obtain pensions for fully-qualified teachers in these subjects?

The hon. Member knows there are other proposals in regard to pensions—in regard, for instance, to secondary teachers, who are teaching in schools receiving the Government Grant. The whole subject connected with the pensioning of teachers, other than those to whom Parliament has applied the Pensions Acts, is now under the consideration of the Government.

May I assume from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that some arrangement will be made to obtain pensions for the teachers to whom I have referred?

I am not in the position to promise anything at the present moment.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, seeing that the Elementary Education Act, 1891, is proposed to be repealed by the Finance Bill, he will say whether he proposes to take any and, if any, what steps to preserve the right of free education?

The right to free education does not now depend on the Elementary Education Act, 1891. It was originally established by Section 5 of that Act. This Section was repealed by the Education Act, 1902; and the right to free education is now dependent on Schedule III. (5) of the Education Act, 1902, which is unaffected by the proposals of the Finance Bill, and which imposes on a local education authority a duty to provide a sufficient amount of public school accommodation without payment of fees in every part of their area.

Does not that refer specially to those parents who claim, on the ground of poverty, that they are unable to pay the fees?

Any parent who makes representation that he desires to have free education supplied to his children is always reported to the Board, who immediately calls upon the local education authority to make good any deficiency in regard to the supply of free places.

Is not that a deviation from the position under the original Act? Is it not an attempt to place on the parent an obligation to give some reason why he is applying for free education? Is the door to remain open for the child to receive free education without the stigma of pauperism?

Under the Regulations of the Code and under the practice now in force for some years, there is no difference between the power which the individual will have to secure free education, and that which has already been in operation, and I am informed that the Finance Bill, as drafted, will not prejudice to any extent, or in any degree whatsoever, the right of the parent to claim free education for his child.

Are we to understand that the proposed legislation of the Government makes no difference whatever in the right to free education?

I understand that is so.

If there is any other idea will the right hon. Gentleman see that the Bill is amended in that direction?

I shall be quite prepared to consider any amendments that may be put down on the question, but so far as I am advised the right of parents to secure free education for their children, is not prejudiced in any way by the proposal of the Finance Bill.

asked the President of the Board of Education, with regard to the proposed repeal of the Free Education Act of 1891 by the Finance Bill, whether he has consulted, or will consult, the Law Officers of the Crown as to the rights which will survive, in the case of the Finance Bill passing into law, of parents to demand free elementary education for their children; and whether, in the Debate on the Finance Bill, he will explain the policy of the Government in regard to free education?

I am advised that there is no ambiguity in the law on the subject or as to the effect of the proposed repeal of the Elementary Education Act, 1891, and I see no occasion to consult the Law Officers of the Crown in the matter. There is no change in the policy of the Government with regard to free education, and parents will have the same right as hitherto to be provided with free education for their children.

The right hon. Gentleman said he had been advised. Will he state by whom he has been advised?

By my own legal advisers at the Board of Education, in whom I have absolute confidence in matters of this kind.

Would it not be well to fortify their advice by that of the Law Officers of the Crown?

If the hon. Member is of opinion that the Law Officers of the Crown would differ from my own legal advisers, I am quite prepared to submit a further point to the Law Officers of the Crown?

asked the President of the Board of Education what provision, if any, is being made by the Finance Bill or any other Government measure for affording to the local education authorities increased assistance from the Exchequer towards the expenses of continuation schools and secondary education?

It is intended to utilise part of any additional money available in the year 1915–16 for substantially increasing the Grants for secondary and technical education (including evening schools). I hope shortly to be in a position to make a further statement on the subject.

How soon will the right hon Gentleman be able to give us some more specific information on this subject?

Proposals are already under the consideration of the Treasury which I have placed before them with regard to the allocation of the £560,000 which was referred to in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement. At the present moment I cannot give further particulars until an arrangement has been arrived at with the Treasury in regard to the distribution of that sum.

Will the proposals receive Parliamentary sanction before they are acted upon by the Board or the Treasury?

I think that any expenditure of money of this sort will appear in due course on the Estimates. That is the proper opportunity which Parliament may take to criticise any proposals of this character.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be able to make the statement to which he referred in answering my hon. Friend (Mr. C. Bathurst) in introducing his Estimates?

If it is in order, I shall be quite prepared to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any, and, if so, how many, of the 3,644 women and girls which, on the 11th July, 1912, he stated had recently disappeared in London in a single year and had been subsequently traced, were found by the police to have left their families for causes connected with immorality and prostitution?

I understand the Noble Lord's question refers to women reported as missing who were afterwards traced—that is, in most cases, they returned to their families. In order to obtain the information required, it would be necessary for the police to make inquiry as to the morals of each of the women concerned—an inquiry which would give rise to grave offence in many cases, and would not be likely to produce correct information.

The right hon. Gentleman has misunderstood the question. Can he say whether, when the police traced these women, they received at that time any information which led them to understand that the women had disappeared from their families for the causes stated in my question?

No, Sir, we have no information at all that any of the women who subsequently returned to their homes—

The women who were traced.

I have no evidence at all that the women who were traced left their homes for immoral purposes.

asked how many women and girls were reported to the Metropolitan Police during 1913 as having disappeared, and how many of these were traced?

During the year ending 31st December, 1913, 1,083 girls under sixteen and 3,017 women were reported to the Metropolitan Police as missing. It should be explained, however, that many of these were reported missing from homes in the country, information being circulated in London in case they should find their way here. The whole of the 1,083 girls were traced, and also 2,942 of the women. As regards the seventy-five cases not found, debt, family quarrels, uncomfortable situations, and similar reasons play an important part in the disappearances. The number of cases in which the disappearance was believed to be connected with irregular relations with men is about ten. In only one of these cases was there the slightest suspicion that the woman had been decoyed. The police made the closest inquiry, but were not able to find proof of the suspicion.

asked the Home Secretary what were the months to which the figures referred which he gave in answer to a question by the hon. Member for Blackburn on 11th July, 1912, on the subject of the disappearance of women and girls in London?

These figures related to the twelve months ending 30th June, 1912.

asked the Home Secretary whether, in the opinion of the Home Office, it is possible to state with any certainty that no one of the recent colliery disasters at Senghenydd, Cadeby, the Pretoria Pit, Hulton, or the Maypole Colliery, Wigan, respectively, could possibly have been due to accidents in shot-firing?

In the case of the first two disasters, it is quite certain, and in the case of the third there are strong reasons for believing, that shot-firing had nothing to do with their occurrence. In the case of the Maypole explosion, it seems probable that the ignition of the gas or coal dust was caused by a shot, but there is nothing to connect the accident with the method of firing.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is prepared to make proposals for the superannuation of the officials of reformatory and industrial schools of Scotland?

I am not prepared to make proposals of the kind referred to. The subject of reformatory and industrial schools in Scotland is now being considered by a Departmental Committee, and I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for East Edinburgh, on 16th June.

Will that Committee consider the position of the officials apart from general considerations?

If my hon. Friend will read the answer, he will find that is dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether it is proposed to lease the Valsayn estate, the property of the Trinidad Government, situated at Tunapuna, to a company which proposes to manufacture paper from bamboo fibre; whether this arrangement will have the effect of turning out any of the small farmers who have cultivated the property in the past, and, if so, how many will be disturbed, and what arrangements are being made for them; how many acres does the property consist of; how many are the company going to lease; and what is the price per acre to be paid?

I have not received any intimation from the Governor that the letting of this estate is contemplated by the Colonial Government, but if proposals to lease it are made, I feel sure that all material considerations, including those mentioned by my hon. Friend, will be duly weighed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has yet received a memorial from the Georgetown Town Council on the subject of the Governor of British Guiana's proposal to amend the Georgetown Town Council Ordinance; and whether due consideration will be given to the terms of the memorial before the said proposals are confirmed?

The memorial has not yet reached me, but will receive due consideration when it arrives.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the number of peerages, baronetcies, privy councillorships, knighthoods, and decorations conferred in 1902 was 1,542, in 1911 was 515, and in 1913 was 375, and that the conferment of these honours gives rise to disappointment and criticism; and whether, in connection with the reform of the Upper House, he will propose a legislative restriction of the conferment of titles and other honours?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers that question, may I ask whether he can state what proportion of the figures for 1902 is due to appointments to the Order of the Bath and the Distinguished Service Order in connection with the termination of the South African War? [An HON. MEMBER: "And the Coronation!"]

I cannot answer that question without notice. In reply to the question on the Paper, I see no reason to doubt the accuracy of my hon. Friend's figures, but I am not prepared to adopt the suggestion he proposes in the latter part of his question.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say whether a great many of these honours were given for war services and in respect of the Coronation?

I cannot say.

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government contemplate taking any action with regard to the codification of the Income Tax Law during the present Parliament?

I am unable to add anything to the answer given by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Kilkenny on the 7th ultimo.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that women, having no electoral voice in the selection of Members in this House, persistently allege that they suffer as a class from wrongs which a man-made Parliament will not redress, and in view of the fact also that many Members opposed to the extension of the franchise to women have nevertheless repeatedly expressed their willingness to support any measures for the removal of such injustices as may be shown to exist, he will set up a Select Committee to inquire into and report on alleged grievances?

His Majesty's Government are quite willing to consider any grievances which may be shown to exist, and I hardly think the establishment of a Select Committee for the purpose suggested necessary.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Lord Murray of Elibank has recently advocated a Referendum of the electors on Women Suffrage, preferably previous to the next General Election; and whether he will approach the Leaders of the Opposition with a view of finding out whether a Bill with this object might be recognised as non-contentious?

I have seen in the public Press a letter from Lord Murray on this subject, but I am not satisfied that the suggestion made in it is the proper method of dealing with the question referred to, nor do I think that a Bill for the object is likely to be regarded as non-contentious.

asked the Prime Minister if Great Britain, alone among the great Powers, is not represented by a permanent delegate at the International Agricultural Institute at Rome; and whether the Government will take steps to remedy this national defect?

The Government have had this matter under consideration, and arrangements are being made for the permanent representation of Great Britain on the committee of the institute.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the advisability of creating an Under-Secretary of State to deal with the mass of new work added to the Scottish Office by the Board of Agriculture?

I am giving this matter careful consideration.

Has the Government in contemplation a change in any other Departments in the Scottish Office other than the Department of Agriculture?

I have answered the question. I will look into the whole matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the fact that on a recent Glasgow Bill the attendance in London of the right hon. the Lord Provost for 53 days, of four bailies for 190 days together, and of six city councillors for 275 days in all was required; whether he is aware that on the same Bill the attendance of the town clerk for 54 days, the depute town clerk for 77 days, seven members of the town clerk's staff for 212 days in all, the city assessor for 86 days, and one member of his staff for 43 days, the city engineer for 34 days, and three members of his staff for 67 days in all, the tramway manager for 21 days, the water engineer for 19 days, the water treasurer for 19 days, the master of works for 75 days, the medical officer of health for 24 days, the sanitary inspector for 21 days, the chief constable for 21 days, the fire master for six days, the inspector of lighting for 11 days, and city registrar for 10 days was also required; and whether, in view of facts of this kind, which can be multiplied all over Scotland, he will reconsider his decision not to introduce a Bill dealing with Scottish Home Rule this Session, or give an undertaking that such a Bill will be introduced in 1915?

I have no reason to doubt that the facts are as stated by my hon. Friend, but I fear it is not practicable for the Government to introduce such a Bill as is suggested this year. I can say nothing as to the business of next Session.

Is it the case that in a great many cases where money is spent in such a way that the spending of it in London instead of elsewhere is due to the choice of the local authorities themselves?

I do not know.

Might not these inquiries have been held in Scotland under the Private Procedure Act if the authorities had been willing?

I do not know anything about that.

asked the Prime Minister whether the policy announced by the President of the Local Government Board at Cheltenham on 13th June, 1914, that Clauses would be introduced in the Revenue Bill to give power to the Board of Agriculture to borrow money to obtain land to build cottages for labourers, has been abandoned; if so, what has been the reason for so doing; and will any other Bill for this purpose be introduced this Session?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. Owing to questions of procedure, it was not found possible to incorporate in the Finance Bill the Clauses referred to, but a measure dealing with this matter will be introduced very shortly.

Then why was it that the President of the Local Government Board announced at Cheltenham as recently as 13th June that it would be better dealt with in the Revenue Bill?

When I said the Finance Bill, I meant the Revenue Bill. My right hon. Friend was under the impression that it would be incorporated, but he found, as a matter of Procedure, that it could not be done, and that it would have to be a separate Bill.

When will that Bill be introduced?

My right hon. Friend (the Prime Minister) says it will be introduced at an early date.

Will the Bill be pushed through all its stages this Session?

I hope so.

Like the House of Lords Reform Bill!

asked the Prime Minister (1) why the Government have abandoned their intention of making provision in the Revenue Bill for dividing the rateable value of land so as to distinguish the value attributable to houses, buildings, or other improvements, and the value attributable to the land without the houses, buildings, or other improvements; and (2) whether the Government propose to introduce in the present Session any other Bill than the Revenue Bill for the purpose of dividing rateable value; whether it has been found that such division is impracticable?

also asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the reason why temporary Grants are made under the Finance Bill in England and Wales for the period from 1st April, 1915, to 30th September, 1915, but no temporary Grants are made in Scotland for the same period?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the provision for dividing the rateable value of land so as to distinguish the values attributable to improvements and to unimproved land, respectively, subject to which alone the promised relief to ratepayers in respect to national services will, under Clause 13 of the Finance Bill, become available, is intended to be made by Clause 1 of the Revenue Bill, which provides only for the collection of information with a view to the above division; and, if not, by what Government measure such division of rateable value will be provided for; and whether such measure will be introduced during the present Session?

The matters referred to in these questions will be dealt with in the course of the Debate on the Finance Bill.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman tell us whether, in his view, the Revenue Bill does provide for dividing the rateable value?

All the questions of the hon. and learned Gentleman are very debatable matter, which I could not answer in the course of a reply to a question, but they will be dealt with in debate.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that we shall be able to debate the Revenue Bill to-day?

I did not say so. What I said was that the questions raised by the hon. and learned Gentleman will be debated.

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that we shall be able to discuss that question to-day?

No. Neither will the hon. and learned Gentleman be able to debate it now.

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Paper?

I have already answered it.

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman simply say whether Clause 1 of the Revenue Bill is a fulfilment of the condition precedent in Clause 13 of the Finance Bill?

I should say certainly it is, but that is exactly one of the questions which will be dealt with in the course of the Debate this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the complexity of the Revenue Bill, 1914, and its importance to owners of any rateable property, he will issue a brief memorandum explanatory of its main provisions?

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the complexity of the provisions of the Finance Bill and the Revenue Bill, he will at an early date circulate explanatory memoranda with reference to the Clauses and provisions of both Bills?

I will circulate a memorandum explaining the provisions of the Revenue Bill, but I do not consider that any further memorandum is required in connection with the Finance Bill.

Can we have it this week?