asked whether, should occasion arise, it is proposed to send British troops to defend the pipe-line from Chiasurkh to Bagdad, seeing that in is in Turkish territory; and whether part of the money investment of the Government is to be used in developing this area?

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

Does the Anglo-Persian Company mean to work at all in Turkish territory, and, if so, why Parliament was not informed?

I think I have given a complete answer to the question on the Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether the Turkish Petroleum Company is to control the Chiasurkh-Bagdad pipe line, seeing that the British Government is acquiring a predominant interest in that company through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company; whether the Shell Company and the Deutsche Bank are partners in the enterprise; and whether the Shell Company is obtaining entrance to Mesopotamia?

The answer to the first question is in the negative, since the Turkish Petroleum Company are to control no property of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, no pipe-line, so far as I am aware, is to be built from Chiasurkh to Bagdad, and neither the British Government nor the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, as the hon. Member erroneously assumes, are investing, or propose to invest, any funds in the Turkish Petroleum Company; the second question is ambiguous, but if the reference is to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, neither the Shell Company nor any of its subsidiary companies, nor the Deutsche Bank, have any participation in it or control over it; if the reference is to the Turkish Petroleum Company, I must decline to make any statement until negotiations, which are now proceeding at Constantinople, are concluded, when I propose to make a statement upon this amongst other questions which have been under discussion with the Ottoman Government; the last question should be addressed to the Secretary to the Shell Company.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state, with reference to the Anglo-Persian Oil Company, why a map was submitted last month to Parliament by the Admiralty showing the Chiasurkh area as being in Persian territory; and whether the Admiralty and the Government were aware that it had been transferred to Turkey last November, and why the fact was withheld that a pipe-line is to be laid from Chiasurkh to Bagdad?

The answer to the first question is that Chiasurkh remained in the de facto possession of Persia until the middle of June. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that it was impracticable, until the Boundary Commission had completed its work, which it has now up to latitude 35, to ascertain definitely what regions would be classified as "transferred territories"—that is areas where the rights of the Anglo-Persian Oil Company are maintained, though those areas are awarded to Turkey; and it would have been undesirable for His Majesty's Government, whose Commissioner is one of the arbitrators on the Boundary Commission, to have issued an official map showing modifications of the status quo which might have been inaccurate. The map issued with the Report of Admiral Slade's Commission was intended to be an illustrative sketch map showing the approximate extent of the company's concession. The answer to the second question is that the arrangement respecting the Anglo-Persian Oil Company's rights forms an annex to the Protocol signed at Constantinople for the settlement of the Turco-Persian frontier; that it would have served no useful purpose to have published the annex without the Protocol; and that, for reasons relating to the demarcation of the boundary, which is a very complicated question, it was not deemed advisable to publish the Protocol until the demarcation had actually been completed up to latitude 35. I understand that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs hopes to be able to lay Papers on this question next month. I may add that the company's right to construct pipe-lines is not limited to Chiasurkh, but a dispatch just received from the British Commissioner expresses the opinion that the construction of a pipe-line from Chiasurkh to the sea on the Persian side of the frontier would be quite impracticable owing to physical difficulties. The newspaper report that a pipe-line is to be laid from Chiasurkh to Bagdad is without foundation.

Has the Persian Government acquiesced in the transfer of the Chiasurkh territory to Turkey?

That is a question which ought not to be addressed to the First Lord of the Admiralty.

Can the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, so that we may have presented to the House some more complete chart, showing the position of the oil-fields up to date, than is included in the Blue Book?

I understand that my right hon. Friend is to lay the Protocols in the near future, and his attention no doubt will be drawn to what has passed in the House in regard to whether it is possible to issue a map with the Procotols.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state whether the annexation of the oil-field was settled lately, or last year?

I cannot answer that without notice. It is a Foreign Office question.

asked the actual alignment proposed of the Trans-Persian Railway according to the plan worked out by the Société d'Etudes; whether there is any proof that this plan has been accepted by the Russian and Persian authorities; and whether it has the approval or consent of the British and British-Indian Governments?

No plan has as yet been worked out by the Société d'Etudes, the question of alignment being still under discussion between the several Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will propose to the Great Powers the appointment of an International Commission of Inquiry into the treatment of religious minorities in the territories newly occupied by each of the Balkan States, including Roumania?

His Majesty's Government do not contemplate taking the course suggested, as such a proposal would not, I think find general acceptance or lead to any satisfactory result.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he has considered the statement of the Departmental Committee on Inshore Fisheries, that there seems to be little doubt that destruction of undersized fish on a large scale is being caused by trawlers; and whether it is proposed to introduce legislation for the prevention of the sale, marketing, or exposure for sale of undersized fish, as recommended by the Committee?

As the Committee point out in their Report measures for preventing the destruction of undersized fish, if they are to be really effective, should be of international application. The whole question is receiving the careful consideration of the Board and of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, and, while I agree generally with the Committee's recommendation, I am not prepared at present to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether he is now prepared to make any statement regarding the addition of a Scottish Member of Parliament to the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland?

The First Commissioner fears that he is not able to adopt this sugges- tion, which appears to him to rest upon a misconception of the functions of the Scottish Board.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this was considered by the Scottish Liberal Members together, who quite understood what they were doing, and that they unanimously asked that this man should be put on, and does the First Commissioner of Works intend to resent the suggestion made by the majority of the Scottish Members in this House?

There is no question of resenting the suggestion made, but I do not think the Scottish Members had before them the circumstances which weighed with the First Commissioner.

May I ask if the First Commissioner has received any representation whatever about the names of the gentlemen placed on this Board?

None that I am aware of.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there were some Scottish Members who were not aware of the so-called facts stated by the hon. Gentleman?

May I ask the hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the meeting at which this suggestion was made was convened in the ordinary way by agenda, and that everybody entitled to be present could have been present? This suggestion was made by a majority of the Scottish Members, and I wish to know if we are not to have this man?

I am not aware of the circumstances under which the meeting was called, but the First Commissioner will be glad to communicate to the Scottish Members the reasons which weighed with him in arriving at his decision.

Is it the case that no Scottish Member could be added because there is no one who is a fit and proper person?

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether, in the Report of the Committee on the staffing of the English and Scottish Offices of Works, there is a proposal to reduce the salary attaching to the post of head of the Scottish Office of Works to the level of a principal assistant in the London office; and, if so, whether there is any likelihood of the First Commissioner endorsing this recommendation?

My hon. Friend will see by reference to the Report printed as Cd. 7416 that the proposal is to reduce the salary to the scale of an architect at headquarters, but at the same time to attach a special allowance of £100 per annum to the post. The proposal has been approved by the First Commissioner and the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, and effect will be given to it when the present Principal Architect for Scotland retires.

Are we to understand that the Scottish Office of Works is going to be reduced in status?

No.

Has the hon. Gentleman received any complaint of any kind as to the qualifications of the gentleman appointed to the Board in Scotland?

I have received none of any kind.

asked whether any attempt has been made to acquire oak for the restoration of Westminster Hall from an hon. Member of this House; whether negotiations fell through owing to the liability of a Member of Parliament to vacate his seat if he enters into any contract with the Government; and whether any difficulty has been experienced in obtaining good oak timber for this restoration?

The First Commissioner would refer the hon. Member to the explanation of the difficulty of obtaining a proper supply of oak given on pages 43–44 of Cd. 7436. The estate in Sussex there mentioned is the private property of a Member of this House. Consideration is still being given to the whole question.

Would it be possible if this transaction in reference to the timber were carried through to pass an indemnity Bill for the hon. Member?

I am still making inquiries as to whether it would be possible to obtain trees.

Could not the hon. Member who owns the timber solve the difficulty by presenting the trees?

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the rule as to wireless installations has been limited to ships carrying over fifty people; and whether, with a view to greater safety at sea, the rule will be extended to include ships carrying a less number than fifty persons?

Fifty persons is the limit fixed by the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, and by such legislation in other countries as exists on the subject of the provision of wireless telegraphy on merchant ships. The Bill now before Parliament is solely intended to give effect to the Convention, and while it may be desirable at some future date to reconsider the limit fixed, I do not think it would be practicable to adopt a lower limit at the present moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he had any information to give the House with regard to the Anchor liner "California" that went ashore on Tory Island?

I regret to state that the Anchor liner "California" ran on the rocks last night in a fog at Tory Island off the coast of Donegal. Seven hundred passengers were taken off by the Donaldson liner "Cassandra," and another steamer took off 300 more. Four torpedo-boat destroyers, hearing by wireless, left Lough Swilly and gave great assistance in transferring the passengers. The vessel is likely to get off. The crew are aboard, and the warships are standing by them. The information up to the moment is that no lives have been lost.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the position created by the action of the Board of Trade in regard to trade boards, recently established in connection with the sugar confectionery trade and the shirt-making trade in Ireland; whether he is aware that on all the trade boards previously established the workers' representatives have included persons not included in the trade concerned; and that this representation of the workers by outsiders capable of rendering them assistance in the safeguarding of their interests has always been regarded as of prime importance and was provided for in the Act of 1909; whether he is aware that the Board of Trade has made a new departure in Ireland, in the case of the boards recently established, and has thrown upon the workers in the trade the task of conducting their own case against employers, united in an association and prepared with arguments in their own favour; whether he is aware that, in the case of the Sugar Confectionery Board the workers' representatives consist of six girls and three labouring men, all of them in receipt of low wages, and that, at a meeting of this board recently held in Dublin, four of the women and two of the men workers found themselves opposed at the table by their own employers, and consequently none of these workers wanted to take any part in the proceedings, and, but for the presence of an outsider whom the Board of Trade permitted to deputise for one of the men workers, no resolution or proposal affecting the workers would have been brought forward, although, according to figures put in by the employers themselves, the average rate of wages in certain of the factories concerned was under 7s. a week; whether he is aware that on the Shirtmaking Trades Board the employers have been permitted the assistance of a legal adviser, and that at the first meeting of this Board, but for the intervention of a representative of the National Anti-Sweating League, the result might have been disastrous for the workers, as their representatives were personally unknown to one another, had no plan of action, and lacked both the capacity and the experience necessary to hold their own with the men in charge of the interests of the employers; and whether, seeing that the workers themselves have demanded that the Board of Trade should permit them to nominate a skilled representative outside their own ranks to assist them in the defence of their interests, he will accede to this demand of the workers with the least possible delay?

The Board of Trade have always endeavoured to secure that the workers' side of the Trade Boards shall contain an efficient leader either from inside or outside the trades concerned. In the case of the Sugar Confectionery Board in Ireland, the person selected as leader of the workers' side resigned just before the first meeting of the Board. In order to fill the vacancy thus created, Mr. Mallon, who is the secretary of the Anti-Sweating League, was appointed by the Board of Trade, and he was present at the first and only meeting of the Trade Board as a member and not as a deputy for anybody else. As regards the Irish Shirtmaking Board, the secretary of the Employers' Federation (who is by profession a solicitor) is a member of the employers' side. The workers' side of the Shirtmaking Board includes three officials of the workers' trade unions, namely, the secretary and treasurer of the Londonderry Factory Workers' Union and the vice-president of the Belfast Amalgamated Society of Cutters, all three of whom are employed in the trade. If the workers think that their side is not sufficiently strong, notwithstanding that three officials of their trade unions are members of it, I shall be very glad, upon a vacancy arising, to consider any name which may be submitted to me on their behalf.

asked the number of Trade Boards established in Ireland under the provisions of the Trade Boards Act, 1909, the dates of the establishment of these boards, the towns or cities in which they have been established, the trades they have been established in connection with, and the particular branches of those trades with which they are concerned, the names, addresses, and occupations of the representatives of the employers, the employés, and the local and official members of each of these boards, respectively, the number of meetings of each of these boards held since its establishment, the number and names of those present at each such meeting, the net results, so far as they can be ascertained up to the present, of the action of these boards in so far as it affects the wages, the hours of work, and the conditions of work of the workers or employés concerned; and with whom, if with any person or persons, the Board of Trade consulted as to the representatives of the workers appointed as members of these boards?

Four Trade Boards have been established in Ireland, one each for the paper box-making, tailoring, shirtmaking, and sugar confectionery and food-preserving trades. These Trade Boards cover the whole of Ireland and deal with the branches of their respective trades set out in the Regulations, of which I am sending my hon. Friend copies. I am also sending my hon. Friend a statement showing the dates of establishment of the boards, the names, addresses and occupations of the appointed and representa- tive members, the number of meetings of each board, and the attendances of each member. The paper box-making and tailoring boards have fixed minimum rates of wages, as set out in the notices, of which I am sending my hon. Friend copies. I may remind him that Trade Boards have no power to regulate the hours of work or the general conditions of employment. The representatives of workers on the paper box-making and tailoring boards were elected at meetings of workers; those on the shirtmaking and sugar confectionery and food preserving boards were chosen after very careful investigation on the spot by representatives of the Board of Trade, who held numerous meetings of workers and consulted persons likely to be of assistance.

asked why Colonel Druitt did not arrive on the scene of the Highland Railway disaster at once, as promised; why none of the passengers were examined at the inquiry; whether no evidence was led as to the depth of the foundations of the bridge under the bottom of the burn; what was the height of the bridge above the level of the burn; and whether there was any precaution to prevent the damming of the water by means of a strong fence to avoid trees being swept against the bridge?

I understand from Colonel Druitt that he had reason to believe that it would have been inconvenient to all concerned to open the inquiry at once. The accident was due to the collapse of a bridge, and Colonel Druitt did not consider that any passenger would be in a position to throw light on the cause of this collapse. Detailed evidence was given as to the nature and depths of the foundations and all other matters relevant to the object of the inquiry. These and all the other points mentioned will be fully dealt with in the inspecting officer's report.

Will the right hon. Gentleman take precautions to secure that in the case of the approaches of any bridges on the Highland Railway the fences will in all cases be placed so as to avoid trees being driven against the bridges?

I have specially directed the attention of the inspector to this point.

asked the Post master-General with regard to the punching test imposed on the telegraph staff at Sheffield in order to qualify for the increased pay recommended by the Holt Committee, whether he will state the reason for this further test in the case of men in receipt of the maximum pay who passed the usual efficiency test early in the present year; and whether he will state the standard required at these two tests and the reason for increasing the standard of the second test?

It is the practice to impose a test in Wheatstone punching before granting any increment above the Efficiency Barrier point of the scale, even if an officer has passed the test earlier in the same year. The standard required for the manipulative test in punching is 200 words in ten minutes. The duration of the test applied early in the present year at Sheffield was limited to five minutes, but the recent test was for the full period of ten minutes required by the regulations.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that for a considerable time the guardians of Elham Union have been desirous of obtaining telephone communication between Folkestone and the workhouse at Lyminge, and that, in correspondence on the subject extending over two years, the local manager of the telephone system has given four different quotations for the annual rental to be required for such communication, of which quotations the last three were all accepted by the guardians without delay, but that the guardians have now been informed that the desired facilities can only be given if two additional subscribers are first secured in Lyminge; and whether, having regard to the fact that the workhouse at Lyminge is practically a Folkestone institution, and that there are numerous telephone subscribers in Folkestone, he will take steps without delay to provide the connection desired by the guardians in the interests of the proper management of the workhouse?

I understand that quotations for an exchange line to the Cheriton Exchange were given to the guardians of Eltham Union first by the National Telephone Company, and subsequently by the Post Office. The Post Office has since had under consideration the establishment of an exchange at Lyminge, and more favourable terms have been offered for a connection with that exchange. A little more support is necessary to enable me to authorise the provision of the proposed exchange, and there seems reason to think that it will be found shortly.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the early correspondence on the question the point was never taken by the Post Office that further support was necessary, and that the whole matter turned on the question of notice?

I do not carry the general correspondence in my mind, but if that is so it is most unusual.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the fact that male night telephone operators at Grimsby are compelled to work at least part of every Sunday throughout the whole of the year; if it is his intention to continue this practice; and, if not, what steps he intends taking to bring about reform, and when?

The night telephonists at Grimsby perform duty on each Sunday, but they are free from duty on another day in the week. The hours of the class are fixed without discrimination between Sundays, public or Bank Holidays and ordinary working days, and the recent Select Committee approved this arrangement subject to the proviso that twenty-four hours in each week should be entirely free of duty. I am taking steps to ensure that this latter requirement is fulfilled.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has received a resolution from the urban district council of Hanwell, expressing their dissatisfaction with his recent replies on the subject of postal accommodation at Hanwell, and asking him to receive a deputation on the subject; and whether he proposes to accede to that request?

I have received the communication to which the hon. Member refers. The matter has received very careful consideration, and, as I am not pre- pared to make any alteration in the existing arrangements at Hanwell at present, I do not think that an interview, as suggested, would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Postmaster-General whether service in the obsolete grade of boy sorter is by a recent regulation to be counted for pension in the case of postal servants retiring after February, 1914, but not in the case of ex-boy sorters who retired before that date; if so, what is the reason for this discrimination; how many ex-boy sorters are thereby excluded from the benefit of the regulation, and what would be the cost of including them; and whether he will place all ex-boy sorters on an equal footing in regard to counting their service in that grade for pension?

The Select Committee on Post Office Servants recommended the inclusion of boy sorter service for pension purposes in the case of all officers retiring from the service after the date on which the Committee's recommendations came into effect. The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, with whom the administration of the Superannuation Acts rests, were not prepared to go beyond the recommendation of the Committee by extending this concession to persons already out of the service. There are no statistics available to show the number of ex-boy sorters who retired before the concession came into force.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider it unfair, when an obsolete grade like this is abolished, that those who were in it earlier and retired, not knowing all the advantages in store for those who followed them, should be debarred from participation?

The Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, who administer the Superannuation Acts, were not prepared to go beyond the recommendation of the Committee, and, as the service has pension rights, I follow the recommendations of the Committee.

Can the right hon. Gentleman state how many would be affected by it, and what the cost would be, and, if the cost be trifling, will he make an effort to include those to whom I refer?

I said there are no statistics available to enable me to get the numbers.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will explain why, considering that the guns' crew who work the guns on armed merchantmen receive extra duty-pay for their services, no allowance is given to the officers in charge of the guns?

The question has been carefully considered by the Admiralty, and I am advised that for the present extra remuneration is not considered necessary. Service in charge of the guns will be allowed to count towards qualification for an officer's training fee in place of annual or biennial naval training.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it has yet been decided if medals are to be given to the naval ratings who served in the Persian Gulf in 1910–12?

I am not yet in a position to make any announcement on this subject.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state to the House when he thinks he will be in a position to make a statement on the subject?

I am just as anxious to make a statement as the hon. Gentleman is to hear it, when I am in a position to make a satisfactory one.

Considering the terrible hardships those men have had to undergo, will the right hon. Gentleman soon give the subject consideration?

I have done so, with the result that a special medal is now being minted.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if the date for the coming naval mobilisation and review by His Majesty at Spithead is definitely fixed for 18th July; what is the number and description of each class of vessel which will be assembled there for review; if any provision is contemplated whereby Members of both Houses of Parliament can be present at this review as in former years; if he will place in the Tea Room a chart showing the position of the ships; if he will state if the regulations which yachts, passenger vessels, and other merchant ships will have to obey during the review have yet been issued; and, if not, how soon they will be available?

The bulk of the mobolised Fleet will be assembled at Spit-head by the 18th July, and will not leave until the 20th July. His Majesty the King will be with the Fleet during this week-end, but there will be no formal review. The numbers of ships of various classes which are expected to be present are as follows:— Battleships 55 Battle cruisers 4 Cruisers 27 Light cruisers 28 Destroyers 78 In addition to minelayers, minesweeping gunboats, repair ships, and depot ships for torpedo craft. The possibility of giving an opportunity to Members of both Houses of Parliament to visit the assembled Fleet on the 18th July is being considered. A notice to mariners has been issued, containing the regulations for private vessels and a small plan of the anchorage. A larger chart will be issued in about a week's time, and I shall be happy to arrange for a copy to be placed in the Tea Booms.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say when the Members of both Houses of Parliament will know what accommodation is to be at their disposal on board the vessels?

I should hope in the course of the present week.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, when the Departmental Committee upon excessive sickness, in connection with the National Insurance Act, ceased taking evidence; how many meetings they have since held; and when their Report is likely to be issued?

My right hon. Friend is informed that the Committee referred to have finished taking evidence and hope to report at an early date.

How many meetings have the Committee held?

Perhaps the hon. Member would put down another question. This does not come directly under the knowledge of the Chairman of the Board.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East (1) whether any objections have been made to the draft Regulations, dated 3rd April, 1914, proposed to be made by the joint committee, entitled the National Health Insurance (Withdrawal of Approval) Regulations, 1914; and when the Regulations or provisional Regulations based on the draft Regulations will be laid before the House; (2) whether any objections have been made to the draft Regulations, dated 3rd April, 1914, proposed to be made by the joint committee, entitled the National Health Insurance (Dissolution of Societies) Regulations, 1914; and when the Regulations or provisional Regulations based on the draft Regulations will be laid before the House; and (3) whether any objections have been made to the draft Regulations, dated 31st March, 1914, proposed to be made by the joint committee, entitled the National Insurance (Amalgamation and Transfer of Engagements) Regulations, 1914; and when the Regulations or provisional Regulations based on the draft Regulations will be laid before the House?

Representations have been received with regard to certain details of these draft Regulations, and are now under consideration. The Regulations will be made and laid before the House under the ordinary procedure when the points in question have been decided. The Regulations are not operative in the meantime.

Has objection been taken to each one of the three, and when is the answer to the objections likely to be given?

I cannot give a detailed report as to what objections have been received, but some have been received.

Against all?

I cannot say.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is still considering the case of the thirty surfacemen employed at Waleswood collieries, near Sheffield; and whether, in view of the fact that these men were, at the commencement of the operation of the National Insurance Act, informed that they were not insurable under Part II., and now a demand is made on them for arrears of contributions amounting to 39s. 2d., he will give these men the option of either entering insurance for the first time on the date of the decision that they are insurable or of making up their arrears in accordance with his letter to the men of the 5th instant?

I am not aware that the workmen referred to were informed that they were not insurable. The Board of Trade have no power to dispense with the payment of any arrears of contributions due under Part II. of the National Insurance Act, 1911. The communication of the 5th June, referred to by the hon. Member, stated, that so far as the Board of Trade were aware, an employer, on paying up arrears of contributions, was not precluded from recovering the workman's share thereof by deductions in reasonable instalments from the workman's wages. I hope that the question of deductions in respect of arrears will be dealt with in the amending Bill now before Parliament.

Is it legal to deduct insurance contributions from wages except for that period for which those wages are paid?

For the moment, not being a lawyer, I will not give the hon. Member a legal answer. If there is any doubt about it, we trust to remove it in the amending Bill before the Committee.

Will the hon. Member remove that if that is so?

We will look into it.

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why arrears of contribution are to be deducted from the men in a case of this kind?

As the hon. Member knows, as a Member of the Committee dealing with the Bill on this subject, this is a difficult problem, and it is not possible to deal with it by means of question and answer.

Is it fair to ask colliery surfacemen suddenly to produce 39s. 2d. just because Board of Trade officials change their mind?

asked the Prime Minister whether the Government can see their way to including in any Bill which may be introduced this Session amending Part I. of the Insurance Act, or affecting the position of deposit contributors under that Act, a Clause giving the Commissioners power to vary the condition requiring a minimum membership of 5,000 for valuation purposes in cases where, in there opinion, it is desirable to do so owing to special circumstances, such as exist in the Isle of Wight and elsewhere?

I fear that I cannot undertake to anticipate the terms of any future legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether local education authorities have the power to board-out children in suitable homes near the public elementary schools which they are attending; and, if not, whether it is the intention to confer such powers upon local education authorities?

Local education authorities have no such power, except in the case of blind, deaf, defective, or epileptic children, who can be boarded-out with a view to their attendance at special classes in public elementary schools. It will be remembered that the Administrative Provisions Bill of 1911 as introduced contained a Clause to give-effect to this proposal, but the Clause was, not proceeded with owing to opposition.

asked the President of the Board of Education if he can inform the House whether and, if so, what negotiations are now going on for the establishment of a university in London; and whether it is contemplated by the Government to create a new London University?

A Departmental Committee is now dealing with the matter in accordance with its Terms of Reference, and I am not in a position to make any statement as to their proceedings. The Government certainly contemplate the reconstitution of the University of London.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will use his best efforts to correct the impression which has been produced in his speech on Tuesday last that it was contemplated to create a new London University, apparently distinct and separate from the present one?

Perhaps a slip of that kind is sufficiently corrected by the statement in the answer, that the Government certainly contemplate the reconstitution of the University of London.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Departmental Committee appointed to frame a Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Royal Commission on University Education in London will submit their Report before the close of the present Session; and, if so, when it may be expected to be presented to the House?

I understand that the Departmental Committee are not yet in a position to say by what date they will be able to complete their consideration of their Reference, and I, therefore, do not expect that they will be able to submit their Report before the close of the Session.

asked the President of the Board of Education the localities in which a large number of students who desire to attend technical classes are turned away from the door; the subjects of instruction in which those technical classes are held; and the local authorities who say that they are unable to spend more money for establishing technical classes?

Information to this effect is continually reaching me from various quarters and in various ways, including, of course, the confidential reports of His Majesty's inspectors, but not in a form which lends itself to tabular statement. I think it is a matter of common knowledge that the development of technical education has been seriously arrested by financial pressure, and it is for this reason that the Government are contemplating increased aid to this branch of education.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can give any specific instances in which "a large number of students who desire to attend technical classes are, turned away from the door," as it would be very interesting to know where those are?

If the hon. Member requires specific instances he had better give notice of a further question.

It is in the question.

The hon. Member asks for specific instances.

Will the right hon. Gentleman state the localities in which a large number of students desire to attend such classes, and are turned away from the doors?

Question 41, please.

asked the President of the Board of Education, if he can give instances within the last ten years of the Government having been compelled to proceed by mandamus to compel a reluctant authority to enforce free education in public elementary schools?

So far as I am aware, there are no such instances.

asked the President of the Board of Education in what way and to what special purposes of technical education it is proposed to allocate the sum of £100,000, being part of the sum of £560,000 to be given to higher education; and how he proposes to dispose of the sum of £395,000 in assisting secondary education?

I am not in a position to state the precise method in which the sum of £100,000 will be distributed in aid of technical education, but it is intended to apply a substantial portion of it to increasing the Grants-in-Aid of larger institutions which are doing advanced and highly organised work, and thereby to raise the proportion which the present Grants bear to the cost of that work. Supplementary regulations are in preparation for the purpose. As regards secondary schools, it is proposed to make substantial increases in the Grants given under the existing regulations, which will be modified accordingly. I hope that draft regulations will soon be ready for that process of consultation and discussion with authorities and bodies concerned, which I believe the House will regard as a desirable preliminary to their issue.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the mode of allocation, as he describes it, will inflict serious injury on higher education in rural districts?

I hope the regulations will be such that there will be no hardship in any area in technical work.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he has now consulted the Law Officers of the Crown on the position in which the right to free elementary education will be left by the passing of the Finance Bill?

While I am advised that there is no uncertainty on the point raised in the hon. Member's question, yet the Law Officers of the Crown will have an opportunity of considering the matter before Part IV. is considered in Committee.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can estimate what the amount of the Grant towards local rates during the current year will be in the case of the borough of Ipswich under the revised financial proposals announced on Monday last?

I can add nothing to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Brentford on the 25th instant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to those cases where, prior to the announcement by the Government of their intention to vary the rate of Income Tax from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 3d. in the £, stocks and shares have been sold, cum dividend, and the purchaser has received from the seller dividends from which Income Tax has been deducted at the rate of 1s. 4d. in the £; and whether, assuming that the House decides to lower the Income Tax from 1s. 4d. to 1s. 3d. in the £ and the seller receives an allowance or payment in respect of Income Tax accordingly, the seller is entitled to retain the amount of such allowance or payment for himself or is bound to pay the same over to the purchaser from him or to the registered owner of such stocks or shares at the time when such allowance or payment is received or to some other and what person?

The matter would appear to be one for settlement between the seller and the purchaser.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in order to avoid confusion, he will introduce a provision into the Finance Bill or into the Revenue Bill to deal with these cases?

I hope it will be possible to make arrangements without introducing anything into the Finance Bill; but, if necessary, without giving an undertaking on the subject, I will consider the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1913, and in the events which have happened, Income Tax at the rate of 1s. 4d. in the £ must continue to be paid or deducted until the Report stage of the Finance Bill has been reached, and the House has decided that the Income Tax for the current year shall be at the rate of 1s. 3d. instead of 1s. 4d. in the £; whether he is aware that, in case the House shall so decide, all payments of Income Tax which have been made at a rate exceeding 1s. 3d. in the £ must be repaid or made good, and all deductions which have been made in respect of Income Tax at such a rate are to be deemed as unauthorised; and whether, in view of the expense which will, owing to the action of the Government, be thrown upon banks, companies, and others, in repaying or making good such over-payments, or in refunding such unauthorised deductions, he will make provision for reimbursing such expenses to the parties concerned?

I am aware of the facts stated by the hon. and learned Member, and as I stated in answer to the hon. Member for East Nottingham on the 25th instant, I am considering what steps can be taken to minimise the inconvenience arising out of the proposed reduction in the rate of Income Tax. I fear, however, that I am unable to entertain the suggestion that compensation should be granted for any expenditure which may prove to be necessary in the circumstances referred to in the question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of the relief from Income Tax to persons in respect of a deduction from profits of such a sum as fairly represents the exhausted value of wasting assets (such as collieries, quarries, nitrate lands, etc.) in the period upon the product of which the assessment is based?

While there are insufficient data for arriving at any very definite estimate, I see no reason for materially departing from the figure of £2,000,000, which I gave on the 2nd August, 1912, in the course of the Debate on the Committee stage of the Finance Bill of that year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a communication from the county council of Middlesex pressing that the Inebriates Bill should be passed this Session; and whether he will endeavour to secure a day for that purpose?

The answer to both questions is in the affirmative.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it would not be better to bring in some measure to prevent these unfortunate people becoming inebriates?

If I knew how I would be only too glad.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has received a request from the Simplified Speling Sosieti asking that a Royal Commission may be appointed to consider whether it is possible to introduce greater regularity into the spelling of English; and, if so, what answer has been given?

No such request has reached me.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now in a position to say when he will be able to make a statement on the Report of the Sub-Committee of the Defence Committee concerning possible invasion?

No, Sir. I fear I cannot give a date, but I intend to make a statement during the course of the Session.

From what Power is possible invasion expected?

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Marquess of Londonderry, aide-de-camp to His Majesty the King, was present at a review of the Ulster Volunteers at Balmoral, Belfast, on the 23rd September, 1913; whether, at Ormiston, Belfast, on the 17th January last, the Marquess of Londonderry was present at another parade of the Ulster Volunteers; whether the Marquess of Londonderry was present on the 13th April last at a review of the Ulster Volunteers at Antrim Castle; whether he was present again at a review of the Ulster Volunteers at Clandeboye, county Down, on the 14th April last; whether the Marquess of Londonderry was present at a parade of the Ulster Volunteers at Glencairn, Belfast, on the 6th June last, and at another parade of the same force at Balmoral, Belfast, on the same day; whether the avowed object of the Ulster Volunteers is, in the event of the enactment of the Government of Ireland Bill, to resist by armed force the authority of the Crown and Parliament and to make the administration of the law impossible; whether the Marquess of Londonderry has been called on for an explanation of his conduct in attending these parades and reviews; whether any reprimand has been addressed to him; and, if not, will he say why this has not been done, and whether there is any special reason why the Marquess of Londonderry should be treated differently in this matter from Captain Bellingham, aide-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was called upon for an explanation for having attended and spoken at a meeting of the Irish Volunteers?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this question, may I ask whether he is aware that on every occasion mentioned in the question as having been attended by the Marquess of Londonderry the National Anthem was played, cheers were given for His Majesty, and the Union Jack was displayed; and whether he can say whether similar expressions of loyalty were given at the meeting attended by Captain Bellingham?

I have no knowledge which would enable me to answer the supplementary question without notice. In answer to the question on the Paper I have not verified the statements of my hon. Friend as regards the presence of Lord Londonderry at these reviews, but I have no reason to doubt their accuracy. I would, however, point out that there are more than seventy aides-de-camp to the King, and that the office, unlike that of an acting aide-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, does not normally carry with it any active duties or responsibilities. The duties are, as a rule, of an entirely honorary character, and, in the circumstances, I have not thought it worth while to take any notice of the matter.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has any reason to suppose that in any case Lord Londonderry would care a straw? [Interruption.]

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the appeal recently issued by the hon. and learned Member for Waterford to his sympathisers in the United States, both Irish and American, urging them to supply funds to strengthen the Irish National Volunteers, so as to place them in the position of an armed fighting force; and whether he will inform the House what steps he proposes to take to meet this new danger to the peace of this country?

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer answered on my behalf a very similar question on Thursday last, and I would refer the hon. and learned Member to that reply.

In view of the answer now made, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he intends to take any steps to suppress these admitted illegalities?

The answer to which I referred was:— The Proclamation as to the importation of arms and ammunition applies to Ireland generally, and steps, which he hopes will be effective, are being taken for its enforcement.

What steps are proposed to be taken?

Is my right hon. Friend aware that an agent of the right hon. and learned Member for Dublin University was also in America collecting subscriptions?

asked the Prime Minister whether he will point to the provisions of the Government of Ireland Bill which prohibit the Irish Parliament from expending on the maintenance of the Irish National Volunteers such part as they may think fit of the sum of £2,700,000 per annum to be provided by the British Exchequer and to be paid over to the Irish Exchequer under that Bill; and whether he will state what effective steps can be taken by the Imperial Parliament under the Government of Ireland Bill or otherwise to prevent such an expenditure of British money after it has been paid over to the Irish Exchequer?

I would refer the hon. Member to Clauses 2 (3) and 21 of the Government of Ireland Bill.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that Clause 2 (3) only refers to legislation?

Executive authority and legislative authority.

May I ask how you propose to coerce the Executive of the Irish Parliament. May I ask for an answer?

That is a matter for Debate.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that Clause 4 of the Government of Ireland Amendment Bill, introduced by the Lord Privy Seal into the House of Lords on behalf of His Majesty's Government, deals entirely with finance, and that the privileges of this House by which it has exclusive control of provisions imposing charges upon the people have been thereby infringed; and whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any steps in the matter?

Even if the Clause referred to did involve a breach of privilege—as to which I express no opinion—this matter is one for this House to deal with when the Bill comes to it. The House can and often does waive its privilege.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether, under the terms of the Government of Ireland (Amend- ment) Bill, in the event of the county of Londonderry being excluded and the city of Londonderry being included in the Government of Ireland Bill, he will say by what method the yield of the Income Tax of a citizen with a business place in the city and a residence in the county will be allocated as between the Imperial and Irish Exchequers in the event of the rate of the tax not being identical; (2) whether, in the event of the Government of Ireland (Amendment) Bill becoming an Act, it is intended that one of the members of the Joint Exchequer Board shall be a representative of any portion of Ireland that may be excluded from the terms of the Government of Ireland Bill; and, if not, in what manner the interests of such excluded portion of Ireland will be safeguarded in determining the costs of the Irish services as laid down in Section 4 of the Amending Bill; and (3) whether, in the event of any portion of Ireland being excluded from the terms of the Government of Ireland Bill, the Grants in relief of local ratepayers which it is proposed to make from the Imperial Exchequer under Part II. of the Finance Bill, 1914, will be made in relief of ratepayers resident in such excluded portion, subject to the efficiency of the local authorities and dependent on a valuation showing separately the annual value of the site and of the improvement, or will be paid to the Lord Lieutenant to allocate in such a way or by such regulation as he shall direct?

I fear I am not in a position to discuss the provisions and effect of Bills which have been introduced in another place and have not yet come before this House.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill being placed on the Statute Book prior to Part II. of the Finance Bill of 1914, which seeks to enact the terms on which Grants from the Imperial Exchequer shall be made in aid of local rates, he will say under what Clause of the Government of Ireland Bill the proportion of the proposed Grants to be allocated to Ireland, and amounting to £697,500, will be included in the Transferred Sum?

The inclusion of these Grants in the Transferred Sum will be effected not by any Clause in the Government of Ireland Bill, but by the legislation authorising the Grants.

asked whether the proportion of the proposed Grants due to Ireland in respect of national health insurance, feeding of school children, nursing, and health research will be specifically allocated in respect of the above enumerated or similar services, or will, in the event of the Government of Ireland Bill becoming an Act, be automatically added to the Transferred Sum and be at the disposal of the Irish Government?

Subject to the provisions of Clause 5 (2) of the Government of Ireland Bill, all public services in Ireland in connection with the administration of the National Insurance Act are matters reserved to the Government of the United Kingdom. The proposed Grant in respect of the national health insurance will be administered by that Government. The equivalent Grants to Ireland corresponding to the Grants in Great Britain for new educational services, tuberculosis, nursing and pathological laboratories will be added to the Transferred Sum, and be at the disposal of the Irish Government.

Can these Grants be used for nursing Irish Volunteers?

If they are ill, certainly.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the proposal to limit the length of speeches in this House continues to gain favour with high authorities; and whether, with a view to making an experimental test, he will support the proposal to limit the length of speeches during the remaining days of Supply and on the Indian Budget this Session?

I understand that this matter is being considered by the Committee on Procedure, and I think it would be well to await their Report before taking any action even of an experimental nature with regard to it.

Would it not be well for the Committee to make some experiments on which they could base their recommendations?

asked the Prime Minister whether His Majesty's Govern- ment intend to reintroduce the Naval Prize Bill this Session; and, if not, whether, in view of the facts that the failure of Great Britain to ratify the Declaration of London is tending to postpone the summoning of the third Hague Conference, and that the Naval Prize Bill obtained the assent of the House of Commons in 1911, the Government will advise His Majesty to ratify that Declaration without further delay?

With regard to the first part of the question, I can at present add nothing to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Blackfriars Division of Glasgow on the 5th March, to the effect that the Government hope to reintroduce the Naval Prize Bill this Session, but are unable to make a definite statement. With regard to the second part, His Majesty cannot be advised to ratify an international treaty until the municipal law of this country has been so amended as to enable the Government to fulfil the obligations thereby assumed.

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Glasgow City Corporation unanimously agreed to a resolution calling upon the Government to introduce a Scottish Home Rule Bill forthwith; whether he is aware that this represents the corporate sense of over one-quarter of the population of Scotland; whether he is aware that the city council of Glasgow expresses the view of all shades of political opinion; and, in view of the continuous and almost unanimous expression of opinion by the great municipalities of Scotland, whether he can do nothing to allay the anxiety that exists regarding a definite pronouncement on this subject?

I have seen what has appeared on this subject in the public Press, and I am not sure that my hon. Friend's citation is absolutely correct; but I fear I cannot add anything to what I have already stated with regard to the matter.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his colleague the Secretary for Scotland said that the Government were drafting a Bill to deal with Scottish Home Rule. Is that true?

I am sure that every statement of my right hon. Friend is true.

Is the right hon. Gentleman also aware that those electors who voted against Scottish Home Rule at the last contested Parliamentary election exceeded the combined Liberal vote in its favour in Orkney, Caithness, Wick—

The Noble Lord will see that that is a question which it is impossible for the Prime Minister to answer without notice.

Then may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, in view of the largeness of the incorporate common-sense of Glasgow, he will "ca' canny" before he introduces such a measure?

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that politics do enter into the election of municipal councillors, and would not such councillors be going altogether beyond their province in dealing with matters of this kind?

reply was inaudible in the Reporters' Gallery.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a large number of Unionist candidates in Scotland have pronounced in favour of Scottish Home Rule?

asked whether it is intended to move the Second Reading of the Coal Mines Bill this Session; and, if so, when?

Yes, Sir; as soon as possible.

asked why service in the late Royal Engineer Militia has been allowed to count for promotion in the case of officers of the Royal Engineer Special Reserve?

Officers of the late Submarine Mining Militia had, as members of units prior to their transfer to the Special Reserves, enjoyed the privilege of promotion to fill vacancies. As on transfer this ceased, the effect was suddenly to retard their prospects of promotion and, as some compensation for this, it was decided to allow commissioned service other than during embodiment or in the field, to count in the few cases where this would give any advantage.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the position is exactly similar to that of other regiments in the Special Reserve? That being so, why is this particular privilege accorded to the Engineers?

I am advised that the service of these Engineers is quite different.