asked whether, since the Report of the Select Committee on Putu- mayo was issued last year, any further instructions have been issued to Consuls relative to the slave trade or slave labour; and whether the Consular service has been strengthened in any districts where English companies are using coloured labour?

I would refer the hon. Member to the circular dispatch to His Majesty's Consular officers, of 15th December, 1913, copies of which have been laid before Parliament. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, but inquiries are being made in order that the matter may not be lost sight of.

asked whether the British policy of equipping armed merchantmen has been the subject of negotiations or communications between Great Britain and any other Power, with the view of ascertaining the way in which the use of such armed merchantmen would be regarded in the event of hostilities?

The answer is in the negative. No communications of the nature referred to have taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has official information to the effect that the coronation of the Shah of Persia has been, or may be, postponed from the 21st July to the 18th September; and, if so, can he say whether the reasons for this change are political or financial; and is it possible for a quorum of the Medjliss to be elected by the 21st July?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As to the last part, I am unable to express an opinion.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that anxiety has been expressed by all those interested in Persia as to the present state of that country?

I agree that there is great financial anxiety, but the question of my hon. Friend dealt with the postponement of the coronation. I have not heard that the coronation has been postponed.

May I say political as well as financial anxiety?

Of course sound finance is at the bottom of everything, and if the financial position is unsound it will always cause anxiety.

When does the right hon. Gentleman hope for a change in the financial position of Persia?

That is going a very long way beyond the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Congested Districts Board will reopen negotiations for the purchase of the unsold portion of the Warden estate, Sneem, county Kerry, with a view to securing a sale through voluntary co-operation on the part of the landlord, the tenants, and the Board?

The Congested Districts Board have recently been in communication with Colonel Warden in reference to the unsold portion of his estate near Sneem, county Kerry, and he has informed them that as at present advised he is not prepared to enter into negotiations for the sale of the property.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland how many of the evicted tenants who were allotted holdings on the Thompson estate, Kilcoke, Queen's County, received free grants; and if he can state whether Elizabeth McGrath will receive a free grant?

The Estates Commissioners have sanctioned grants for the purchase of live stock in the case of fifteen evicted tenants or the representatives of evicted tenants who have been provided by the Commissioners with holdings on the estate referred to. The reply to the latter part of the question is in the negative.

asked the Chief Secretary whether the Estates Commissioners have ruled that the non-residential grass farms on the congested estate of Lady Chapman, of Killua Castle, Westmeath, though not subject to the rent-fixing Acts, may be purchased by the graziers under the Purchase Acts instead of being distributed for relief of the congestion; and, if so, will he give the text of their ruling, with the Acts and Sections on which it is based; and will he state the aggregate area of non-residential land on the estate adjudged to the graziers and to the relief of congestion, respectively?

This estate is not a congested estate within the meaning of Section 6 (5) of the Irish Land Act, 1903, as amended by the Irish Land Act, 1909. The question of the nature of the tenancies in the farms referred to was heard and argued in Court before the Estates Commissioners, who, after considering the evidence as to the nature of the lettings, decided that the tenancies are yearly tenancies, but restricted to pasturage. The provisions of the Land Purchase Acts enable yearly tenants occupying lands under contracts of tenancy to purchase their holdings; the hon. Member will find the expression "tenant" defined in Section 57 of the Land Law (Ireland) Act of 1881, and Section 26 of the Purchase of Land (Ireland) Act, 1885. The vendor is including in the sale some 600 acres in her occupation as untenanted land for distribution by the Commissioners, but it is impossible at present to say the aggregate of pasture land that will be awarded to the tenants in question.

asked the Chief Secretary whether it is contemplated by the Estates Commissioners or the Congested Districts Board to acquire the Dillon estate at Cardiffstown, county Meath, for the purpose of migration; whether he is aware that there are a number of uneconomic holders and landless qualified labourers who would be entitled to portions of those lands; and, if the Estates Commissioners acquire the lands, whether they will give first consideration to those entitled to portions of the property in the district?

The Estates Commissioners have acquired under Section 6 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, certain untenanted lands in the townlands of Rivers-town and Oldtown on the estate referred to. In the allotment of the untenanted land the Commissioners will have regard to the circumstances and suitability of the applicants for allotments, and to the terms of Section 17 of the Irish Land Act, 1903, which specifies the class of persons to whom advances can be made for the purchase of allotments under the Land Purchase Acts.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the large accumulation of business in the hands of Mr. Stewart, Public Trustee, he is prepared to recommend the appointment of a Public Trustee with similar duties for Ireland?

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the question asked on this subject by the hon. Member for North Wexford on the 9th June, 1913. I do not think this would be an opportune time to introduce legislation on the subject.

asked what decision has been come to by the Local Government Board as regards the applications for old age pensions by Daniel Farrell, Newtown, and Bernard Mahon, Edgeworthstown, both of whose claims were passed by the local pensions committees and appealed against by the local pension officer?

No decision has yet been given in these cases.

asked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that, on the hearing by the Local Government Board of an appeal by a pension officer against the granting of an old age pension by a pension committee, no evidence, either oral or by affidavit, is received on behalf of the claimant beyond what is contained in the claim form; if he is aware that such appeals are decided on the report of the pension officer or inspector without an opportunity being afforded the claimant of putting his case properly before the Local Government Board; and if he will take such steps as will in future secure the fullest facilities to claimants for presenting their cases to the Local Government Board on the hearing of such appeals?

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. It is not the case that no evidence is received by the Local Government Board on behalf of claimants beyond what was contained in the claim form. Before determining appeals it is the invariable practice of the Board to communicate with claimants and to request them to submit whatever evidence they have in support of their claims. All steps that are necessary for a proper decision in each case are taken by the Board.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board, in the case of Michael Ryan, a Queens' County claimant, would not receive affidavits or oral evidence but sent down an inspector and decided the appeal on his report.

The Local Government Board refuse to accept anything which is not evidence, and it does not follow because a statement is made that it is evidence.

asked whether the application of Daniel Murtagh, of Esker, for the erection, or assistance to erect, a house under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, will be entertained; and, if not, will he state the reason why?

No application for reinstatement in a holding under the Evicted Tenants Act, 1907, appears to have been received by the Estates Commissioners from Daniel Murtagh. In connection with the sale of the estate of John S. Ireland, county Longford, under the Irish Land Act, 1903, Daniel Murtagh agreed to purchase his holding, and it was vested in him by the Commissioners subject to an advance of £44. He applied for an advance for building purposes, but the Commissioners could not see their way to grant it.

asked what machinery exists in Ireland which would enable small farmers with a judicial valuation or rent under £11 13s. 4d. per annum to obtain loans for building purposes; and whether, if no such machinery now exists, he will consult with the Irish Board of Works as to how the very urgent demand for such loans could best be met?

I have consulted the Board of Works in this matter, but they cannot suggest any machinery which would enable judicial tenants whose rents are less than £11 13s. 4d. to obtain Government loans for building purposes. The extent to which a judicial tenant can borrow from the Board is limited to three times his rent, and the smallest loan under the Land Law (Ireland) Act, 1881, which is at present permissible is £35. The former limitation is necessary for the security of the loan, and the reduction of the minimum of £35 would not facilitate building to any appreciable extent.

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider this question of loans to small farmers when introducing his Labourers Bill?

Yes, of course, it will facilitate building, though it is a very small sum.

asked the Chief Secretary on what authority, and with whose concurrence, the proposed scheme for the application of the teachers' salaries Grant under the Intermediate Education (Ireland) Bill has been issued; whether the intermediate teachers have been consulted with reference to it; and whether teachers who have worked under the Intermediate Education Board during the past year only will be placed on the register as the Bill provides, or deprived of their living as the scheme provides?

The scheme for the distribution of the teachers' salaries Grant will be made by the Lord Lieutenant. The document to which the hon. Member refers was merely an outline indicating the main principles on which it is proposed to frame the scheme, and was prepared by me after careful consideration of representations made on behalf of both teachers and masters; but the scheme was submitted by me as an indication of the lines on which the actual scheme would be framed, and there will be ample opportunity to consider and deal with any alterations which may be suggested in this House or elsewhere. The assumption of the hon. Member in the last paragraph is quite unfounded.

Will the scheme stand as presented to the House?

No; probably not.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, seeing that Mr. Justice Gibson, addressing the grand jury at Wexford on the 7th instant, said, with regard to the general condition of the county, that he was informed as usual that it was excellent, peaceable, and orderly, trusted that in the coming autumn there would be a prosperous harvest, corresponding with the admirable character of the county, he is prepared to take any action against persons who endeavour, to foment disorder by false statements?

I have seen, and was glad to see, a newspaper report of the address of the learned judge. With regard to the latter part of the question, I cannot undertake to proceed by legal process against those fomenters of disorder who tell lies.

asked the Chief Secretary whether his attention has been called to the language used at an Orange celebration in Dublin by Mr. C. Erskine Barton, D.L., and J.P. for the county Wexford; and whether, in view of the attacks made by this magistrate on the Catholics of the county Wexford, he will call the attention of the Lord Chancellor to the speech in question, with a view to having his name removed from the commission of the peace?

The hon. Member has forwarded me a newspaper cutting of the speech referred to. I have laid the matter before the Lord Chancellor, who agrees with me that the speech of this gentleman is unworthy of notice.

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what are the necessary qualifications for appointment as deputy-lieutenant in Ireland, and whether making charges against and slandering one's fellow countrymen is one of them?

No, certainly not; it is a disqualification.

asked the Chief Secretary how the million of money provided under the Labourers (Ireland) Act, 1911, has been expended to date; whether any portion of it remains unallocated, and, if so, how much; will he state the number of labourers' cottages at present authorised, after inquiry, for which no advances by way of loan have been sanctioned; what is the number of cottages included in schemes which have been submitted to the Local Government Board, but into which no inquiries have yet been held; and whether he will give the names of the district councils which have formulated these schemes and the number embraced in each scheme?

In round numbers £660,000 has been actually sanctioned, and the balance (with the exception of about £90,000) is ear-marked for schemes which are at present authorised or in process of authorisation. These schemes provide for 1,465 cottages. The number of cottages included in schemes received but into which inquiries have not yet been ordered is 4,467. The following are the names of the councils and number of cottages embraced in each scheme: Delvin, 101; Urlingford, 7; Kinsale, 168; Croom, 150; Tulla, 28; Fermoy, 256; Mitchelstown No. 2, 28; Bandon, 114; Kanturk, 304; Cork, 642; Youghal No. 1, 53; Mullingar, 185; Killadysert, 41; Kells, 117; Listowel, 397; Gortnahoe, 27; Mallow, 246; Youghal No. 2, 27; Limerick No. l, 253; Slievemargy, 55; Newcastle, 132; Rathkeale, 291; Borrisokane, 69; Mitchelstown No. 1, 99; Ballymoney, 81; Carlow, 51; Cavan, 63; Tralee, 344; Cloneygowan, 47; Gorey, 91.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that several rural district councils have, owing to the depleted condition of the Labourers' Fund, refrained from formulating fresh schemes for the provision of labourers' cottages and additional allotments, even where it has been shown that there is an urgent need for them; and whether, seeing that the million proposed to be granted under the Bill now before Parliament is insufficient to carry out the schemes already promulgated, he will consider the advisability of providing a larger sum?

It is possible that some Councils may have postponed action pending the provision of additional funds by Parliament, but since the announcement of the promise of the additional million, schemes are being received by the Local Government Board. There is no ground for the statement that the further million is insufficient to carry out schemes already lodged.

Is the right hon. Member aware that the million will provide for only 5,000 cottages, and that there are already promulgated something like 10,000, which £1,000,000 could not possibly satisfy?

If the hon. Member knew how difficult it was to get a million he ought to be a little more grateful.

Does the right hon. Gentleman deny the statement that a million is insufficient for present needs?

I cannot deny the statement, but it is a very large amount of money, and will go a very long way towards meeting the need for houses.

asked the Chief Secretary what portion of the additional million provided under the Labourers Act of 1911 has been allocated to each county in Munster; will he give the names of the district councils in these several counties which received loans and the amount in each case; whether his attention has been called to the discretionary powers exercised by the Local Government Board in making advances under this Act; whether this discretionary power is to operate in future; and, if so, whether he intends to take steps to place unions who undertook heavy liabilities for the housing of their labourers prior to 1906 in the same position as those unions who took no such steps until cheap money was available?

The additional million referred to forms part of the total fund of five and a quarter millions specified in the Labourers Act of 1911, the allocation of which should be considered as a whole. Out of this Munster has received over a million and a half, and the portion of this amount which may be said to come out of the final million is about £75,000. It would require a considerable search to make out for each district council the amount of the loans which they received separately from the two Parliamentary Grants. The discretionary powers of the Local Government Board are exercised in pursuance of Statute and will operate in future. The hon. Member seems to have overlooked the fact that districts which undertook heavy liabilities for the housing of their labourers prior to 1906 are receiving a subsidy of £1 8s. 8d. per cottage for every cottage built on 1st November, 1906.

Am I to understand from the statement of the right hon. Gentleman that out of the additional million voted in 1911 only £75,000 came to Munster?

I think that is so, having regard to the fact that they received over a million before.

Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that, out of the million, it is a fair distribution to make to Munster?

I cannot pretend that the whole amount is divided with mathematical accuracy between the various provinces.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Local Government Board is exercising a discretionary power against Munster and the counties, and in favour of districts that did not previously do their duty under the Labourers Acts?

No, I am quite sure that is not the fact.

I am quite certain it is.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether representatives of the Department have visited the Swedish Peat Institution at Jönköping; and, if so, whether he will make the information obtained by them available in any form for persons desiring to use it in Ireland for the purposes for which presumably it was obtained?

A representative of the Department has visited the Jönköping peat station. If any person interested in the development of the peat industry in Ireland desires particulars about this station, the Department will be glad to arrange an interview with their representative, who will afford all available information on the subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether a circular has been issued from his Department to Civil servants employed under the Colonial Office setting forth Regulations or imposing restrictions as to their financial investments or speculations; and, if so, will he cause a copy to be laid upon the Table of the House?

No, Sir.

Are we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman that no circular has been issued from his office referring to the private investments or directorships of Civil servants in the Colonial Office?

I have issued a circular relating to the acceptance of directorships by Colonial Office officials, after their retirement, in companies trading in the Colonies of Great Britain, with which they were recently concerned.

Is that the only circular that has been issued?

Yes.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, if he will state what is the nature of the rearrangement of work which is suggested at the Scottish Office of Works; whether they apply only to the new post of principal architect; and what will be the position of other members of the staff?

The district work has been reorganised with a resulting saving of one assistant architect, and the work on historical buildings has been transferred to the Ancient Monuments branch. No change is made in the position of the principal architect or other members of the staff.

Is it the fact that the new official who takes his place under the present head of the Scottish Office is to receive a salary of only £550, which is £250 less than the English salary, and that he is to rise to a maximum of only £750, instead of £1,000?

Yes; the maximum salary of the principal architect is £750, and £100 special allowance.

Is this arrangement to be made without this House of Commons agreeing to it, and without Members representing Scottish constituencies in this House having any opportunity to discuss it?

The First Commissioner has consulted Scottish Members; moreover, the sums will be voted in the usual way by Parliament.

When did the First Commissioner discuss this with the Scottish Members?

The hon. Member must give me notice.

Is it not the fact that this arrangement is by way of large economies, and is it not rather unusual for a public office to reform itself?

Are any further alterations contemplated, and is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Government have given a pledge to shortly introduce a Scottish Home Rule Bill, and would it not be better to wait till then?

That has nothing to do with the matter.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, the date on which Mr. Oldrieve, of the Scottish Office of Works, retires; who is suggested as his successor; and will he be a Scotsman with knowledge of Scottish historical buildings?

Mr. Oldrieve will retire about the middle of September. His successor will be Mr. J. W. Simpson, F.S.I., L.R.I.B.A., an architect on the staff of His Majesty's Office of Works. Mr. Simpson is not a Scotsman. He will have no connection with Scottish historical buildings, the care of these having recently been transferred to the Ancient Monuments Branch, which is represented in Scotland by an architect stationed at Edinburgh, who is a Scotsman.

Are all the historical buildings at Stirling Castle under his charge?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would ask me a special question about Stirling Castle. I cannot answer without notice.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the First Commissioner of Works, whether his attention has been called to the removal of the ancient font from the vicinity of St. Peter's Church, Thurso, Caithness; and whether he has taken any steps to have the font returned and protected as an ancient and historic Scottish monument?

The First Commissioner has had this case under consideration. In view of the fact that the font is not regarded as a monument of national importance by the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland, he does not propose to take any action.

asked by what authority the 3¼ acres of Hamilton Place Gardens are reserved by the Office of Works for the use of about 100 wealthy subscribers to the exclusion of the general public; and whether steps will be taken to give the public free access to public property?

My hon. Friend's suggestion has often been considered, but the First Commissioner does not think it advisable to adopt it.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether application was made by the Scottish Clerks' Association, whose head office is in Glasgow, to have their special medical scheme whereby a member had free choice of doctor, paid the charge incurred, and upon verification of such payment was reimbursed by the society, and which scheme the society had worked successfully for many years, recognised by the Commissioners in the event of them granting the application of the society to be an approved society under the Act; whether the society was informed, and when, that their medical scheme was accepted; whether such acceptance was subsequently repudiated; and, if so, when and for what reason?

As my right hon. Friend has previously stated in reply to similar questions, the scheme referred to has at no time been approved by the Commissioners; the two latter parts of the question do not therefore arise.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether he is aware that the claim of Mr. A. W. Leonard, of Ealing, to make his own medical arrangements was granted in April, 1913, and that medical expenses were incurred of 7s. 6d., which sum was withheld for upwards of fifteen months, and in discharge thereof 5s. 1d. only has been recently offered by the Middlesex Insurance Committee, which sum consists of a dividend of 9s. 3½d. in the £ on the medical charges paid with charge for drugs in full; what is the reason for distinguishing between payments for medical charges and drugs as a basis for repayment; what are the reasons for the apparent insolvency of the fund; and whether it is proposed to attribute to these insured persons any portion of the accumulated funds created by insured persons making their own medical arrangements and paying their doctor apart from insurance contributions or benefits?

The facts as stated are correct. As to the rest, the only fund for such persons is the aggregate available in respect of their medical benefit. This limited amount has to be applied in the form of a dividend.

asked whether, in view of Schedule I., Part II. ( j ), of the National Insurance Act, 1911, wives of agricultural labourers temporarily employed during harvest are exempt from insurance as outworkers?

The answer is in the negative. The persons referred in paragraph ( j ) of Part II. of the Schedule are outworkers as defined in paragraph ( c ) of Part I. of the same Schedule.

May I ask what benefits these temporarily insured persons get under the Insurance Act?

They get the usual benefits.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is the practice of the Post Office to pay the employer's contribution under the National Insurance Act where the employé is engaged for twenty-one hours a week, and to decline to do so where the employment is reduced to fourteen hours a week, although in both cases the Post Office is the first employer in the week; and, if so, will he say why the practice in the Post Office differs from that in the case of private employers?

Under the National Insurance Acts the Insurance Commissioners have power to issue a special Order excluding from insurance persons engaged in employment of any class which is ordinarily adopted as subsidiary employment only, and not as the principal means of livelihood. They have issued such an Order in the case of persons employed for not more than eighteen hours weekly on the collection and delivery of letters under allowance or on the conveyance of Post Office mails to and from stations or piers. Special Orders relating to part-time employments have been issued by the Insurance Commissioners as regards many classes of subsidiary employment under private employers.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the forcible feeding and medical treatment of a female prisoner recently confined in Perth prison, and whether he has made inquiry into the case; and, if so, what is the result of that inquiry?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the condition of Miss Frances Gordon on her release from Perth prison on 3rd July; and whether he will make a statement on the subject?

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether Miss Gordon, suffragist prisoner in Perth, was released on the 3rd July, having been in prison from the 22nd June; whether he is aware that on the 24th June forcible feeding began and continued twice a day on the 25th, 26th, 27th, and 28th by injections into bowel; that subsequently, until released, injections were made into bowel three times a day, as well as forcible feeding once or twice a day; whether the prisoner was not allowed to see what was injected, but told that it was salt and water to do her good; whether matter was not retained, and stained the clothes which she brought out with her with a dark green stain; why was she allowed to see soap and water enemas which were given but never this; whether, when she was asleep, she was dragged to the edge of the bed on the side and the injections given by wardresses; whether the quantity of food given by the tube had to be diminished every day but was never retained; whether he is aware that after her release Dr. Mabel Jones, M.D., certified that on the 3rd July her appearance was like that of a famine victim, the skin brown, her face bones standing out, her eyes half shut, her voice a whisper, her hands quite cold, her pulse a thread, her wrist joints slightly swollen, stiff, and painful, the breath most offensive, and the contents of the bowel beyond control; and will any inquiry be held into this case?

Miss Frances Gordon was sentenced to one year's imprisonment for breaking into the mansion house of Springhall, near Rutherglen, with intent to set fire to it. Among the articles found on the premises were three flasks of paraffin and other combustibles, and a revolver. The prisoner fully admitted her intention to set fire to the house. I asked for and received a report from the prison doctor which contradicts a number of the allegations contained in Question 37, of which the most important are the statement as to her treatment when asleep, and the statement that the quantity of food was diminshed day by day and never retained. The doctor states that he is convinced that she had undergone a course of systematic drugging before entering the prison. She was found to be suffering from sickness and vomiting shortly after admission and before she had been fed or received any medical treatment in the prison. She was not fed till the 25th of June. On admission she was at once put to bed and treated as a sick prisoner. Her condition required the administration of enemata, and I have no reason to doubt that in the circumstances the doctor treated her case properly and humanely. The doctor states that there was very little difference in her appearance when she was discharged. She was carefully examined before leaving the prison, and the doctor states that there was no swelling of the wrists; that she made no complaint of pain; that she was able to converse, and did converse freely with the doctor's assistant who accompanied her on the journey to Glasgow; that it is true that the breath was offensive, but that it had been offensive from the date of admission; and that generally the statement as to her condition is exaggerated.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can lay on the Table the reports he has received from this medical officer; and whether in his answer he is guided wholly by the opinion of the medical officer whose action is called in question, or whether he has any independent opinion?

I must be guided by the report of the medical officer who was responsible for this matter. I will consider the question of laying the report. I should like to do so.

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the report of Dr. Jones, and does his answer mean that the statements in that report are in the main, inaccurate?

The report of Dr. Jones is largely founded on statements made by the prisoner herself, and not on the observations of Dr. Jones. The answer I have read deals with the allegations in that report.

Is it contemplated whether it is possible to establish facts by an independent inquiry, especially having regard to the fact that under somewhat analogous circumstances in Ireland the late Government sent an independent doctor to investigate prison treatment in Ireland?

The statements are, of course, historical statements, as to what had taken place in the past. The prisoner has been released, and I do not know by what means I could test those statements. I do not see at the moment how an independent investigation could arrive at fresh facts. If it could I would be willing to grant it.

Is it not very unsatisfactory that the medical officer's statements about his own action are to be treated as conclusive as to that action?

May I ask why these women prisoners have in all recent cases been sent to Perth prison?

The reason is that we have there doctors who are accustomed to deal with those cases and are thoroughly skilled.

Will the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to answer so much of question No. 37 which states that Dr. Jones certified that— Her appearance was like that of a famine victim the skin brown, her face bones standing out, her eyes Half shut, her voice a whisper, her hands quite cold, her pulse a thread"—

If the Noble Lord refers to the last paragraph but one it will be quite sufficient.

The reason I did not do that was that part of that was answered.

I think the only thing I can add to what I have said already in the reply which dealt with most of the details of the woman's condition, is to say that she was able to walk to the cab and from the cab to the railway station, and in the railway train she was able to sit up and, as the doctor puts it, admire the scenery and chat with the doctor's assistant.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the process of forcible feeding is at present being carried out in Perth prison; if so, whether he receives regular medical reports as to its effect upon the health of those prisoners who are subjected to it; whether he has received any report as to its effect on Miss Frances Gordon; and, if so, whether he can assure the House that no unusual method of forcible feeding was employed in her case?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. There are two cases at present. As regards the second part, I receive reports from time to time as occasion requires. The remainder of the question has been dealt with in my reply to questions 32, 33, and 37.

Has the right hon. Gentleman taken into consideration the provisions of the Temporary Discharge, Act which the Home Secretary does in cases such as these?

One woman has been released from prison under that Act although she was subject to a year's imprisonment.

Did not the right hon. Gentleman say there are other women in prison just now in Perth undergoing forcible feeding?

One of those women was released under the provisions of the Act to which my hon. Friend refers, and the police authorities found very great difficulty in getting rid of her. They had to carry her about in an ambulance for three hours before she would consent to enter any house.

asked the Home Secretary whether he will issue a circular to magistrates advising that suffragette prisoners had better be admitted to bail pending trial, in view of the objections to forcible feeding?

I cannot interfere with the magistrates' discretion in the matter of bail as regards these prisoners. I will, however, inform the prosecutors, whether the Director of Public Prosecutions or the police, that in my opinion applications for bail in these cases should not be opposed by the prosecution provided that the bail is in a suitable amount and, in some cases, the defendant gives an undertaking that she will not in the meantime commit other offences.

Did the right hon. Gentleman receive the attention of the suffragettes this morning?

Did I receive their attention.

Yes.

I believe there were some outside my house, but they failed to recognise me as I left.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what are the maximum Grants payable during the current year for blind children in residential institutions under the Scottish Education Code Grant, and from the Education (Scotland) Fund?

The Grants payable under the Scottish Code in respect of blind children are at the rate of £3 3s. per head for ordinary instruction, and a further £2 2s. where manual instruction is given. There is also the Fee Grant of 12s. per head, and any addition to that Grant which may be made in terms of Section 17 (11) of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1908. There is, at present, no special Grant for residential institutions, but the question of providing such a Grant is under consideration.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what progress is being made in carrying out the new housing scheme at the village of West Benhar, Lanarkshire, where the whole buildings have been condemned as unfit for habitation under a closing order; whether a suitable site has been obtained for the new buildings, and on what terms; and whether the owner of the land will be taken as bound to make payment of compensation in the event of the new buildings being damaged by subsidence due to the workings of his mineral tenants?

As this question did not appear in the Paper until yesterday, I have not yet been able to obtain the most recent information re- garding the scheme, but am in communication with the Local Government Board on the subject of my hon. and learned Friend's question.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether his attention has been called to the resolution passed by the Scottish School Board Association in favour of Scottish educational policy being determined in Scotland; whether a petition from Scottish Members of Parliment was presented to him urging the transference of the Scottish Education Department to Edinburgh; whether he can say how many Members signed the petition; and whether, in view of this expression of opinion in and out of the House, he is prepared to accede to the request?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers this question may I ask before he gives the numbers of the Scottish Members he will be careful to eliminate two signatures in the cases in which the signatories have repudiated them?

The resolution in question, according to the report which I have seen in the Press, referred to legislation on educational matters. It has, therefore, no bearing on the question of the location of the office of the Scottish Education Department, with regard to which I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made in the House on 23rd July, 1912, after consideration of the memorial to which he refers. To that statement I have nothing to add. My hon. Friend will recollect that the number of Members supporting the proposal was a matter of controversy which, I think, it is not necessary now to revive.

What further evidence do the Government require?

I am perfectly certain that a very large proportion of Scottish Members do not desire the Office to be transferred to Edinburgh.

Will the right hon. Gentleman lay on the Table the memorial signed by the majority of the Scottish Members?

With regard to that memorial, there were a certain number of signatures attached at the time, but other signatures were carried over from a former memorial. We do not regard the latter as having the same weight as the former.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has given instructions for a telephone call office to be provided at the Midland Railway station, Ambergate; and why such office has not yet been provided?

No instructions have yet been given for the provision of a public telephone call-box at Ambergate Railway Station, but inquiry is being made to ascertain whether the facility is justified on financial grounds. As pointed out in my answer to the hon. Member on the 15th April last, this matter had to await the settlement of an agreement with the Midland Railway Company as to the terms applicable to such installations on their property.

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been drawn to a statement of the directors of Marconi's Wireless Telegraph Company that nearly a year had passed since the ratification of the contract and that the slow progress that the company had been permitted to make seriously prejudiced their interests; and if he can make a statement as to what difficulties have arisen with the Post Office and what steps are being taken to expedite the erection of the stations?

I am aware that the Marconi Company have made a statement such as that referred to by the hon. Member. It is the fact that delay has occurred in proceeding with the construction of the Imperial wireless stations through difficulties which could not be foreseen, but some further delay has been caused by proposals submitted by the company for an improvement in the working arrangements. These proposals, which have been made for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the installations, had to be carefully examined, and this has necessarily occupied an appreciable time. The chief difficulties now, however, have been removed or are on the point of solution. The arrangement for establishing direct communication between Egypt and India, which was explained to the House on the 2nd of March in reply to a question by Mr. Walter Guinness, necessitated some delay in connection with the acquisition of fresh sites in Egypt and India, The new sites for the Indian station have not as yet been formally accepted by the company. Work has been proceeding for some time on the construction of the masts for the English stations, and the construction of the foundations for masts of the Egyptian station is about to be commenced. Material has also been, or is on the point of being, sent out for the masts of the East African, Indian, and Singapore stations.

How is it that the Post Office did not examine the specifications and details of the contract before it was presented to Parliament for ratification?

That is a statement the accuracy of which I should question.

asked the Prime Minister whether he can see his way to obtain information in regard to the constitution, powers, and proceedings of finance committees in other Parliaments of the world, and will lay such information before the House as was done recently in the case of foreign affairs committees of other Parliaments?

Yes, Sir, I will ask my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to obtain the desired information with regard to those countries, at any rate, whose constitutional practice is most likely to afford precedents of interest and value to ourselves.

asked the Prime Minister if, having regard to the many accidents to shipping and loss of life recently experienced in consequence of collision during fogs, he will appoint an expert Committee to consider what regulations can be devised calculated to lessen such accidents?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I shall be glad to consider any proposals or suggestions which the hon. Member may wish to make with a view to preventing collisions in fog, but I am inclined to doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by appointing an expert Committee on this subject at the present moment.

Has the hon. Gentleman's Department considered the Kelmaye system?

I must ask for notice of that.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs stated that the Army could not be used for the coercion of Ulster until a General Election had occurred, he can say whether this decision has been reversed; and, if not, whether His Majesty's Government propose to take any action when the people of Ulster set up a Government of their own?

Before the right hon. Gentleman answers, may I ask if the last paragraph of the question is in order?

I think the Prime Minister will be able to take care of himself

The speech made by my right hon. Friend on the Second Reading of the Government of Ireland Bill, to which, I presume, the hon. Member refers, though his statement of it is incomplete and misleading, is on record, and has not in any way been modified. The latter part of the question is based on an hypothesis, and I am not called upon to reply to it.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that three different dates have been given for the setting up of the new Government?

Are we to understand that the Prime Minister does not know whether within a few weeks the Government will be responsible for law and order in Ireland? Will he say how much will be taken off the salaries of Ministers when a part of the United Kingdom is no longer under their jurisdiction?

asked the Prime Minister whether he can state the last occasion on which a Member of the Cabinet of any British Government retained his Cabinet rank without a seat in the House of Commons for more than five months?

I believe that the last case was that of Mr. Gladstone.

Is it not a fact that Mr. Gladstone was a Tory, and not a Radical, Minister at the time?

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps are being taken to improve recruiting at Home, in view of the fact that emergency measures are now required in order to complete the strength of the units of the British Army serving in India?

I do not think I can at present add anything to what was stated by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in answer to an almost identical question put by the hon. Member for West Marylebone on the 1st instant.

asked whether the number of recruits enlisted for the Regular Army during the current year continue to show week by week a reduction compared with the corresponding weeks of 1912–13?

On the contrary, Sir, the number of recruits taken for the Regular Army has, except during four weeks, shown a consistent increase since the middle of January. Each individual week of this period has given better returns than the corresponding week of last year, with only four exceptions.

asked what was the deficiency of strength below establishment on 1st July in the Regular Army in the United Kingdom, in India, and in Colonial stations?

I shall not be in a position to furnish this information for at least a week. The returns are not yet complete.

asked how many men have been induced to re-engage by the bounty of £16 recently offered to soldiers in India, and how many would be required to re-engage in order to bring the establishment up to strength?

The bounty is not being offered to induce men to re-engage, but for a quite different purpose, namely, to induce men due to transfer to the reserve to extend their Colour service. As regards the rest of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Members for Bath and the Isle of Wight on the 2nd and 7th instant respectively.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the actual figures as to the number of men who have extended their service?

It is much too soon to be able to give any figures; the offer came into force only last month.

Is it not a fact that there is difficulty in keeping the British regiments in India up to strength?

This offer would not have been made if the regiments were up to strength.

asked how many Reservists have responded to the recent invitation to re-engage, and how many would be required to re-engage to complete the Home establishment of the Regular Army up to strength?

The men in question are not being invited to re-engage, but to rejoin the Colours. The invitation has only just been issued, and no returns have yet been received of the numbers who have responded. The answer to the last part of the question depends on the progress of recruiting. The shortage on 1st June has already been stated.

asked what were the total losses by desertion from the Regular Army in the five-year periods from 1904 to 1908 and from 1909 to 1913, respectively; and what was the percentage of desertions to the total number recruited in each of those periods?

The hon. Member will find much more complete information on this point than I could possibly give in answer to a question on page 68 of the General Annual Return.

Is it a fact that the percentage of desertions has been much higher in the last five years than during the preceding five years?

Speaking from memory, I think the hon. Member is mistaken.

asked the Secretary of State for War the number of time-expired men leaving the Army annually during the last five years; and the number of these men who have rejoined the Army during the same period of time?

I would refer the hon. Member to pages 36–37 of the General Annual Return where full information on both points will be found.

asked the Attorney-General whether the Government proposes to codify the number of Betting and Gaming Acts which find a place on the Statute Book in order that magistrates, chief constables, and others concerned may know what the law actually is in order to its efficient administration?

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the same question put to me by him on 8th April last.

Does not this second question give the right hon. Gentleman an opportunity for repentance and for a reconsideration of the matter?

I am still of the same opinion as I was on 8th April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any quarries in the county of Salop have not been visited by an inspector of mines and quarries for a period of over four years; and, if so, whether arrangements will be made to visit such quarries at an early date?

I am informed that there are some ten quarries regularly worked which have not been inspected within the period mentioned. Almost all of these are very small, employing only two or three persons. I have asked the inspector to arrange for the inspection of these quarries at the earliest opportunity.