asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners to what benefits is a soldier entitled in return for his weekly contribution of 1½d. under the National Insurance Act while he remains in the Army, and to what benefits after he has left the Service?

As regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given to questions asked by the hon. Member for South Somerset on the 27th January, 1913, of which I am sending him copies. A soldier from whose pay deductions have been made up to the time of his discharge is on discharge entitled to the same full benefits as if he had been insured in civilian employment throughout his period of service. He can obtain benefits either through his approved society or, if his health precludes his admission to an approved society, through the Navy and Army Insurance Fund.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether he is aware that it has been the practice in districts where there is no chemist avail- able for the local insurance committee to arrange with the doctors on the panel to supply drugs and medicine for a capitation payment of 1s. 6d. per insured person on their list; whether the Commissioners have sanctioned this arrangement, and whether it has worked satisfactorily; and whether the Commissioners have recommended in any such cases that instead of the capitation payment the doctors should be required to dispense their prescriptions in the same manner as chemists on a tariff rate?

The arrangement to which the hon. Member refers is expressly provided for in the Regulations, and has generally been found to work satisfactorily. With regard to the last part of the question, if the hon. Member will give particulars of any cases he has in mind, I will make inquiries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Income Tax rate of 9d. in the £ on earned income does or does not apply when the total income earned and unearned exceeds £1,500 a year?

Where the total income of a taxpayer from all sources exceeds £1,500 a year and does not exceed £2,000, it is provided by Clause 4 of the Finance Bill that the amount payable on the earned part shall be reduced to the amount which would be payable if the tax were charged on that part at 1s.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether a man who resides for six months in the year in this country and pays Income Tax on his income in this country will be liable under Clause 5 of the Finance Bill to pay Income Tax on his income derived from foreign sources for which he pays foreign Income Tax, and which is not remitted to this country but is reinvested abroad?

According to the proviso to Clause 5 of the Finance Bill, as amended in Committee, the answer is in the affirmative, unless the taxpayer satisfies the Commissioners of Inland Revenue that he is not domiciled in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will allow a rebate of Excise Duty on the new temperance drink made from beer which has paid duty and has subsequently been de-alcoholised?

There is no provision in the law for repayment of duty on beer which has been subjected to the process referred to.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts of Income Tax, respectively, contributed by Great Britain and Ireland for the years 1912–13 and 1913–14; and will he state separately the amounts of Super-tax collected in both countries?

The amounts of Income Tax and Super-tax, respectively, contributed by Great Britain and Ireland in the years 1912–13 and 1913–14 were:— Income Tax. — 1912–13. 1913–14. £ £ Great Britain 39,281,000 42,031,000 Ireland 1,364,000 1,374,000

Super-tax. — 1912–13. 1913–14. £ £ Great Britain 3,480,000 3,233,000 Ireland 120,000 106,000

No part of the Super-tax was actually collected in Ireland, the assessment and collection of the tax being centralised in London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the House will have the opportunity of considering any scheme for the allocation and administration of the Budget Grant in aid of nursing for the current year before such scheme is finally approved?

It is proposed to present a Supplementary Estimate to Parliament this Session in respect of the service referred to, and I hope that there will be an opportunity for discussion upon it.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will alter the proposed Grants to boards of guardians so that guardians who think it better to spend money on giving more liberal out-relief shall have the same amount of assistance from the Treasury as those who prefer to give very little out-relief and spend more money on indoor officials; and will he provide that a fair share of the Grants be given so as to encourage guardians who comply with the advice of the Local Government Board circular of 1900 to give adequate outdoor relief to the aged poor and who also give it to widows?

I do not think that any alteration of the proposed scheme of Poor Law Grants is needed to encourage boards of guardians to afford adequate outdoor relief in accordance with the advice contained in the Local Government Board's circulars.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he will state the grounds on which the Estates Commissioners have declined to reinstate the representatives of Thomas Neary to a holding on the Moran estate, Carn, Erris, county Mayo, from which Neary was evicted for the non-payment of one and a half year's rent in 1881, the holding having been continuously in the occupation of his family for more than 100 years; if he is aware that the estate has now been purchased by the Congested Districts Board, and that the former Neary holding is still unoccupied except as a grazing farm; and if he will now represent to the Estates Commissioners or to the Congested Districts Board that this claim should be reconsidered in view of the need of the Neary family and of the fact that the Board have now at their disposal a large area of land on the Moran estate available for distribution.

The Estates Commissioners received an application from Thomas Neary (since deceased) for reinstatement in a holding formerly occupied by him on the estate of Mrs. Moran, and after inquiry decided not to take any action in the matter. This estate has been purchased by the Congested Districts Board, who will make further inquiries into Neary's case.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the number of candidates for intermediate clerkships who took advanced French, advanced Greek, and advanced Latin, respectively, in the examinations held in July, 1911, and in December, 1911; and what is the number of such candidates who obtained over 65 per cent. of the marks allotted in each of those subjects.

The figures desired by the hon. Member are as follows:—

Examination. French. Greek. Latin. No. of Candidates who took the Subject. No. who obtained over 65 per cent. No. of Candidates who took the Subject. No. who obtained over 65 per cent. No. of Candidates who took the Subject. No. who obtained over 65 per cent. July, 1911 … … 139 34 18 4 54 10 December, 1911 … 103 2 13 9 43 9

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that there are a number of men employed at the Army Ordnance Department, Weedon, who are classed as assistant foremen, having charge of workmen and of stores; if he is aware that these men only receive 23s. per week; that they have not had an increase of wage for twenty-four years; and whether, in view of the increase in the cost of living, he will grant an immediate increase of at least 2s. per week on the minimum and maximum rate paid to that class of Government employés?

The present wages of these assistant foremen begin at 23s. and rise to 27s. An increase in the scale will shortly be announced.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if his attention has been directed to the new regulations issued to the United States of America Navy prohibiting the issue of liquor rations and the use of liquor on board American war vessels; and whether he can give the terms of the regulations issued, and the date when they came into effect?

The terms of the regulation referred to are: "The use or

introduction for drinking purposes of alcoholic liquors on board any naval vessel, or within any navy yard or station, is strictly prohibited, and commanding officers will be held directly responsible for the enforcement of this order."—General Orders No. 99. This General Order was to come into force on 1st July, 1914.

also asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state the effect which the new Regulations as to the issue of the grog ration

have had in reducing the consumption of grog in the Navy; and whether he can give the number of men who are marked T in the register and the number who took the grog ration before the new Regulations came into effect, and the number marked G and the number who do not apply for the grog ration at the present time?

From statistics obtained from the Fleet, it would appear that the alteration of procedure referred to has not had any appreciable effect on the issue of the spirit ration on the 1st December last. The following figures will afford my hon. Friend the information he wishes:— — 30th June, 1913. 1st Dec., 1913. Number of men entitled to draw spirit ( i.e., excluding those under twenty years of age who are not allowed to take spirit) 88,184 87,951 Elected to take spirit ration 76,989 77,160 Elected to take money allowance in lieu 11,195 10,791 Percentage (spirit ration) 87.3 87.7 Percentage (allowance) 12.7 12.3

asked the President of the Board of Education whether the Royal Institute of British Architects is applying for a grant of a new charter; whether an opportunity will be given for petitions to be presented by persons whose interests are affected for the modification of such charter; by what authority the questions raised by such petitions will be heard and determined; and whether he can give any information as to the time of such hearing and the procedure to be followed?

I am informed by the Lord President of the Council that no petition to the King in Council praying for the grant of a new charter to the Royal Institute of British Architects has been lodged at the Privy Council Office. Should any such application be made, formal notice of the presentation of the petition would be published in the "London Gazette," and persons interested could then lodge petitions for or against the charter prayed for. All such petitions, together with the original petition, are referred by His Majesty to a Committee of the Lords of the Council for consideration and report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will cause the British South Africa Land Act of last year to be issued as a Parliamentary Paper?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the rupee is for all internal purposes recognised as an inconvertible token coin; and whether the Indian community, previous to the closing of the mints in 1893 to the free coinage of silver, had been accustomed to the use of full value coins?

The rupee is more than an inconvertible token coin. It is the effective currency for all internal purposes, is legal tender in satisfaction of public demands and private debts, actively exchanges with gold in the internal circulation, and is ordinarily exchangeable for gold at many Government treasuries, though the Government is not under legal obligation in the latter respect. The answer to the latter part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked whether the legislation passed in 1899, following upon the Report of the Fowler Currency Committee, contemplated a gold standard of value with gold coin as the measure of value; and what is the amount of sovereigns and of gold bullion that have been absorbed by the people in India in each of the past five years?

The legislation made sovereigns and half-sovereigns legal tender in India. The information asked for in the second part of the question is contained in the following Table:— — Value of sovereigns absorbed by the public in India. Value of gold bullion absorbed by the public in India. £ £ 1909–10 2,874,000 5,093,100 1910–11 8,103,000 7,610,800 1911–12 8,884,000 6,712,700 1912–13 11,101,000 7,280,800 1913–14 12,096,000 7,853,900

asked the Under-Secretary for India whether the question has been considered of raising Government gold loans in India with a guarantee of repayment in gold; and, if not, will he favourably consider the advisability of doing so now?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part the Secretary of State does not anticipate that there would be any advantage in pursuing the suggestion.

asked the President of the Local Government Board if he will give a list of the local authorities in Wales and Monmouthshire in respect of which representations of being in default under the Housing and Town Planning Act have been made by the county councils or other agencies; and what action has been taken by the Board in each case, and with what result?

The names of the districts in Wales and Monmouthshire in regard to which formal complaints have been made to the Local Government Board under Section 10 of the Housing, Town Planning, etc., Act, 1909, are the boroughs of Tenby, Wrexham, Swansea, and Brecon, the urban districts of Blaenavon, Connah's Quay, and Bedwas and Machen, and the rural districts of Wrexham, Narberth, Gwyrfai, Hawarden, and Edeyrnion. As regards eight of these twelve cases the Board have held public local inquiries into the complaints. In one of the remaining four cases a conference has taken place between the council and one of the Board's inspectors. In another case it has become unnecessary to pursue the matter as the reason for the complaint no longer exists. In the other two cases the council are considering the question of providing houses, and inquiries into the complaints will probably be unnecessary. Out of the twelve cases formal application has been made to the Board for sanction to loans for the erection of houses in three cases; the councils have agreed to provide houses in two other cases, and are definitely considering the provision of houses in four more cases. In one case, as previously stated, it is unnecessary to take further action, and in the remaining two cases the Board have not yet received the reports of their inspectors on the local inquiries.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether either county councils or local sanitary authorities have any power to provide for lectures on matters relating to public health; and, if so, under what Statute or Statutes?

Section 60 (1) ( b ) of the National Insurance Act, 1911, provides that the insurance committee of a county or county borough may make such provision for the giving of lectures and the publication of information on questions relating to health as it thinks necessary or desirable, and Section 61 (3) of that Act empowers any local authority to subscribe such sums as it may think fit towards the general purposes of the insurance committee. Subject to this, I am not aware of any general statutary authority for county councils or sanitary authorities in England and Wales to provide lectures of the kind to which the hon. Member refers. I assume that his inquiry is not intended to relate to the powers of the local authorities as education authorities.

asked the President of the Local Government Board what are the amounts advanced to local authorities in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, under the Small Dwellings Acqui- sition Act, 1899, during each year since the Act came into operation; also a statement of the total amounts advanced and repaid in the case of each authority in Wales and Monmouthshire which has adopted the Act?

The loan sanctioned by the Local Government Board in the case of local authorities in England and Wales for the purposes of the Act are as follows:— — England (excluding Monmounthshire). Wales and Monmouthshire. £ £ Year ended 31st Dec, 1900 1,830 — Year ended 31st Dec., 1901 18,843 750 Year ended 31st Dec., 1902 24,516 — Year ended 31st Dec., 1903 11,495 1,145 Year ended 31st Dec., 1904 15,205 160 Year ended 31st Dec., 1905 8,555 180 Year ended 31st Dec., 1906 17,548 640 Year ended 31st Dec., 1907 9,902 387 Year ended 31st Dec., 1908 24,247 620 Year ended 31st Dec., 1909 5,828 930 Year ended 31st Dec., 1910 27,211 1,761 Fifteen months—1st Jan., 1911, till 31st March, 1912 32,718 11,576 Year ended 31st March, 1913 28,793 34,967 Year ended 31st March 1914 68,440 48,277 295,131 101,393

In addition to the above, the following loans were sanctioned by the London County Council in the case of Metropolitan Borough Councils:— Year. £ 1902–3 240 1903–4 — 1904–5 1,295 1905–6 2,610 1906–7 850 1907–8 200 1908–9 210 1909–10 — 1910–11 350 1911–12 360 1912–13 160 1913–14 150 6,425

I have no complete information as to sums repaid to local authorities in respect of advances by them under the Act. With respect to Scotland, the question should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary for Scotland.

asked the President of the Local Government Board the total cost of the Law of Settlement for the financial year 1913 (or the latest date possible), and the number of paupers dealt with thereunder, differentiating between London and the rest of England and Wales?

The expenditure of boards of guardians on settlement and removal expenses for the year ended 31st March, 1913, was: In London, £7,956; rest of England and Wales, £18,371; total, £26,327. Information is not available as to the number of paupers dealt with.

also asked the President of the Local Government Board the total cost of London pauperism, including expenditure out of loans, for the year ending March, 1913 (or the latest date possible), and the total cost of each indoor pauper in London for that year?

The total net expenditure on relief of the poor, other than out of loans, of Poor Law authorities in London for the year ended 31st March, 1913, was £3,929,427. The expenditure out of loans for the same period was £34,562. The cost per indoor pauper in London for the same year, calculated on the mean number of indoor paupers and the total expenditure (excluding expenditure out of loans) on indoor relief, was £39 17s. 11¾d.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that certain postmen's duties at Bolton only allow nine and a quarter hours off duty in twenty-four; whether he is aware that the distances men live from the office in Bolton do not allow them to get nine clear hours at home in such circumstances as laid down by the Regulations; and whether he will issue instructions that the duties referred to shall be revised?

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the units of work and the index number of the cost of living in the following towns in Scotland: Inverness, Ardrossan, Dunoon, Pitlochry, Rothesay, St. Andrews, and Greenock?

The units of work, according to the latest available figures, and the index numbers of cost of living which were used in connection with the existing scheme of classification are indicated below. There are no index numbers for Dunoon and St. Andrews.

— Units of Work. Cost of Living. Index No. Inverness 570 108 Ardrossan 101 107 Dunoon 55 — Pitlochry 52 110 Rothesay 103 109 St. Andrews 89 — Greenock 388 107

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company have refused to return to the system of through booking from various inland stations in Ireland which was in operation before the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in recent years; and whether, having regard to the loss inflicted thereby on small consignments of stock, he will use whatever means lie within his power to induce them to revive through booking?

The Board of Trade have no powers with regard to the arrangement of through rates between railway companies and independent steamship companies, but I have asked the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company for their observations on my hon. Friend's question, and I will communicate with him when I receive a reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, approximately, for each of the years 1880, 1890, 1900, 1910, and 1913, for the United Kingdom, for Germany, and for the United States of America, respectively, the Home consumption of pig iron, both as a whole and per head of population, estimated by taking into account native production of pig iron, imports of pig iron for Home consumption, and exports of pig iron; if, in a further estimate, he will show what is the Home consumption of pig iron at these dates and for these countries, estimated by taking into account the native production of pig iron, imports of pig iron for Home consumption, exports of pig iron, imports of steel, iron and steel manufactures, machinery, etc., expressed as pig iron, and exports of steel, iron and steel manufactures, machinery, etc., expressed as pig iron; and, if the latter estimate is not possible, will he show, contrasted with the estimate of Home pig iron consumption by the first method, the imports and exports of iron in other forms?

I am sending my hon. Friend the information which he asks for, so far as it is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make inquiry as to the need for a local office for the purposes of the Insurance (Unemployed) Act being opened in Armadale, Linlithgowshire, the nearest office, that at Bathgate, being 2½ miles distant from Armadale?

I will make inquiries in the matter and will communicate further with my hon. Friend.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the Congested Districts Board have acquired land for the development of a lime scheme in Killorglin; and will he say what steps are being taken to carry the scheme through?

The Congested Districts Board have not acquired any land in Killorglin district for the purpose of a lime scheme in that district.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether there is any authority for using the English Royal Standard at the Royal residence of Holyrood House, Edinburgh, during the visit of their Majesties King George and Queen Mary; whether he is aware that the Royal Standard in Scotland contains, according to the Act of Union, the Scottish lion rampant in the first and fourth quarters; and whether in future he will see that the latter Standard is used?

The Standard which was used at Holyrood was the Standard of the United Kingdom, the quarterings of which are settled by the Royal Proclamation of 1st January, 1801, which followed on the Act of Union of 1800. I am not aware of any provision in the Act of Union to the effect mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary for Scotland what is the amount distributed, and what is the cost of administration for each of the Secondary Education Committees in Scotland for each of the past ten years?

The Secondary Education Committees on their present footing only came into existence in 1909. The latest figures of the character desired by my hon. Friend are given on pages 72 and 73 of the Report of the Committee of Council on Education in Scotland for the year 1913–14, of which I am sending him a copy. The figures for earlier years will be found in the corresponding table of the previous Annual Reports.

asked the Secretary for Scotland, with regard to the 87 acres (approximately) of land taken by the Admiralty, under the Defence Acts, in or about May of this year, near the entrance to the Cromarty Firth for the purpose of fortifying that entrance, in respect of which the arbiter proposes to award the owner £12,283 18s. 7d. and the tenant £2,407 18s. 10d., aggregating together £14,691 17s. 5d., if he will say what was being taken as the annual value for rating purposes of that property at the time when it was acquired by the Admiralty, or, if it was part of a larger rateable subject, what was the approximate area and character of that larger subject, what was being taken as its annual value for rating purposes at that time, and by how much that annual value has been reduced by reason of the severance of the acquired portion and the rights pertaining thereto?

I am informed that the land taken by the Admiralty formed part of two larger subjects, the annual values of which as entered in the Valuation Roll for the year 1913–14 was £395 10s. 10d. and £379 13s. 4d., respectively, and that the total area of the two subjects is approximately 1,940 acres. Their general character may be described as arable, pasture, and rough green and heather pasture. I am further informed that no adjustments of the values have yet been made for the current year's Valuation Roll.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with reference to the application of Phillip Bendal for a certificate of naturalisation received at the Home Office on 18th April, 1914, and replied to on 3rd June, to the effect that his application had been refused, he can say what were the grounds of that refusal, in view of the fact that Mr. Bendal has lived the greater part of his life in England and South Africa and served for two years in the Hospital Corps in the South African war, that he is at present a member of the National Reserve, and that his brother is also naturalized?

I am sorry that in this, as in many other cases, I cannot undertake to state the grounds of my decision. The Naturalisation Act expressly provides that the Secretary of State may, with or without assigning any reason, give or withhold a certificate of naturalisation as he thinks most conducive to the public good.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a police station is being erected in Stafford Road, Wallington, but that the Government Fair-Wage Clause is not being enforced; and whether, if this be so, he will take immediate steps to secure the enforcement of the said Clause?

The Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District is in communication with the contractors as to the rates of wages that are being paid in connection with the erection of the new police station at Wallington. The provisions of the Fair-Wages Clause will be enforced.