asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, whether the Commissioners will address a remonstrance to the Middlesex Insurance Committee for not permitting Miss Ruby Holt to make her own arrangements for medical attendance, seeing that she has been attended from childhood by Dr. Bennett, of Ealing, who has also for years past attended every member of her family?

No, Sir.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners (1), if he will state what is the reason for the delay in ascertaining the amount of the special arrangements fund in Middlesex available for distribution in respect of claims arising in the year 1913, have the whole of the claims been received; and, if so, what was the date when the last of such claims was received; and (2) whether all the claims upon the special arrangement fund under the control of the Middlesex Committee out of which Dr. J. Chambre, of South Ealing, is entitled to be paid for attendance upon twenty-nine persons, members of the District Railway staff, have been sent in, when was the last received, what is the reason for withholding payment as long ago as 1913, and will the Insurance Commissioners take steps to secure to the committees better administration of the Act?

Payment has been made to all insured persons entitled to a contribution from the special arrangements fund, except those who have made their own arrangements with the particular doctor referred to. In their case the insurance committee are endeavouring, for the special convenience of the doctor and in accordance with his wishes, to obtain the insured person's consent to payment being made to the doctor direct.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that the salaries of the panel doctors in the county of Cork are more than six months in arrear; if he can state who is responsible for this neglect; and, in view of the fact that any discontent on the part of the doctors for such neglect may cause inconvenience to the insured persons, will he insist on the Irish Insurance Commissioners having these liabilities discharged more regularly?

My right hon. Friend is informed by the Irish Insurance Commissioners that the accounts of the doctors in the area referred to who have undertaken to furnish the necessary certificates to insured persons have been settled up to the 31st March last. Payment up to the 30th June will be made as soon as the necessary particulars have been received.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the duties of sub-registrar of the district which includes the urban district of Skegness are performed by a lady who resides at Burgh, a small village five miles from Skegness; and whether, in consequence of the inconvenience thereby occasioned, arrangements can be made for the opening of an office at Skegness, whereby the daily attendance of the sub-registrar may be secured?

The suggestion in the latter part of the question will be considered on the occurrence of a vacancy. In the meantime, it does not appear that the work at Skegness is sufficient to require more than two attendances a week, which are already given.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what is the approximate number of people who escaped payment of Super-tax for the years 1909–10 and 1910–11 by reason of an allowance for life insurance premiums exempting them from liability, and the approximate amount of Super-tax which would have been payable in each of these years but for such an allowance?

The figures are as follows:—

Year.	Approximate number of persons whose total incomes were for Super Tax purposes brought below £5,000 by the allowance for life-assurance premiums.	Approximate amount of Super Tax at 6d in the which would have pound been payable.
		(a) if the deduction for life-assurance premiums were entirely inadmissible.	(b) if the deduction for life-assurance premiums were allowed in computing the amount 0 f duty, but inadmissible in arriving at the amount of the total income.
		£	£
1909–10	150	8,700	6,600
1910–11	200	11,300	8,700

The above figures are based upon a 10 per cent. sample investigation of the Returns for each of the years 1909–10 and 1910–11.

asked the Prime Minister when the Advisory Committee for Dumbartonshire will be appointed?

I am informed that authority has been given to issue the invitations to serve on the committee, which is therefore either already appointed or will be appointed immediately.

asked the Prime Minister whether any information not otherwise made public, and accessible only to the Committee of Imperial Defence, has been supplied for the writer of the sixth volume of the Oxford Survey of the British Empire?

Some assistance, mainly with regard to published' sources of information, was given to the author by the Committee of Imperial Defence in respect to one of the chapters of the work referred to. In order to avoid the possibility of the publication of confidential matter, and in accordance with the normal practice, the chapter in question was first submitted to the Committee of Imperial Defence, who must not, however, be held to be in any way responsible for the work.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what are the proposals which the Education Commissioners are making for increasing the salaries of assistant teachers in Irish national schools; whether Treasury sanction is necessary; if so, has it yet been secured; and when it is expected these reforms will come into operation?

The proposals with regard to assistant teachers are being considered in connections with the recommendations of the committee of inquiry as a whole.

asked the President of the Local Government Board, with reference to the fact that he is advised that the glycerinated calf lymph supplied by his Department is satisfactory, whether he is aware that during the fifteen years, 1898 to 1912, in which such lymph has been in use in this country the annual Reports of the Registrar-General show that over 300 deaths have been certified as due to cow-pox and other effects of vaccination, whilst many thousands of cases of illness resulting from vaccination with Government lymph have been treated in naval and military hospitals and by private practitioners; and whether he will describe any independent or other bacteriological tests to which the lymph has been submitted, and state the numbers and descriptions of the micro-organisms which have been found on test cultures prepared from it during the past twelve months?

The figures given in the first part of the question as regards deaths are substantially correct: but it is necessary to explain that prior to the year 1911 all deaths, in the certificate for which cow-pox or vaccinia was mentioned, were entered as having been caused by "cow-pox or other effects of vaccination." Arrangements have been in operation for many years whereby every such death is reported to the Local Government Board by the local registrars of deaths, and every such death is made the subject of investigation by a medical inspector of the Board. In every instance careful inquiry is made into the results of vaccination of other infants with lymph of the same origin. No case has been discovered in which serious illness or death has been traceable to or has been caused by the lymph issued from the Government lymph establishment. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. With respect to the last part, each series of lymph is examined bacteriologically before issue, and only lymph which in the opinion of the Board's expert is found to be satisfactory is issued.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty, 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, if he will state how the sum of £12,283 18s. 7d., which the arbiter proposes to award to the owner, is allocated as between land purchase, easements, water supply, injurious effects on land not taken, and other heads of compensation, stating how much is awarded in respect of each such head of compensation, with similar information as regards the sum of £2,407 18s. 10d., which the arbiter proposes to award as compensation to the tenant?

In proposing to award Colonel Ross the sum of £12,283 18s. 7d. in respect of the land taken by the Admiralty in May, 1913, the arbiter has allocated this sum as shown below;—

asked the Secretary for War if he will ascertain and say whether lieutenants in Cavalry regiments are compelled by their commanding officers to keep more than two chargers; if so, whether the Government pays for the keep and forage of any horse beyond that number; if he will say whether the Government allowances of forage and keep are sufficient to maintain officers' chargers in good health and condition at all times of the year; and, if not, if he will ascertain the average extra monthly expense calculated for twelve months which lieutenants have to pay themselves for extra keep, forage, and shoeing for two chargers in the Cavalry regiments now stationed at Aldershot?

The answer to the first part of the question is that no such case is known; the second part therefore does not arise; the answer to the third and fourth parts is that the adequacy of the ration is under consideration. As regards shoeing, I am not aware that there is any extra expense, provided the chargers are used for purely military purposes.

also asked the Secretary for War whether the £150 outfit allowance now granted to officers of the Regular Army promoted from the ranks has proved to be sufficient to purchase the necessary and adequate outfit required for their new rank in each branch of the Service; and if he will give the estimated or approximate cost, according to War Office calculations, of an officer's complete outfit in each of the following branches of the Regular Army, namely: Cavalry, Royal Horse and Field Artillery, Royal Engineers, Rifle Brigade, and Infantry?

So much depends upon the individual officers choice and discretion that no precise calculation has been made as to the cost of a complete outfit in each of these several arms. But there is good reason for thinking that the new £150 grant is adequate.

asked the. Secretary for War whether the expenses of transport of officers' baggage, mess, and other accommodation to manœuvre districts from and to the different towns or places where regiments and units are permanently stationed are paid for by the Government or out of mess funds paid by officers themselves; and, if such expenses are paid for in part by the Government, if he will say to what extent, and how much, if any, was paid by officers in the different Cavalry regiments and Infantry regiments, respectively, which were moved from Colchester, Alder shot, London, and York to the manœuvre areas in 1911, 1912, and 1913?

The expenses of transporting baggage for officers and their messes is borne by the public. There is, of course, a maximum limit, and, provided this is not exceeded, it rests with General Officers Commanding to fix the weights with reference both to the reasonable requirements of individual officers and messes and to the necessity for restricting the quantity of baggage which can be allowed to accompany operating troops.

asked the Secretary for War (1) if he will ascertain the average monthly expense, calculating for twelve months, which lieutenants have to bear themselves for band expenses, polo subscriptions, hunt subscriptions, furniture, and general mess upkeep expenses, separately, in the different Cavalry and Infantry regiments now stationed in the Aldershot Command; (2) if he will ascertain and give the total amount of the average monthly mess bill, calculated for the last twelve months, for lieutenants in each of the Cavalry and Infantry regiments and in the Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery and Royal Engineer messes in the Aldershot Command?

These matters have been and still are under investigation. I do not think that it is desirable to call for the detailed information suggested.

asked how many Secretary of State scholarships of £50 a year have been given to non-commissioned officers and men of the Regular Army promoted from the ranks since the 19th March, 1913, up to the 25th June, 1914, inclusive?

The number of warrant officers and non-commissioned officers commissioned since 1st January, 1914, who are qualified for the new emoluments has been seven. My right hon. Friend the late Secretary of State for War stated in his speech on 19th March, 1913, that the new scheme would not take effect before 1st January.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that, owing to the fact that not more than one or two troopships sail for India before the 30th September and that these are chiefly used for the return of furlough men, the effect of selecting that day (as provided by paragraph 336 of the King's Regulations) as the date by which a man must have completed six years' service abroad before he can qualify to register on the preceding 1st April for the Home Establishment, is to make it necessary for the great majority of non-commissioned officers and men to show a considerably longer period than six years and in many cases nearly seven years' service abroad before they can qualify to return home; whether he is aware that this state of things has caused and is still causing much discontent among the troops in India; and whether he will consider the propriety of altering paragraph 336 of the Regulations so as to make the 31st March the date for the computation of six years' completed service, or take some other steps to insure that soldiers serving abroad may have the opportunity of returning home within a reasonable time of completing their six years' service?

It is not the case that the first two transports are chiefly used for the return of furlough men, but I am aware that in some cases men, when they return home, have then completed a longer period of service than six years. Transfer to the home establishment is, however a privilege, and under the Rules as they stand, without the alteration suggested, there are already more men registered than can be interchanged, with due regard to the efficiency of units and transport exigencies.

asked the Secretary for War the number of noncommissioned officers and men in the Regular Army who have been recommended for commissions since the Secretary of State for War made his statement with regard to promotions from the ranks, on the 19th March, 1913; if he will say how many of such non-commissioned officers and men have already received commissions; and if he will give the numbers of such commissions given in the Cavalry, Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery, Royal Engineers, Rifle Brigade and Infantry, respectively?

The new Regulations came into force from 1st January. Of the nine recommendations for commission dealt with since that date, seven have resulted in the grant of commissions, all of which have been in the Infantry.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether, in the event of the building of the proposed new upper standard council school at Lydney, in the county of Gloucester, being proceeded with during the present year, the cost will be spread over the whole of the county administrative area; and, if not, whether the provisions of the Revenue Bill, to be introduced in the autumn, will enable the cost so to be spread and justify the postponement of building operations until next year?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. I cannot at present commit myself to a statement as to the provisions of the Revenue Bill, but I am anxious, whenever an opportunity occurs, to introduce legislation which would spread over the whole area of a county the cost of new elementary schools provided by the local education authority.

asked the President of the Board of Education if, in the event of an exhibition of the British arts and crafts at present being shown at the Louvre in Paris taking place at the Victoria and Albert Museum, he will cause a representative collection of arts and crafts executed by past and present students of British schools of art aided by public money to be at the same time shown?

It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to arrange for an exhibition, such as is suggested, by the time the collection from Paris is to be exhibited in London, nor would there be any space available for it in the museum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, whether he is in a position to give any information with regard to the proposed extension of the Shiré Highland Railway northwards to Lake Nyasa; and whether he can give the date it is proposed the work shall be commenced and the route which the extension is likely to follow?

I regret that, pending the passing of the East African Protectorate Loan Bill, I am unable to give any information on the subject.

asked the Home Secretary how many habitual drunkards applied, under the Habitual Drunkards Act of 1879, to be admitted to retreats during each of the years since 1900; how many were allowed to leave before their time had expired; how many on leaving were cured; and how many while in the retreat had to be removed to lunatic asylums?

The number of persons actually admitted under the Act, the number allowed to leave before their time had expired, and the number removed to lunatic asylums are as follows:—

Year.		Number Admitted under the Act.	Number Allowed to Leave before Expiry of Time.	Number sent to Lunatic Asylums.
1900	…	219	42	2
1901	…	220	66	2
1902	…	259	36	2
1903	…	247	41	6
1904	…	173	32	1
1905	…	159	33	1
1906	…	207	38	0
1907	…	210	55	2
1908	…	207	42	2
1909	…	187	42	5
1910	…	158	30	3
1911	…	151	38	1
1912	…	182	37	5
1913	…	161	48	2
Totals	…	2,740	580	34

In addition to the above number of admissions under the Act, 4,061 persons entered retreats as private patients, making the total number of admissions No figures can be given as to the number of patients cured, as it is often impossible to obtain information as to the history of patients after their discharge. It is estimated, however, that about a third of all persons who have submitted to detention become useful citizens, and that a larger number have been materially improved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the prospectus of April, 1914, offering securities of the Central Railway Company of Canada distinctly set forth that it had a London committee and gave the address of a London office for transacting business; whether accordingly it came within the definition of a company having a place of business within the United Kingdom; and, seeing that no documents relating to the company have been filed with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies, as required under Section 274 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908, will he take steps to impose the penalties prescribed by the Statute?

I am aware of the terms of the prospectus offering securities of the Central Railway Company of Canada which was issued last April, and, as I informed the hon. Member last Thursday, the Board of Trade are at present considering the question of the liability of the company to file documents in accordance with the provisions of Section 274 of the Companies (Consolidation) Act, 1908.

asked the Attorney-General whether any complaints were received by the Director of Public Prosecutions in reference to the manner in which the Central Railway Company of Canada was attempted to be floated upon the British market; if so, whether he will state their nature and what action was taken upon them?

No complaints have been received by the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to this company.

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether the purpose for which it is sought to levy money under the Diseases of Animals (Ireland) Bill introduced this Session is in the case of Great Britain to be provided for in future out of moneys provided by Parliament; whether his attention has been called to a statement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to this effect; and, if so, whether he will seek for equal treatment for Ireland?

A sum of £71,300 is one of the items in the list of Grants in relief of local rates for which Ireland is getting an equivalent Grant under the Budget proposals. The amount of the equivalent Grant will be added to the Transferred Sum, and will, therefore, be at the disposal of the Irish Parliament.