asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, if he will relax or remove the Regulation adopted by the Welsh Insurance Commissioners which deprives approved societies of the right of selecting their places of meeting on licensed premises?

I fear that I cannot see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. I would refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dulwich on the 17th June.

asked the hon. Member for St. George's-in-the-East, as representing the Insurance Commissioners, if he is aware that in a letter of 9th ultimo, 83,363/14, the National Health Insurance Commission informed Mr. A. M'Creadie that it was unable to assist his daughter in a matter of a claim for the payment of medical treatment, that in this letter the Commission practically accept the fact that such money as he claimed is due, but that a misunderstanding arose, and that in consequence of a technical difficulty it cannot be paid; and, in view of these circumstances, if he can request the Commission to favourably reconsider their decision?

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension. The difficulties involved in the case referred to are not merely technical but arise out of the fact that the insured person applied to the Commissioners in May, 1914, when the insurance committees' accounts for 1913 had been closed, for assistance in securing relief from the liability incurred in respect of treatment obtained from a doctor in his private capacity in October, 1913. I am, however, making further inquiries in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland when legislation will be introduced to give effect to the recommendations of the Committee which recently inquired into the claims of the Royal Irish Constabulary for an increase of pay; and is he aware that discontent exists among the members of that force owing to the delay of the Government in connection with this matter?

I would refer the hon. Member to the Constabulary and Police (Ireland) Bill which I introduced last Thursday, and which has been printed and circulated.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if he will state how many of the 247 estates purchased by the Congested Districts Board in the county of Mayo are wholly or partly situate in the barony of Erris, with the acreage and price paid for same?

Of the 247 estates purchased by the Congested Districts Board in the county of Mayo, 24 estates, with an area of 97,600 acres, are wholly or partly situated in the barony of Erris, the purchase price paid for them being £125,500.

also asked the Chief Secretary the number of estates in county Mayo, with approximate acreage of same, now on offer to the Congested Districts Board, the number and acreage of estates, the inspection and valuation of which has been completed, the number and acreage of estates for which offers to purchase have been issued, but not accepted by the owners, the approximate number and extent of estates in the country not yet offered to the Board and the number who have actually refused, after communication from the Board to put their estates on offer, and the number of estates situate wholly or partly in the barony of Erris?

There are at present on offer to the Congested Districts Board ten estates in County Mayo with an approximate area of about 57,600 acres, of which seven estates, with an area of about 16,900 acres, have been inspected and valued. Offers for the purchase of 50 estates with an area of about 125,400 acres have been issued by the Board but not yet accepted by the owners. In addition the Board have decided to make offers for fifteen estates with an area of about 58,000 acres, and offers will probably issue at an early date. The Board have no means of ascertaining the number and extent of estates in County Mayo not yet offered for sale to them. Nine landlords, after communication with the Board, refused to offer their estates for sale. The Board are unable to give the number of estates situated wholly or partly in the Barony of Erris.

asked the Secretary for War whether he is aware that soldiers have been moved in Surrey on motor cars bearing big advertisement placards of a London newspaper; whether this was done with the sanction of the War Office; and whether any money has been, or will be, paid for this service?

I have no information to enable me to answer this question, and I cannot undertake to obtain report.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether he can give any figures or estimates which would supply an indication of the proportion of children leaving public elementary schools in England which proceeds to secondary schools or technical schools or receives further instruction in other ways, and the proportion which fails to receive any continuative education after leaving the public elementary day school?

It is estimated that the proportion of children leaving public elementary schools who continue their education at a recognised secondary school is 1: 22. It is impossible to give an accurate estimate of the proportion who continue their education in other schools or classes, and figures under this head would be misleading unless the nature and amount of further instruction received by such children and the age at which it is received were also indicated. On this subject I may refer my hon. Friend to my remarks in this House on the Education Estimates on the 28th July last, and to the Report of the Consultative Committee on Attendance at Continuation Schools, 1909.

also asked the number of children who leave the elementary schools of England and Wales each year, distinguishing those under thirteen years of age, those at thirteen, those from thirteen to fourteen, and those over fourteen years of age; and the number of half time children who leave school and the ages at which they leave?

The number of children aged eleven years and over who left the public elementary schools in England and Wales during the calendar year, 1912, is estimated at about 620,000. Of these probably about 202,000 were thirteen or under, about 378,000 were thirteen to fourteen inclusive, and about 40,000 were over fourteen. These figures include some 36,000 half-time scholars whose names were removed from the registers during the same period, but I cannot give exact information as to their age at leaving.

asked the Postmaster-General why the scale of payment of postmen employed at New Cumnock, in Ayrshire, is less by about 2s. per week than the scale of payment at Old Cumnock, about five miles distant, the cost of living being somewhat higher at the former place; and whether he will have the matter inquired into with a view to equitable treatment?

The present classification of the offices mentioned was fixed in connection with the Parliamentary Committee Revision of 1908 on principles which were fully explained at that time. The whole question is again under review at present, and the representations made regarding the scale of pay of the postmen at New' Cumnock sub-office will be borne in mind in that connection.

asked the Secretary of State for War if he will announce the name of the Member placed on the Canteens Committee to represent the interests of the private traders?

The additional member is Alderman Amos Hinton, J.P., Middlesbrough, head of the firm of Amos Hinton and Sons. He is also vice-president and treasurer of the Federation of Grocers' Associations.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if, having regard to the opinion expressed by the judge in the canteens case that the defendants employed by Lipton, Limited, were acting on a system which was known to and encouraged by the directorate, the Government proposes to take any steps with a view to prosecuting the firm; and, if not, if it will be open to the Committee I now inquiring into the question of canteen supplies to investigate all the circumstances relating to the Lipton contracts in order thoroughly to sift the system which made such practices possible?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. As regards the first part of the question, I must refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to the hon. Baronet, the Member for the Mansfield Division on July 14th last. As regards the second part of the question, I understand that the terms of reference to the Committee are as follows: "To inquire and report as to what changes in the system of supplying garrison and regimental institutes are desirable and practicable." The Committee will determine what matters it will be necessary for them to examine to enable them to make their report.