asked the Prime Minister whether the Island of Herm, one of the Channel Islands, was sold some time ago to a German subject; and, if so, whether he can state the name of the vendor and what action, if any, the Government proposes to take to recover possession of the island and to prevent its being made use of by Germany during the continuance of the War?

The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers which I gave to the hon. Member for Hammersmith on the 18th and 23rd of this month?

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any steps have been taken or can be taken to restrict the import of copper into Germany and Austria from the United States through Italy?

Copper has been declared absolute contraband. Any copper shipped for an enemy destination through a neutral country is therefore liable to seizure and confiscation, and His Majesty's Government are effectively exercising their belligerent rights accordingly.

asked the Postmaster-General whether any special arrangements are being made with regard to postal facilities at Christmas for the Expeditionary Force?

I have recently had under consideration the special arrangements which will be necessary in regard to correspondence for the British Expeditionary Force during the Christmas season. I am informed by the military authorities that in view of the limited amount of transport that can be carried by the roads and the necessity of giving preference to the conveyance of stores, ammunition, etc., it will only be practicable to accept a moderate addition to the volume of mails at present conveyed. I propose therefore, at the suggestion of the Army authorities, to fix the maximum weight of a single parcel which may be sent to the troops during the Christmas season at 7 lbs. instead of 11 lbs.; and I trust that in the interests of the troops themselves, whose postal facilities would otherwise be seriously interfered with, the public will restrict their use of the parcel post to articles of real utility. It will be necessary to exclude from the mails perishable goods and such fragile articles as bottles, pudding basins and the like. Letters and parcels should be posted as early as possible for delivery on or before Christmas Day; letters should in any case be posted not later than the 14th December and parcels not later than the 12th December. Postcards and letters containing only Christmas cards will be subject to delay. I would also draw attention to the necessity of addressing all letters and parcels fully and completely. Detailed information on this point will be given at any post office.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the hours of duty of the men in the Anti-aircraft Service are four and a half to five hours every second night; and, if so, in view of the time of year and of the fact that most of the men are professional men fully occupied during the day, he will consider the advisability of reducing this number of hours by taking advantage of the waiting list and increasing the strength of the service?

The hours of duty were fully pointed out to the members of the corps on enrolment, and no complaints have up to the present been received. Should any officer or man find the strain too great his post could, no doubt, be filled from the large waiting list, which now amounts to several hundreds.

asked the Postmaster-General whether telephones fixed up at Red. Cross hospitals where wounded soldiers are being attended to are in all cases charged at full tariff rates; and, if so, whether he would take into consideration the circumstances of Red Cross hospitals, such as the one at Lymm, Cheshire, where wounded soldiers are attended to by three local doctors; is he aware that it is essential to have a telephone for proper attention to their wants; and whether, in all cases of Red Cross hospitals, seeing that they are carried on by voluntary contributions, he will instruct the officials of the Post Office to make no charge?

Under arrangements made with the War Office, telephones are being installed at the public cost at Red Cross hospitals where telephonic facilities are not already available. I will make inquiry about the hospital at Lymm, Cheshire. Any applications for such telephones should be addressed by letter or telegram to the Director of Army Signals (Home Defence) at the General Post Office.

asked the Secretary for the Colonies whether, in view of the important operations which have taken place in British East Africa and Uganda, as shown by the casualty lists, he can give a statement to the House, or issue through the Press Bureau an account of the result and nature of the engagements; and if he is aware that there are a number of British women and children in those countries whose relatives are anxiously awaiting news of them?

A statement is being issued through the Press Bureau to-day.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, although the acceptance of a new or other commission by a Member of the House of Commons who is in the Army or Navy is excepted from the operation of the Succession to the Crown Act, 1707 (6 Anne, c. 41, s. 27), by which it is specially provided that such acceptance does not affect Parliamentary status, yet by the practice or regulations of the military and naval services military and naval commands are held to be incompatible with the retention of a seat in the House of Commons; whether he is aware that General Sir Hugh M'Calmont, on his appointment in 1899 to the military command of Cork District, was compelled by the practice and regulations of the War Office to vacate his seat in the House of Commons for North Antrim by the acceptance of the Chiltern Hundreds, and that the Noble Lord, now one of the Members for Portsmouth, on his appointment in 1903 to the command of the Channel Squadron was compelled by the practice and regulations of the Board of Admiralty to vacate his seat for Woolwich by the acceptance of the Chiltern Hundreds; what is the reason for the enforced retirement from the House of Commons of military and naval officers Members of that House on appointment to military or naval commands, notwithstanding the provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act, 1707, exempting Members on acceptance of such appointments from the operation of that Act; on what grounds, regard being had to the fact that Sir John Moore, Sir Arthur Wellesley (Duke of Wellington), and Sir Ralph Abercromby were all Members of this House when in military commands, the exclusion from this House of military and naval commanders has been enforced notwithstanding the provisions of the Succession to the Crown Act, 1707, by Army and Navy departments; whether the regulations and practice of the War Office and the Board of Admiralty, which are contrary to the provisions of the said Act, and calculated to sever the union in the same individual of the position of Member of the House of Commons and the holder of a military or naval command, have been temporarily or permanently suspended; and whether the propriety of their abolition is under consideration?

The practice under which a Member vacates his seat on appointment to a naval or military command appears to rest not on Statute law, but on the supposed incompatibility of the two sets of duties. If there has been any divergence from the practice, it is due to special exigencies of the present War, and its permanent abolition is not in contemplation.

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that there are many public servants, employed by the large municipal authorities where the staffs have been obtained by open competition, who are well educated, trained in the principles of administration, used to initiating and executing plans, and accustomed to supervising duty, and who consider they would be able to give more effective service to their Country by taking up commissions as officers than by enlisting as privates, that many of them are prevented from so doing because the large municipal authorities follow the lead of His Majesty's Government in deducting from the civil pay of their servants the whole of the military pay received whilst on service as commissioned officers, that their expenses as officers practically absorb their Army pay, so that they are unable to supplement the few shillings a week paid by the municipalities to their wives; and will he consider the desirability of so revising the present arrangement that the Country may not be deprived through financial disabilities of the services of these men?

The regulations governing the pay of Civil servants joining the Colours have been drawn up after very full consideration, and I do not see my way to alter them.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the question of exempting letters sent by wounded soldiers in hospital in this country from postage; and, in order to avoid abuse, if he will consider the possibility of investing the military superintendent of such hospitals with power to use an official stamp or to initial them, certifying their nature?

I am sorry that I do not see my way to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. But any unpaid or short-paid inland letter which bears an indication that it was posted by a soldier, whether in hospital or in camp, is charged on delivery at the single instead of the double rate.

asked the Under-Secretary for War whether he is aware that only a limited number of electrical contractors are being given an opportunity of tendering for Army contracts; and whether he will take steps to see that a wider opportunity is given for the distribution of contracts and consequent employment?

It is not clear whether the hon. Member refers to contracts for electrical stores or for lighting installations. In either case I shall be glad to receive from the hon. Member the names of the contractors whom he has in mind, as there is every desire to distribute orders as widely as possible.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether ex-noncommissioned officers who have enlisted in the New Army are not eligible to receive commissions; and whether, in view of the practical training of these men, facilities will be afforded them to take up commissions?

Ex-non-commissioned officers are eligible for commissions in the new service battalions, and several have been commissioned already.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that many persons have made returns of income for taxation purposes who now find that, owing to the War, incomes which they regarded as certain, especially in the nature of salaries, have disappeared; and whether such persons can now withdraw their returns already lodged and put in corrected returns?

In the cases mentioned by my hon. Friend it is sufficient that a notice of the diminution of income should be sent in to the local surveyor of taxes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he would state the total sums of money advanced under the Treasury scheme to acceptors of pre-moratorium bills of exchange to 21st November instant; (2) whether, before advances have been made by the Bank of England to acceptors of pre-moratorium bills of exchange under the Treasury scheme, the securities deposited with the accepting houses by the drawers of such bills have been hypothecated by deed to the Bank of England for the security of His Majesty's Government; (3) the total sums of money advanced to 21st November instant under the Treasury scheme on pre-moratorium bills of exchange to private banks or accepting houses who have representatives on the board of directors of the Bank of England; and (4) whether the Bank of England under the Treasury scheme have in all cases before making advances to accepting houses on pre-moratorium bills of exchange, asked that collateral security should be given in addition to the securities, if any, deposited by the drawers of the bills with the accepting houses; and, if so, will he say what margin of collateral security has been asked or obtained by the bank for and on behalf of His Majesty's Government; and if collateral security has in all cases been demanded by the bank from the private banks or accepting houses who have representatives sitting on the board of the directors of the Bank of England?

My right hon. Friend is proposing to deal with the points raised in these questions in the course of the Debate this afternoon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the loss incurred by seasonal hotels in August and September by the absence of visitors owing to the War; whether he is aware that this loss has in many instances prevented the licence holders getting the advantage of the concession granted under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, where the drawings, other than those on liquor, reached one-third of the whole drawings; and that this means that these hotel-keepers are twice struck by the misfortune of the War; and whether he proposes to make a temporary concession to them?

My right hon. Friend's attention has not previously been called to the loss to which my hon. Friend refers, nor is he aware of any case in which a claim to the seasonal hotel concession provided by the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, has been refused since the outbreak of the War; but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the particulars of the cases he has in mind, I will have inquiry made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received any protest from the Dundee, Lochee, and Broughty Ferry Licensed Grocers' Association, and other kindred associations, against the proposal to exclude off-licence holders from the benefit of the rebate in districts where orders have been made under the Intoxicating Liquor (Temporary Restriction) Act; and whether, in view of the fact that the restrictions imposed apply to the off-licence as well as other licences, he will consider the advisability of allowing the rebate in all cases?

My right hon. Friend has carefully considered the representations made on behalf of off-licence holders upon the subject referred to by the hon. Member, but, for the reasons which I explained to the House last night, he has not seen his way to allow this concession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any information as to the ownership of the Whitworth Collieries in Glamorganshire, or the collieries which were previously known by this name; and is it within the knowledge of the Government that some few years back these collieries were purchased by a syndicate controlled by Germans?

I am informed that a German syndicate purchased the Whitworth estate about eight years ago, floated a company, and prepared to open a large colliery. In March, 1911, the estate was taken possession of by a receiver for the debenture holders and subsequently, in December of that year, all operations ceased and have not been resumed. The estate is now, I understand, in the hands of a mortgagee, who is a British subject.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether officers of the Indian Army at Home on leave, who were recalled to duty on the outbreak of War, and were directed to embark on Government transports and did duty on those transports during the voyage, are to draw their Indian rate of pay from the day they embarked at Southampton?

The officers recalled to duty on the outbreak of War were not entitled under Regulations to draw their Indian pay until they rejoined their duty in India. The Secretary of State saw no reason to depart from the Regulations on this occasion, except in the case of officers diverted to Egypt, who were allowed to draw their Indian pay from the date of disembarkation.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for India whether he has received representations or protests in connection with the statement made in Canada that the attempted immigration into British Columbia of Hindus on the steamship "Komagata Maru," was planned and carried out by Germans, in order to cause disaffection and division in the British Empire; and that at least a hundred of these Hindus were notorious criminals; and, if so, whether he has made any reply?

No such representations or protests have been received by the Secretary of State.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a circular has recently been issued by the Land Valuation Department stating that, if any of their clerks enlisted, their places would not be kept open for them after the War; and, if so, whether, seeing that this would prevent junior clerks from serving their country, he will have this regulation altered?

No circular of the nature indicated by the hon. Member has been issued on the authority of the Board of Inland Revenue or of their Head Valuation Office, nor am I aware that any such circular has been issued locally. The second part of the question does not therefore arise.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether the export of gun-cotton or other explosives is permitted to any neutral country; and, if so, to which countries and to what extent?

It is not in the public interest that information on this subject should be published.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, if he is aware of the fact that many Press photographers in this country are finding their means of livelihood endangered by the present military restrictions; that in many districts they are not permitted to take photographs of scenes of every-day life in the training camps of the New Army, the publication of which would be an invaluable stimulus to recruiting; and whether he can see his way to facilitate the issue of permits by the War Office to bonâ fide staff photographers on newspapers and news agencies, on the condition that such permits shall leave ample discretion with the local commanders, and that all photographs taken shall pass the censorship before publication?

Local military authorities have a certain discretion in this matter, but it must be remembered that they are very much engaged in the urgent work of training their troops, and it is not considered advisable to encourage further demands on their time and energies such as would be involved in the work of arranging for the facilities for photographers and in the very necessary examination of the pictures taken. A system of permits which was instituted by the War Office was not successful and was abandoned.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War why none of the troops being trained in this country are billeted on Saffron Walden; whether he is aware that this town and the surrounding districts have made one of the best responses in the country to the call for recruits, and that this patriotism entails a heavy loss on the traders of the town; and whether some effort will be made to in some way make this loss up by billeting troops there.

Troops are billeted according to military requirements, and, as a rule, when no other means of accommodation can be found. If no troops have been located at Saffron Walden it is because it was not advantageous to do so from a military point of view.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to antedate the commissions of university candidates who obtained commissions in His Majesty's Army in August last?

It is proposed to give an antedate.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that in the case of men who, at Southsea, have joined the motor dispatch riders, it has been stated at the recruiting office that the pay was 5s. a day, a bonus of £5 on joining, £10 when discharged, and the motor cycle to be taken over at a valuation, and that several of the men who joined on this statement have not yet received the £5 nor any compensation for the cycles which they are using; whether he is aware that one of such men, after receiving 5s. per day for a few weeks, has been reduced to 1s. 2d., the only explanation being that a mistake had been made, and will he say what is the mistake; and whether he is aware that, in the case of another such man, who had given up a good situation to join on the same terms, and received pay of 5s. per day as arranged for a few weeks, such man has been, without notice, reduced to 4s. per week, out of which 1s. 2d. is deducted for vegetables, etc., and will he say what is the explanation?

No, Sir, but if the hon. Member will give particulars I will have inquiry made.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the contributions of parents have been remitted in the case of candidates entering Woolwich and Sandhurst in the month of November; and, if so, if this concession will be extended to candidates who entered in September, or at any time since the outbreak of the War?

It is proposed to remit all fees paid or payable in respect of periods after 31st October, 1914. There is no intention to refund fees paid in respect of any earlier period.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is prepared to take any steps to meet the grievances of some Liverpool men, a typical case of which is that of a man who enlisted at 65, St. Anne's Street, Liverpool, on the 2nd September, signed on for foreign service, has been sent to and is now at Blackpool, and has not yet fired a rifle; whether anything can be done to give this man and others similarly situated the necessary rifle training and the option of joining a battalion for active service; whether he is aware that the railway companies are charging full fare to many of these men between Blackpool and Liverpool when they get leave; whether, as there are a number of married men in the same position who only receive 1s. 9d. a week (5s. 3d. being allotment money), he will consider the possibility of arranging that they shall not be charged 6s. 9d. railway fare; will he say whether steps were taken to avoid many of these men being compelled to wear their own clothes and boots, in some cases for nine weeks, seeing that other corps in Liverpool received allowances for the same; why these men did not receive kit allowance, which is supposed to be at the rate of 2d. per day; whether he is aware that most of these men were kept ten weeks in Liverpool before being sent to Blackpool, during which period they had to sleep at home, there being no accommodation at the shed except for twenty men, and during that period they have had to pay for their own breakfasts every day and all meals on Sunday; whether the War Office has paid to the unmarried men only allowance for bed, breakfast, and Sunday meals; and, if so, will he explain why the married men are compelled to pay for these things themselves?

If the hon. Member will give me particulars of the names and units referred to I will have inquiry made. I may, however, state generally, that rifles are issued to Territorial Force soldiers as soon as they are available. Arrangements have been made to enable soldiers proceeding on leave to get tickets at half-fares. Men who wear their own civilian clothing are entitled to 3d. a day up to a maximum of 7s. 6d., which is about to be increased to 15s. Kit allowance at the rate of 2d. a day is issuable from the 1st of September or date of enlistment, if later. Both married and unmarried men who are required to sleep at their own homes receive lodging allowance, and when they have to find some meals for themselves they receive either food in kind or an appropriate money allowance, or both.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in connection with the payment of allowances to dependants of officers and seamen employed on captured and detained vessels, the Board have now given further consideration to the desirability of extending the scheme so as to cover payments to relatives of officers and men who might lose their lives and compensation for loss of effects?

The question whether the insurance scheme can be extended so as to cover payments to dependants of seamen who lose their lives owing to hostilities but who are not already provided for under the Workmen's Compensation Act is being considered, and I hope to come to a decision very shortly. I will give consideration to the question of insurance of seamen's effects.

asked the Attorney-General if he intends to introduce an amending Bill to the Courts (Emergency Powers) Act in order to provide for the widows of trade unionists who have fallen in arrear with their subscriptions before death owing to the War?

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer to the question put orally by the hon. Member for South-East Lancashire to-day.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the extra duty payable on beers of gravity of 1020, 1025, 1030, 1035, and 1040, respectively; what is the average gravity of beer known as mild ale and sold in London at 4d. per quart; and what is the average gravity of London porter?

The additional duty at the rate 23s. payable on beers of the specified gravities is as follows:—

				s.	d.
Gravity 1020	…	…	Duty	5	7
Gravity 1025	…	…	Duty	6	11
Gravity 1030	…	…	Duty	8	4
Gravity 1035	…	…	Duty	9	8
Gravity 1040	…	…	Duty	11	1

The average gravity of the ale and porter mentioned in the second and third parts of the question is considerably higher than 1040.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in cases where Income Tax is paid in January or February, 1915, on rents received for the six months ending 31st December, 1914, the proposed increased rates of Income Tax will be payable on the month of December, 1914, only?

The tax at the increased rates will be collected by an addition of one-third to the assessment for the year ending the 5th April, 1915.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that there is a shortage of silver coin in Ireland which is causing much inconvenience; and if he will take steps to deal with the matter as speedily as possible?

This matter has been kept under constant observation and the Mint has been and is still working at full pressure to overtake the demand. The total value of silver coin supplied to Ireland in the period 1st January to 25th November, 1914, inclusive, was £400,800, of which £355,200 has been sent since 1st August—whereas in 1913 £116,800 was supplied in all, and £66,500 in 1912.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury at what rate Income Tax should be deducted from the final dividends on the ordinary shares of a joint-stock company to be declared after 5th December, 1914, payable 4th January, 1915, in respect of profits for the year to 30th June, 1914, on which an interim dividend was paid on 4th July last from which tax was deducted at the rate of 1s. 2d. in the £?

I have asked the Inland Revenue Department to send the hon. Member a copy of a Memorandum on the subject of Income Tax Deductions, which will be issued by them very shortly.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Donegal County Council may now regard the sum available for sanatoria buildings under the National Insurance Act as £4,606, less the actual sums paid by them for beds in Peamount Sanatorium, occupied by patients from the county, or is the county council under obligation to pay for a certain number of beds annually in Peamount Sanatorium, whether occupied or not; and, if so, for how many?

From the share of the Grant based on population is deducted the capital cost of the beds taken in perpetuity at Peamount by a county council; but the county council is only responsible for maintenance charges while the beds are occupied by patients sent by such council.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if the Duke of Manchester estate, the Duane estate, the Browne estate, the Freer estate, the Tullochs estate, the Twining estate, and the Hazell estate have been offered for sale, and, if not, will he state whether any pressure within the law can be brought to bear on those landlords who refuse to sell, and upon the Congested Districts Board if they refuse to purchase; and whether he is aware that there is a growing discontent among the tenants of these and other estates in Connemara because of the delay in the purchase of estates, and that if this delay is continued the tenants may be tempted to take the law into their own hands by refusing to pay rents and by the driving of cattle?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative in the cases of all the estates mentioned, save that of A. Hazell, who has been approached by the Congested Districts Board, but has not yet offered his estate for sale. The Board have powers of compulsory acquisition in certain circumstances, but have, I am given to understand, no immediate intention of exercising them in Connemara, where most of the lands have been either purchased or have been the subjects of agreements for purchase. They will certainly not accelerate the acquisition of estates where illegal combination against the payment of rent or intimidation in any form prevails.

asked the Chief Secretary whether he is aware that the register of unemployed in Dublin numbers 2,128, with dependants of about 4,250 persons; whether he is aware that the distress committee have not received the share of money voted by Parliament for work under the Unemployment Act, 1905; whether he can state the amount allocated to Ireland from the National Relief Fund, and how it is to be administered; and whether, in view of the need in Dublin, he will arrange for a grant to be given to the distress committee?

The number of unemployed who have registered with the Labour Exchange in Dublin in October was 1,622 as compared with 2,419 at the corresponding period of last year. The works committee of the Dublin Relief Committee have reported to the Local Government Board that owing to the number of Reservists who have been called to the Colours and recruits who have enlisted, and also to the exceptionally good conditions existing temporarily in the building trade caused by the War Office contracts for encampments, and to the large number of workers employed as grooms, carters, etc., unemployment is at present considerably less than usual for this season of the year. The Local Government Board have, therefore, suggested to the distress committee the expediency of deferring the opening of their works till later in the year. It is not possible to make a definite allocation to Ireland from the Prince of Wales' National Relief Fund, as the amount which will be advanced to Irish local representative committees must depend entirely upon the extent to which Irish trade and Irish industries may hereafter be affected by the War.

asked the Chief Secretary whether, as a result of the operation of Section 83 (7) of the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, which gives the work of the preparation of the Parliamentary voters and jurors lists to county secretaries for rural districts in which new clerks have been appointed, superintendent registrars of births and deaths are obliged to prepare lists of the deaths of all persons which take place in their districts every year for the county secretaries; whether this work has been done by such superintendent registrars without their having received any remuneration for the same; and whether, seeing that in order to prepare the said lists superintendent registrars have in many cases to attend in outside districts for the purpose of visiting registrars at their offices, he will see that proper and adequate remuneration be specified for the work and for travelling and car expenses where such expenses have to be incurred to have the lists prepared?

The answers to the first two parts of the question are in the affirmative. The question of the payment of remuneration for and of expenses incurred in connection with the duty of preparing the lists referred to, which is imposed upon superintendent registrars by rules made under the Registration (Ireland) Act, 1898, and the Local Government (Ireland) Act, 1898, has been frequently raised, but I am advised that there is no power to authorise any such payment.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he will state the number of commissions as assistant paymaster, Royal Naval Reserve, that have been granted to men from the shore since the outbreak of war; whether any official representations have been made as to the inefficiency of any assistant paymasters, Royal Naval Reserve, since the outbreak of war; how many chief writers now serving were recommended for promotion by the latest half-yearly returns available; whether he is aware that all the highly trained and recommended chief writers are fully competent to carry out the duties of an assistant paymaster; how many have been promoted to that rank since the declaration of war; whether official representations have been made as to the desirability of promotion of chief writers in place of granting commissions to inexperienced men entered from the shore without examination; and, if so, what are the Admiralty proposals and when is it intended to give effect to them?

The answer to the first part of the question is 178, of whom 53 were serving as pursers or assistant pursers in ships taken over from the mercantile marine. The second and third parts of the question were dealt with in the reply I gave to the Noble Lord yesterday. I am fully aware that there are many deserving chief writers who are competent to carry out the duties of assistant paymaster, and their claims to advancement to warrant writer are at present under consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Education whether any progress has been made in the matter of the repairs, alterations, enlargements, improvements, or provision of playgrounds in the case of the 124 elementary schools in London scheduled in the survey report of the Board made in May, 1914, on unsatisfactory school premises?

The Board's letter of 14th April last, to which the schedule of voluntary school premises was an enclosure, offered to every body of managers an opportunity of conferring with the Board's architect, inspectors, and other officers upon any steps which they might desire to take to remedy the defects pointed out in the inspectors' reports. Many such conferences have been held and are being held almost daily. In some cases improvements have already been effected, and, so far as the Board can judge, the reports are likely to result in very considerable improvements to the large majority of the schools in question.

asked the Under-Secretary for India when the Return relating to Excise Advisory Committees, moved for on 23rd June last, will be published?

The Return has not yet been received from India. It will be published as soon as it arrives. I understand that its preparation has involved references to local Governments and other local authorities.

asked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the reasons advanced by him for the passing of the Intoxicating Liquor (Temporary Restriction) Act, 1914, it was intended to alter or affect the law as to bonâ fide travellers; and whether any Orders made in pursuance of that Act can extend to a matter which is already the subject of legislative authority and is not at variance with the earlier closing of licensed premises?

The powers given by this Act are to suspend the sale or consumption of intoxicating liquor at times and under conditions when it would otherwise be lawful. I am advised that Orders made under the Act are not subject to the exemption in favour of bonâ fide travellers contained in the ordinary law.

asked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the practice, in cases under Section 1 of the Burial Laws Amendment Act, 1880, of requiring that the certificate of registry of death of the person interred should be handed to the burial authority; whether he is aware that the Act imposes no right on the burial authority to demand this, and no duty on the relatives of the deceased to give up the certificate; and whether, in view of the fact that the relatives often require this certificate for other legal purposes or as a record, he will issue instructions to burial authorities not to exceed their rights and cease to demand the handing over of these certificates?

I believe that it is a common practice for the burial authority to require the production of the registrar's certificate that he has registered or received notice of the death, but it is not limited, as the question appears to suggest, to the special cases in which a body is buried under Section 1 of the Act of 1850. I may point out to my hon. Friend that the Registration Act of 1874 requires the certificate as a general rule to be delivered to the person who buries or performs the funeral or religious service, and that the only difference made by the Act of 1880 is that in cases under it, in view of the special conditions under which the interment is made, the certificate has to be delivered to the person responsible for the burial. I am advised that it is within the powers of the burial authority under Section 38 of the Burial Act, 1852, to require the production of this document, and as the authority are the responsible authority in regard to interments in their grounds and are also charged with the preparation of the register of burials, the requirement seems to be a reasonable one. The question as to who is entitled ultimately to retain the document is not expressly determined in the Acts and I have no power to give any instructions in regard to it.

asked the President of the Local Government Board whether the Government intend to proceed with the proposed Rating Bill after the reassembling of Parliament?

I am not in a position to make any statement with regard to this Bill.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he could arrange for a daily delivery of letters in the following townlands in the postal district of Beaufort, county Kerry, Carhunahone, Gorbee, Alohert, Coolcumisk, and Cappaganan?

I am having inquiry made in the matter, and I will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can now state whether he proposes to increase the rates of pay of temporary postal workers who are taking the places of regular members of the staff serving with the Colours?

I am glad to say I have been able to sanction certain improvements in the pay of the temporary postal staff in London. The minimum pay of temporary sorters will be raised from 22s. a week (for men in training) to 26s. and the maximum for fully qualified men from 30s. to 32s. The pay of temporary postmen and porters will be raised from 24s. to 26s. a week; fully qualified postmen in Division I. will have 28s. I also propose to increase the pay of temporary outdoor men in certain provincial towns, but I must be guided by local circumstances in each case.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can now see his way to include the whole of Bagworth parish, Leicestershire, in the afternoon delivery of letters, in view of the populous nature of the district?

As I explained to the hon. Member a month ago, I am sorry that the cost of extending the afternoon delivery throughout the parish of Bag-worth would not be justified in view of the small amount of correspondence affected.

asked the Postmaster-General whether there is any intention of raising the postal rates on British magazines going to Canada; whether he is aware that since the rates were reduced in 1907 a large additional number of magazines have been dispatched to Canada; and whether he will give consideration to the disadvantage of checking this, especially at the present time, before deciding to increase the postal rates?

The present postage rate of 1d. per lb. on British newspapers, magazines and trade journals sent from the United Kingdom to Canada will be discontinued on 31st December next. I am fully aware of the importance of maintaining a cheap rate of postage on British newspapers, magazines and trade journals sent to Canada, and of the great increase in the number so sent since the introduction in 1907 of the specially reduced rate of 1d. per lb. One of the essential conditions of the arrangement then made was that the sea-conveyance from the United Kingdom to Canada should be provided by the Dominion Government. That Government has found itself no longer able to bear the whole of the expense of the sea conveyance, and it has accordingly been necessary to revise the Magazine Postage rate. I have now concluded an arrangement with the Canadian Post Office by which the following scale will be introduced on the 1st of January next:—

For each packet exceeding		But not exceeding
2 oz.	…	6 oz. in weight	1d.
6 oz.	…	1½lb. in weight	1½d.
1½lb.	…	2 lb. in weight	2d.
2 lb.	…	2½lb. in weight	2½d.
2½lb.	…	3 lb. in weight	3d.
3 lb.	…	3½lb. in weight	3½d.
3½lb.	…	4 lb. in weight	4d.
4 lb.	…	4½lb. in weight	4½d.
4½lb.	…	5 lb. in weight	5d.

Although by the application of this scale there will be an increase of ½d. in the postage charged on packets weighing between 6 oz. and 1 lb. there will at the same time be a reduction of ½d. on all packets weighing between 1 lb. and 1½ lb., 2 lb. and 2½ lb., 3 lb. and 3½ lb., and 4 lb. and 4½ lb. The rate of 1d. for packets not exceeding 6 oz. in weight will I think cover the large majority of newspapers sent by private individuals who at present send most of the packets transmitted by Magazine Post. I am confident that the new scale will not press unduly on the senders of packets by Magazine Post, and will in no way hamper the spread of Imperial sentiment in the Dominion for which the post was instituted.

asked whether the Report of the Third Opium Conference at The Hague can now be laid before the House?

The Report is under consideration and will be presented to the House as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary for Scotland whether the Highlands and Islands (Medical Service) Committee have completed their report; and, if so, what is the cause of the delay in issuing it and giving effect to its recommendations?

The Commissioners have submitted a scheme which is at present under consideration of the Treasury.