asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will furnish a statement showing the name of and total amount paid to each of the auditors to whom a special allowance at the rate of £50 per annum was granted during each of the four years ended the 30th June, 1916, distinguishing the names of Irish-born auditors from those of their British-born colleagues and also distinguishing between the amount paid for acting as deputy-inspector of audit, for having charge of specially responsible duties, and for a combination of these functions; whether he will state the number of British-born and Irish-born auditors, respectively, who were serving in the Department during each of the four years in question; whether these special allowances are allocated to auditors on the recommendations of the inspectors of audit; and whether, having regard to the efficiency of the public service, these inspectors possess the necessary qualifications which might enable them to make an equitable allocation of such allowances?

No information is available as to the place of birth of auditors in the National Insurance Audit Department; the statement asked for cannot therefore be furnished. The allowances are allocated to auditors by the chief auditor or acting auditor after considering the recommendations of the inspectors of audit.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will furnish a statement showing the names of the assistant auditors who were appointed otherwise than by open competitive examination, the qualifications of each for the appointment, the initial salary and scale of salary of each as at date of appointment, date of appointment of each, and position of each in departmental seniority list of assistant auditors; and will he state whether all qualified candidates in the open competition for entrance into the Department were called up before these appointments were made?

supplied the following statement:

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will state the number of assistant auditors of the old grade who were promoted to the new grade of assistant auditor on the intermediate scale in November, 1916, and the number of assistant auditors of the old grade who, immediately prior to the date of such promotions, were serving in either the Army or Navy; whether not one assistant auditor of the old grade serving in either the Army or Navy was included in the promotions referred to; if so, will he explain why assistant auditors of the old grade who were neither serving in the Army or Navy were specially and exclusively chosen for these promotions; and whether he proposes to take any steps as regards a Department which adjudicates on promotions and kindred matters in this manner?

The answer to the first part of the question is five; to the second, nineteen; to the third, in the affirmative; to the fourth, the promotions were made entirely by merit; to the fifth, in the negative.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division), as representing the National Insurance Audit Department, whether he will furnish a statement showing the names of Irish-born assistant auditors of the old grade

The question of place of birth has never been considered in making promotions.

asked the Secretary to the Local Government Board (1) what is the number in England and Wales of men of full age not subject to any legal incapacity who have resided in any premises or who occupied any premises of a clear yearly value of not less than £10 for the purpose of business, profession, or trade for a period of at least six months; and (2) what is the number of women who have attained to the age of thirty and who have occupied as owners or tenants any land or premises in a local government area in England and Wales for a period of at least six months?

According to the Census Returns of 1911, the number of men in England and Wales of twenty-one years of age and upwards is 9,951,346, and the number of women of thirty years of age and upwards is 8,126,987. It is not possible to say what proportion of the men are subject to legal incapacity, and there are no statistics available as to the other classes of persons referred to in the questions.

asked the Secretary for Scotland (1) what is the number in Scotland of women who have attained to the age of thirty who are entitled, or are qualifying, to be registered and to vote as local government electors; and (2) what is the number in Scotland of men of full age, not subject to any legal incapacity, who have resided in any premises or who have occupied any premises of a clear yearly value of not less than £10 for the purpose of business, profession, or trade for a period of at least six months?

According to the Scottish Census of 1911 there were 1,259,102 males in Scotland of twenty-one years of age and upwards, and 1,037,531 females of thirty years of age and upwards. No further statistics are available.