asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland how the Government propose to deal with the unemployment caused by the recent restrictions on brewing and distilling in Ireland; on what basis compensation is to be paid to those suffering loss as a result of the restrictions?

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on the 17th April to the hon. Member for West Belfast.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that a house-to-house collection in aid of the Irish language fund had been arranged by the members of the local branch of the Gaelic League to take place in Strabane during the week from the 26th to the 31st March last; whether he is aware that the sergeant of the local police intimated to some members of the branch that the police authorities would not permit the collection to be taken up as permission of the police had not been first obtained; whether the district inspector subsequently relied upon 6 and 7 Geo. 5, c.31, s. 5, in support of the sergeant's action; will he now state if the action of the police has his sanction; and, if so, whether it is to be understood that a collection made by the members of the society calling at houses is a collection of money made in public for which a permit must be obtained to enable the collection to be taken up?

A poster was exhibited in Strabane announcing a collection in aid of the Irish Language Fund. The police informed the promoters that if the collection was made publicly through the town a permit from the county inspector would be necessary; and also that no objection would be raised to the collection. The promoters, however, declined to apply for the necessary authority. The police appear to me to have acted properly and with courtesy.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether, in view of the difficulties of transport, shortage of supply, and increased price of coal, he will consider the propriety of taking steps to enable Irish farmers who have turf fit for fuel on their holdings in Ireland to cut the same for use in their own homes, notwithstanding the restrictions against waste imposed by the Irish Land Acts; and, if so, will he state on what conditions permission to cut turf will be given?

I am not clear as to the restrictions referred to. As a general rule a tenant has the right to cut turf on his holding for home consumption, but not for sale. In the case of holdings purchased under the Irish Land Acts, the proprietors have power to cut turf on their holdings for home consumption; and where, prior to purchase, the holding had an appurtenant right of turbary for the occupier, the holding continues to have such right after being vested in the purchasing tenant. This seems to give the facilities suggested in the question.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what arrangements he has made in co-operation with the Local Government Board to meet the exceptional distress, poverty, and unemployment existing in Dublin City?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what are the Government's proposals for the relief of distress in Dublin?

Steps are being taken to secure a loan for the erection of working class houses in order to give employment in the building trade in Dublin, and arrangements are being made for the delivery of steel so that the reconstruction of the areas demolished in the rebellion may be proceeded with. Depots have been opened in six of the poorest centres for the supply of cooked food to the poor at a cheap rate, and a Grant has been given by the Government for the carrying on of this work. The boards of guardians of the North and South Dublin unions have not so far made representations that exceptional distress exists.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if a meeting to advocate the placing of Irish citizens on the same legal footing as English in regard to vaccination is treated as being seditious; whether he is aware that such a meeting was proclaimed after the loan of a room had been obtained for it in the Mansion House, Dublin, and all arrangements made to hold it on 4th May; and whether he will withdraw the proclamation and allow the population to ventilate their views on this non-political subject?

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that the authorities have proclaimed a meeting which was to be held at the Mansion House, Dublin, on 4th May, to protest against the Irish Vaccination Acts; will he say what was the reason for prohibiting the meeting; and if it is to be understood that it is not permitted to the Irish people to hold and express opinions against vaccination?

The answer to both questions is in the negative.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will now give similar statistics and information to those given by him on 21st February last with regard to the submarine menace to bring the same up to date; whether the totals of arrivals and sailings in each weekly return include coasting steamers and vessels plying between Ireland and Great Britain; whether each arrival and sailing of such vessels is counted; whether in the case of the vessels plying between Great Britain and France each arrival and sailing of these vessels is counted; whether some vessels make the Channel passage once or twice per day; whether in the latter case such a vessel would be counted twenty-eight times per week; whether he will include in the weekly return a statement of the number of ships of over 1,600 tons which arrive from or sail to trans-Atlantic ports; and, if not, whether he will discontinue the publication of the weekly return as being misleading to the public?

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in order to bring conviction home to the people of this country of the need for the strictest economy in the consumption of food and avoidance of every form of waste, he will, in future, publish our losses by mine or submarine in a form which will give the country information, which there is danger in withholding, of the actual effect of the submarine warfare?

The weekly return includes the arrivals and sailings of merchant vessels of over 100 tons net of all nationalities at and from United Kingdom ports. It excludes fishing and local craft. Many suggestions have been made to me about the form of this Return, and I propose to deal with it in the Secret Session.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War what position was held by Mr. A. C. Forbes under the Department of Agriculture in Ireland before he was transferred to the Home-Grown Timber Committee; what training or experience this gentleman has of the conditions and requirements of the timber trade in Ireland; and on whose recommendation was he appointed to the Timber Advisory Committee?

Mr. A. C. Forbes is an inspector of the Irish Board of Agriculture, and is in charge of forestry work under that Department. He has been many years in Ireland, and previously to that was engaged in practical forestry in England and Scotland. Mr. Forbes was appointed a member of the Home-Grown Timber Committee by Lord Selborne, the President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, on the recommendation of the Irish Board of Agriculture.

asked what increase, if any, has been made in the production of sawn timber in Ireland, and what increase has been made in the export of pitwood from Ireland recently; and whether there is any shortage of timber at the present time?

I am not at prsent in a position to give any figures except in regard to the mills under the direct control of the War Office, which are producing sawn timber at the rate of 70,000 cubic feet a month; in May last such direct production was less than 2,000 cubic feet. I am unable to give any figures relating to the export of pitwood from Ireland. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an Advisory Committee, composed entirely of timber merchants, has been appointed to advise the timber controller in respect of England and Wales; whether subsequently another timber merchant was added to the Committee to represent Scotland; whether the Timber Controller is advised by any Irish timber merchant in reference to Ireland; and whether, in view of the fact that the timber trade of Ireland, both as regards native and foreign timber, is entirely different from the trade of England and Scotland, he will consider the possibility of having the Irish conditions adequately considered by competent Irish representatives on the Advisory Committee?

An Advisory Committee of timber merchants has been appointed to advise the Director of Timber Supplies in respect of the United Kingdom. The Committee includes two gentlemen who represent Scotland. For the representation of Ireland one gentleman has been appointed to the Committee, and a second has been offered nomination but has not yet replied.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what are the rates of wages or scales of pay at Woolwich and Dublin, respectively, for the following classes of women employed under the Ordnance Department, etc.—namely, for seamstresses, clothing sorters, girl clothing sorters, and women employed in Government laundry?

The rates are as follows:

The inquiries promised in my reply to the hon. Member on the 21st March are not yet quite complete.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what difference, if any, there is between the price paid by the War Office for cement supplied by the British Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited, in June, 1915, and at the present time?

So far as can be ascertained no orders for Portland Cement have been placed by the War Office with the British Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited, during the period mentioned. The price to be paid to the Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers, Limited, who hold the current contract, is still the subject of negotiation with the firm.

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the case of Alfred Leatherbarrow, Wednesborough Green, Hollingworth, Manchester, who before and during the War was entirely dependent on his two sons, Private H. Leatherbarrow, No. 4827, 1-5th East Lancashire Regiment, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force, and Private Joe Leather-barrow, No. 57775, Machine Gun Corps, 170th Company, British Expeditionary Force; whether he is aware that the father, now over sixty, is receiving a separation allowance in respect of these two sons amounting to 2s. 4d. per week; if he can state the ground upon which this allowance is assessed; and whether he will make investigation with a view to an increase in the same?

I will make inquiries and inform the hon. Gentleman of the result.

asked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been called to the case of Clyde Oswald Newton, of 21, Wath Road, Sheffield, who was discharged from the Royal Marine Artillery, Portsmouth; whether he is aware that this man enlisted under the Derby scheme early in December, 1915, was passed as fit by the military or naval doctor at Romford, that he was repeatedly examined by doctors and passed as fit, and finally re-examined and passed as fit, by the naval doctor at Eastney; that, after serving at Eastney for nine months he collapsed whilst on duty at barracks, was sent to Haslar Hospital, and afterwards discharged invalided; that he has since been in a sanatorium lying dangerously ill, and was sent home on 31st October, 1916, and is still ill and without State pay, pension, or any allowance or support; that, although he is now suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis brought on or aggravated by the conditions of the Service, he has been informed that he has no claim to a pension or gratuity; and if he will investigate the matter with a view to a pension being granted?

I have caused inquiries to be made, and have ascertained that Clyde Oswald Newton was invalided with pulmonary tuberculosis in September last. He had served 252 days, and was stationed at the Royal Marine Barracks at Eastney. I am informed that, after full consideration, it was decided that his disease was not attributable to the Service. In these circumstances he was not eligible for pension; but, under the Order in Council of the 30th March, 1917, he has been awarded a gratuity of £55.

asked the Home Secretary if the Government have yet considered the advisability of releasing the Countess Marckiewicz; under what Regulation she is being treated as a criminal; if he is aware of the indignation in Ireland caused by her detention and treatment; if, pending her release, she, with the Irish male prisoners, will be treated as a political prisoner or a prisoner of war; and if he will allow her private medical attendant to visit and report on her health?

I have nothing to add to previous replies to these questions.

asked the Home Secretary how many cases of mental derangement and serious mental illness, respectively, have been reported from Wandsworth Prison during the last twelve months; and whether he has taken any special action in the matter?

There were four cases of insanity and three cases of mental deficiency during the past twelve months, in all of which the mental condition existed prior to reception into prison, and they were dealt with in the usual manner.

asked the President of the Board of Trade who are the directors of the new British Trade Corporation; how much capital is to be invested in it, and by whom is the capital to be found; what control will the Board have over its transactions; whether its dividends, if any, will be limited by regulation; and will it be engaged in the buying and seling of goods or will it be limited to purely banking transactions?

The names of the first directors specified in the Deed of Settlement are: Lord Faringdon, the Right. Hon. F. E. Jackson, Mr. Arthur Balfour, Mr. F. Dudley Docker, C.B., Mr. W. H. N. Goschen, Mr. J. H. B. Nobel, and Sir James Hope Simpson. The nominal capital is £1,000,000 and is, I understand, divided into 1,000,000 shares of £10 each. As regards the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the terms of the Charter, which will shortly be issued as a Parliamentary Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider increasing the supply of paper and boards for printers and box makers when it can be shown to be required to enable merchants and manufacturers to fulfil export orders; and whether he is aware that the present restrictions have interfered with the hosiery and ladies' boot export trade owing to the difficulty of obtaining the necessary boxes, boards and printed matter?

The Royal Commission on Paper are now considering the possibility of adopting a scheme for the distribution of paper and boards on the basis of giving priority to essential uses, and I have no doubt that if such a scheme is adopted due consideration will be given to paper and boards used for packing goods for export. I will communicate with the Commission on the subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that dissatisfaction exists among season and trader's ticket holders by reason of the railway companies, after leading them to believe that their passes would be available on other lines between the same centres, suddenly revoking the privilege unless permits, which are often refused, are granted; whether, if this is so, the revised arrangement applies to cases where the tickets were issued before the revision on the express assurance that they would be inter-available; and whether he will see that steps are taken to meet these complaints?

The Board of Trade have received complaints in this matter, and are in communication with the Railway Executive Committee in regard to them. I will communicate with the hon. Gentleman further as soon as I am able to give him a more definite reply.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state, without detriment to the public interests, how many British vessels there are now in the Baltic, excluding vessels in the hands of the enemy?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I regret to say that it is not thought desirable to give the information asked for.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller if the Controller is aware that cargo vessels now under repair in dry docks and other places on the Mersey and elsewhere are being kept back because plates cannot be supplied by the rolling mills and that the reason given for the latter fact is that the mills are having to devote themselves to the production of material for new vessels rather than for vessels under repair, which can be set to work in a week or two, and in some cases a few days, and in many cases months before new vessels can be completed; and whether it is proposed to take any action in the matter?

I am not aware that the facts are as stated in the question. A special report has been obtained from the Mersey to the effect that delay in obtaining plates for ship repairs seldom occur. Out of ten important firms reporting, six report no delay, and four slight delay. Every endeavour is being made to accelerate repair work, and I would thank my right hon. Friend if he would bring to my attention any specific case in which improvement may be effected.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller whether the Shipping Controller is aware of the number of steamers in our ports that require repairs and the delay in repairing the same due to want of material and skilled labour; and whether, in this time of shortage of food and consequent need for ships to carry the same, he will consider the desirability of giving preference of men and material to expeditiously repair existing ships rather than employ them in building new ships which cannot be completed for months?

My right hon. Friend the Shipping Controller is well aware of the number of ships in our ports requiring repairs and a special organisation is being established to deal with the question, with a view to giving priority to such cases as can be most quickly completed. I am advised that the delay in executing repairs is not caused by the building of new ships I should be obliged if my hon. Friend would bring to my attention any specific case in which it appears that any considerable delay has occurred from this or any other cause. The question of the supply of labour is also receiving urgent consideration.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller what is the average freight rate per ton now paid for grain from the Argentine to the United Kingdom carried by neutral ships, and what is the percentage of neutral ships thus employed as compared with the percentage of British ships carrying grain at the Blue Book rate of 52s. 6d. per ton?

Since 1st January, 1917, the average rate of freight paid to neutral steamers to carry grain from the Argentine to the United Kingdom on a voyage basis is 131/10 per ton exclusive of war risk. Some neutral ships are employed on a time and not on a ton basis, and the average cost per ton in these cases cannot be stated with exactitude. With regard to the last part of the question the neutral tonnage employed in the trade during the same period has been about 25 per cent. of the British tonnage so employed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller what was the output of new ships in the second half of 1916; what has been the output of new ships in the first quarter of 1917; what is the estimated output for the second quarer of 1917; and what is the tonnage of neutral ships destroyed by submarines, mines, and commerce raiders in the first quarter of 1917 as reported by the Governments of neutral countries?

I regret that I do not think it desirable to publish the information asked for by my hon. Friend.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller what was the total gross tonnage of new steamships completed in United Kingdom shipyards in the year 1916, and what is the gross tonnage of the steamships which the Shipping Controller expects to have completed in the United Kingdom during 1917?

I regret to say that it is not thought desirable to give the figures for 1916, asked for by my hon. Friend. With regard to 1917 also, it is not thought desirable to publish estimates, but I may say that the output is already very much greater than last year, and that, as I have already indicated, every part of the subject is being explored with a view to making a very great improvement.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether merchant shipbuilding has been persistently obstructed by the Admiralty; and whether, if it is not now obstructed, it was obstructed up to a recent date?

There is no foundation for the suggestion made in the question. So far from obstructing merchant shipbuilding, the Admiralty, in addition to rendering every possible assistance in supply of material and giving up firms entirely to merchant shipbuilding, have appointed an Admiral as "Inspector of Merchant Shipbuilding," with a staff, for the express purpose of helping forward progress and ascertaining and removing the cause of delays.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the losses of steam and motor fishing vessels during the War, he will give instructions that patrol boats and minesweepers to be built by the Admiralty shall be of class and design suitable for use as drifters and trawlers after the War, and thus be available to reinstate the lost fishing fleet?

The trawlers and drifters on order for the Admiralty are of similar design to those generally in use for fishing, and their preparation for war service is made with due regard to rapid reversion to peace pursuits at short notice and with the idea of reinstating losses in the fishing fleet. As regards minesweepers, these, naturally, have to be designed primarily for mine-sweeping purposes. Their adaptation to peace pursuits will not, of course, be so easily executed.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller how many British steamers were up to the end of March still trading between ports of foreign countries, for instance between North and South America; whether the steamship "Byron" and the steamship "Tennyson" were so trading; whether these vessels are of a type unsuitable for general ocean-going work; whether they are still trading between the United States ports and Argentine ports; whether a number of steamers were in March, and are still, allowed to make intermediate calls at New York when bringing meat from the Argentine to Liverpool; whether they generally return in ballast from Liverpool to New York and then load general cargo at New York for the Argentine; by what authority these steamers were permitted to waste tonnage by wasting time on their homeward and outward voyages; whether the loss of time is about ,six weeks on each round voyage; whether all these steamers belong to a single British company; and whether other British lines engaged in the North and South Atlantic trade were compelled by Government Regulation to discontinue this trade?

There were at the end of March seven British vessels on the North and South American route. The answer to the second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the seventh part of the question, the vessels named were allotted to their present work under the authority of my right hon. Friend the Shipping Controller after the most careful consideration of the employment for which they were most suitable and useful in the national interest. The answer to the eighth part of the question is that the figure named is perhaps too high. The answer to the ninth part of the question is in the affirmative. I may add that the programmes for all shipping lines are necessarily being revised from day to day as the balance of considerations changes; general policies as to diversion of tonnage cannot economically be brought into operation simultaneously for all ships.

asked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the delay experienced in obtaining licences from the Board in cases where areas have been declared infected with potato wart disease, he will consider the desirability of placing the issue of licences in the hands of the county councils and so obviate loss of time?

Every effort is made to avoid delay in issuing licences. When made in accordance with the Regulations, of which a copy is sent with each application form, applications are in general dealt with by the Board of Agriculture within forty-eight hours of their receipt. The licences are issued by the Board's inspectors on the following day. In these circumstances I do not think that it would be desirable at present to incur the risk of temporary delay and confusion which might attend the change suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has inquired further into the arrangement suggested by which replies to paymasters from wives and dependants of sailors and soldiers can be posted without stamping and whether he can now give any decision concerning the same?

I am in communication with the War Office, and I will acquaint the hon. Member when a decision is arrived at.

asked the Postmaster-General why it is considered necessary in war time, having regard to the famine in paper, to publish two large editions a year of the London Telephone Directory, thereby utilising hundreds of tons of paper; whether at a time when few new telephones are being installed a supplement could be substituted thereby saving both paper and money; and can he see his way to give an undertaking that this course will be followed in future?

Proposals for modifying the arrangements for the issue of telephone directories, with a view to an economy in paper, have already been engaging my attention, and I hope to be able to come to a satisfactory decision shortly. The issue of supplements is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Schimmelpfeng Institute has been condemned in France, Italy, and Australasia; and whether its offices in Copenhagen, Christiania, Barcelona, Madrid, Stockholm, and Zurich have been placed on the British black list; why the branch office at Amsterdam is not on the black list; and who is the British commercial attaché at Amsterdam?

The information conveyed in the first two parts of the question is substantially accurate, except that there is no statutory list in Switzerland. I am afraid I cannot go into the reasons why any particular business is or is not placed on the statutory list, but I will see that the suggestion as to Amsterdam is carefully considered. There is no commercial attaché at Amsterdam; and if there were he would not decide questions of this kind, which are determined by the Foreign Trade Department.

asked the hon. Member for Worcestershire (Bewdley Division) if the men who are employed as extra case messengers at the Customs House are paid 24s. a week; and, seeing that these men, many of whom have been employed for two years, have had no holiday except the official Bank Holidays, will he make arrangements for these men to have a few days' leave during the coming summer without loss of wages?

The men in question are extra men employed at the Customs House, London, at a daily rate of pay, to replace watchers who are absent on naval or military service. Their pay in a week of six days is 27s. 6d. They have never been entitled to paid leave except for certain public holidays; but the question now raised as to the grant of a few days' paid leave, in view of their continuous employment, will be considered, and I will communicate the decision to the hon. Member in due course.

asked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if his Department has received an offer to defray part of the initial expense of interning prisoners of war in Sweden; if he has taken any measures to procure the sending of English prisoners to that country; and, if so, with what success?

The answer to the first part of the question is in the negative: that to the second and third parts is dependent upon the reply from the German Government to the proposal made to the latter on 21st April for the transfer to neutral countries of prisoners of war. In this connection I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question of my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Bassetlaw on Thursday last.

asked whether the Kitchener Memorial Fund has been registered under the War Charities Act, 1916; under what conditions that fund is administered; and what supervision is exercised over that administration.

The Lord Kitchener National Memorial Fund was registered by the London County Council on the 27th November, 1916, under the provisions of the War Charities Act, 1916, and its administration is governed by the conditions imposed upon registered war charities by Section 3 of that Act, and by the Regulations made under Section 4 of the Act by the Charity Commissioners for England and Wales with the approval of the Secretary of State. The only supervision to which the fund is subject under the Act is that involved in the necessity imposed by the Regulations above referred to of sending duly audited accounts to the registration authority at least once in every period of twelve months, in the power conferred by the Regulations on the registration authority with the consent of the Commissioners, and on the Commissioners to call for such accounts at any time, and in the power conferred by Section 5 (1) of the Act upon the registration authority to remove the charity from the register if the authority is satisfied that it is not being properly administered.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that, in the case of two warders who were transferred to Cork Prison from Dundalk, one being under the new scheme of pay and the other under the old scheme, the one under the old scheme lost all his allowances, whilst the other under the new scheme gets his; whether, an appeal having been made to the authorities, the grievance was redressed; and will he cause an inquiry to be made regarding the complaints emanating from the Irish prison service?

I am informed that in the case of two warders recently transferred from Dundalk to Cork Male Prison a question as regards the lodging allowance arose and was settled on its merits in each case. The fact that one warder was under the old scheme of pay and the other under the new scheme had nothing to do with the decision of the General Prisons Board in the matter.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that in the year 1874 half the cost of the maintenance of pauper lunatics was fixed at the weekly rate of 4s., and that in that year the total cost per head in Irish asylums for the maintenance of pauper lunatics was £20 16s., imposing a burden on the Imperial Exchequer of £10 8s. per patient; whether he is aware that the average cost is now in some cases over £32 per annum, while the capitation Grant still continues to be £10 8s. per annum, and that in the year 1874 interest on loans was a charge on the Imperial Exchequer and has since been made a charge on the local rates; and whether, in view of these facts, the Government propose to take any steps to maintain the basis of the contribution fixed in the year 1874?

Although the capitation Grant in aid of the maintenance of pauper lunatics in Irish asylums was fixed at 4s. per week in 1874, imposing a burden on the Exchequer of £10 8s. per patient, the Grant did not represent half the cost of maintenance, which in that year amounted to £25 2s. ld. (9s. 8d. per week) per patient, and not £20 16s. as stated in the question. The average cost in some cases is now over £32 per annum, and the capitation Grant in 1916–17 was paid at the rate of £9 Os. 9d. per patient. I am informed that interest on loans was a charge on the Exchequer in 1874 and is now charged on the local rates. I have recently had several representations made to me as to the insufficiency of the Grants in aid of local taxation, but, as stated in reply to the hon. Member for West Cavan on 24th April, I regret there is no immediate prospect of an additional Grant.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will consult the local representative labour, philanthropic, and social associations regarding the advisability of having trades or wages boards established at once in Dublin City?

My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. As I informed the hon. Member on 26th April, inquiries are being undertaken with a view to ascertaining the conditions in a number of trades, including certain trades carried on in Dublin, to which the application of the Trade Boards Act has been suggested. In this connection associations of the kind mentioned in the question will be consulted.

asked the Secretary to the Board of Education what are the amounts contributed from the taxes and from the rates for primary and secondary education in Wales; and what are the salaries paid to principal and assistant teachers in primary and secondary schools in Wales?

The latest available figures are as follows:

The latest statistics of the rates of salaries paid to principal and assistant teachers will be found on pages 59–72 of the "Financial Statistics for Wales, 1912–13," published in 1915 [Cd. 8081].

asked the Secretary for Scotland what are the amounts contributed from the Treasury and from local rates for primary and secondary education in Scotland; and what is the average salary paid to principal and assistant teachers in primary and secondary schools?

During the year ended 15th May, 1915, school boards in Scotland received Grants amounting to £1,887,041 (including a certain amount of local taxation money), and drew from the rates a sum of £2,141,820. It is not possible to distinguish the amounts applicable to primary and secondary education, and the figures I have given do not include anything in respect of voluntary schools, which receive aid from grants but not from rates. Full information as to the salaries of teachers is given in a recent Parliamentary Return, a copy of which I am sending to my hon. Friend.

asked the Home Secretary what are the principal improvements in prison methods and management which have been introduced during the last ten years as a result of the study of American prison methods?

The principal improvements in the prison methods in the last ten years have been the development of the Borstal system and the establishment of the system of preventive detention. These reforms were introduced, not as a result of study of the American system, but mainly on the independent initiative of the English Prison Commissioners; but I understand that the Chairman of the Prison Commissioners during his two visits to the United States made a special study of two leading features of the American system—the State reformatory system and the indeterminate sentence—and that the experience so obtained was of material value to him in his work. If the hon. Member will peruse the Report on the Congress of 1910, he will see that there was, in the opinion of the British delegates, much that the American authorities might profitably learn from the British administration of local prisons. I would also suggest his reading the Annual Reports of the Prison Commissioners, particularly those for five or six years immediately before the War. They are short compared with most official reports and very interesting, and at the same time give full details of the continuous progress which has, I believe, characterised the English prison administration in recent years.

asked the Home Secretary whether Departmental Committees of the Home Office made Reports to the Home Office in 1911 and 1912 as to defects in the government of the Isle of Man; and, if so, what action, if any, has been taken in consequence of those Reports?

A Committee was appointed in 1911 to inquire into the representations which had been made to His Majesty's Government respecting the constitution of the Isle of Man and the civil, judicial, and financial administration of the island. It reported in the same year. Bills embodying the recommendations of the Committee were introduced into the Insular Legislature at the beginning of 1914 and were under discussion at the outbreak of war. Further progress was, by common consent, suspended during the War, but they will be resumed in due course.